IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFE, SHIP'S AND OTHER BOATS
Year: 1884

page_text: I FRANCIS LAY NORTON, Naval officer and Master Mariner of the City, County
and State of New York, in the United States of America, but at present
temporarily residing at the American Hôtel, Amsterdam in the Kingdom of
Holland, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN LIFE, SHIP'S AND OTHER BOATS, to be as follows:-
The Invention has for its object improvements in life, ship's and other boats in
order to render them safer and therefore more reliable in use by decreasing and
minimizing the liability to capsize.
For this purpose I construct the boat with two distinct frames and plankings or
skins each of which is caulked or otherwise rendered watertight, whereby in the
event of injury to the outer skin the boat would, when fitted as hereinaftor
described, still have sufficient buoyancy for safety, and these frames and skins or
plankings are also connected together in a watertight manner at their upper parts
to prevent the entrance of water between the same.
The outer frame and planking or skin I form of any desired lines consistent
with safety and with the obtainment of the desired speed but I preferably form
them especially for life boats, somewhat deeper than usual for the purpose of
obtaining the requisite accommodation in the interior of the boat and for the
purpose of affording space between the two skins or plankings for the accommo-
dation of the air and ballast chambers hereinafter described. A larger proportionate
width of space is allowed between the ends of the inner and outer skins or plankings
than between the sides and bottoms, and the ends of the inner skin or planking I
form preferably square across in order to form large chambers at the ends of the
boat. In each of these end chambers I fix a platform at a short distance from the
keel in order to carry metallic air chambers formed to fit, or approximately so, such
end chambers or spaces, and at the same time the use of such platforms obviates
the necessity for forming such metallic air chambers to fit the contracted space
near the keel. I form the space between the two skins or plankings somewhat
less at the bends of the boat than at the sides and bottom. Into the said space I
place at the bottom and on each side of the keel a number of metallic automatic
ballast chambers formed to fit or approximately so, the space between the inner
and outer skins or plankings, and of width to fit between the ribs or frames of
the outer skin or planking, thereby obtaining a number of independent ballust
chambers, which arrangement as the said ballast is water always maintains the
equal distribution of the ballast along the length of the boat.

page_text: These automatic ballast chambers are formed with comparatively narrow arms
extending to a greater or less distance around the bends of the boat and with
longitudinal openings close to the keel and in a line with the latter extending to
about three fourths of the width of such chambers; these openings are so formed
and connected with the outer skin or planking as to be perfectly watertight at
such parts and thereby prevent the admission of water to the space between the
two skins or plankings outside the said ballast chambers. I also form such latter
space deeper along each side of the keel than at the other parts, whereby, (the
metallic automatic ballast chambers being of similar form) a greater depth and
therefore weight of water ballast is obtained along the line of the keel than
elsewhere.
The remainder of the space between the two skins or plankings I fill with
metallic air chambers which may be of greater width and therefore less in
number than the ballast chambers; they will be shaped to fit, or approximately so,
such space, except that, for facility of construction, they will lie across, and not fit
in between the timbers or frame of the outside skin or planking, they are also
formed at their lower parts to fit the space unoccupied by the arms of the ballast
chambers whereby the entire space between the two skins or plankings is filled, or
nearly so, with the air and ballast chambers.
A boat constructed and fitted as above described will on being lowered onto the
water automatically receive its water ballast through the openings in the bottoms
of its ballast chambers, the air in such chambers being by the entrance of such
water forced upwards into the upwardly rising arms of such chambers and on
again raising the boat from the water the compressed air contained in the aforesaid
arms will assist in discharging the water contained in the ballast chambers, but in
any event supposing the boat to have been in the water sufficiently long and
from various circumstances the air should have been exhausted from the ballast
chambers, the openings in the bottoms of the latter are sufficiently large to ensure
the running off of the water therefrom. The boat will be fitted with the usual
discharge pipes and valves in the bottom in order to free it of water which may
accidentally enter it over the gunwales. I also cimploy suitable supports from the
outer frame to support the floor and bends of the inner skin or planking and I fix
the various metallic chambers rigidly in position to prevent the working about and
consequent wearing of the same.
1

