Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Nov., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 28th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 16th Nov., 1888
JAMES DEYNON 04 Janson Ioad U
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A combination of Skids, Chocks, and Davits being in two sets, one of each in
each set, and are placed in the following manner.
The skids are fixed at a distance from each other, equal to one half the length of
the boat. On top of each skid there is mounted a chock in two sections, with two
rollers under each section, both sections being coupled together, by means of a
vertical joint and a horizontal pin. The inside or inboard end of each chock are
provided with a socket into which the Davits are fixed. At the head of each davit
there is fixed a brake or stoppers, through which the sling or strop passes by which
the boat is suspended.
"
The above named brakes or stoppers, are self acting the whole weight of the boat
(in that position) on them. Each set of chocks and davits are connected by means
of a thin double plate which passes fore and aft under the bottom of the boat, at right
angles to, and in the centre of its length there is fastened or secured a purchase screw
by which means the boat is run "in or
out" and chocks and the davits are swung
with the boat clear of the vessels side, and by a reverse motion of the screws bringing
the boat, chocks and davits into their original position. The chocks are secured to
the skids by means of two cheek pieces which are riveted into the bottom centre of
the chock, the lower parts coming below the underneath part of the skids and
fastened by passing a strong bolt through a hole in each cheek piece under the
skids.
The whole apperatus being in its place and the boat lashed securely in her berth.
Proceed to turn the purchase screw, when the boat chocks and lavits will move
horizontally towards the ship's side, skids only remaining fixtures.
The screw having been run out to its full extent, the boats keel will then be per-
pendicular to the ship's rail with half her breadth over the ship's deck and the other

page_text: half over the water. The outer portion of the chocks will then drop, and at the same
time releasing the lashings or gripes. Then by reversing the screw the chocks and
davits will turn on a centre forming an arc of 60° degrees the boat being slung to
the davit heads retains her horizontal position.
The before mentioned brakes having changed their position from horizontal to
vertical they become passive and allow the slings by which the boat was suspended to
pass through, and the boat all clear and free in the water about six feet clear of the
ships side.
Dated th: Ocil 1
T
1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of and Appliances for Housing and Launching
Ships' Boats.
I, JAMES BEYNON of 34 Janson Road, Stratford, in the County of Essex, Master
Mariner 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 :-
This invention relates to a method of and appliances for bousing, launching and
recovering ships' boats.
The object of the invention is the construction and arrangement of appliances,
whereby ships' boats may be rapidly swung over the side, may be instantaneously
released from the davits, and may be readily recovered and housed.
The invention may be described by aid of the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 is a front elevation (partly in section) of the appliances as they appear
when the boat is housed.
Figure 2 is a plan of same with the davits, etcetera, removed.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a sectional side elevation of the appliances as they appear just before
launching, or just after recovering the boat.
Figure 5 is a sectional side elevation of the appliances in the position they assume
during the final operation of launching, or the first operation of recovering the
boat.
Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a self acting brake apparatus for the
running tackle, showing the position of the parts when operative.
Figure 7 is a similar view showing the position of the parts when inoperative.
Figure 8 is a similar view showing a supplementary brake apparatus, which may
be used when a double fall is employed.

