Improvements in and relating to Leeboards or Drop Keels for Ships and Boats.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Dec., 1891
Complete Specification Left. 11th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 16th Apr. 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Leeboards or Drop Keels for
Ships and Boats.
I WILLIAM FLUX, Junior, of 113, Whitworth Road, Gosport, in the County
of Hampshire, Laundryman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
1
My invention relates to ships, boats, and the like.
The main object of my said invention is to provide an improved method of fitting
to vessels and boats an appliance called and known as a leeboard.
Leeboards, or drop keels, fitted according to my invention can be readily
lowered into the water to any convenient depth, and afterwards with equal facility
lifted out of the water at will.
In fitting leeboards or drop keels according to one form or modification of my
invention I confine them in a casing or well-open at the top and bottom-pro-
vided on the sides of the vessel, the casing is fitted and arranged so that its outside
is approximately parallel to the sides of the vessel, the ends dying away in a fair
curve into same so as to offer no resistance to the water, or unsightly projections.
I may
fit only one leeboard to a vessel-on the one side of same-or one on
each side as preferred.
The leeboards may be of the usual "fin" shape, or of rectangular or any
suitable shape, and of any desired length and convenient breadth, they may be
pivoted at the end nearest the bow of vessel so as to allow of their being lowered
and raised at the opposite or aft end as desired, by means of suitable gear or
mechanism, or they may be arranged so that they can be raised or lowered at both
ends simultaneously or at either end as preferred, and the boards will be free to
rise in the casing directly they touch the ground.
The boards and the casing may be constructed of metal or wood, or a combina-
tion of same as preferred and may be fitted to either iron, steel, or wood vessels.
Instead of providing a casing or well on the outside of the side, or sides of a
vessel, for the leeboard or drop keel to work in, I may form the well in the inside,
and as close as convenient to the sides of the vessel and in this case the boards
would be suitably disposed and manipulated in a similar manner, on either or both
sides of the vessel as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 7th day of December 1891.
HERBERT P. BLAKE, M.I.N.A.,
70, High Street, Southampton, Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Leeboards or Drop Keels for
Ships and Boats.
I WILLIAM FLUX, Junior, of 113 Whitworth Road, Gosport, in the County of
Hampshire, Laundryman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to ships, boats, and the like.
The main object of my said invention is to provide an improved method of
fitting to vessels and boats an appliance called and known as a leeboard.
Leeboards, or drop keels fitted according to my invention can be readily lowered

page_text: into the water to any convenient depth, and afterwards with equal facility lifted
out of the water at will.
In order that my invention may be fully understood I will proceed to describe
same with reference to the accompanying drawing in which
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal elevation of this my invention in one form.
Fig. 2 a sectional plan of Fig. 1, taken on line A. B.
Fig. 3 a cross section taken on line C. D.
Fig. 4 shews in longitudinal elevation a modification of my invention, and
Fig. 5 a sectional plan of Fig. 4 taken on line E. F.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
In fitting leeboards or drop keels according to one form or modification of my
invention applicable to a wood built vessel or boat, I form a casing or well a, in
the outside planking in which the leeboard G is mounted and worked, the
planking b, in the way of the leeboard, provided somewhat thicker than the
ordinary thickness of same and a recess is formed in this thick part of the planking
of a convenient length to house the leeboards, I prefer that the thickness of side
planking at c, c, shall be equal or nearly so to the ordinary thickness of same on
the other parts of the vessel, but from thence in a direction towards the stern and
bow respectively, it (the planking) will taper in a fair curve into the normal
thickness; thus the actual length of thickened plank will be inconsiderable and
the strength of the vessel is not weakened by this my method of fitting leeboards,
but rather strengthened.
To complete the well a, I fit over the aforesaid recess formed in the planking a
plate d securely fastening it at the ends e, el to the planking by screws e or other
suitable means, and to further stiffen the plate d, and complete the connection of
same to the ship's side, at the top and bottom edges, I provide and fit channel-or
other suitably shaped-bars f, securing same to the planking b, and to the
plate d.
A longitudinal slot is cut in the bar f, of sufficient size to allow of the
leeboard working up and down through same, and a slot f³ is provided in the bar f¹
to allow of the chain or rope g to pass through same.
