New or Improved Life-saving Apparatus for Ships.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Aug., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 21st May, 1856-Accepted, 27th June, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Life-saving Apparatus for Ships.
I, LEWIS PARKER, Manager, residing at No. 101 East 14th Street, in the
City County and State of New York, U.S.A., do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to life-saving apparatus which is to be used on board
of steamers sailing vessels and other ships and by which a ship that has foundered
or stranded near the shore is enabled to establish cominunication with the shore in
a quick effective and reliable manner and the invention consists of a life-saving
apparatus for ships which comprises a balloon provided with guide-rollers a
safety line passing over said guide-rollers a drum on which the safety line is wound
mechanism by which the free end of the safety line is retained while the balloon
unwinds the line from the drum and means for releasing the free end of the line
at the proper moment while simultaneously arresting the motion of the winding
drum so that the free end of the line can be liberated dropped by the balloon on
the shore and then communication be thus established from the same with the
vessel in danger.
In the accompanying drawings :-
Fig. I represents a perspective view of a vessel showing my life-saving device
in the act of being carried from the vessel towards the shore.
Fig. 2 is also a perspective view showing the safety line after it is released by
the retaining mechanism on the vessel and as the same is being gradually detached
from the balloon that carries the line towards the shore, and
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the line retaining and unwinding mechanism
the full lines showing the position of the same before, and the dotted lines after,
the free end of the line is released, and showing the connection of the tank
containing the compressed gas with the line-carrying balloon in the act of charging
the same from said tank.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the
drawings.
Referring to the drawings-S represents a steamship sailing vessel or ship of
any kind on which my life-saving apparatus is carried or arranged. This apparatus
consists of a drum A on which is wound a life-saving line B of a length sufficient
to make connection within certain limits from a vessel towards the shore. The
shaft a of the drum A is supported in bearings of upright standards A' which are
attached to a suitable base-block that is either made portable or permanently
attached at any suitable point to the deck or other suitable part of the vessel.
To one end of the shaft a of the drum A is applied a ratchet-wheel a' which is
engaged by the outer hook-shaped end of a spring actuated bell-crank lever C that
is fulcrumed to one of the standards A' the louger arm of said bell-crauk lever
being acted upon by a spring which imparts thereto a tendency to move the outer
pawl-shaped end of its longer arm into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet
wheel a'. A stop pin d serves to arrest the shorter arm of the lever C so as to
prevent the same from being moved too far in the opposite direction. To the end
of the shorter arm of the lever C is applied a roller d' while below said roller is
arranged an eccentrically pivoted and toothed cam d² to which is attached a band-
lever D.

page_text: One end of the life-saving line B is attached to the drum A and the line being
wound up on the drum A the parts are in position for use the lever D resting
when not in use on a stop-pin d³ on the standard A' as shown in dotted lines in
Fig. 3.
In connection with the life-saving line and as a means for lifting and carrying
it towards the shore is used a balloon E which is made of a size sufficient to
support the weight of the entire length of line so as to carry it upward and
towards the shore. The lower end of the balloon is supplied with a closed
diaphragm e provided with a valved opening e' which can be coupled to the supply-
pipe ex of a tank T that is attached to the deck or other suitable part of the
vessel or to the base-block of the winding drum in any suitable manner.
Below the valved bottom of the balloon a bearing or sheave e² is arranged or
mounted in which two guide pulleys or grooved rollers e³ are arranged one below
the other between which the life-saving line B is passed the free end of the line
being passed through between the guide pulleys and then back to the roller d¹ of
the bell crank lever C and between the same and the toothed cam & so as to be locked
by and between the cam and roller on lifting the hand-lever D as shown in Fig. 3.
In this position of the parts the longer arm or pawl of the bell-crank lever C is
withdrawn from the teeth of the ratchet-wheel so that the drum can freely rotate
and permit or follow the unwinding of the life-saving line B.
Before this is done the balloon E has to be inflated which is accomplished by
connecting the valved bottom of the same with the tank T containing compressed
gas advantageously hydrogen-gas which on opening the supply valve of the tank
is discharged into the balloon so as to inflate it. As soon as the balloon is
inflated its valved bottom is disconnected from the supply-pipe of the tank D so
that the balloon can rise with the life-saving line moving with the wind towards the
shore.
The operation is as follows:-
When a ship is by the wind driven on or towards the shore and is consequently
in danger of foundering or stranding near the shore the wind blows from the sea
towards the shore and it is this fact that is taken advantage of in my life-saving
apparatus. As soon as it is necessary or advisable to make connection with the
shore so as to save the lives of the persons on board of the distressed vessel one of
a number of balloons that are kept on board to be used in connection with the
life-saving apparatus is connected with the life-saving line by passing the free end
of said line between the guide-pulleys at the lower part of the balloon and then
placing the line between the roller and the cam as herein-before described. The
hand lever D is then raised so that the free end of the line is firmly clamped in
position and the lucking pawl of the bell-crank lever withdrawn from the ratchet
wheel on the shaft of the drum. A. as shown in full lines in Fig. 3. The valved
bottom of the balloon is then connected with a supply pipe of the tank T the valve
of the supply pipe opened and the gas expanded from the tank into the balloon so
as to produce the inflation of the same. As soon as the balloon is sufficiently
inflated or ready it is disconnected from the supply pipe and then permitted to
rise. By the lifting action of the balloon the life-saving line B is quickly unwound
from the drum and carried up and towards the shore by the balloon as shown in
Fig. 1 the line passing from the drum over the guide rollers of the balloon and
back again to the clamping device arranged alongside of the drum. As soon as
the balloon is supposed to be close enough to the shore so that the entire length
of line so far paid out will permit a connection with the shore the hand lever is
quickly moved in downward direction (into the position shown in dotted lines in
Fig. 3) so that the cam releases the free end of the life-saving line B while the
spring-actuated locking arm of the bell-crank lever is simultaneously moved by its
spring into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel a whereby the
unwinding motion of the drum is arrested and the free end of the life-saving line B
quickly moved away from the vessel and passed through between the guide-pulleys

