IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VESSELS FOR SAVING LIFE AT SEA, AND IN THE APPARATUS FOR LAUNCHING THE SAME
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Alfred Stockwell, of Lee, in the County of
Kent, Ship Builder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF VESSELS FOR SAVING LIFE AT SEA, AND IN THE APPARATUS
FOR LAUNCHING THE SAME."
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Alfred Stockwell
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 20th April 1875.
I, JOHN ALFRED STOCKWELL, of Lee, in the County of Kent, Ship
Builder, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
“ IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VESSELS for Saving Life at Sea, and
IN THE APPARATUS FOR LAUNCHING THE SAME," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to provide a safe and efficient means for
saving life at sea whereby it is calculated that a number of persons,
varying from 50 to 150, may be provided with means of escape and safety
in cases of shipwreck or other disasters at sea. Many plans have been
proposed for effecting this object, as, for instance, the various forms of

page_text: so-called "life rafts," which have invariably failed in the moments of
danger. Again, the difficulties attendant upon the lauching of these
"life rafts," and, indeed, of the usual ship's boats, and of taking off the
passengers and crews of the ship, adds much to the trials and dangers
undergone by shipwrecked crews, while even if the launches are satis-
factorily performed and the crews are taken off the exposure to the sun
and to the elements, often without food and water, proves fatal to the
survivors in nearly every case.
The first part of my Invention relates to the construction of vessels
for saving life at sea, and consists in building the vessel in the form of a
cylindrical ring, this form of construction giving free play to the water
in the centre, whereby a comparative immunity from capsizing is ensured,
a danger to which any other form of vessel will be liable. I adopt the
cylindrical form by preference, as it will admit of the vessel being built
much lighter from the fact that the strain will be equal in every part
and the displacement will also everywhere be equal. The vessel may be
built of any suitable material, such as iron, wood, copper, or india-rubber,
but I prefer sheet iron. It is constructed with four water-tight com-
partments, each having its own hatchway, which will be fitted with a
ventilating cap, and each compartment will be provided with one or more
"dead lights," to give light to the interior. Two rows of seats which
will be built into the vessel are provided in each compartment, and made
water-tight, and the tanks thus formed may be used for storing fresh
water or biscuits, while they will at the same time tend to strengthen
the vessel. A light batten deck will be fitted on to the top of the vessel,
and staunchions and guard rails are provided to prevent the crew from
being washed overboard, while the centre of the ring will be provided
with a strong netting, into which in cases of emergency women and
children may be thrown. The vessel will be provided with masts, sails,
rudder, false stem, and adjustable centre board, binnacle, signal lights,
and signal rockets, and it is calculated that a fair speed will be
attainable and a tolerably good course may be held. Fenders will be
provided round the vessel, and life lines may be attached at various
points. The dimensions of vessel which I propose to use for passenger
or emigrant ships are 20 feet beam or across, the diameter of the cylin-
drical ring being 5 feet, but for ordinary trading vessels I could employ
a vessel of 4 feet diameter of cylinder and 15 feet beam, which may be
considered as the minimum dimensions..

