IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LOWERING SHIPS BOATS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Lieut. Alan Howard, R.N., of H.M.S. "Warrior," Ports-
mouth, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LOWERING
SHIPS BOATS."
Sealed the 14th November 1870, and dated the 1st June 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alan Howard at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st June 1876.
Lieut. ALAN HOWARD, R.N., of H.M.S. "Warrior," Portsmouth.
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LOWERING SHILIPS' BOATS."
"
IMPROVE-
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for lowering ships'
boats.
For this purpose I employ the ordinary boat falls together with disengaging
hooks and other gear so arranged that one man in the boat can at any moment set
the boat free. The disengaging hooks are attached to the boat slings and engage
with the ordinary thimbles on the blocks of the falls.
Each disengaging hook consists of a frame formed of two side cheeks, having
between them a hook mounted so as to be able to turn freely upon a stud or axis
at the upper end of the frame, but the hook can also be restrained or prevented
turning by means of an arm formed of a piece with the hook and a line attached
to this arin.
When the boat is hanging from the hook the arm of the hook lies
between the side checks of the frame extending downwards from the stud or axis
on which the hook is mounted. In this position the weight hanging by the hook
tends to make the hook turn on its stud or axis, and the hook is so placed that the
lower end of its arin tends to travel forward or aft away from the centre of the
boat. Until the moment of releasing the boat, however, the arms of the disengaging
hooks are retained by the disengaging lines which are attached to their lower ends
and pass in either direction towards the middle of the boat. As soon as the disen-
gaging lines allow the hooks to turn, the hooks detach themselves with certainty
from the falls and the boat is free. Locking pins are provided to retain the arms of
the hooks until the boat is ready for lowering.
The disengaging lines are controlled in the following manner:-The centre
thwart of the boat carries an axis which passes through it, and beneath the thwart
there is a cross head on the axis with hooks at the ends of its arms. The dis-
engaging lines have eyes at their ends which are placed over these hooks, and then
by turning the axis partly round by means of a hand lever on its upper end the
disengaging lines are drawn tight so as to prevent the movement of the arms of
[Price Gd.]

page_text: the disengaging hooks as already explained. When in this position the lever with
the axis and cross head in connection with it can be locked by means of a pin or
bolt provided for the purpose. To liberate the boat the axis is turned by the lever
in the contrary direction, the disengaging lines then fall slack and escape from the
arms of the cross head and the disengaging hooks at once detach themselves from
the thimbles in the boats' falls.
The advantages gained by this plan over other existing methods are—
1st. The boat may be slipped with perfect and equal certainty either before or
after she is waterborne.
2nd. The hooks are as convenient for hooking on with as the ordinary hooks in
the slings at present in use in H.M. navy.
3rd. The disengaging gear although it can readily be taken off in less than a
minute is not in the way of the work of the boat in harbour, and the boat may
be manned, armed, and lowered from the davits with it in place.
4th. The boat can be slipped with certainty either before touching the water or
while towing by the falls or boat rope. In any predicament it is impossible for the
gear to fail to disengage the boat and free both hooks simultaneously.
5th. It has the supreme advantage of hoisting the boat as close to the davits as
the ordinary service fitting.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alan Howard in the Great Seal Patent Offico on the 30th November
1870.
Lieut. ALAN HOWARD, R.N., of H.M.S. "Warrior," Portsmouth.
IN APPARATUS FOR LOWERING SHIPS' BOATS."
"IMPROVEMENTS
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for lowering ships'
boats.
For this purpose I employ the ordinary boat falls together with disengaging
hooks and other gear so arranged that one man in the boat can at any moment set
the boat free. The disengaging hooks are attached to the boat slings and engage
with the ordinary thimbles on the blocks of the falls.
Each disengaging hook consists of a frame formed of two side checks having
between them a hook mounted so as to be able to turn freely upon a stud or axis
at the upper end of the frame, but the hook can also be restrained or prevented
turning by means of an arm formed of a piece with the hook and a line attached
to this arm. When the boat is hanging from the hook the arm of the hook lies
between the side checks of the frame extending downwards from the stud or axis on
which the hook is mounted. In this position the weight hanging by the hook tends
to make the hook turn on its stud or axis, and the hook is so placed that the lower
end of its arm tends to travel forward or aft away from the centre of the boat.
Until the moment of releasing the boat, however, the arms of the disengaging
hooks are retained by the disengaging lines which are attached to their lower ends
and pass in either direction towards the middle of the boat. As soon as the dis-
engaging lines allow the hooks to turn the hooks detach themselves with certainty
from the falls and the boat is free. Locking pins are provided to retain the arıms
of the hooks until the boat is ready for lowering.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and readily carried
into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

page_text: Figure 2 shows separately one of the disengaging hooks with its frame. The
franies and hooks are made of the best wrought iron.
The frames A, A, are made in two pieces, and connected by three slot-headed
screw bolts B, C, D. The upper bolts B, B, pass through the hooks E, E, and are
screwed in the frames, allowing the hooks to revolve freely on them. The lower
part of the frames are connected by slot-headed screw bolts C, C, passing through
the rollers F, F. The screw bolts D, D, are fitted to prevent the lever end of the
hooks from being drawn too far back. The lever ends of the hooks are fitted with
swivel eyes to take the hooks H, H, of the disengaging chains. Rope pendants I, I,
are spliced into the disengaging chains, and the two hooks are connected by a fall
reeving through two single blocks K, K, spliced into the ends of the pendants,
and setting up to a cleat L alongside the coxswain of the boat.
When wanted for sea work the purchase is set up, the safety pins M, M, removed,
and the boat is ready for lowering.
For harbour service replace the safety pins M, M, unhook the disengaging lines,
and the boat hangs in the same manner as if suspended by the ordinary hooks used
in Her Majesty's service. To prepare for sea the work of two men for two minutes
is all that is required.
By fitting the lower blocks of the falls with iron straps (as shown in the
Drawing) the boat can be hoisted seven inches closer up to the davits than with
the ordinary rope straped blocks used in H.M. service.
The advantages gained by this plan over other existing inethods are-
First. The boat may be slipped with perfect and equal certainty either before
or after she is waterborne.
Second. The hooks are as convenient for hooking on with as the ordinary hooks
in the slings at present in use in H.M. navy.
Third. The disengaging gear although it can readily be taken off in less than a
minute is not in the way of the work of the boat in harbour, and the boat may be
manned, armed, and lowered from the davits with it in place.
Fourth. The boat can be slipped with certainty either before touching the water
or while towing by the falls or boat rope. In any predicament it is impossible for
the gear to fail to disengage the boat and free both hooks simultaneously.
Fifth. It has the advantage of hoisting the boat as close to the davits as the
ordinary service fitting.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I claim the arrangement
of disengaging gear to be used when lowering ships' boats, substantially as
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Lieutt. Alan Howard, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six
ALAN HOWARD, (L.S.)
Lieutenant, Royal Navy.