Improvements in the Means of Carrying Ships' Boats to Facilitate Launching them, and Novel or Improved Means to Facilitate Access to the Boats when Suspended Outboard.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Oct., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 3rd July, 1900-Accepted, 25th Aug., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Means of Carrying Ships' Boats to Facilitate
Launching them, and Novel or Improved Means to Facilitate
Access to the Boats when Suspended Outboard.
I, WALTER JONES, of Holly Mount, Stourbridge, in the County of Worcester,
Engineer and Ironfounder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention has for its objects, to facilitate the launching of ships' boats,
and to provide means which afford ready access to the boats when suspended
outboard.
The object first above stated is effected, according to this invention, by novel
apparatus which enables a boat to be swung straight out, from its inboard
position, outboard ready for loading, without it being necessary to move the
boat endways to clear any portion of the apparatus, whereby the loss of time
occasioned in threading a boat between a pair of ordinary davits is avoided.
The novel apparatus for use in launching a boat comprises a pair of curved
arms which are pivoted at their lower ends to bearings fixed to the deck of
the ship, and are adapted at their upper ends for the suspension of a boat
therefrom. When the boat is inboard, the arms pass around the inner side
thereof, leaving the outer side of the boat clear; and to launch the boat, the
arms are simply turned over to bring the boat over the water, when the boat may
be readily lowered therefrom. The inner ends of the arms are pivoted to the
ship, preferably by being fixed to a shaft which is carried by bearings fixed
to the deck, and the inner ends of the arms are shaped each with two bearing
surfaces which extend some distance from the pivot axis, and in each case one
of these surfaces bears upon the deck, inwards of the pivot axis of the arms,
when the arms are in their inboard position, whereby the arms are prevented
from moving further inwards, and it is preferred that the centre of gravity of
the boat, when inboard, shall be inwards of the pivot axis of the arms, thus
tending to maintain the arms in position. The other bearing surfaces bear
upon the deck outwards of the pivot axis of the arms, when the arms are in
their outboard position, and maintain them in such position. The arms are
conveniently moved inwards and outwards by means of a pair of pinions fixed
upon a shaft which is carried in a pair of standards fixed to the deck, the
pinions gearing into quadrant racks carried by the inner ends of the arms.
For convenience in shaping the inner ends of the arms, the shaft which carries
the pinions may pass through curved slots formed therethrough to admit of
the movement of the arms notwithstanding the passage of the shaft therethrough.
This shaft may be turned by winch handles fixed to the ends thereof, or by
a motor, or in any convenient manner. Steadies, for use in preventing the
swinging of the boat while inboard, are suspended from the upper ends of the
arms. Each steady consists of a vertical portion which is pivotally connected
at its upper end with the corresponding arm, and of a horizontal portion which
is rigid with such vertical portion and extends on opposite sides thereof width-
ways of the boat and is of a length to pass right across the top of the boat.

page_text: The boat is drawn up by the block tackle tightly against the horizontal parts
of the steadies, and the steadies are each prevented from swinging inwards by
means of a pin which is engaged with the arm and itself. The opening through
which the pin passes, however, in either the steady or the arm, is formed as
a curved slot which will admit of the steady swinging outwards as the arm is
turned into its outward position. The boat may be prevented from swinging
outwards, when in its inboard position, by means of ropes or other connections
between its inner side and the opposite portions of the arms. The suspending
tackle of each arm consists, conveniently, of a pulley carried by and concentric
with the outer end of the arm, a pulley carried at the face of the vertical portion
of the corresponding steady, and of a running pulley carried in a frame adapted
for ready connection with and disconnection from the boat. The rope passes
from its fall end over the pulley which is carried by the arm, thence under
the running pulley, thence over the pulley which is carried by the steady, and
finally down to the top of the frame of the running pulley.
The means for affording ready access to a boat when suspended outboard may
consist, according to this invention, of rope or other flexible netting which is
connected along one side to the shaft to which the arms aforesaid are pivoted
and along its other side to the inner gunwale of the boat. As the arms are
turned over, and the boat thus brought into its outboard position, the netting
is drawn over the top of the shaft which carries the pinions aforesaid.
An alternative arrangement for affording ready access to the boat when in
its outboard position consists, according to this invention, of a pair of girders,
each formed with a slot extending nearly its whole length through which pass
both the shaft to which the arms, aforesaid, are fixed, and also a roller which
is carried by a hearing or short standard which is fixed upon the deck of the
ship close up to the side thereof. The girders are pushed into their outward
position, over the side of the ship, by rolling them over the rollers, and the
shaft which passes through their slots forms a stop to their outward position.
A notch is formed in the upper edge of the slot of each girder which drops over
the roller when it comes into coincidence therewith, and these notches prevent
the girders from being pulled inwards again, unless they are first lifted some-
what or are drawn back with considerable force. When the girders are in
their outward position, their outer ends come over the side of the boat.
girders are joined together by cross-pieces which form a footway, and a remov-
able fence is fitted to each girder to prevent persons falling over sideways from
the gangway formed by the girders and their footway. The removable fences
may consist each of standards having portions to pass down into holes of the
girders, and of chains extending from standard to standard. Each girder may,
conveniently, be formed of angle iron. having the slot formed through the web
or vertical member thereof, and holes for the fencing standards, and for the
rivets or bolts of the footway, formed through the upper or horizontal member.