page_text: The second part of my Invention relates to the means to be employed
for launching the above-described life-saving vessel. In most large ships
some of the boats are carried bottom upwards on "boat skids" placed
in the centre or other convenient part of the ship. These skids are
supported on staunchions at some height above the deck, and often pro-
ject from one side of the ship to the other. I propose to make use of
these boat skids for carrying my life-saving vessels, and I further propose
that the vessel shall be launched direct from the skids. In cases where
the skids do not project fully across the ship I hinge to them con-
tinuation pieces, the opposite ends of which shall rest on the top rail of
the bulwarks. These skids are constructed so as to form a portion of the
arc of a circle, and the connecting pieces will be formed so as to continue
the circle. It will be necessary that these skids shall be made to project
beyond the ship's side, and to effect this object I make use of narrow
metal boxes or troughs, the lower ends
ship's side in any suitable manner.
tinuation pieces, which are pivotted or
boxes. These continuation pieces will carry at their opposite ends bolt
rings, by which they can be attached to the ship's side. By this means
continuous "ways" will be provided for launching the life-saving vessel.
The projecting "ways" may be held rigidly in position by means of
struts. In order to facilitate the launching grooves will be made in the
ways" to receive the runners [of a cradle, in which the life-saving
vessel will rest.
"
of which are connected to the
These boxes will contain con-
hinged to the upper end of the
In cases where the ship is not of sufficient size to have "boat skids"
the life-saving vessel may be swung off in a horizontal position by a rope
rove through a block on the yard-arm, or in any other convenient posi-
tion, and provided with any suitable disconnecting hook which will
disconnect itself as soon as the vessel touches the water.
30 SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Alfred Stockwell in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 20th October 1875.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand cight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said John Alfred Stockwell,
Her special licence that I, the said John Alfred Stockwell, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
John Alfred Stockwell, 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 THE CONSTRUCTION
OF VESSELS FOR SAVING LIFE AT SEA, AND IN THE APPARATUS FOR LAUNCHING THE
SAME," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Jolin Alfred :
Stockwell, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and scals, 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 Sea Patent Office within six calendar months next 1
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Alfred Stockwell, 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 following statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto a
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thercon (that is to
say) :—
The object of this Invention is to provide a safe and efficient means
for saving life at sea, whereby any number of persons, including all the
crew and passengers of a sea-going ship, may be provided with means a
of escape and safety in cases of shipwreck and other disasters at sea,
and all specie, valuable papers, and other property of small bulk may be
saved with facility. Many plans have been proposed for effecting this
object, as for instance, the various forms of so called "life rafts" which
have almost invariably failed in the moment of danger. Moreover the
difficulties attendant upon the launching of these "life rafts," and
indeed of the usual ship's boats, and of taking off the passengers and
crews of the ship add much to the trials and dangers undergone by

page_text: and me W Are Math on the caposure to mat sun and
often without food and water, is likely to prove fatal to the survivors in
nearly every case.
The first part of my Invention relates to the construction of vessels for
saving life at sea, and consists in forming the vessels of sections of cylin-
drical tubing of suitable diameter and arranged in the form of a ring or
oval, this form of construction leaving a space which will give free play
to the water in the centre, whereby a comparative immunity from
capsizing is ensured, a danger to which any other form of vessel will be
liable. I adopt the circular or annular form by preference, as it will
admit of the vessel being built much lighter from the fact that the strain
will be equal in every part, and the displacement will also everywhere
be equal; but this form of vessel would not have the sailing or navi-
gating qualities of a vessol of a more clongated or oval form, such as
will be hereafter described. The hollow cylindrical tubes of which the
hull of the vessel is to be composed may be constructed of any suitable
material, such as iron, wood, copper, india-rubber, but by preference of
sheet iron; and they should be constructed with bulkheads, so as to
form water-tight compartments, each having its own hatchway which
will be fitted with a ventilating cap, which will serve as deck seats, and
each compartment will be provided with one or more dead lights to give
light to the interior, and also with one or more uptakes to ensure venti-
lation and carry off any noxious gases. Two rows of seats are to be
built into the interior of the tubes, and these seats in each compartment
may be made water-tight, so that the tanks thus formed may be used for
storing fresh water or biscuits, while they will at the same time tend to
strengthen the vessel. A light batten deck will be fitted on to the top
of the vessel, and stanchions and guard rails are provided to prevent the
crew from being washed overboard, while the centre of the ring will be
provided with a strong netting of rope and india-rubber, into which
in cases of emergency women and children may be thrown. This central
part may be covered with a strong wooden grating which is capable of
being shipped and unshipped with facility. The vessel will moreover be
provided with masts, sails, rowlocks for sweeps or oars, rudder, false stem,
and adjustable centre board, binnacle signal lights, and signal rockets;
and it is calculated that a fair speed will be attainable and a tolerably good
course may be held. Fenders will be provided round the vessel, and life

