IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LIFE BOATS, AND IN DETACHING TACKLE FOR BOATS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF LIFE BOATS, AND IN DETACHING TACKLE FOR BOATS."-A
communication from abroad by Milton Vorse Nobles, David Decker, and
William James Dounce, all of Elmira, in the County of Chemung, and
State of New York. United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
12th July 1867.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LIFE BOATS, AND IN DETACHING, TACKLE FOR
BOATS," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists, first, in applying a movable and replaceable inflated
cover to and over the hold of a life boat and supplying the interior with fresh
and removing the foul air from the enclosed space through a hollow and
divided shaft or mast, so that the life boat cannot have any water thrown into
it, and consequently cannot sink.

page_text: The cover consists of a light ribbed frame having an opening or hatch at
its centre, the rim of this frame is secured tightly to a rubber strip around the
boat so as to make a water-tight joint; the frame is covered either with
double rubber cloth, canvas, or other waterproof and flexible material, or it
may be with sheet metal, the lower edges being drawn down under the rim of
the frame, and there secured by suitable fastenings, and in fine weather the
cover may be readily unhooked and rolled up or removed. When the cover
is double air may be forced in between the two thicknesses of material which
thus becomes an inflated life preserver; or if of a single thickness of imper-
vious material it may contain compressed air, and thus admit of the hold
being occupied. A frame is also fitted to the hatchway, to which is attached
a water-tight canvas or rubber cover made so as to completely enclose the
hatch and connected above to a thimble or sleeve on the mast. The boat and
hatch covers are both provided with skylights, and the boat cover may be
used alone when the weather permits, or both covers may be removed, leaving
only the light frame standing. The mast is hollow, its lower end being
received in a tube or step which is divided longitudinally into four passages
for the purpose of having a natural ventilation in the hold in certain cases,
and a forced ventilation also if necessary by means of an apparatus to be
worked by the occupants of the hold. A free current is established by the aid
of a cowl and vane provided with a tube placed at the masthead in communi-
cation with one of the passages at its base; the air enters at the cowl, and
passes down the tube through said passage into the hold below the cover, the
foul air escaping through a separate passage in the foot of the mast and out
at the masthead. The inlet and outlet pipes are provided with stop-cocks,
which are open during the natural ventilation, but when a forced current of
air is to be introduced they are closed. Artificial ventilation is obtained by
the aid of a double fan enclosed in a case turned by a crank and provided
with gearing to give the fan a very rapid motion. Each fan operates in its
own fan case, or both may be driven by the same shaft. To each of the fan
chambers are united two tubes, one of each pair connecting with separate
passages in the mast, the others opening in the hold of the boat, and for
convenience of removal I prefer the tubes to be of flexible material. The
fans draw in air at their centres, and expel it at their peripheries as usual; the
one fan extracts the impure air by one of the pipes of communication with a
passage in the mast, it passing out at the masthead, while the other fan at
same time draws in fresh air at an opening a little below the masthead,
whence it passes down through another of the pipes to the centre of the fan
and out at a pipe into the hold to supply the place of that expelled, as above