Dated this 4th day of October 1899.
The
STEPHEN WATKINS & GROVES,
Wolverhampton, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Means of Carrying Ships' Boats to Facilitate
Launching them, and Novel or Improved Means to Facilitate
Access to the Boats when Suspended Outboard.
I, WALTER JONES, of Holly Mount, Stourbridge, in the County of Worcester,
Engineer and Ironfounder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention.

page_text: and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement: —
This invention has for its objects, to facilitate the launching of ships' boats
and to provide means which will afford ready access to the boats when suspended
outboard.
The object first above stated is effected, according to this invention, by novel
or improved apparatus which enables a boat to be swung straight out from its
inboard position outboard ready for loading, without it being necessary to move
the boat endways to clear any portion of the apparatus, whereby the loss of
time occasioned in threading a boat between a pair of ordinary davits is avoided.
The novel or improved apparatus for use in launching a ship's boat is illus-
trated by Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1
is a transverse section through the middle thereof, the boat being shewn as
suspended therefrom inboard; and Figure 2 is a front or outer view thereof,
portions of the boat being shewn in longitudinal section.
AA are a pair of curved arms which are fixed at their inner ends to a shaft a
whose longitudinal axis runs lengthways of the ship near to the side thereof.
This shaft is carried in bearings fixed to the deck B of the ship. The arms A
have their concave sides towards the sea, and the boat C is suspended from the
upper ends of the arms. The inner end of each arm A is formed with a part c
which, when the arm is in its inboard position, extends a considerable distance
inwards from the axis of the shaft a across the deck, and bears upon the deck,
thus securely preventing the arms from being moved further inwards; and the
inner end of each arm is formed, also, with a portion d which, when the arm
is in its outboard position, bears upon the portion of the deck which is outwards
from the axis of the shaft a, and thus the arms are securely prevented from
being moved further outwards. A shaft e, parallel with the shaft a, is carried
in bearings in the upper ends of standards D which are fixed upon the deck.
Pinions are fixed upon the shaft e, and gear with toothed quadrants g which
are fixed to the sides of the inner ends of the arms. Winch handles hare
fixed on the ends of the shaft e, and by means of these the shaft is turned, and
the arms A thus moved over from their inboard into their outboard position,
and vice versa. through the medium of the pinions f and toothed racks g.
Curved slots i are formed through the inner ends of the arms A, and the shaft e
passes through these slots. The arms can, consequently, move outwards and
inwards notwithstanding the passage therethrough of the shaft e. The shaft e
may, of course, be operated by a motor, if desired.
It will be obvious that when the arms are turned outwards, the boat swings
out clear from the deck, and over the side of the ship.
It is preferred, with a view to the stability of the arms A, when in their
inboard position, that they shall be so constructed that when in such position
the centre of gravity of the boat will be considerably inwards from the vertical
axis of the shaft a.
To prevent the swinging of the boat when inboard, steadies E formed each
with a vertical portion k, and with a portion 7 (shewn in section by Figure 2)
which passes right across the width of the boat and bears upon the gunwale
at each side, are pivotally connected at their upper ends with the upper ends
of the arms A; and the boat is pulled up against the undersides of the parts
of the steadies by means of the block tackle which connects the boat with the
upper ends of the arms A. The suspending block tackle for each arm may
consist conveniently of a pulley o carried by and concentric with the outer
end of the arm, of a pulley p carried at the face of the vertical portion of the
corresponding steady, and of a running pulley carried in a frame adapted for
ready connection with and disconnection from the boat. The ropes passes
from its fall end over the pulley o, thence under the running pulley r, thence
over the pulley p, and finally down to the top of the frame of the running
pulley r. Any convenient form of block tackle, however, may be used. Each

page_text: steady is prevented from swinging inwards by means of a pin m fixed to the
corresponding arm, which passes through a hole formed through the upper
end of the portion of the steady. To allow the boat to swing outwards, how-
ever, as the arms are moved over outboard, the holes through which the pins
pass through the steadies are each formed as a curved slot n which is con-
centric with the common axis of the steadies. The boat may be prevented
from swinging outwards, while the arms are fixed inboard, by lashing the inner
side thereof to the arms, or in any convenient manner.
Any known or convenient means may be employed for disconnecting the boat
from the tackle. The means illustrated therefor form the subject of an appli-
cation dated the 9th day of October 1899, No. 20187, for a patent.
