IMPROVED APPARATUS WITH HYDRAULIC DUPLEX ACTION FOR RAISING AND LOWERING BOATS TO AND FROM SHIPS, CHIEFLY INTENDED FOR RAISING AND LOWERING STEAM LAUNCHES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Hedley, of Blackwall, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer and Steam Launch Builder, for the Invention
of "IMPROVED APPARATUS WITH HYDRAULIC DUPLEX ACTION FOR RAISING
AND LOWERING BOATS TO AND FROM SHIPS, CHIEFLY INTENDED FOR RAISING
AND LOWERING STEAM LAUNCHES."
Sealed the 1st June 1875, and dated the 10th December 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Hedley at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th December 1874.
I, ROBERT HEDLEY, of Blackwall; in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer and Steam Launch Builder, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVED APPARATUS WITH HYDRAULIC DUPLEX
ACTION FOR RAISING AND LOWERING BOATS TO AND FROM SHIPS, CHIEFLY INTENDED
FOR RAISING AND LOWERING STEAM LAUNCHES," to be as follows:-
:―
This Invention relates to improved apparatus with hydraulic duplex

page_text: action for raising and lowering boats to and from ships, chiefly intended
for raising and lowering steam launches, and consists of the following
parts arranged in combination for the purposes above stated.
Upon or to the deck of a vessel I fit a base plate of circular or other
shape, having a tube or barrel projecting downwards therefrom, and
within which another tube or barrel is free to swivel or turn. The upper
end of the inner barrel carries standards, to which a rock beam or double-
ended lever is hung by trunnions. One end of the lever is of greater
length than the other, and has a triangular kind of frame attached,
which when the long end is lowered is caused to fall over to extend the
length, so to speak, the frame being under the control of a chain or rod
from a fixed point in the standards. The long end of the beam is con-
nected by a link or bar to a ram or piston arranged within the inner
barrel, into which water or other fluid can be forced by a pump when
worked by hand, steam, or other power. The short end of the beam is
connected by one or more chains or bars to a second ram or piston
arranged within the same inner barrel, the water or other fluid being
admitted to the barrel that it acts against the inner faces of both rams
or pistons at the same time to force them apart, so that in lifting say a
steam launch out of the water the hydraulic power within the barrel is
utilized for raising the longer end of the beam with the launch sus-
pended and for pulling down the short end of the beam simultaneously.
While the lift is taking place the triangular frame on the outer end of the
beam is caused to move over a short radius or portion of its own circle,
and thus to bring the launch nearer to the side of the ship, as well as to
lift her to a greator height than the travel of the beam can effect, so that
her keel is brought about level with the gunwale or the deck of the ship, as
the case may be, for her to clear it when the beam portion of the appa-
ratus is swung round to bring the launch in board, which she can be by
lines or haulyards like an ordinary crane, so that the launch can be
stowed preferably athwart the vessel and about midships, the launch
being then ready to be again swung "end on" outside the vessel to be
lowered, which lowering is preferably to be effected by a man in the
launch pulling a cord or light chain attached to the valve handle, the
shifting of which permits the water in the barrel to flow back to the
pump tank or reservoir at the desired speed by opening the passage more
or less as desired.