To further stiffen the covering plate d, and to prevent it more especially from
being bent inwards, a bolt or stay g' is fitted at about the centre of the covering
plate in manner as illustrated or similar thereto.
To permit of the leeboard working over this bolt g'a slot g' is formed in the
former, and to facilitate the travel of the leeboard over the bolt g¹ I provide a
roller upon the bolt, upon which the leeboard will travel as it is lifted and
lowered.
The leeboard is lifted and lowered by means of the before mentioned rope or
chain g attached to same which is passed over and around the barrel of a winch or
windlass F1, the latter may be actuated by a crank handle or other suitable means,
pawl gear being fitted upon the winch to control same, or I may provide other
suitable mechanism for lifting and lowering the leeboards.
In the arrangement of my invention as illustrated by Figs. 1, 2, and 3, I pivot
the leeboards at E¹ it being then only necessary to lift or lower one end-that
furthest from the said pivot-when working the leeboard.
The leeboard is shewn at Fig. 1 in the housed position by the dotted lines h, h
and in the fully lowered position by the lines ³, 1, should the leeboard thus fitted
touch the ground it is free to rise in the well.
Figs. 4 and 5 shew respectively in longitudinal elevation, and sectional plan, a
modification in the shape of my leeboard and in the method of fitting and lifting
and lowering same, but it is noted the well a, is similarly arranged and formed as
herein before described.
This type of leeboard G is lifted and lowered vertically, not pivoted as is the
leeboard G, if desired a bolt or stay similar to g¹ may be fitted, and a vertical
slot gs formed in the leeboard, the latter being then arranged to travel up and
down bearing upon the roller 96, this type of leeboard may also be lifted and

page_text: lowered by means of a winch or windlass F¹, or other suitable mechanism, and is
shewn at Fig. 4 in the housed position by the lines 1, 2, and in the fully lowered
position by the lines h³, h³, I do not however limit myself to the use of the stays or
bolts g' and ' and the rollers g³ and 98, and the forming of a slot or g', in my
leeboards, the latter may be conveniently fitted and worked without such bolt,
roller and slot, and I may arrange for the plates d or d¹ to be supported and
stiffened in other suitable ways than those hereinbefore described.
In fitting my leeboard to a vessel constructed of iron or steel, the well will be
formed by suitably attaching to the outside of the side plating of the vessel a plate
corresponding to the plates d, d', but arranged so that it stands off from the ship's
side sufficiently to form the recess or well a, this well or cover plate, will be carried
along approximately parallel to the sides of the vessel for a distance sufficient to
house the leeboard and then will taper inwards at both ends in a fair curve until
it meets the sides of vessel where it will be securely attached to same.
I may fit only one leeboard to a vessel on the one side of same or one on each
side as preferred.
Instead of providing the casing or well on the outside of the side, or sides of a
vessel for the leeboard or drop keel to work in, I may form the well in the inside,
and as close, as possible to the side of the vessel, and in this arrangement the
leeboard and well would be suitably disposed and the leeboard fitted and worked on
either or both sides of the vessel in manner or similar thereto as hereinbefore
described.
The leeboards or drop keels may be constructed of metal, wood, or a combina-
tion of same as preferred, and fitted to vessels built of any material, and be of
other convenient shapes than illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and of a
size convenient for the vessel or boat to which they may be fitted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. The forming of a casing or well upon the outside of vessels or boats, or
upon the inside adjacent to the side, for the reception of a leeboard or drop keel,
and in which the latter is worked in manner as hereinbefore described and illus-
trated in the accompanying drawing.
2nd. The improved leeboards, or drop keels described, fitted and worked within
a casing or well formed in or upon the outside planking or plating, or, upon the
inside adjacent to the side, or sides of vessels or boats, substantially as and for the
purpose hereinbefore specified.
3rd. The bolts or stays 9', and ', and the rollers g³, and 96, arranged as shewn in
the accompanying drawing for the purpose specified.
4th. The construction of leeboards or drop keels, with a slot 9², or 9°, in same,
working over and engaging with the roller g³, or go, when being raised and lowered
substantially in manner as hereinbefore described and illustrated in accompanying
drawing.
Dated this 10th day of March 1892.
HERBERT P. BLAKE, M.I.N.A.,
70, High Street, Southampton, Agent for the Applicant.