The means, according to this invention, for affording ready access to a Boat
when suspended outboard, are illustrated by Figure 3 of the drawings herewith,
in which M is one of a pair of girders which are joined together by slats or
cross-pieces c¹ which form the platform of the gangway. Each girder M has
a longitudinal hole formed through a vertical web or flange thereof (the
girders being conveniently of angle section), and the shaft a (which corresponds
with the shaft a shewn by Figures 1 and 2), or other shaft or bar, passes
through this hole. Short standards or hearings N, fixed to the deck B, close
up to the side of the ship, carry a roller which passes, also, through the
slots . In the upper edges of the holes are formed curved notches fl which,
when the girders are pushed outwards as far as the shaft a (or other shaft or
bar) will allow, engage with the upper side of the roller e and prevent the
girders moving endways except under a force sufficient to raise the upper edges
of the slots onto the top of the roller. The girders, and platform carried thereby,
are rolled endways upon the roller e¹. The shaft a (or other shaft or bar) prevents
the inner ends of the girders tilting up when the girders are in their outward
position. Standards gare dropped into holes or sockets of the girders, and
support chains, ropes, or rods, h³, which act as guards at the sides of the gangway.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. Apparatus for use in carrying and launching a ship's boat, which comprises
a pair of arms connected with the ship at their inner ends by means of a pivot
connection having a horizontal axis and each of a shape which is concave sea-
wards when the arms are in their inboard position, means for suspending a
boat at the concave side of the arms and from the outer or upper ends thereof,
and bearing portions at the lower or inner ends of the arms which rest upon
the deck inwards of the pivot axis of the arms when they are in their inboard
position, substantially as described.
2. Apparatus for use in carrying and launching a ship's boat, which comprises
a pair of arms connected with the ship at their inner ends by means of a pivot
connection having a horizontal axis and each of a shape which is concave sea-
wards when the arms are in their inboard position, means for suspending a boat
at the concave side of the arms and from the outer or upper ends thereof, the
points of suspension being inwards of the pivot axis of the arms when the arms
are in their inboard position, and bearing portions at the lower or inner ends
of the arms which rest upon the deck inwards of the pivot axis of the arms
when they are in their inboard position, substantially as described.
3. Apparatus for use in carrying and launching a ship's boat, which com-
prises a pair of arms connected with the ship at their inner ends by means of a
pivot connection having a horizontal axis and each of a shape which is concave
seawards when the arms are in their inboard position, means for suspending
a boat at the concave side of the arms and from the outer or upper ends thereof,
and openings through the inner portions of the arms through which a spindle
passes by means of which the arms are operated and which allow of the move-
ment of the arms in relation to the axis of the spindle, substantially as described.

page_text: 4. Apparatus for use in carrying and launching a ship's boat, which comprises
a pair of arms connected with the ship at their inner ends by means of a pivot
connection having a horizontal axis and each of a shape which is concave sea-
wards when the arms are in their inboard position, means for suspending a boat
at the concave side of the arms and from the outer or upper ends thereof,
bearing portions at the lower or inner ends of the arms which rest upon the
deck inwards of the pivot axis of the arms when they are in their inboard
position, and openings through the inner portions of the arms through which
a spindle passes by means of which the arms are operated, and which allow of
the movement of the arms in relation to the axis of the spindle, substantially
as described.
5. In apparatus for use in carrying and launching a ship's boat, supports from
the upper or outer ends of which the boat is suspended, and steadies suspended
from these supports and each formed with a portion which bears upon the
gunwales of the boat, substantially as set forth.
6. In apparatus for use in carrying and launching a ship's boat, supports
from the upper or outer ends of which the boat is suspended, and steadies sus-
pended from the supports and each formed with a portion which bears upon the
gunwales of the boat, with means by which the steadies are prevented from
swinging inwards beyond a predetermined point in relation to the supports,
substantially as described.
7. In apparatus for use in carrying and launching a ship's boat, supports
from the upper or outer ends of which the boat is suspended, steadies suspended
from the supports and each formed with a portion which bears upon the gunwales
of the boat, and block tackle carried partly by the steadies, substantially as
described.
8. Means for providing ready access from a ship to a boat suspended therefrom.
outboard, which comprise a pair of girders, a longitudinally slotted hole formed
through each girder, a support carried by the ship and passing through the
slotted holes, and a horizontal web or platform carried by the girders, substan-
tially as set forth.
9. Means for providing ready access from a ship to a boat suspended there-
from outboard, which comprise a pair of girders, a longitudinally slotted hole
formed through each girder, a support carried by the ship and passing through
the slotted holes, a notch in the upper edge of each hole for engagement with
the support when the girders are in their outboard position, and a horizontal
web or platform carried by the girders, substantially as set forth.
10. Means for providing ready access from a ship to a boat suspended there-
from outboard, which comprise a pair of girders, a longitudinally slotted hole
formed through each girder, a fixed rod or bar which passes through the slotted
holes of the girders to act as a stop to the outward movement of the girders
and prevent them tilting up at their hinder ends, and a web or platform carried
by the girders, substantially as set forth.
11. Means for providing ready access from a ship to a boat suspended there-
from outboard, substantially as described and shewn by Figure 3 of the drawings
herewith.
STEPHEN WATKINS & GROVES,
Chartered Patent Agents, Wolverhampton, Agents for the Applicant.