page_text: of the balloon as shown in full lines in Fig. 2 until it clears the guide-pulleys
entirely being then released by the balloon and dropped down on the shore as shown
in dotted lines in Fig. 2 while the liberated balloon is further carried inland by the
wind. When the line is dropped on the shore the connection between the vessel
and the shore can be established in the usual manner either by a life-saving buoy
or any other life-saving device along the same.
Dated this 27th day of August 1895.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
New of proved Life-saving Apparatus for ships.
I, LEWIS PARKER, Manager, residing at No. 101 East 14th Street, in the City
County and State of New York, United States of America, 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 has reference to life-saving apparatus which is to be used on
board of steamers sailing vessels and other ships; and by which a ship that has
foundered or stranded near the shore is enabled to establish communication with
the shore in a quick effective and reliable manner; and the invention consists of a
life-saving apparatus for ships which comprises a balloon provided with guide
rollers a safety line passing over said guide rollers a drum on which the safety line
is wound mechanism by which the free end of the safety line is retained while the
balloon unwinds the line from the drum and means for releasing the free end of
the line at the proper moment while simultaneously arresting the motion of the
winding drum so that the free end of the line can be liberated dropped by the
balloon on the shore and then communication be thus established from the same
with the vessel in danger.
Referring to the drawings left with the Provisional Specification herein :-
Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of a vessel showing my life-saving device in
the act of being carried from the vessel towards the shore.
Fig. 2 is also a perspective view showing the safety line after it is released by
the retaining mechanism on the vessel and as the same is being gradually detached
from the balloon that carries the line towards the shore, and
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the line-retaining and unwinding mechanism the
full lines showing the position of the same before, and the dotted lines after, the
free end of the line is released and showing the connection of the tank containing
the compressed gas with the line-carrying balloon in the act of charging the same
from said tank.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the
drawings.
Referring to the drawings-S represents a steam-ship sailing vessel or ship of
any kind on which my life-saving apparatus is carried or arranged. This apparatus
consists of a drum A on which is wound a life-saving line B of a length sufficient to
make connection within certain limits from a vessel towards the shore. The shaft a
of the drum A is supported in bearings of upright standards A' which are attached
to a suitable base-block that is either made portable or permanently attached at
any suitable point to the deck or other suitable part of the vessel. To one end of
the shaft a of the drum A is applied a ratchet wheel a' which is engaged by the
outer hook-shaped end of a spring-actuated beli-crank lever C that is fulcrumed to
one of the standards A' the longer arm of said bell-crank lever being acted upon

