Improved Fittings connected with Life-buoys.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Sept., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 5th June, 1890-Accepted, 5th July, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Fittings connected with Life-buoys.
I, SAMUEL BLACK, of Harbour Street, Ardrossan, Ayrshire, Ship Chandler, do
hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
This Invention has reference to and comprises a new or improved mode and
means or fittings for the securing and instantaneous releasing of life-buoys, from
berths, bulkheads or railings, where they are conveniently visibly housed ready for
use, all in a more convenient manner for instantaneous use, and for being taken
down and repainted cleaned or examined than has been the case heretofore.
As applied to the ring forms of life-buoys most generally in use, the improve-
ments consist in fitting lateral radial bracket arms to the vertical wall or railing in
front of which the buoy is to be mounted, preferably two arms within the ring at
less than one fourth of the circumference apart, and bent or curved over in front of
the ring to hold its lower circumference close to the wall support. And in jointing
a lateral spring lever, preferably also within the upper central part of the ring on a
bracket secured to the wall, so that this lever would fold up over the outside of the
upper part of the buoy, and have its outer curved or free spring end coupled by a
lateral hinged shackle or catch link to the bracket or wall, so as to secure the upper
part of the ring of the buoy to the wall. The buoy would thus be perfectly secured
to the retaining wall, and at the same time be easily and instantaneously removable
by merely swivelling up the catch shackle off the curved spring end of the holding
and releasing lever, which would then be casily folded down on its hinge within the
ring buoy, and which would then come away by its own weight into the hands of the
person releasing the catch lever. The catch lever might either have the spring
itself, or the catch might have a separate spring acting on its outer free end.
Although the fixed radial catch arms have been described as fitted to the supporting
wall within the buoy ring, they might be fitted outside the ring at the top, and
wider apart, and have the spring catch lever mounted in the centre outside below the
ring, and be released and act otherwise the same as described in reference to the
first converse arrangement; and either arrangement of these fittings might be
mounted horizontally opposite each other, instead of vertically as hereinbefore
described.
And although these improved fittings have been described as applied only to ring
forms of life-buoys, they might be used for other forms of life-buoys in an equivalent
manner, the stem part of the fastener of the spring lever passing through a recess
in the buoy or past the side or angles or projections on it.
Dated the 4th Santambor 1889
W. R. M. THOMSON & CO.,
Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Fittings connected with Life-buoys.
I, SAMUEL BLACK, of Harbour Street, Ardrossan, Ayrshire, Ship Chandler, do
hereby declare the nature of my invention, and in what manner the same is to he
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My Invention has reference to and comprises a new or improved mode and means
or fittings for the securing and instantaneous releasing of life-buoys, from berths,
bulkheads, bulwarks, or railings, where they are conveniently visibly housed ready

page_text: for use, all in a more convenient manner for instantaneous use, and for being taken
down and repainted, cleaned or examined than has been the case heretofore.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing or carrying the
same into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended
an explanatory Sheet of Drawings, in which the same reference letters are used to
indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown. Figure 1 shows a front
elevation of a ring form of life-buoy as securely housed with my improved fittings
applied thereto for retaining and instantaneously releasing same. Figure 2 is an
edge section corresponding to Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a corresponding view to
Figure 2, but with the life-buoy as released from the improved fittings ready for
heing thrown overboard. And Figures 4 and 5 are side and edge views of two
different forms of the locking device, from that shown in Figures 1 to 3. And
Figures 6 and 7 are views corresponding to Figures 1 and 2 but with a slightly
different modification of my fittings for securing and instantaneously releasing the
life-buoy.
Referring to Figures 1 to 3 of these Drawings:-As applied to the ring forms of
life-buoys Z, most generally in use, the improvements consist in fitting and securing
lateral radial bracket arms A, to the vertical wall or railing in front of which the
buoy Z is to be mounted, preferably two curved or kneed arms A within the ring
screwed or secured by flanges A' to the side of the wall or railing at less than one
fourth of the circumference apart, and bent or curved over in front of the ring to
hold its lower circumference close to the wall support z. And in jointing or hinging
a lateral curved or spring lever B, preferably also within the upper central part of the
ring A on the lower part of a bracket B' secured to the wall, so that this lever B
will fold up over the outside of the upper part of the buoy Z, and have its upper
outer curved or free spring end b coupled by a lateral hinged shackle or catch link B¹
to the upper part of the bracket B₁, or wall z, so as to secure the upper part of the
ring of the buoy Z, to the wall z. The buoy would thus be perfectly secured to the
retaining wall " and at the same time be easily and instantaneously removable by
merely swivelling up the catch shackle B2 of the curved spring end 6 of the holding
and releasing lever B, which would then be easily folded down on its hinge within
the ring buoy Z, assisted by its weight, as shown in this position in Figure 3, and
which would then come away into the hands of the person releasing the catch
lever B, B, for being thrown overboard. The lever B might either have the
spring in itself at the upper end b, or the catch B³ might have a separate spring
acting on its outer free end.
Referring to Figures 4 and 5, instead of the catch lever B² shown in Figures 1 to 3
being made with a close rectangular buckle to fold over the end of the upper
gripping lever B, it might be made as a hinged stem handle B2 with collar B", to be
drawn down into a slot b' to lock the upper end 6 of the lever B, by the collar B"
outside as shown in Figure 4. Or otherwise this lever B2 might be formed solid, as
shown in Figure 5, and kneed out from the upper part of the bracket B', with an
open outer forked end with eyes 6", for a pin 2 to be inserted through these outside
the upper end of the lever B to secure it this pin being secured by a short chain at b³
to the upper end of the bracket B¹ and easily drawn out to instantaneously release
the lever B and the buoy Z.
Although the fixed radial catch arms A have been described as fitted to the sup-
porting wall z within the buoy ring A, they might be fitted outside the ring at the
top, and wider apart, and have the spring catch lever B, B2, mounted in the centre
outside below the ring Z, and be released and act otherwise the same as described in
reference to the first or converse arrangement; and either arrangement of these
fittings might be mounted horizontally opposite each other, instead of vertically as
hereinbefore described.
In Figures 6 and 7 the lower knee catches A are shown as formed on two lower
limbs of a tripod bracket A", screwed to the side wall of the bulwarks or other parts
of the ship where the buoy has to be hung. And in this arrangement the upper lever B
is formed as a sliding curved bracket fitted by a bolt or other equivalent to slide in

page_text: slots at B3 in the upper arm A" of the said tripod bracket to catch the upper part of
the buoy when in its upward outward position, as shown in sharp lines in Figures 6
and 7, and to which position it is moved outwards by a swivelling eccentric or cam
lever C fulcrumed on a pin at C, in the centre of the tripod bracket A", actuated by
a lateral hand lever c on the outer end of the cam C. And to lower or release the
buoy Z this handle and cam c, C, is turned to the position shown in dotted lines in
Figure 6.
And although these improved fittings have been described as applied only to ring
forms of life-buoys Z, they might be used for other forms of life-buoys in an equivalent
manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
First. The securing and instantaneous releasing of life-buoys by retaining bracket
arms on one side of the buoy, and a hinged or lateral moving lever on the other side,
substantially as herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying
Drawings.
Second. The fitting and use of a hinged or lateral moving or swivelling lever or
equivalent device for holding and instantaneously releasing life-buoys, substantially as
herein described, in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Dated the 4th June 1890.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.