AN IMPROVED SAFETY APPARATUS FOR THE PROTECTION
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Donald Brims, of No. 159, Southwark Bridge
Road, Southwark, in the County of Surrey, Engineer, for the
Invention of "AN IMPROVED SAFETY APPARATUS FOR THE PROTECTION
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Donald Brims at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 19th July 1853, pursuant to the 9th section
of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, J,
DONALD BRIMS, of Number 159, Southwark Bridge Road, Southwark,
in the County of Surrey, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "AN IMPROVED
SAFETY APPARATUS FOR THE PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION OF LIFE ON
WATER," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for
the same, and have made solemn declaration that I believe myself to
.be true and first inventor thereof.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Donald Brims, do hereby de-
clare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement, that is to say:
My Invention consists of an "Improved Safety Apparatus for the
Protection and Preservation of Life on Water." Figure 1, is a side
view of a kind of boiler shaped hull of a boat and apparatus in sailing
order, and Figure 2, an end or stern view.. A, is the body or hull,
B, the mast, and C, the sail (the same letters applying to both Figures).
I construct the body or hull of my boat of wrought iron, wood, or other
materials; when constructed of wrought iron I rivet the shell or skin
to ribs of angle iron, either common L. or T angle iron, so that the
external surface may be as smooth as possible. I make the hull at
midships of the peculiar shape as shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5;
and for the better sailing through a surf or shallow water I make it to
approach nearer a circle, as shown by the dotted lines 2, in Figure 2;
or I make it to be flatter, as shewn by the red lines 1, in the same
Figure. The hull of the boat is covered all round and over the ribs
going over the top, with the skin rivetted to them; there are only aper-
tures D, D, D, Figures 3, and 5, made in the top after the manner of
manholes for ingress and egress, and which manholes are covered up
from below by means of the lids or covers E, E, E, Figures 3, and 5,
fastened by screws, hinges, bolts, or bars, as may be most convenient;
on the top of the boat near the stern, a part F, of a cylindrical shape
(made of iron, wood, or other materials), and covered over in the same
manner, and is firmly secured to the top of the hull, so as to form a
recess for the steersman to stand or sit in, as shown in section,
Figure 3 this part, which is somewhat similar to a steam chest on
a locomotive boiler, is provided with an opening a, in front, and glazed
with strong plate glass b, for the steersman keeping a look-out from;
the glass is protected by an iron grating outside, and should both
become damaged there is a plate provided with hinges or other means
in the boat ready to be secured over the aperture, and which plate is
made with its centre cut out and glazed with strong glass for the same
purpose as formerly; a strong bull's-eye glass is inserted right behind
the steersman to look astern; a similar contrivance is adapted to the

page_text: bows for a look-out in front. There are two apertures c, one on each
side of the stern, and at any convenient heighth in the hull most suit-
able (they are glazed, barred, and provided with plates in the same
manner as the steersman's), one only being seen in Figures 1, 'and 3.
The mast B, is provided with a universal joint G, Figure 3, a little
above the deck, so as to allow the mast to yield on its joint in 'any
direction when it is aboard a vessel or stowed away. The mast is
allowed to fall astern, as shown by the dotted lines d, in Figure 3,
and rest lashed in the forked crutch e, which is inscrted in a suitable
socket f, on the top of the cylindrical case F, and held in its
place by the pin ; when the mast is in this position the tube
is resting with its end close to the deck, or nearly so; but when
the mast is raised to be put in sailing trim the tube is raised
by means of a forked vibrating lever I, which is lengthened by the
handle, and a socket h, and screw i; on I, are fixed pauls j, and
springs, to take hold of the ratchet wheels, one of which is firmly
secured to a strong spindle m, passing through a hole in the lower
part B, of the mast B; on this spindle the lever vibrates, which keeps
the centre of the pauls always at the same distance, and in contact
with the ratchet wheels 7, when required; one of them only can be seen
in the Drawings, on account of one being on cach side of the lower
mast B'; the other ratchet wheel has a boss longer on one side than
the other, for the purpose of inserting a pin through both boss and
spindle, when requisite, so that both will revolve together; the teeth of
the ratchet wheels are set in opposite directions; one of the pauls is
hooked to take into the ratchet wheel on the opposite side of the mast,
and makes it move in the opposite direction to the one seen in the
Drawing at 7; there are likewise two pinions firmly fixed on the shaft
or spindle m, or the teeth may be cut out of the shaft itself; one of
the pinions is shewn in dotted lines at n, and gears into the racks,
one of which is shown at o; these racks are made of tough, strong
metal, as malleable iron or gun metal, and work up and down
through the guides p, p, fixed on the side of the mast; the top
ends of the racks are round and smooth, and work through
stuffing boxes q, on the top of the hull, one on each side of the mast,