page_text: stated. The inlet for the fresh air is placed at a point below the top of the
mast so as to prevent the fresh air from mixing with that expelled from the
hold and pure air drawn in to take its place; this forced ventilation need
only be used when the cover is very tight and close and the occupants are as
it were in an air-tight compartment, as, for instance, when the sea is very
rough. The double cover may be inflated by means of a tube, which together
with the air-tight cover and the forced ventilation would make the hold
habitable, while the boat could not take in water or sink by any possibility.
The ordinary water, food, or air compartments are arranged around under the
deck of the boat; a hole is also made through the cover large enough to
admit an oar being passed through for steering or propelling the boat, which
orifice is encircled by flaps of india-rubber so as to make the opening
water-tight.
Secondly, in combining with the detaching apparatus of a boat, whether
arranged at or over the sides or centre of the boat, a bail bar or other cross
piece extending to and connected with the sides of the boat so as to act as a
brace against the tendency of the boat to tip when hastily or unevenly loaded.
The liability of boats to tip when suspended at points at or near the centre
longitudinally, from the haste or emergency in which they are detached and
the unequal distribution of the weight of the passengers or load therein,
frequently causes great loss of life; this object and purpose are to disconnect
as readily as is done by the single central supports in common use, but at
same time avoid the casualties incident thereto by preventing the tipping of
the boat.
The Invention for effecting this object further consists in raising up,
locking, and unlocking the holding device by the operation of a single lever
or of a single shaft, thus simplifying and rendering more efficient and
expeditious the connecting and detaching apparatus, and putting the whole
operation in the hands of a single person, so that no confusion or untimed
action can be had by a multiplicity of orders or division of the management
and manipulations. The bails are hinged transversely at the bow and stern of
the boat, so that when disconnected from the davit blocks they may lie down
upon the deck out of the way. A standard rises from the central portion of
each bail, on which is pivoted a hook or bent lever, catching in an arm or
trigger at the time the boat is suspended from the davits; this arm is jointed
at the upper end of a rod fitted to embrace the bail, and moving therewith
when it is raised or lowered; this rod has a crank arm pivoted at its lower
end fixed to a longitudinal bar extending along the bottom of the boat for
connecting the two disengaging gear, and is moved in one or other direction

page_text: for connecting or disconnecting the apparatus by the aid of the hand lever
mounted on said rod. The boat may be suspended from a jointed rod passing
down from the centre of the bail to or through the keel instead of from the
sides, so as to avoid strain; the bails are prevented swinging in towards the
centre of the boat by rubber or other springs. The detaching hooks
may also
be placed one on each side of the boat, to which hooks a bail or strap on the
davit blocks or tackle is connected, the books may also be simultaneously
disconnected by a cross shaft in connection with the main shaft and lever
before mentioned. Friction pulleys may be used where there is much weight
on any of the moving parts. The bails may also be so arranged that the boat
will be suspended centrally, but braced laterally to prevent tipping or rocking
by uneven loading, while the brace in detaching may be left with the boat or
let go with the davit blocks or other lowering tackle; for this purpose a bar
or brace is placed transversely near the ends of the boat lying between studs
or pins on the sides; metal rods extend towards each other from this bar from
the centre, and each end terminating in an eye to which the lowering tackle
is hitched. A suspension rod also extends downwards from the horizontal bar
to a tube in which it is guided and held by a rod or bolt entering a hole
therein. The pins above mentioned keep the bar in place, and the latter
serves to prevent the boat from tipping, but when the rod or bolt is withdrawn
from the hole in the tube the brace is immediately disconnected from the boat
and goes with the lowering tackle. The brace may also be hinged to the boat,
and have a central suspension rod working through a collar or ring on the
brace. A hook or bent lever is hinged at top of this rod, the point of which
catches in the collar, but when the bolt before mentioned is withdrawn the
suspension rod will no longer be rigidly connected with the boat, the ring at
once releases the point of the book and becomes detached from the lowering
tackle. The two longitudinal bolts may be withdrawn simultaneously by the
aid of a jointed lever to which they are connected.
In order to render the connected and detaching apparatus still more
efficient and expeditious in its action I attach the bails to holding heads or
bars near each end of the boat for raising or lowering said bails by the aid of
a lever operated by one person. The holding heads pass upwards from the
kelson to just above the decks where they are jointed; the upper part carrying
the connecting and detaching gear, as also the brace to prevent the boat's
tipping or rocking when hung from its centre. The heads are provided with
hinged arms near the top through holes in which the points of the detaching
hooks jointed at the tops of the heads are received and held in position by
springs. The bails or braces above mentioned are united at the crown to the

