IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS TO FACILITATE THE LOWERING AND DETACHING OF BOATS FROM SHIPS OR VESSELS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO LOWERING AND DISENGAGING OTHER BODIES
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to the Honble William Talbot, of the Army and Navy
Club, Pall Mall, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS TO FACILITATE THE LOWERING AND
DETACHING OF BOATS FROM SHIPS OR VESSELS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO
APPLICABLE TO LOWERING AND DISENGAGING OTHER BODIES."
Sealed the 25th June 1858, and dated the 9th April 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Talbot at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 9th
April 1858.
I, the Honble WILLIAM TALBOT, of the Army and Navy Club, Pall Mall,
in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS TO FACILITATE THE LOWERING
AND DETACHING OF BOATS PROM SHIPS OR VESSELS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO
APPLICABLE TO LOWERING AND DISENGAGING OTHER BODIES," to be as follows:-
When lowering and disengaging boats from ships, considerable difficulty
and danger are experienced in obtaining the release at the instant of the boats
coming in contact with the water, and the object of the improvements is to
form the hooks or connections to the boats in such manner that so soon as the
weight of the boat is removed therefrom by contact with the water, such hooks
or connections may be self-releasing. For this purpose cach hook or support

page_text: is formed by two levers, one end of each of which is connected by pin joint to
the other, whilst the axes of motion of these levers diverge therefrom, and are
the points of their suspension from two separate links, which hang from a
ring common to both. The lower ends of these levers are bent into the form
of a hook, and are capable of lying one across the other, when by a ring or
otherwise a weight is applied to their hooked ends, and they are caused thus
to cross each other. In that position they form a secure support, but so soon as
the weight is released therefrom, the tendency of these levers is, by their form
to open or separate at their hooked ends and clear the ring or other attach-
ment by which they held the weight.
In applying these improvements to ships' boats or other weights requiring
two of such supporting means, and both ends to be released simultaneously, I
apply a cord, chain, or other like-acting connection passing under two pulleys
to two of such compound hooks, in such manner that when one of them has
become released from one end of such cord or chain, &c., the other may either
draw away the cord or chain or other such connection, or by the relief of the
weight become released as the other.
Supporting connections thus formed are applicable as self-acting releasers
shon lowering merchandize and other matters from other situations.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Talbot in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th
October 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, the
Honorable WILLIAM TALBOT, of the Army and Navy Club, Pall Mall, in the
County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-first year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Talbot, Her special licence that I, the said William Talbot, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Talbot, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN

page_text: MEANS OR APPARATUS TO FACILITATE THE LOWERING AND DETACHING OF BOATS FROM
SHIPS OR VESSELS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO LOWERING AND
DISENGAGING OTHER BODIES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said William Talbot, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly 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 William Talbot, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Inventi on, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, 'to be particularly described and ascertained in
following statement thereof, that is to say:―
and by the
When lowering and disengaging boats from ships considerable difficulty and
danger are experienced in obtaining the release at the instant of the boats
coming in contact with the water, and the object of the improvements is to
form the hooks or connections to the boats in such manner that so soon as the
weight of the boat is removed therefrom by contact with the water, such hooks
or connections may be self-releasing. For this purpose each hook or support
is formed by two levers, one end of each of which is connected by pin joint
to the other, whilst the axes of motion of these levers diverge therefrom, and
are the points of their suspension from two separate links, which hang from a
ring common to both. The lower ends of these levers are bent into the form of
a hook, and are capable of lying one across the other, when by a ring or
otherwise a weight is applied to their hooked ends, and they are caused thus
to cross each other. In that position they form a secure support, but so soon
as the weight is released therefrom, the tendency of these levers is by their
form to open or separate at their hooked ends, and clear the ring or other
attachment by which they held the weight.
. But that the nature of these improvements, and the means which I adopt
in carrying the same into effect, may be fully understood, I will proceed to
describe the Drawing annexed, in the various figures of which the same letters
indicate like parts wherever they occur.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 shows a side view, and Figure 2 an edge view, of a hook and
parts acting with it, constructed according to my Invention, supporting an
ordinary weight; Figure 3 shows a side view of the same hook in the position
it would assume when, from the weight which had been supported thereby

page_text: having come on to some other supporting means, the weight strain has been
taken therefrom, and an instantaneous disconnection effected.
a is the weight, which from its ring 6 is held by the compound lever
hooks c, c, the parts c', c', of which when sustaining a weight cross each other,
as indicated by Figure 1; and these levers.c, c, are connected together, so as
to turn upon the pin joint c², whilst they are formed with eyes c³, c³, which are
their axes of motion and the points of their support from the two links d, d,
which hang from the link e; and this link e may be one of a series forming a
chain of links as the suspending medium, for the hook or the link & may be
connected to other suspending means.
When employing hooks of the character described to the suspension of
ships' boats, I prefer that the eyes or rings into which they are to be looped be
applied to the thwarts of the boat, one near each end thereof; or in such and
other cases where two of such supporting means are required, and it is
important that both ends be released simultaneously, I apply a cord, or chain,
or other like-acting connection, passing under two pulleys to two of such
compound hooks, in such manner that when one of them has become released
from one end of such cord or chain, &c., the other may either draw away the
cord, or chain, or other such connection, or, by the relief of the weight, become
released as the other. Supporting connections thus formed are applicable as
self-acting releasers when lowering merchandize and other matters from other
situations.
Figure 4 shews a hook and parts according to my improvements adapted
as self-releasing means to a bucket. In this case the hook c, c, is shown
looped to the eye a¹ of the bucket a, whilst the links e are connected to one
end of the cross bar f, which is supported by a line or chain g, and at its other
end is connected by a chain h to the lower part of the bucket a at a³. When
in lowering the bucket a, by the line or chain g, the bottom thereof comes in
contact with a surface capable of resisting its further progress, the parts c², c¹,
of the hooks c, c, will immediately separate, and when the chain or band g is
again lifted, the bucket, being supported only by the point a³, will be upset
and its contents emptied without the assistance of an attendant, as indicated
by the position of the parts, Figure 5.
I
Figure 6 is a plan of the bucket; a³ are two steadying pins, which embrace
the chain h, and thereby hold that side of the bucket correctly in position when
the parts are connected, as indicated by Figure 4..
Having thus described the nature of my said improvements, and the means
which I adopt in carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood
that I do not not confine myself to the precise details of the parts, as these

page_text: may be varied; but what I do claim is the adaptation and combination of
apparatus forming a hook or releasing means adapted to the lowering and
detaching of boats from ships or vessels, and to the lowering and disengaging
of other bodies substantially as explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Talbot, havo hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
Witness,
WILLIAM BROOKES,
73, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agent.
W TALBOT. (L.S.)