page_text: I propose to fit the launch or other boat with some instantaneous
releasing gear, so that directly she touches the water she becomes free,
but this is not essential for the purposes of my Invention, and would
probably only be used in rough weather or when the vessel is moving
ahead at the time of the lowering.
In
any case I propose that the lowering shall be effected with the stern
of the launch or other boat nearest the ship, and not fore and aft along-
side, so that in the case of a ship's ordinary boat being lowered and
disengaged the man or men in her can ply the oars and pull clear away
at once, thus preventing the chance of the boat being drawn near to the
ship and swamped by the following wave, as is now so common; it also
permits of the oars being plied from both sides of the boat at once, an
impossibility with all existing methods of lowering from the limited
distance at which the boat can leave the vessel.
I arrange an air buffer or a friction wheel as a break at or in connection
with the lower part of my swinging apparatus to regulate and to limit
the swing, this being so fitted that the angle at which the long arm of
the beam shall travel when projecting over the vessel's side can be
determined, especially when steam launches have to be lowered, for
which my apparatus is chiefly intended, these being of great weight, and
not so casily handled for lowering as are small boats.
The hydraulic pump may be fitted upon the ship's deck in proximity
to the swinging apparatus, so that should the launch or other boat be
stowed as I suggest above one man can attach the hook or ring of the
triangular frame to the boat, then work the pump to lift her from her
seatings and shut off the valve to retain the water in the barrel, and then
swings her round; he then jumps in with the valve cord in his hand,
pull upon the cord, and lower as he pleases, the disengaging taking
place automatically when the boat touches the water or by the man
turning a hand lever in the boat, this being in connection with some
known disengaging appliance.
The long arm of my apparatus has a preponderance of weight on its
side of the trunnions, so that it descends naturally when the valvo is
opened, the short arm rising at the same time, the two pistons or rams
within the barrel being thus caused to approach towards each other
ready to be forced apart again when a raising has to be effected, as before
explained.

page_text: I do not confine myself to fitting the two pistons or rams in the same
barrel, as they may be in separate barrels, but I prefer them to be in the
same barrel to economize space and operated as above described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Robert Hedley in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 10th June 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
HEDLEY, of Blackwall, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer and Steam
Launch Builder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
cighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Robert Hedley, Her special licence
that I, the said Robert Hedley, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert Hedley, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVED APPARATUS WITH
HYDRAULIC DUPLEX ACTION FOR RAISING AND LOWERING BOATS TO AND FROM SHIPS,
CHIEFLY INTENDED FOR RAISING AND LOWERING STEAM LAUNCHES," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Robert Hedley, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Hedley, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the

page_text: Inis invention relates to improved appa
action for raising and lowering boats or similar bodies to and from ships,
chiefly intended for raising and lowering steam launches, and consists
of the following parts arranged in combination for the purposes above
stated.
Upon or to the deck of a vessel I fit a base plate of circular or other
shape, having a tube or barrel projecting downwards therefrom, and
within which another tube or barrel is free to swivel or turn. The upper
end of the inner barrel carries standards, to which a rock beam or double-
ended lover is hung by trunnions. One end of the lever is of greater
length than the other, and has a triangular kind of frame attached,
which when the long end is lowered is caused to fall over to extend the
length, so to speak, the frame being under the control of a chain or rod
from a fixed point in the standards. The long end of the beam is con-
nected by a link or bar to a ram or piston arranged within the inner
barrel, into which water or other fluid can be forced by a pump when
worked by hand, steam, or other power. The short end of the beam is
connected by one or more chains or bars to a second ram or piston
arranged within the same inner barrel, the water or other fluid being
admitted to the barrel that it acts against the inner faces of both rams
or pistons at the same time to force them apart, so that in lifting say a
steam launch out of the water the hydraulic power within the barrel is
utilized for raising the longer end of the beam with the launch suspended
and for pulling down the short end of the beam simultaneously. While
the lift is taking place the triangular frame on the outer end of the
beam is caused to move over a short radius or portion of its own circle,
and thus to bring the launch nearer to the side of the ship as well as to
lift her to a greater height than the travel of the beam can effect, so that
her keel is brought about level with the gunwale or the deck of the ship
as the case may be, for her to clear it when the beam portion of the
apparatus is swung round to bring the launch in board. This can bo
effected by lines or haulyards like an ordinary crane, so that the launch
can be stowed preferably athwart the vessel and about midships, the
launch being then ready to be again swung "end on" outside the vessel