page_text: CUMI LEID
DEECIFICATION,
I FRANCIS LAY NORTON, Naval Officer and Master Mariner, of the City County
and State of New York, in the United States of America, but at present temporarily
residing at the American Hotel, Amsterdam in the Kingdom of Holland do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFE, SHIPS', AND
OTHER BOATS and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The invention has for its object improvements in life, ships and other boats in
order to render them safer and therefore more reliable in use by decreasing and
minimizing the liability to capsize.
For this purpose I construct the boat with two distinct frames and plankings or
skins each of which is caulked or otherwise rendered watertight, whereby in the
event of injury to the outer skin the boat would when fitted as hereinafter described
still have sufficient buoyancy for safety, and these frames and skins or plankings
are also connected together in a water-tight manner at their upper parts to prevent
the entrance of water between the same.
The outer frame and planking or skin I form on any desired lines consistent
with safety and with the obtainment of the desired speed, but I preferably form
them, especially for life boats, somewhat deeper than usual for the purpose of
obtaining the requisite accommodation in the interior of the boat and for the
purpose of affording space between the two skins or plankings for the accommo-
dation of the air and ballast chambers hereinafter described. A larger proportionate
width of space is allowed between the ends of the inner and outer skins or
plankinge than between the sides and bottoms, and the ends of the inner skin or
planking I form preferably square across in order to form large chambers at the
ends of the boat. In each of these end chambers I fix a platform at a short
distance from the keel in order to carry metallic air chambers formed to fit, or
approximately so, such end chambers or spaces, and at the same time the use of
Buch platforms obviates the necessity for forming such metallic air chambers to fit
the contracted space near the keel. I form the space between the two skins or
plankings somewhat less at the bends of the boat than at the sides and bottom.
Into the said space I place at the bottom and on each side of the keel a number of
metallic automatic ballast chambers formed to fit, or approximately so, the space
between the inner and outer skins or plankings and of width to fit between the
ribs or frames of the outer skin or planking thereby obtaining a number of inde-
pendent ballast chambers, which arrangement, as the said ballast is water, always
maintains the equal distribution of the ballast along the length of the boat.
These automatic ballast chambers are formed with comparatively narrow arms
extending to a greater or less distance around the bends of the boat and with
longitudinal openings close to the keel and in a line with the latter extending to
about three fourths of the width of such chambers; these openings are so formed
and connected with the outer skin or planking as to be perfectly watertight at
such parts and thereby prevent the admission of water to the space between the
two skins or plankings outside the said ballast chambers. I also form such latter