page_text: A, A, are two parallel skids, placed in any suitable position athwart ship, and
preferably at a distance apart equal to about half the length of the boat or boats they
are intended to support. They may extend either entirely or partly across the vessel,
and they may be supported in any suitable manner. Their upper surfaces may be
approximately horizontal or slightly inclined downwards as shown, towards the side of
the vessel.
Upon each skid there is a chock formed of two sections B, B¹, hinged or jointed
together as at 6 in such a manner that the outer section B1 can (when free to do so)
turn for a certain distance upon the inner section B in a vertical plane at right angles
to the keel of the boat C. The sections are preferably toggle-jointed as shown at b,
so that they may be as one rigid piece when lying upon the skids. Each section is
preferably provided with two bearing rollers and the chocks may be guided upon the
skids by their overlapping sides 63, or by other suitable device.
The inboard or inner sections B of the chocks are each provided with a socket into
which a davit D is securely fixed.
At the head of each davit there is a stopper or brake device such as E, and through
it passes the running fall F by which the boat is suspended. This brake, which is
shown in detail in Figures 6 and 7, is so constructed that when the davit is in a
vertical position (as in Figures 3 and 4) the fall will be gripped firmly by the brake,
but when the davit is inclined from the vertical position to a certain extent, say to
about 60 degrees, (as in Figure 5) the fall will run freely through the brake. The
brake piece e is preferably pivoted at or about one third of its length from its inner
end, to two side cheeks e', which are themselves pivoted to the sides of the davit head,
and at a suitable distance from the end thereof as at e². Beyond the end of the
davit head the checks are provided with a small sheave or roller e³, and the extreme
outer ends of the cheeks may, if desirable be united by a pin e, or otherwise. The
fall F is passed upwards (as in Figure 6) over the outer side of the sheave over its
upper side, and under the brake piece e.
When the davit is vertical, the brake lies more or less horizontally, and the down-
ward pull of the fall upon the sheave e³, tends to draw the cheeks el downwards, and
to force the brake piece towards the upper side of the davit head in such a manner
that the fall is tightly gripped between the two last named parts. The pull of the
fall also tends to raise the outer end and depress the inner end of the brake piece, thus
increasing the grip of the same. The fall can, however, be freely pulled through the
brake in the reverse direction when raising the boat.
When the davit is inclined to a certain extent from the vertical position, as in
Figures 5 or 7, the brake langs more or less vertically, and the pull of the fall being
approximately parallel to the davit head, there is no tendency to compress the fall
between the latter and the brake piece. In this case, the fall can run freely through
the brake when the weight of the boat is upon it.
It is obvious that intermediate positions of the davit and brake will result in a
greater or less amount of braking power in the brake. Instead of an automatic
stopper such as E, the davit or fall may be provided with other forms of automatic
or non-automatic clipping device.
Each chock is held securely upon its skid by means of a pin or bolt 6 which passes
under the latter and is carried between two cheek pieces securely fastened to the
section B of the chock. The outer ends of the skids are rounded off as shown at a
for a reason hereinafter to be seen, and near the end of each skid there is also a
projection a¹ for supporting the bolt 4 as hereinafter set forth.
Instead of, or in addition to, the usual lashings for securing the boat upon the
chocks, the locking straps G may be employed. These are made slightly flexible, and
are attached to the sides of the boat as shown in Figures 1, 3, 4, and 5, each of them
being provided with a catch or projection 9 adapted to enter a corresponding hole g¹
in the side of the chock when the boat is in position thereon. The straps are pre-
ferably formed (as shown) with a toggle joint at or about their centre, so that they
may be folded against the side of the boat as in Figure 5, the projections 9 passing
into recesses in the sides of the boat.

page_text: His a cross bar or plate, which passes fore and aft below the boat. Its ends
pass below the skids, and are guided in oblique guides a², supported preferably
by the skids. Each end of the cross bar carries two links H', one on each side
of the skid, and the inner ends of these links are pivoted to the inner ends of
the sections B of the chocks, preferably close to the skids as shown. To the
centre of the cross bar, and at right angles thereto, there is attached a purchase
screw H by means of which the chocks and the boat may be run in or out as
hereinafter set forth. A revolving nut is provided for working the screw H²,
the nut being preferably attached to or formed in the end of a long sleeve H³,
which encloses the whole of the screw when the latter is inboard, so that it is
protected from the effects of the weather. Means may also be provided for supplying
the inside of the sleeve with oil or other lubricant. The inner end of the sleeve
is supported in a suitable bearing or bearings h, and it may be turned by a handle h¹
or other equivalent device. Or the above arrangement may be reversed, the sleeve
being attached to the cross-bar, and the screw being turned within it. Or, instead
of a single sleeve and screw in the centre of the cross-bar, one might be placed at
each end of the latter, the inner ends of the sleeves or screws being connected by
suitable gearing with a cross shaft by which they may be turned simultaneously.
Or the cross bar may be suppressed entirely, and the sleeves or screws aforesaid,
connected directly with the outer ends of the links H'.
When a double fall is employed, one end is fixed to the davit head as at d, and
the running end is passed through the brake E. The bight of the fall may be passed
through a second brake device J as in Figure 8. This device is attached to the boat
and consists of two sheaves j, j¹ with fixed axes and a sheave 2 having its axis
movable in slots j³ in the side cheeks. The fall is gripped between the sheaves j¹ and j³
as shown.
In Figures 1 and 3, an arrangement is shown for hoisting the boat, but many
other suitable arrangements may be employed. The running ends of the falls are
passed round drums K, which are carried by a cross shaft k, and are capable of
turning therewith. The shaft k is mounted in suitable bearings secured to the davits
or to the inner sections of the chocks, and is provided at one or both ends with a
ratchet wheel K¹. A handle, carrying a ratchet pawl 2, turns upon the shaft and
serves to rotate the same by means of the ratchet wheel. A check pawl ³ is also provided.
When the boat is to be launched, the falls may be removed from the drums K. It
is more convenient, however, to mount the latter upon the shaft k in such a manner
that they can be disconnected therefrom, and permit the falls to run off them as the
boat descends. To this end the drums may be mounted loosely upon the shaft, and
a clutch or disc K* be fixed rigidly to the shaft in proximity to each drum. Two
sleeves are mounted upon the shaft, between the drums, in such a manner as to be
slid longitudinally without being able to turn thereon. The outer ends of the sleeves
are connected to the drums K by collars and overlapping pieces ko, so that the
drums may turn upon the shaft independently of the sleeves, but are compelled to
partake of the longitudinal movement of the same. The inner ends of the sleeves are
respectively provided with a right and a left hand screw, and the said screws are
engaged by a nut K³. By turning the nut K³ in either direction, the drums K may
be forced against the discs K2, so as to turn with the shaft, or they may be withdrawn
from the discs so as to turn loosely upon the shaft. Or they may be pressed against
the discs with just sufficient force to act as a brake upon the falls, when the latter
are running off the drums. It is obvious that other forms of clutch mechanism might
be employed for connecting the drums with the shaft k.
The mode of action is as follows:
The drums K having been eased off or withdrawn from the clutch discs, the
handle is turned, and the boat and chocks are moved from the position
shown in Figure 3, and assume the position shown in Figure 4. By this time
the bolt has reached the limit of its travel, and rests upon the projection a',
the sections B¹ have dropped by their own weight, and their inner rollers rest
upon rounded ends of the skids as shown. The sections of the chocks having

