Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Holding and Putting Off Ships' Boats.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 17th May, 1886.
Complete Left, 16th Feb., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 18th Mar., 1887.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Holding and
Putting Off Ships' Boats.
I, WILLIAM JOHN GELL, of 3 West Seacombe Terrace, Percy Road, Seacombe, in
the County of Chester, Master Mariner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention consists in an apparatus for easily putting off boats, and setting
them free from the slings without the accidents so frequent at the present time. In
place of having to haul upon the tackle to liberate the boat from the chocks, I form
the latter with one half pivoted on the other, and so arranged that on being freed
from a catch the pivoted or outside chock shall swing round on a vertical axis, and by
a projection on the inner continuation of said swivelling chock actually assist if
desirable in swinging the boat off. The end of the continuation or arm forms a lever
for this purpose. The keel of the boat rests on a long T-piece extending between the
two chocks.
The mode of an apparatus for freeing the arms or pivoted chocks is peculiar; the
stops being two long rods passing through the stationary chock and united to opposite
ends of a crosshead. By swivelling this crosshead by means of two arms the rods
are simultaneously pulled back, and simultaneously free the two pivoted chocks. A
lock pin keeps the crosshead from moving when not required.
The slings or block tackle are attached to similar rods forming pins-between
bearings, and actuated in, a similar manner by a crosshead on the boat, so that by
turning the crosshead the two pins are simultaneously withdrawn and the boat let go
at both ends at once.
The davits are arranged to rotate on two planes or their equivalents inclined to cach
other in such manner that they shall stand in rather unstable equilibrium in the "in"
position and if turned slightly shall at once swing round to the "out" position or
with the impetus a little beyond it, so as to free the boat from the other davit, and
enable it too, to swing round.
WM. P. THUMIDUN & CO.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Holding and
Putting Off Ships' Boats.
I, WILLIAM JOHN GELL of 3, West Seacombe Terrace, Seacombe in the County of
Chester Master Mariner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :—
This invention consists in apparatus for holding and putting off boats, and for
setting them free from the slings without the accidents so frequent at the present
time, also for enabling two or more boats to be successively launched from one
pair of davits, and for enabling a boat to be taken at once from the windward side of
the ship, and put off from the leeward side. It is best described by aid of the
accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 is a general view of the apparatus with a boat in position.
Figure 2 plan of boat with detaching apparatus.
Figure 3 detail side view of part of davit.
Figure 4 side view of chocks.
Figure 5 end view of chocks.
Figure 6 plan view of chocks.
In order to avoid having to haul upon the tackle to liberate the boat from the
chocks, I form the latter with one half pivoted on or hinged to the other, and
preferably so arranged that when freed from a catch or the gantree on which it slides,
it shall swing back on its axis, pivots, or hinge, clear of the boat. I also prefer to
form the hinged or swivelling chock with a projection. or an inner continuation that
shall, as the chock swings back, come in contact with the keel or other part of the
boat and assist in swinging it off.
These hinged or swivelling chocks are set forth in Figures 4, 5 and 6. In these
A is the stationary chock, B the movable one turning about a pivot or hinge C.
D projection which on the falling of B comes in contact with the boat keel, and shoves
it off. The boat rests on a T iron plate E' extending from or beyond one pair of
chocks to the other. F is a side rail connecting the two stationary chocks for the
boat to lie against. G the deck or other support, or it may be a gantree as described
in my application No. 14365 of 1886, but I usually prefer when using this special
design to have the framework and chock A firmly fixed. H locking handle with
projection I, and catch J to hold the continuation K of chock B firmly down.
The mode of action is as follows:-
The falls being held taut the arms K are liberated and used as levers to lower the
chock B and force the boat by means of projections D off the T piece E¹.
Referring now to Figures 1, 2 and 3. The davits are specially arranged to swing
out easily, being made with a tubular base M having a V shaped hiatus N. The
points of the two parts of the V rest on each other (being a little flattened for this

page_text: purpose) when the davit is pointing inward as set forth in the drawing, but the moment
the davit is swung to one side, the two inclined planes slide on each other, and the
boat swings out of its own accord. The exact angle of the V is immaterial, about
30 degrees from the horizontal is good for most cases. A roller or howl can, if
desired, take the place of one of these inclines. The slings are attached to the boat by
hooking or linking into a rod P between two brackets as shown on Figure 2, the two
rods P are attached at their other end to crosshead Q or equivalent mechanism, by
turning the crosshead the two ends are drawn out of the fall simultaneously when
the boat is level.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :—
1st. The several improvements in chocks, and their connections for boat use, con-
sisting of the rail F for supporting the boat in combination with the hinged or
pivoted chocks A and B, the chock B pivoted at C beyond the centre line, and having
an arm K so arranged, that the chock shall at once, and rapidly, fall away when the
lever K is raised, and lastly in combination with the chock B and lever K, the
projection D which comes against the keel when the lever K is raised, all substantially
as described.
2nd. The arrangement of davits with a central column, free to turn, and resting by
an inclined plane or bowl or its equivalent, upon another inclined plane bowl or its
equivalent, so that, once leave the centre line in swinging, and the weight of the boat
and davits shall have a direct tendency to swing the boat out, substantially as
described.
3rd. The boat detaching apparatus, substantially as described, and set forth in
Figures 1 and 2.