page_text: and the ends are attached to the sliding tube H, for the purpose
of drawing it down or pushing it up so as to keep the top mast B, in
its place, or to allow it to be lowered as may be required; when the
-tube is up in its present position, shewn in section, Figure 3, it encloses
the universal joint G, and embraces the top end of the lower mast, and
the lower end of the top one to keep the mast erect, and can be held
in its present position as in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, by means of the
paul r, which takes into the ratchet-shaped teeth, formed on the
back of the rack o; should the boat ever happen to upset the sail will
get filled with water, and partly prevent it from righting speedily, but
the tube is then worked down as speedily as possible; and at the same
time one of the screws s, which happens to be uppermost, and which
projects into the inside of the boat, and is kept in its place by means
of a collar on its lower end, is unscrewed out of one of the pieces S', S¹,
which piece is jointed or hinged at its end next the mast to the top or
-side of the hull at t, and from the outer ends of these pieces stays t', t¹,
(of strong cordage, wire, rope,. or other fitting materials,) are attached
and proceed in an angular direction-upwards, where they are attached
to a ring or thimble 2, on the top of the mast by means of the eyes u', u';
when the tube is drawn down and the mast thrown completely at
liberty the boat rights itself, leaving the mast and its appendages lying
in the water, as represented 'by the dotted lines J, in Figure 4. The
sail is secured to the mast by means of pieces of ropes v, which are
firmly attached to the edge of the sail next the mast, and passed round
it; these picces are formed with an eye at each end; the one eye is
passed through the other, and a toggle pin-v'; inserted through it and
: can thus be attached to or loosened from the' mast at any time; the
haulyard w, for raising and lowering the sail is passed over a pulley
inserted in the mast at w³; one end is attached to the sail by means
of the hook and eye a, and a, and the other is carried down the
front of the mast, where blocks a, a, of a sufficient power are
attached with a rope reeved, and the end of it secured to the top
of the boat; in tacking the sail or sails are shifted by means of an
endless chain a; which is firmly secured to the lower and aft corner or
"corners; and passes over the pullies a", fixed in an iron or timber frame-
.