page_text: In each of these end chambers f, I fix a platform flat a short distance from the
keel in order to carry hermetically closed, metallic air chambers formed to fit or,
approximately so, such end chambers or spaces and at the same time the use of
such platforms 1 obviates the necessity for forming such metallic air chambers h.
to fit the contracted space near the keel.
I also form the space between the two plankings a² 61 somewhat less in width at
the bends of the boat than at the sides and bottom.
Into the said space I place at the bottom and on each side of the keel y a number
of metallic automatic ballast chambers e formed to fit or approximately so, the,
space between the inner and outer skins or plankings and of width to fit between
the ribs a of the outer skin or planking a¹; thereby obtaining a number of inde-
pendent ballast chambers, which arrangement always maintains the equal distribution
of the water ballast along the length of the boat.
These automatic ballast chambers e are formed with comparatively narrow'
arms el extending to a greater or less distance around the bends of the boat and
with longitudinal openings e close to the keel and in a line with the latter
extending to about three fourths of the longitudinal width of such chambers e; the
width of which openings is about one fourth of their length.
These openings e² are so formed and connected with the outer skin or planking,
as to be perfectly watertight at such parts and thereby prevent the admission of
water to the space between the two skins or plankings not occupied by the said
ballast chambers e. I also form such latter space deeper along each side of the
keel than at the other parts whereby, (the metallic automatic ballast chambers e
being of similar form) a greater depth and therefore weight of water ballast is
obtained along the line of the keel than elsewhere and I connect to each of such
ballast chambers e at the lower part of the ascending arms el a small air pipe e³
which passes up vertically and is connected with a longitudinal pipe e running on
each side of the boat immediately under the covering board c of the two frames
and joining at the stern inside the covering board of the stern air chamber at
which point the said pipe e is fitted with a small air valve at e5 which permits the
air in such ballast chambers e to escape from the lower part thereof thereby
enabling such ballast chambers e to immediately receive their water ballast while
still retaining the air in the ascending arms e¹ of such ballast chambers e.
These air escape pipes and the valve e should be of size sufficient to allow of the
ready escape of the air from the ballast chambers e.
The remainder of the space between the two skins or plankings I fill with
hermetically closed air chambers d which may be of greater width fore and aft and
therefore less in number than the ballast chambers e but they must not exceed one
tenth of the length of boat, they will be shaped to fit or approximately 80, such
space, except that for facility of construction they may lie across, and not fit in
between, the ribs a of the outside skin or planking a¹ they are also formed at their
lower parts with descending arms d' to fit the space unoccupied by the arms e¹ of
the ballast chambers whereby the entire space between the two skins or
plankings ab' is filled, or nearly so, with the air and ballast chambers d. e. As
shown in the drawings the rising arms e¹ of the ballast chambers e should be.
formed to lie outside the descending arms d¹ of the air chambers d.
I also employ suitable supports i, j, from the outer frame to support the floor
and bends of the inner skin or planking b¹ and I fix the various metallic
chambers de h, rigidly in position to prevent any movement and consequent wear
of the same.
The boat will be fitted with the usual discharge pipes k and valves in the
bottom in order to free it of water which may enter it over the gunwale.
In the construction of life boats I prefer to employ about the following
proportions of parts.
The width of inside frame b and planking 61 midships to be one fifth of the
length of boat.

page_text: The depth inside from gunwale to floor of inside frame or planking to be one
eighth of the length of boat.
The combined width of side chambers midships between frames ab to be one
third of inside width of frame b or to be on each side one sixth of such width.
Depth of automatic ballast chambers e between floors on line of keel to be one
third of inside depth of boat.
T
Depth of keel outside to be one quarter of the depth of distance between floors.
Air chambers f f at bow and stern to be one tenth of the length of boat
over all.
In the construction of ship's boats and other boats, not being life boats, I prefer
to employ about the following proportions of parts.
The width of inside frame b and planking b¹ midships to be one sixth of the
length of boat.
The depth inside from gunwale to floor of inside frame or planking to be one
tenth of the length of boat.
The width of each side chamber midships between frames ab to be one eighth
of inside width of frame b.
Depth of automatic ballast chambers e between floors on line of keel to be one
quarter of inside depth of boat.
Depth of keel outside to be one fifth of the depth of distance between floors.
Air chambers ff at bow and stern to be one twelfth of the length of boat
over all.
A boat constructed and fitted as above described, will on being lowered into the
water automatically receive its water ballast through the openings e in the
bottoms of its ballast chambers e the air in such chambers e except that contained
in the arms e¹ being by the entrance of the water forced out through the pipes e e
and self acting valve at es and on again raising the boat from the water the
compressed air in the arms el will cause the water contained in the ballast
chambers e to be discharged therefrom; the openings e in the bottoms of the
ballast chambers e are sufficiently large to ensure the speedy running off of the
water therefrom.
Boats constructed according to my invention may be made of any suitable
material, such as wood, sheet iron, brass or copper.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. A life boat, ship's boat, or other boat having the peculiar construction,
combination and arrangement of parts substantially as herein shown and described
and for the purpose stated.
2. A life boat, ship's boat, or other boat constructed as herein set forth with two
distinct frames a b, skins or plankings a¹ band covering piece c in combination
with hermetically closed air chambers d, h and automatic water ballast chambers e
openings epipes e³ e and air valve e substantially as herein shown and described
and for the purpose stated.