Improvements in Life Saving Appliances.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Nov., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 12th Aug., 1896-Accepted, 12th Nov., 1896
Improvements in Life Saving Appliances.
I WILLIAM HENRY HEWETT of No. 23, Spital Street Guildford in the County
of Surrey Accountant' and Shipping Agent do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The object of my said invention is to construct or adapt certain appliances to
wit-gratings, which are carried on ocean going, river and other vessels, in such a
manner that on an emergency arising these appliances form a float capable of
carrying and supporting in the water persons, cattle or other objects.
In carrying out my said invention I form a skeleton framing of convenient size
made of wood or other suitable material with centre pieces and additional rails
fastened or secured together in some efficient manner for the purpose of rendering
the frame work rigid thus dividing the structure into sections, the whole being
supported underneath by bars of wood, metal, rubber or other suitable inaterial
which are secured to the framing in any suitable manner I preferably cover the
top of the framework with an ordinary grating and sometimes I protect the under
part of the air chambers by wooden or other laths, or by a tarpaulin or in other
suitable manner.
In the sections or compartments so formed I secure one or more metal or air
tight chambers in such a manner that there shall be a space of half an inch.or
thereabouts between the top of the chambers and the compartments which spaco
I fill in with cork or some other suitable buoyant material sometimes fix ruaners,
wheels or friction rollers made of metal or other suitable substance to the bottom
and fix handles at either end to enable the structure to be pushed over the ice.
Dated this Eleventh day of November 1895.
тргоѵетени шhe paving аррпацов.
I, WILLIAM HENRY HEWETT of No. 23 Spital Street, Guildford, in, the
County of Surrey, Accountant and Shipping Agent, 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:-.
The object of my said invention is to construct or adapt certain appliances, to
wit, gratings, which are carried on ocean going, river and other vessels in such a
manner that on an emergency arising, these appliances form a float, capable of
carrying and supporting in the water, persons, cattle, or other objects.
1
In carrying out my said invention, I form a skeleton framing of convenient size
made of wood, or other suitable material with centre pieces and additional rails
fastened or secured together in some efficient manner for the purpose of rendering
the frame work rigid, thus dividing the structure into sections, the, whole. being
supported underneath by bars of wood, metal, rubber or other suitable material,
which are secured to the framing in any suitable manner. 1 preferably cover the
top of the framework with an ordinary grating, and sometimes I protect the
LD

page_text: underpart of the air chambers by wooden or other laths, or by a tarpaulin, or in other
suitable manner.
In the sections, or compartments, so formed, I secure one or more metal or other
air tight chambers, in such a manner, that there shall be a space of half an iuch
or thereabouts between the top of the chambers, and the compartments, which space,
1 fill in cork, or some other suitable buoyant material.
I sometimes fix runners, wheels, or friction rollers, made of metal or other
suitable substance to the bottom, and fix handles at either end, to enable the
structure to be pushed over the ice.
In order that my invention may be more readily understood, I now proceed to
describe the same, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The same letters, refer to the same parts, in each of the figures.
:
Figures 1. 2 & 3 show my invention as applied to an ordinary ship's grating.
Figure 1 being a plan of the grating, Figure 2. a section of the same, Figure 3. a
side elevation of the same,
Figure 4. shews my invention as applied to a larger grating, Figure 5. is a section
of same, and
Figure 6 shews a method of supporting the grating.
Figure 7 shews my invention applied to a still larger grating which would
require to be placed on deck houses or other suitable positions and may be made
sufficiently large to carry a considerable number of persons and the like. Figure 8
is a section of the same showing the chambers.
In Figure 1A is the grating, the upper trellis covering of which is shewn
partly removed, on two sides of which I place a wooden or metal standard F
perforated at the top for rope and connected at the bottom to the frame by a pivot.
When not in use, the standards may be lowered into sockets or hooks as shown
I in Figure 3. without removing the ropes attached, and is covered by a rod or
lath of wood or other suitable substance M which is attached to the frame by
pivots or other suitable means.
The purpose of the capping is, when two or more gratings are placed together to
fill up the spaces between.
At each of the four corners of the frame, I attach rings H, to which when the
standards are raised I attach the ropes G. (shown in Figure 3). The rings may
also be used for lashing two or more gratings together or for towing. I also fix
to the framing a rope shown K. Figure 3. secured by screwed eyes or other suitable
manner.
I sometimes fix runners, wheels or friction rollers, made of metal, or other
suitable substance to the bottom, and fix handles at either end, to enable the
structure to be pushed over the ice.
In Figure 2.-B are the air tight chambers, and C is the cork filling. L in
Figure 3. shows a small paddle which I connect with the framing by hooks or other
suitable manner.
In some cases I attach two or more paddles.
Figure 4. shews a larger form of grating constructed to hang at a ship's davits,
by means of a chain or rope D. (iu Figure 6), or in other suitable positions, and
which may be retained in position by hooks, or in other suitable ways.
In these larger sizes I may place between the air tight or buoyant chambers B,
cork filling C, and I may place similar cork sheets underneath the chambers,
attaching the same in any suitable way.
In these larger sizes of gratings, I also place rings Z at suitable intervals
round the sides of the grating, and down the centre, to which ropes may be
attached, and I also provide holes W. in which rowlocks may be inserted.
Figure 7. represents the largest size of gratings, which may be carried on deck
houses or in other suitable positions. In this case I make the air tight chambers,
sufficiently. deep to extend below the framing of the grating, securing them, thereto
by bands of metal of any convenient shape, or in any other suitable manner, .I
support the whole by legs of wood or iron, shewn at C (in Figure 8).

page_text: In the centre or other convenient position, I may provide a socket into which
a mast may be shipped and secured by ropes or bars of metal, to the rings previously
described.
I also construct an air tight tank K¹ of thin metal or other suitable material,
fitted with water tight lids or covers to serve as a breakwater, and to form a
locker for the reception of provisions and necessaries, which I secure to the
frame, in any sufficient manner. In this size I preferably affix a rudder
marked M' (in Figure 8) so arranged that it may slide up and down the metal
rod L', which is so formed as to admit a tiller being attached.
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 :-
•
1. Life saving gratings or floats, made or adapted substantially as described,
adapted and intended for the saving of life at sea, or on rivers, lakes, or other
waters.
II. The life saving grating or float, substantially as described and as illustrated
by the accompanying drawings.
III. The adaptation and conversion of all gratings in use on board vessels, into
the means of saving life.
Dated this Twelfth day of August:1896.
WILLIAM HENRY HEWETT.