page_text: heads or standards, and hinged at the sides of the boat in a line therewith, so
as to permit of their dropping with the heads when the latter are detached,
this action being assisted by a suitable spring. In order to operate the
detaching gear a longitudinal shaft is placed low down in the boat provided
with a lever handle for rotating the same; at each end of said shaft there is a
crank connected to a rod passing up through the deck, and on the top of
which the head or standard rests when in the horizontal position. The crank
is also provided with another rod extending up through the deck, where it is
jointed in a line with those of the bail and standard, its extreme upper end
being linked to the jointed arm before mentioned of the said standard. In
this manner by rotating the longitudinal shaft the cranks will raise the
standards to a vertical position, at same time raising the hinged arms to.
receive and hold the points of the detaching hooks. By reversing the motion
of the shaft the hooks are released and the standards are then thrown or
eased down by the aid of the lifting rods and springs. According to a modified
arrangement the tackle hook may be placed below, and the balancing rod or
arm be passed through a guide on or near the tackle block.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 10th January 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, send.
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Alexander Melville Clark, Her special licence that I, the said
Alexander Melville Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, 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 LIFE BOATS, AND IN DETACHING
TACKLE FOR BOATS," a communication to me from abroad by Milton Vorse

page_text: Nobles, David Decker, and William James Dounce, all of Elmira, in the
County of Chemung, and State of New York, United States of America, upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their hands and seals, 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 Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, do hereby
declare the nature of the 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 Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
-
This Invention consists, first, in applying a removable and replaceable
inflated cover to and over the hold of a life boat, and supplying the interior
with fresh and removing the foul air from the enclosed space through a
hollow and divided shaft or mast, so that the life boat cannot have any water
thrown into it, and consequently cannot sink.
Secondly, in combining with the detaching apparatus of a boat whether
arranged at or over the sides or centre of the boat a bail bar or other cross
piece extending to and connected with the sides of the boat so as to act as a
brace against the tendency of the boat to tip when hastily or unevenly loaded.
The liability of boats to tip when suspended at points at or near the centre
longitudinally, from the haste or emergency in which they are detached and
the unequal distribution of the weight of the passengers or load therein,
frequently causes great loss of life. The object and purpose is to disconnect
as readily as is done by the single central supports in common use, but at the
same time avoid the casualties incident thereto by preventing the tipping of
the boat.
The Invention for effecting this object further consists in raising up,
locking, and unlocking the holding device by the operation of a single lever
or of a single shaft, thus simplifying and rendering more efficient and
expeditious the connecting and detaching apparatus, and putting the whole
operation in the hands of a single person so that no confusion or untimed
action can be had by a multiplicity of orders or division of the management
and manipulations.
In regard to the first part of this Invention relating to the cover for a life
boat to prevent the water from entering the hold and supplying the passengers

page_text: with fresh air, reference is had to the Drawings, in which Figure 1 represents
a top plan of the boat with the cover removed to show the interior arrange-
ments of the hold; Figure 2 represents a side elevation with a portion of the
side of the boat broken away to show the interior, and the canvas or cloth
cover removed from its frame so as to show the construction of the latter,
and its manner of being united to the boat; Figure 3 represents a top plan of
the frame that supports the canvas or rubber cloth covering. Similar letters
of reference indicate corresponding parts.
water.
The hull of the boat A may be made of any of the most approved shapes,
forms, or sizes. A light frame B is made of a base a and of ribs b, so as to
leave a hatchway C in its central portion. Around the boat where the base or
rim a rests a strip of rubber c is secured, and by means of hasps d or pins e
and keys or other equivalent fastenings this frame is drawn down and held so
tightly upon the rubber strip as to pack the joint and make it impervious to
Over this frame B a double rubber cloth g or other suitably prepared
canvas or cloth or sheet metal is placed, the lower edge of it being drawn
under the base, and by means of eyelets or grummets hooked on to pins f, so
that in pleasant weather the cover may be rolled up or removed, and readily
fastened down when necessary. When the cover g is made double air may be
forced in between the two thicknesses of rubber or cloth, when it becomes as
it were an inflated life preserver; but this cover may be of single materiał
impervious to air and contain compressed air, and thus admit of the hold being
occupied while the air in it was of this compact or compressed character.
The hatchway C I make rectangular, though it may be round or oval, and
into it fits a frame h of corresponding shape, which is drawn tightly down and
held by the hasp i which passes over a staple with a pin to hold it, and to this
frame hand to a thimble or sleeve ; which passes over the mast D a cloth,
canvas, or cover k is secured so as to completely cover the hatchway and make
the joint between this cover and the boat cover g impervious to water. The
cloth, canvas, or rubber coverings 9 and k are furnished with skylights 1, 1,
and the boat cover 9 may be used without the cover k being over the hatchway
when the weather permits, or both may be removed and stowed, simply
leaving the light frame B in its place. The mast D is hollow, and the lower
end acts in a tube or step D', and I propose to divide it longitudinally into four
distinct passages, as shown by the partitions m, m, Figure 1, for the purpose
of having natural ventilation in the hold in certain cases, and a forced venti-
lation when necessary by means of an apparatus that can be worked by the
occupants of the boat in the hold. For natural ventilation I arrange as
follows: A cowl n and vane o are arranged on a tube p which extends down