page_text: to be lowered, which lowering is preferably to be effected by a man in
the launch pulling a cord or light chain attached to the valve handle, the
shifting of which permits the water in the barrel to flow back to the
pump tank or reservoir at the requisite speed by opening the passage
more or less as desired.
If desired, the launch, or other boat, or article can be fitted with some
instantaneous releasing gear, so that directly she touches the water she
becomes free, but this is not essential for the purposes of my Invention,
and would probably only be used in rough weather, or when the vessel
is moving ahead at the time of the lowering.
In any case I propose that the lowering shall be effected with the stern
of the launch or other boat nearest the ship, and not fore and aft along-
side, so that in the case of a ship's ordinary boat being lowered and
disengaged the man or men in her can ply the oars and pull clear away
at once, thus preventing the chance of the boat being drawn near to the
ship and swamped by the following wave, as is now so common; it also
permits of the oars being plyed from both sides of the boat at once, an
impossibility with all existing methods of lowering, from the limited
distance at which the boat can leave the vessel.
I arrange an air buffer or a friction wheel as a break at or in con-
•nection with the lower part of my swinging apparatus to regulate and to
limit the swing, this being so fitted that the angle at which the long arm
of the beam shall travel when projecting over the vessel's side can be
determined, especially when steam launches have to be lowered, for
which my apparatus is chicfly intended, these being of great weight and
not so easily handled for lowering as are small boats.
The hydraulic pump may be fitted upon the ship's deck in proximity to
the swinging apparatus, so that should the launch or other boat bestowed
as I suggest above one man can attach the hook or ring of the triangular
frame to the boat, then work the pump to lift her from her seatings and
shut off the valve to retain the water in tho barrel, then swing her
round; he then jumps in with the valve cord in his hand, pulls upon the
cord, and lowers as he pleases, the disengaging taking place automatically
when the boat touches the water or by the man turning a hand lever in
the boat, this being in connection with some known disengaging
appliance.

page_text: A nipping purchase can be supplied on the bottom block at P to keep
the boat suspended level if necessary.
Any disengaging gear may be applied most suitable for strangers,
when proper seamen have not been lowered with the boat in cases of
extreme necessity.
5
The mode of lowering a boat is as follows:-The cylinder is supposed
to be full of water and the boat to be hanging on the lever, as shown in
Figure 1, but over the ship's deck, and the last man to have got in, taking
care to carry a line with him, the line being attached to a lever R for
opening a valve or cock at S, whereby the water can be caused to flow 1
out at T until the boat touches the water, as in Figure 2. No sooner is
the water let off than the boat begins to lower, the speed being regulated
by the opening of the valve, more or less.
The boat is in position on the Drawing, Figure 1, for lowering end
on from the ship's side, and not in the position generally lowered from 1
davits. In the case of a boat being lowered "end on
every oar can be
shipped, or in steam launches the steam can be up and the engine set
going before the boat touches the water.
U is a kind of brake apparatus for keeping the lever and boat square
and away from the ship's side, this being controlled by means of a weight a
and chain to act freely as the ship pitches or rolls, thus rendering every-
thing less rigid and not liable to breakage.
The hoisting is performed by means of one or more pumps of suitable
dimensions and worked by hand, by the donkey engines in case of
steamers, or from a suitable arrangement of pumps in the hold of the
ships when loaded where the pressure is great, the whole of which I
have arranged to act substantially in the manner and for the purposes
herein described and shown in the Drawings hereunto annexed.
I do not desire to limit the application of my hydraulic duplex
apparatus to raising or lowering boats only, it being applicable for
raising or lowering boilers or other heavy bodies into or from
ships, etc.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and the manner of
performing or carrying the same into practice, I would have it under-
stood that I do not confine myself to the exact details herein described

page_text: so long as the main features of my Invention are retained; but what I
claim is, the improved apparatus with hydraulic duplex action, whereby
boats may be lowered or raised at sea, as set forth and substantially as
shown in the annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Hedley, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Tenth day of June, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-five.