page_text: work a, attached to the railing '; it then passes round a barrel or
shaft 6, between the railing ', '; this barrel or shaft, revolves in
bearings in the standards c', c'; on one end the bevel or mitre wheel c",
is fixed, which gears into another bevel or mitre. wheel c', on the
upright shaft d', which shaft passes through a stuffing box d², into the
interior of the bont; on the lower end is fixed the spur wheel d³, which
is geared into by a small pinion d'; the pinion d, with ratchet wheel e¹,
and winch handle e, are fixed firmly together and move simultaneously
on the pivot or stude; the ratchet wheel is made in two plates with
the teeth set reverse to each other, so that the pauls f', hold it from
moving either way; when the sail or sails are to be shifted the pauls
are kept free of the ratchets and the winch e, with pinion and ratchet
wheel turned to suit the desired position of the sails; the small pinion d
gearing into the spur wheel d³, causes the shaft d¹, to revolve, and
consequently the bevel or mitre wheels.c³, c, and barrel 62, whercon
the chain is wound, and as it unwinds from the one side it winds on to
the other, and sets the sail to suit the tack required. K, is a ridge or
fence raised round the top of the hull, the upper edge of which ridge is
a little above the curved top; this ridge forms a space L, which is filled
with cork, seen in section, Figure 3. I likewise use a covering of cork
all round the sides of the boat down to the water for the sake of
buoyancy while working in a heavy sea; attached to the ridges K,
are a number of uprights or standards, in the upper end of which
are formed eyes to allow the short vibrating shafts h³, to rock freely in;
in the centres of these shafts holes are formed to allow the short
strong pins or studs h², made in a piece with the box h³, which are
fixed on the parts of the oars h', which in ordinary cases come in contact
with the rowlocks on the gunwales of ordinary boats; these pins h²,
and shafts h', form a universal joints, and allow the oars' to sweep freely;
a small pin is passed through the point of the stud to prevent the oar
from rising or being lifted out of its place; these pivots allow the oars
to be turned up and lashed together as shown in Figures 1, 2, 4, and
in section in Figure 5. I also make a kind of paddle oars i¹, to be
worked from the interior of my boat, a stern view of which is seen in
Figure 4; they are represented contracted in their forward motion; the

page_text: dotted lines, shew their expanded position in the backward stroke.
Figure 6, is an expanded detached view, as seen from behind; Figure 7,
is a side view with leaves k', collapsed; and Figure 8, a plan of one
of the paddles; a sharp edged piece M, has a groove j', from top to
bottom of the paddles; in the groove the handle or shank, is fixed by
nicans of the bolts ; these bolts can be removed and the shank drawn
out of the paddles a considerable way, as shown by the dotted lines j4
in Figure 6; the bolts are passed through other holes and again secured;
in this case the sweep of the paddles is much greater, and on account
of their being working in deeper and denser water the boats velocity
through it will be accelerated. The folding leaves ', are hinged
or jointed to the piece M, and are allowed to collapse freely while the
paddles are moving in a forward direction, but are kept from closing
entirely by the piece, between them, which piece is fixed on the
back of the front piece M, and to the back corners of , two short
pieces of chains or links, are attached; the other ends of these
chains are fixed to the folding leaves , and are of such a length
so as to allow the leaves to fold back in the backward stroke of the
paddles, as represented by the dotted lines l', in Figure 8; these pad-
dles are mounted on short strong rocking shafts & Figures 3, 4, and 5;
these shafts enter through the side of the boat through the tubes m',
and are made air and water tight by stuffing boxes on the ends of the
tubes, or any other suitable means; on the inner end of the rocking
shafts the levers m, are firmly fixed; the lower ends of these levers are
rounded off to enable the rowers to lay hold of them casily; these levers
are merely pushed and pulled fore and aft simultaneously in ordinary
rowing, but by working the one side more than the other enables the
boat to be turned round quicker. The levers me, can be connected
together on each side by themselves by means of connecting rods m³,
Figure 3, which run fore and aft; they can likewise be made to work
altogether by means of rods athwart ships, as indicated by the dotted
lines m; they can all be lifted clear of the water so as to throw no
impediment in the way when sailing. When rowing with the oars
the rowers can either stand in the manholes D, or sit on the top, as
most convenient, but if the weather be very boisterous the oars ', can