page_text: into one of the passages in the mast, as shown in Figure 1, said cowl, vane,
and tube being arranged so as to turn or be veered around by the wind. The
wind or air taken in at the cowl passes down through the tube p and through
its passage in the mast, and enters the hold below the cover g, and is taken
into the hold through the pipe q, while the foul air may escape through the
piper into a separate passage in the mast and escape up out of the top
thereof. The pipes 9 and r should both have stop-cocks in them so that
when the natural ventilation is used they may be opened, but when the
artificial or forced ventilation is used then these pipes must be closed. The
artificial or forced ventilation is as follows:-A double fan is arranged in a
tight fan case E, which fan or fans may be turned by a crank F, and geared if
necessary to give the fan a very rapid motion, each fan operating in its own
fan case, though both may be revolved by the same shaft and at the same
time. To each of the fans of the pair, or rather to each of the fan chambers,
are united two tubes s, t, and u, v, one of each pair s, u, connecting with
separate passages in the mast D, and the others of the pairs t, v, terminating
or opening in the hold of the boat, and for the purpose of being moved into
different portions of the hold or for being detached when not needed I propose
to make these tubes of rubber or other flexible material. The fans in the
case E when revolved operate like all ordinary fans, viz., to draw in air at
their centres and throw it off at their perimeters. Now the tubes t, u, connect
with the centre or eyes of the fan chamber, and consequently the air is drawn
through these two tubes into the fan case. The tubes s, v, connect with the
perimeter of the fan chamber, and the air is expelled from the fan chamber
through these tubes. The end of the tube t being opened in the hold of the boat
the impure air is drawn into it and expelled through the one s, aud into one of
the passages in the mast, and escapes out of the top of the mast. The other
fan at the same time draws fresh air taken in at an opening w a little below
the top of the mast down through its passage in the mast into the tube u, and
thence into the eye or centre of the fan, and this fresh pure air is driven out
through the tube v into the hold, and supplies the place of that drawn into the
tube t, and expelled as above stated. The object in taking in the fresh pure
air at w and at a point below the top of the mast where the foul air is escaped
is to prevent one fan from drawing in the same air that the other is expelling.
The foul air being the lightest and thrown out with considerable force will
rise and pass off without liability of mixing with or contaminating the fresh
air. Thus by the same fan foul air is expelled from the hold and pure air
drawn in and distributed to take its place. This forced ventilation need only
be used when the cover is made very tight and close, so that the occupants