page_text: by a spring which imparts thereto a tendency to move the outer pawl-shaped end
of its longer arm into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel a¹. A stop
pin d serves to arrest the shorter arm of the lever C so as to prevent the same from
being moved too far in the opposite direction.
To the end of the shorter arm of the lever C is applied a roller d' while below
said roller is arranged an eccentrically pivoted and toothed cam d* to which is
attached a hand lever D.
One end of the life-saving line B is attached to the drum A and the line being
wound up on the drum A the parts are in position for use the lever D resting,
when not in use, on a stop pin d³ on the standard A' as shown in dotted lines in
Fig. 3.
In connection with the life-saving line and as a means for lifting and carrying it
towards the shore is used a balloon E which is made of a size sufficient to support
the weight of the entire length of line so as to carry it upward and towards the
shore. The lower end of the balloon is supplied with a closed diaphragm e provided
with a valved opening el which can be coupled to the supply-pipe ex of a tank T
that is attached to the deck or other suitable part of the vessel or to the base-block
of the winding drum in any suitable manner.
Below the valved bottom of the balloon a bearing or sheave e² is arranged or
mounted in which two guide pulleys or grooved rollers are arranged one below
the other between which the life-saving line B is passed the free end of the line
being passed through between the guide pulleys e² and then back to the roller d' of
the bell-crank lever C and between the same and the toothed cam d so as to be
locked by and between the cam and roller on lifting the hand-lever D as shown in
Fig. 3. In this position of the parts the longer arm or pawl of the bell-crank
lever C is withdrawn from the teeth of the ratchet wheel so that the drum can
freely rotate and permit or follow the unwinding of the life saving line B.
Before this is done the balloon E has to be inflated which is accomplished by
connecting the valved bottom of the same with the tank T containing compressed
gas advantageously hydrogen gas which on opening the supply valve of the tank is
discharged into the balloon so as to inflate it.
As soon as the balloon is inflated its valved bottom is disconnected from the
supply-pipe of the tank D so that the balloon can rise with the life-saving line
moving with the wind towards the shore.
The operation is as follows
When a ship is by the wind driven on or towards the shore and is consequently
in danger of foundering or stranding near the shore the wind blows from the sea
towards the shore and it is this fact that is taken advantage of in my life-saving
apparatus. As soon as it is necessary or advisable to make connection with the
shore so as to save the lives of the persons on board of the distressed vessel one of
a number of balloons that are kept on board to be used in connection with the life-
saving apparatus is connected with the life-saving line by passing the free end of
said line between the guide-pulleys at the lower part of the balloon and then placing
the line between the roller and the cam as before described.
The hand lever D is then raised so that the free end of the line is firmly clamped
in position and the locking pawl of the bell-crank lever withdrawn from the
ratchet wheel on the shaft of the drum A as shown in full lines in Figure 3.
The valved bottom of the balloon is then connected with a supply-pipe of the
tank T the valve of the supply-pipe opened and the gas expanded from the tank
into the balloon so as to produce the inflation of the same. As soon as the balloon
is sufficiently inflated or ready it is disconnected from the supply-pipe and then
permitted to rise.
By the lifting action of the balloon the life-saving line B is quickly unwound
from the drum and carried up and towards the shore by the balloon as shown in
Fig. 1 the line passing from the drum over the guide-rollers of the balloon and back
again to the clamping device arranged alongside of the drum. As soon as the

page_text: balloon is supposed to be close enough to the shore so that the entire length of line
so far paid out will perinit a connection with the shore the hand-lever is quickly
moved in downward direction (into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3) so
that the cam releases the free end of the life-saving line B while the spring-
actuated locking arm of the bell-crank lever is simultaneously moved by its spring
into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel a' whereby the unwinding
motion of the drum is arrested and the free end of the life-saving line B quickly
moved away from the vessel and passed through between the guide-pulleys of the
balloon as shown in full lines in Fig. 2 until it clears the guide-pulleys entirely
being then released by the balloon and dropped down on the shore as shown in
dotted lines in Fig. 2 while the liberated balloon is further carried inland by the
wind. When the line is dropped on the shore the connection between the vessel
and the shore can be established in the usual manner either by a life-saving buoy
or any other life-saving device along the same.
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. A life-saving apparatus for ships consisting of a life-saving line a drum on
which said line is wound a balloon provided with guide rollers at its lower part
over which the line passes whereby the balloon is connected with the line means for
inflating the balloon at the proper moment mechanism for clamping the free end of
the life-saving line and mechanism for releasing the line and simultaneously
arresting the unwinding motion of the drum substantially as set forth.
2. In a life-saving apparatus for vessels the combination with a life-saving line
and means for connecting the same at one end to a vessel of a balloon provided
with a guide device over which the line loosely passes and means for clamping the
free end of the line and for releasing the same when the balloon is near the shore
substantially as set forth.
3. In a life-saving apparatus for vessels the combination with a frame that is
adapted to be supported on the vessel a drum mounted to revolve in the frame and
a life-saving line wound upon said frame of a balloon connected with a line and
provided with a guide device through which the line loosely passes, mechanism for
clamping or releasing the free end of the life-saving line and mechanism for
arresting the drum when the free end of the life-saving line is released substantially
as set forth.
4. In a life-saving apparatus for ships a balloon provided with a socket at its
lower part a sheave supported on said socket a life-saving line guided between said
pulleys and around one of the same means for connecting one end of the life-saving
fine with the vessel means for inflating the balloon when it is desired to convey the
Jife-saving lire towards the shore and means for clamping and releasing the other
end of the line substantially as set forth.
5. The combination with a balloon provided with means for inflating the same
and with a guide device applied to the lower end of the balloon a life-saving line
passing over said guide device a winding drum to which one end of the life-saving
line is attached means for clamping the free end of the life-saving line means for
releasing said clamping device and means for simultaneously arresting the drum
substantially as set forth.
6. The combination of a life-saving line a drum on which the same is wound
supporting frame for the shaft of said drum a ratchet wheel on the end of the shaft
a crank at the opposite end of the same a spring-actuated bell-crank lever
fulcrumed to the supporting frame of the drum said lever being provided with a
pawl on the longer and a roller on the shorter arın a toothed cam pivoted
eccentrically to the supporting frame below said roller and a lever attached to the
eccentric cam so as to clamp the free end of the line between the roller and cam or
release the same for permitting the engagement of the pawl of the bell-crank

page_text: lever with the ratchet wheel on the shaft of the winding drum substantially as set
.forth.
Dated this 21st day of May 1896.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.