page_text: been opened, the boat has become detached therefrom and is shown in the act of
swinging outwards, being supported solely by the falls F, which are gripped firmly
by the brakes E at the davit heads. The handle h' is now reversed and the cross bar
drawn in for a certain distance as in Figure 5. This causes the inner ends of the
links H¹ to rise and tip over the chocks and davits bodily into the position shown, the
bolt resting upon the projection a', and acting as a pivot for the clocks and
the bearing rollers 62 rolling upon the rounded end of the skids. The boat is now
suspended over the side of the vessel, and the davit heads being in a position more
or less vertical, the gripping power of the brakes E is greatly reduced, or disappears
entirely, so that the boat drops directly into the water with a speed depending upon
the angle to which the davits are thrown over.
To recover and house the boat, the drums K and discs K' are connected by turning
the nut K³, and the boat is hoisted to the level of the chocks by the handle or
handles or other device. The screw H' being traversed outwards, the chocks and
davits reassume the position shown in Figure 4. In this position the parts are almost
in equilibrio, so that a very small downward pressure on the inner sections B is
sufficient to keep the latter against the skids, while the screw His traversed inwards
to return the chocks to the position shown in Figure 3. Before the chocks are
finally closed, the boat is adjusted, so that the catches g of the locking straps may
enter the holes g¹ in the chocks. The parts being in the position shown in Figure 3,
no further securing is needed, as the straps G hold the boat to the chocks, and the
latter are held rigidly upon the skids by the screw H², and links H³, the bolt * and
the toggle joint b¹.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. The method of launching a ship's boat, which consists in mounting the boat
and davits upon hinged sliding chocks such as B, B¹, in connecting the boat falls
to the davit heads by brake devices such as E, which grip the falls when the
davits are more or less vertical, but release them when inclined to a certain extent
from the vertical position, in moving the davits and chocks outwards, so that the
latter open automatically and free the boat, and in tipping the davits outwards over
the water, so that the falls are released from the said brake devices automatically
(or otherwise), and the boat launched.
2. In appliances for launching a ship's boat, a brake device such as E, pivoted
to the davit head as at e³, and provided with a sheave e³ or its equivalent over which
the boat fall is passed, and with a brake piece e or other equivalent self-acting
clipping device below which the said fall is passed, the relative positions of the
pivot e, brake piece e or its equivalent, and sheave es being such that when the pull
on the fall is more or less at right angles to the davit head the fall is gripped
between the latter and the brake piece, but when the pull is more or less parallel to
the davit head, the fall is released and may be drawn through the brake device,
substantially as and for the purposes described.
་
3. In appliances for housing and launching a ship's boat, the combination of a
chock formed in two sections hinged together, a davit fixed to the inner end of the
inner section, a pivot such as at or near the outer end of the inner section about
which the said section may be turned, and mechanism connected with the inner end
of said section, whereby it and the davit may be turned about the said pivot,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
4. In appliances for housing and launching a ship's boat, the combination of a fixed
skid A, a hinged chock B, B₁, sliding upon the said skid, and retained thereon by
a bolt or its equivalent, mechanism for running the said chock in and out, and for
turning it upon the said bolt or its equivalent, and a projection or stop a¹ for
supporting said bolt during such turning operations, substantially as and for the
purposes described.

page_text: 5. The mechanism for running the chocks in and out upon the skids, and for
turning them about their pivots 6+, consisting of a cross bar H or its equivalent,
lying below and at right angles to the chocks, and working in guides a² inclined
inwards towards the bearing faces of the skids, a screw or screws H2 or their equi-
valent for moving said cross bar in or out, and links H¹ extending inwards from said
bar to the inner ends of the chocks, or to inward extensions thereof, substantially as
set forth.
6. In combination with the hinged chocks B, B', a series of locking straps such
as G carried by the boat, and each provided with a projection or catch g, adapted
to engage a recess in the face of the chock when the said chocks are closed in
housing the boat, substantially as and for the purposes described.
7. The boat housing and launching appliances as a whole constructed substantially
as shown and described.