page_text: are as it were in an air-tight compartment; as, for instance, when the sea is
very rough. is a tube for inflating the space between the double covers 9,
which inflation together with the cover is perfectly air-tight, and the forced
ventilation inside would make the hold babitable, while the boat could not take
in
any water or by any possibility sink. The ordinary water or food or air com-
partments or spaces may be made in the ends and around under the decks of
the boat. A hole y is made through the cover g, and large enough to admit
of an oar being passed through from the inside. Outside of the cover and
around this hole is fixed two flaps of rubber or rubber cloth which so encircle.
the oar as to make the opening water-tight. The boat can thus be steered or
guided or propelled.
In regard to the second part of this Invention, relating to improvements
in boat detaching tackle, reference is had to Figure 4, representing a top
plan of a boat with the connecting and detaching apparatus in place, the
bail at one end being raised up ready for connection with a davit, and at the
other end lying down on the deck as usual when not in use. Figure 5
represents a vertical
cross section through the boat, and showing the
apparatus at one end thereof in elevation, and by black and red lines its
connected and disconnected positions; Figure 6 represents a modification
of the plans shown in the other Figures. At the bow and stern of the
boat I connect transversely a bail A, as seen in Figures 4 and 5, by dead
eyes or hinges a', a', so that when not connected to the davit blocks they
may swing over and lie upon the boat and be out of the way. To the
crown or central portion of these bails is fastened a pillar or standard B¹,
to the top of which is pivoted a hook or bent lever 6', and below the
hook or lever there is also pivoted an arm or trigger c¹, into an opening
in which the point of the hook takes (as shown in Figure 5) and holds
when the boat is suspended to the tackle. To the end of the arın c'
is hinged or pivoted the upper end of a rod d', which is slotted so as to
straddle the bail, and has moreover a hinge joint e¹ so that it can swing
with the bail when the latter is laid down or raised up. The lower end of
this rod is pivoted to a crank arm f attached permanently on the longitudinal
bar of rod g¹ extending along near the bottom of the boat, and from one
disconnecting device at one end to another at the other end of the boat.
The rod or bar g¹ is rocked by a lever h¹ in one direction to throw in the
connecting apparatus as shown by black lines, and in the opposite direction
to disconnect as shown by the red lines in Figure 5. The boat need not
necessarily be suspended by its sides, which might strain it, as a rod i¹ (also
hinged to swing with the bail) may extend from the centre of the bail down

page_text: to or through the keelson or keel, and lift from that part of the boat which
is the most rigid. To prevent the bails from swinging in towards the centre of
the boat when suddenly disconnected a piece of rubber or other spring may
press against them to drop them upon the decks at the ends. In Figure 6
I have shown a modification of this general plan where the detaching
hooks m² are at the sides of the boat and two in number. From these hooks
a bail or strap may extend to the davit blocks or other tackle to suspend the
boat, and when disconnected this bail or strap would go with the tackle
and not with the boat, as in the other Figures. The hooks m¹ may be
simultaneously disconnected by the rocking of the shaft n', which can be done
from the main shaft and lever through a link o'. When much weight comes
upon any of the moving parts friction pulleys can be used to relieve them.
A further modification of the plan of constructing and arranging the bails
may be made by which the boat will be suspended centrally, but braced
laterally to prevent tipping or rocking by uneven loading, while the brace in
detaching may be left with the boat or let go with the davit blocks or other
lowering tackle.
These modifications are illustrated in Figure 7, which represents a top
plan of a life or other boat with the disconnecting apparatus in place;
Figure 8 represents a vertical longitudinal section through the boat, and
showing a side elevation of the disconnecting apparatus; Figure 9 represents
one of the tripping rods for operating the let-go.
On the right of Figure 7 I have represented a bar or brace a³, which
when the boat is disconnected from the lowering tackle goes with the
tackle. This bar lies between studs or pins 1, 2, and 3, 4, arranged on the
sides of the boat, and from each of its ends and from its centre metal rods
or straps 6 extend toward each other and terminate in an eye c* into which
the lowering tackle is hitched. From the centre of this bar a a suspension
rod & extends downward into a tube e, and is guided and held therein by
the enlarged portion f² iuto a hole in which the rod g² shoots after passing
through the tube. The pins in this case keep the bar in place, and the bar
serves to prevent the boat from tipping, but when the rod or bolt g² is
withdrawn from the hole in the piece f* then the whole brace is disconnected
from the boat and goes with the lowering tackle.
On the left of Figure 7 I have shown a modification of that just above
described, wherein the brace is hinged to the boat at
and. has a central
the brace, and to
suspension rod d³ that moves through a collar or ring h³ on
the top of this rod is hinged a hook or bent lever n², the point of which
catches and holds in the ring or collar h³, but when the rod or bolt g² is