page_text: lines with a cork or other float, or an india-rubber ball at the ends to
denote their position may be attached at various points. The vessel may
be made of any convenient size, but the dimensions which I prefer for
passenger or emigrant ships are twenty feat beam, the diameter of the
cylindrical ring being five feet, but for ordinary trading vessels a vessel
of four feet diameter of cylinder and fifteen feet beam will be found suffi-
cient. These life-saving vessels may be placed over the hatchway of a
ship, or on the bridge deck, and they may be raised any height above the
deck of the ship, or if preferred they may be carried on deck; but I
prefer to arrange them above the level of the bulwarks on a deck house
so that they may be launched into the water with facility, and at short
notice. It will be obvious that the tubular bull may be constructed of
separate parts firmly and securely joined together, or it may be con-
structed in one piece and divided internally by means of bulkheads into
separate compartments.
"
The second part of my Invention relates to the means to be employed
for launching the above-described life-saving vessels. In most large
ships some of the boats are carried bottom upwards on " boat skids
placed in the centre or other convenient part of the ship. These skids
are supported on stanchions at some height above the deck, and often
extend from one side of the ship to the other. I make use of these
boat skids for carrying my life-saving vessels, and I further propose that
the vessel shall be launched direct from the skids. In cases where the
skids do not extend fully across the ship I hinge to them continuation
pieces, the opposite ends of which shall rest on the top rail of the
bulwarks. These skids are constructed so as to form the arc of a circle,
and the connecting pieces formed so as to continue the arc or curve.
It will be necessary that these skids shall be made to project beyond the
ship's sides, and to effect this object I make use of narrow metal boxes
or troughs, the lower ends of which are connected to the ship's side in
any suitable manner, as will be hereafter explained. These boxes will
contain continuation pieces, which are pivotted or hinged to the upper
end of the boxes, and these continuation pieces will carry at their
opposite ends bolt rings, by which they can be attached to the ship's
side. By this means continuous "ways" will be provided for launching
the life-saving vessel. The projecting "ways" may be held rigidly in
position by means of struts or stays. In order to facilitate the launching
grooves will be made in the ways to receive the runners attached to the
bottom of the life-saving vessel.

page_text: In cases where the ship is not of sufficient size to have " boat skids,"
the life-saving vessel may be swung off in a horizontal position by a rope
rove through a block on the yard arm, or in any other convenient
position, and provided with any suitable disconnecting hook, which will
disconnect itself as soon as the vessel touches the water.
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1, Sheet I., is an elevation of one
of the improved life-saving vessels complete, with masts, sails, rigging,
rudder, and every necessary appliance, and is shewn as floating in the
water. This vessel is constructed of a circular form, as will be seen in
the plan view, Fig. 2. The same principle of construction, but with the
vessel built of an elongated form, is shewn at Fig. 3, which represents
in side elevation a boat-shaped form of vessel; Fig. 4 is a plan view of
the same; Fig. 5 is an end view of the hull; and Fig. 6 is a transverse
vertical section of the hull of the vessel.
In the several Figures above mentioned representing the circular and
boat-shaped form of vessel the same letters of reference denote corres-
ponding parts, so that the same description will equally apply to both
forms of vessel. It will be seen that in both cases the hulls are con-
structed of four sections of circular tubing a, a, a, a, separated by bulk-
heads into as many separate compartments. The central space b,
enclosed by the tubular hull a, a, is moderately spacious in the circular
form, Fig. 2, but is more restricted in the boat-shaped form, Fig. 4; in
both cases however the bottom of this space is formed of a netting c, or
strong india-rubber fabric. On the tubular hull a, a, is raised a deck d,
supported by struts e, e, and the central well is covered with a movable
grating g, which is flush with the deck d, the deck being surrounded by
stanchions ff, to which a rope netting or railing is secured in order to
prevent the passengers or crew from being washed overboard. The
tubular hull a, a, is provided internally with water-tight lockers a¹, a¹,
(see Fig. 6) to contain fresh-water and provisions for the sustenance of
the passengers. These lockers will increase the rigidity of the structure,
and will also answer as seats. Access to the interior of each compart-
ment of the tubular hull is obtained by means of hatchways h, h. The
thorough ventilation of each compartment is provided for by means of
these hatchways, with the addition, if desired, of openings and shafts,
which would pass up through the deck openings j,j, fitted with bull's
eyes, will suffice to give light to the interior of the compartments. To
the under side of the hull are attached permanent cradles or runners k, k,

