IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF BOATS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, WILLIAM HEMPSON DENHAM, Surgeon, of 36, Elphinstone Road, Southsea,
in the Borough of Portsmouth, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF BOATS as mentioned above,
to be as follows:-
That the invention is adapted to all purposes of safe communication between
Ships at Sea, or elsewhere, in case of fire, collision, foundering-accident, or illness
when help is required-that it has not any Bolts-Pins-Bars-Nuts-Screws or
Wrenches to be got ready and adjusted, or possibly lost-Nor any lashings to be
cut or tied. But is ready for use at a moments notice, can be used on Deck to sit
on, and when wanted for use, only requires to be thrown over the Ship's side.
It cannot capsize or sink. If purposely submerged, and filled with water, it
instantaneously rises and rights itself, and automatically discharges the water in
it. Is provided with compartments for Water, Food and other things, with suitable
Sails and Shelter if required, all of which particulars will be described in the
complete Specification.
T

page_text: I, WILLIAM HEMPSON DENHAM, Surgeon of Southsea in the Borough of
Portsmouth do hereby declare the nature of my invention for USE ON SHIPBOARD
AND SAVING LIFE ON RIVER, LAKE, AND SEA and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
Instead of making the sides of the Boat rounded in the ordinary way from
Gunwhale to the Keel at an obtuse or any other angle I make them perpendicular or
nearly so, and thus form two Keels in addition to the central one, but giving the
lateral Keels a little divergence from the central to increase the leverage.
But I reserve to myself the right to alter and vary the shape or direction of any
or all the Keels notably the shape of the lateral Keels and to divert their ends and
edges or their edges and ends obliquely outward, acutely inward or outward or in
any other direction I wish so as to provide for security and safety.
It will thus be seen that each Boat has three distinct Keels, but I do not confine
myself to that or any other number. According to the size of the Boat to be
constructed I have from one to three, six, or more Keels if I wish.
The structure of the Boat is made chiefly of wood with certain portions of Lead,
Iron, and other metal, but I reserve to myself the right to construct these Boats of
any other article I wish.
The boat between the Gunwhale and lower edges of the Keels may be described
as consisting of three real or imaginary divisions or parts.
:
The first is the space between the Gunwhale and floor of the upper Deck
containing the Thwarts and places for the storage of food, water, clothing, and
other articles. The second is the airtight space between the two decks.
The third is the space between the under surface of the lower deck and the edges
of the Keels. In this space the capillary Tubes hereafter named are placed.-The
airtight space between the two decks passes longitudinally from stem to stern
through the entire length and breadth of the Boat, the two Decks being supported
in such a way as will make them firm and unyielding. But I reserve to myself the
right to deviate from this course and to make the airtight space or compartment in
any other way or number of compartments I wish, but so as to maintain the floating
capacity of the boat unimpaired.
'
By the upward and lateral pressure of the water confined in its place of action
by the Keels, aided by the position, shape, and number of the capillary Tubes to be
described, the floating capacity of the Boat is made complete, but I claim the
power to aid it in any other way I can.
For safety or any other purpose, I make the Keels not only in any number or
form I desire, but of any material and length, depth, or thickness I wish according
as the Boat is to be used entirely at sea, or for shore going purposes or otherwise.
Inside or outside some or all of the Keels I fix a number of Tubes of Lead or
other suitable material the number and size of which will depend on the size of
the Boat, and that speed may not be checked thereby I case them over with some
suitable smooth surfaced material. I do not confine myself to any fixed rule in the
arrangement of these Tubes, but vary partially or entirely as required their shape,
position, number and weight, and place some or all of them inside or outside the
Keels as I wish. The Keels can be made of wood, and if protected by Lead or
Iron those parts can be made to resist the destructive action of sea water for any
number of years. (But as the mode of doing this is applicable to the preservation
of Armour Plates for ships and Forts it is a subject for another patent, and
therefore not to be described here.)

page_text: The Tubes can be fixed in various ways. They can be soldered to a plate of
metal of depth corresponding to the length of the Tubes, and the Plates screwed
to the Keel. Or grooves can be gauged in each side of the Keel, and a Tube placed
in each groove. Over each tube would then be placed a band or two of Lead or
other metal which would be soldered to the Tube, and screwed to the Keel.
The purpose of the Tubes is to secure the upright position of the Boat and
prevent capsizing.
With the above arrangement and construction of parts a Boat becomes perfectly
controllable at sea. But if the force of wind or wave produce a space or vacuum
between the water and the Boat which those forces undoubtedly would have a
tendency to do when the Boat rises on a wave then the controlling agency of the
Keels aided by the attraction of cohesion, enforced by the Tubes, of the water to
the Boat at the centre of gravitation brings that force instantly into action and the
Boat is compulsorily upright and floats, though filled to the gunwhale with water
and men. Repeated experiments at sea have amply proved this.
Inside the upper deck part of the Boat are compartments for storing water,
food, clothing, or other articles, and at some convenient part of the deck a stop cock
is fitted through which by a movable Pump the air space can be refilled as often as
wished.
From stem to stearn, rising in the centre to a suitable height, are two stretchers
of metal or other material, one on each side the Mast to which they are lashed.
Then from the Gunwhale parallel with the Mast two other stretchers pass fore and
aft of the Mast to the Gunwhale on the opposite side. These stretchers are also
lashed to the Mast, and on them the awnings or sails are stretched or furled as
required. When not required in position they can be disconnected and placed in
the boat.
On each side of the Boat are from two to six Scupper Holes-according to
size of Boat-to give exit to any water that a wave may drive it, and on the
outside of the Boat are protectors or coverings to the Scupper Holes made of suitable
material to prevent water from returning.
The greater number of the Capillary Tubes mentioned above are placed on
either side of the central keel but some are or may be placed on the lateral keels.
They may be fixed parallel to the plane of the keel, some vertically, others
horizontally.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention
for saving Life on River, Lake, and sea I claim as distinctive features
First. The construction of a Boat substantially as described having in addition
to the central keel two or more other keels the outer of which are formed by
extending the sides of the Boat downwards, some or all of the keels being
provided with a number of capillary tubes attached in the manner and for
the purpose set forth.
Secondly. The construction of a Boat with an upper and lower deck extending
the whole length, enclosing an air tight compartment provided with means
of refilling said compartment, and with means of propelling substantially
as described.