page_text: withdrawn the suspension rod has no rigid connection with the boat, the
latter drops, and its first movement slips the ring or collar h³ from the point
of the hook, which allows it to fly and detach from the lowering tackle.
The two rods or bolts g², g², may be simultaneously withdrawn by the pivoted
lever m³, to which they are connected at uniform distances each side of its
point of vibration and may be moved in contact with rollers to remove friction
caused by the weight upon them.
In order to render the connecting and detaching apparatus more efficient
and expeditious in its operation I attach the bails A to holding heads or bars
so arranged that they shall raise or lower the bails by means of a lever
operated by one person to avoid confusion or mistake, as illustrated in
Drawings, in which Figure 10 represents a top plan of a boat with the
connecting and detaching apparatus in place, the bails being represented as
dropped down on the deck; Figure 11 represents a vertical cross section
through the boat, representing one of the bails as raised up and ready to
receive the davit block hook. A³ represents the holding heads one at or near
each end of the boat. These beads pass through the keelson B', and through
the deck C, and just above the decks are jointed as at a³, the upper
portions A having the connecting and disconnecting apparatus combined
with them, as will be explained, and also the bail or brace by which the
boat is prevented from tipping or rocking, as it is liable to do when hung by
its centre. Upon the upper portions of the heads A³ are arranged first a
hinged arm 63 having a hole in or through it into which the point of the
book takes and bolds. The hooks d³ are hinged to the tops of the holding
heads, as at e³, and are held over towards the hinged arm with which it acts
by a spring f, which constantly tends to force it in that direction though it
yields when the hook is forcibly moved in an opposite direction. A bail or
brace 93 united at its crown to the head and binged at the sides of the boat
as at h³, which hinges are in line with that in the head a³, prevents the boat
from rocking or tipping when suspended to the davit blocks, and admits of
its dropping with the head when the latter is detached, a rubber or other
spring tending to throw down said head and bail longitudinally of the boat,
and low enough down not to be in the way there is arranged a rocking
shaft D furnished with a lever by which it may be operated. On each
end of the shaft D³ there is a wrist or crank k³, to which is connected a
rod that passes through the deck, and on top of which the head A' when
down rests or lies, and to which crank or wrist is also connected a rod m³
extending up through the dock, and jointed at n³ in line with the other
joints a³, h³, h, so as to yield with them, and the extreme upper end of the
13

page_text: rod m³ is linked as at o³ to the jointed arm b, these devices being duplicated
at the ends or at each of the holding heads.
A modification of the herein described plan may be made by placing the
tackle hook below, and allowing the balancing rod or arm to pass through a
guide on or near the tackle block.
The operation is as follows:-Supposing the holding heads to be lying
down, as shown in Figure 5, the shaft D2 is turned and its cranks k³ raise
up the rods against the beads A³, and thus raise up the beads into a
vertical or nearly vertical position. At the same movement of the cranks k³
the rods m³ are moved up, and they in turn raise the hinged arins b³, and
their holes or depressions when thus raised up receive the points of the
hooks d³ and hold them rigidly. By reversing the motion of the shaft D³
the arms bs are drawn away from the hooks, and they are released and swung
open to let go the block book, at the same time the lifting rods drop and
the springs throw down or ease down the heads as they follow the rods *.
Having described the nature of this Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by
the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First, covering the hold of a life boat with a flexible air and water tight
covering, supported by and fastened to a sustaining frame substantially as
described.
Secondly, I also claim making the cover of a life boat of double rubber
or other cloth with air space between so that it may be inflated and thus
made more buoyant, substantially as described.
Thirdly, I also claim ventilating the hold of a life boat through a hollow
mast furnished with separate passages whether by natural or artificial
currents of outgoing impure and incoming fresh or pure air, substantially as
described.
Fourthly, in combination with a boat detaching apparatus a bail bar or
brace connected to the side of the boat so as to prevent the boat from tipping
when unevenly loaded, substantially as described.
Fifthly, I also claim hinging the bails by which the boat is steadied at
the sides so that when let go or disconnected they will drop and lie upon the
decks and thus not incommode or endanger the passengers or crew, as
described.
Sixthly, the combination of the detaching apparatus with the brace and
with the central suspension of the boat, as and for the purpose herein
described and represented.
Seventhly, in combination with hinged and dropping holding heads the

page_text: ifting and lowering rods, and the locking and unlocking arms 63 all operated
by one lever or one shaft, so that the whole may be within the control of one
person, substantially as and for the purpose described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)