page_text: in the lower part of which are fixed horizontal and vertical rollers;
these cradles or runners fit in grooved skids or launchways, which must
be made to project beyond the sides of the ship, and over the bulwarks
in the manner hereafter explained. The vessel is provided with
masts m, m, bowsprit n, rigging and sails, also with a rudder for 5
steering, and with rowlocks p, p, for propelling the vessel when required
by means of sweeps, which when not in use may be lashed to any con-
venient part of the vessel. A false keel o is fitted to move up or down
in vertical guides o³, o¹, in the central well, in which it may be raised or
lowered, as required. The vessel is surrounded on all sides by a fender 1
q, q, which will prevent it from getting injured by striking against the
sides of the ship from which she is launcheḍ.
I would here remark that in troop or emigrant ships the life-saving
vessel may be constructed of large dimensions and placed in the waist of
the ship and covered over with planking, and provided with side walls, 1
so as to give it the appearance of a deck house.
In order to launch the vessel the covering and side walls may be taken
away, and on removing a portion of the bulwarks the vessel may be
launched, or in the case of the ship sinking the vessel would float off.
In Sheet II. I have shewn various Figures illustrating the method of 2
launching the life-saving vessel from the ship to which she belongs.
When not required the life-saving vessel is secured on the launch.
ways 1, 1, fixed on the top of the deck house A, as indicated by dots in
Fig. 7, which is a partial transverse section of a ship shewing the life-
saving vessel in the act of being launched; Fig. 8 is a plan view of the 2
same. To each of the ends of the launch ways l, l, which are firmly
fixed on the roof of the deck house, there are attached by hinges
extension picces l', ', which when not in use lie alongside of the fixed
pieces 1, 1, but when required to be used are moved round in a half
circle, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 8, and thus extend the 3
launch ways to the extreme edge of the ship's side. At this point are
firmly secured brackets 12, 13, to receive the ends of other extension
pieces,, which are jointed near their lower ends to grooved struts 8, 8,
which are hinged to the sides of the ship, as shewn at Fig. 7, and also at
Fig. 9, which represents a side elevation of part of the side of a ship 3
provided with these appendages. When these extension pieces are not
in use they are laid flat in the grooved struts 8, and these latter are
brought into a vertical position and secured there to the sides of the

page_text: 8
ship, as shown at B, B, in Figures 7, 8, and 9, by means of cross
pins t, t, but when the launch ways are required to be completed
preparatory to launching the life-saving vessel, the pins t, t, are
withdrawn, and the struts s fall into an inclined position, in which they
are held by the guy chains u. A rope or chain u³, one end of which is
attached to the lower end of the extension piece 1³ while the other end,
after passing over a pulley is attached to the outer end of the strut 8, as
shewn in Fig. 10, then serves to partly raise up the extension piece P³,
whilst another rope or chain u² secured to the end of the extension
piece l³ and passing over a cathead inboard is used to haul the extension
piece into the required position where it is secured by means of the cross
pin t, as shewn in Figures 7, 8, and 9, at C, C, C. The lower end of the
extension piece will be supported by the struts s, and all lateral move-
ment will be prevented by the guy chains u, u.
The launch ways
having thus been properly completed and secured, as shown at Figures 7
and 8 nothing now remains but to release the fastenings which hold the
life-saving vessel in place on the deck house, and then push it forward,
when it will of itself run down the ways over the side of the ship into
the water, as indicated in Fig. 7, in which the red radial lines indicate
the varying level of the water in relation to the sides of the ship as sho
heels over more or less.
Fig. 11 represents a modification of the mode of constructing and
arranging the launch ways. In this instance the hinged pieces P, l', of
Figures 7 and 8 are dispensed with, and the extension pieces P, P, are
elongated so as to be equal in length to the two pieces and of
Figures 7 and 8 combined. The outer end of the piece is supported
by a struts and guy chains u, as in the former instance, and the strut s
when not in use is laid flat in a vertical direction against the sides of tho
ship, and the long extension piece is laid alongside of the fixed launch
ways 1, 2, on the roof of the deck house, so that they extend over the
gangways on each side. The inner ends of the long extension pieces ³
when required for use are secured in place (so as to form a continuation
of the fixed launch ways) by means of pins, or in any other convenient
manner.

page_text: same into effect, I claim as the Invention secured to me by Letters
Patent as aforesaid,-
Constructing life-saving vessels to be kept on the decks of ships for
use in cases of shipwreck or peril at sea as above mentioned, such vessel
consisting mainly of circular tubes of suitable dimensions divided into
separate compartments by means of bulk heads or otherwise, so as to
form an unsinkable hull provided with hatchways, ventilating shafts,
and dead lights to give light and air to the interior and with water-tight
lockers to contain fresh water, provisions, and other indispensable
articles, such hull being further provided with a deck, masts, sails,
rigging, false keel, and stem and steering appliances, as and for the
purpose herein set forth.
I also claim adapting to the under side of the tubular hull cradles or
runners provided with antifriction wheels or rollers, as and for the
purpose described.
I further claim adapting to the roof of the deck house or other con-
venient part of the ship, the grooved launch ways 1, 1, and extensions l³, l',
together with the hinged pieces and struts s, and guy ropes u, as and
for the purposes herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Alfred Stockwell, have
hercunto set my hand and seal, the Twentieth day of October,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.