page_text: be lashed, as in Figures 1, 2, 4, and 5, and the manholes shut up. The
crew or passengers are then supplied with fresh air by means of the air
pumps me, worked by two winches n', a revolving shaft n², and double
cranks n, which move the pistons in the pumps m³, by means of the
connecting rods ; these cylinders are furnished with suitable valves,
and are connected to the tube 2, which projects through the top of the
boat near the stern; another tube o, enters near the same place or
through the top of the steersman's cylindrical chamber F, (but only
represented in the Drawing, Figure 8, entering the stern,) and its end
fixed in the top at that point; a coil of these tubes is kept on the top
of the stern and in its place by means of the arm or lever o³,
which is at liberty to move in the standard o", which presses on it;
the other end of the lever has a rod 0, attached to it, and passes
into the boat through a stufling box o; this rod being pushed
up and a pin o', inserted above the keeper p', holds it firm on
the coils and ready for use. The ends of these tubes are carried
right through a float N, of the peculiar shape shown in Figures
1, 2, 4, 6, and 7. Figure 6, is a side view, and Figure 7", a
section, showing the tubes n5, and o', passing through it; the float
is made of hollow iron, copper, cork, or other materials; on the large or
top end p, of the float a ridge p 3, stands up, and is cut to a semicircular
shape; around the semicircular ridge a piece q 2, of iron or other suitable
material is bent and fastened to it, and both ends secured to the body
of the float; this bent piece projects beyond both sides of the semi-
circular upright piece p 2, so as to form a sort of screen or hood 2, to
pass over the top ends of the tubes n 5, and o', both of which pass up
through the float, one on each side of the upright piece, and thus
protect and prevent them from being filled with water; these tubes are
made of a peculiar kind of chain, covered with a covering of gutta-
percha, india-rubber, coated cloth, or other elastic or pliable waterproof
material. Figure 9, is an enlarged longitudinal section of one of these
ubes, and Figure 10, a cross section. A, is the coating or covering,
and B, the links, all of which are made alike and connected together
as in an ordinary chain, but each side of these links is made semi-
circular, or nearly so, in their cross section, so that when the sides are

page_text: nearly brought together they assume a tubular shape, as seen in the
cross section, Figure 10. A, is the covering; B, the side of the links;
and C, the eyes or parts; they are linked into cach other by the edges
and corners of the sides of the links are a little rounded off to prevent
them from cutting the covering A. Air is drawn into the boat through
the tube n 5, attached to the air pumps m 5, and then ejected from
the pumps through the boat, the foul air escaping at the saine time by
the other tube o', or by the tube 3, attached to the top and back part
of the cylindrical part F, which tube is open at g 4, at top and back part
of it, but can be opened and shut by means of the slide and screw
rod p2; the air in the boat is kept fresh by these means; the use of the
long coil and float N, will be explained hereafter. I also fit a screw
propeller O, to my boat of the ordinary construction; the screw shaft s
runs up the centre of the boat parallel with keel, and rests in a. bear-
ing s³, fixed in the frame with s; the spur pinion s, is keyed on the
screw shaft, and gears into an intermediate wheels, which works in
the large spur wheel s 7, which is keyed on the shaft t', on which two
winches t³, are firmly secured, and which winches are turned to give
motion to the propeller by the crew or passengers. When sailing the
intermediate wheels, may be taken out so as to allow the propeller to
turn by the action of the water, so as to make as little resistance as pos-
sible to the boat when propelled by sails or other means.
steered by means of a wheel t³, Figure 3, of the ordinary construction;
this wheel lies at an angle in front of the steersman, and is fixed on
the shaft t, which goes down to the back end of the boat in an angular
direction, where it moves in a bearing at ; near the lower end a bevel
pinion to, is keyed, on which gears into a larger bevel wheel or seg-
ment u', firmly fixed on the top of the rudder , which projects into
the boat through the stuffing box us, which renders it water-tight.
This bevel wheel or segment serves the purpose of the ordinary tiller, for
by the steersman turning the wheel t, shaft t', and bevel pinion to, in
either direction, the bevel wheel or segment a', is caused partly to
rotate and move the rudder, and so guide the boat; accordingly the
force water pump u 4, is worked by means of the bell crank levers u 5,
the short arms of which are attached to the links : the other ends
The boat is

page_text: cf which links are attached to the short cross head 7, the end
of which is only seen in the Drawing, Figure 3; from the centre of
the cross head the piston rod u 8, descends into the pump barrel
4, through the stuffing box u 9, on the pump.cover; this pump
may cither be single or double acting, and its use is to force out
bilge or leakage water through a pipe v', in the bottom or side of
the boat; the water is drawn into the pump through the pipe *, which
passes along the bottom to the lowest point in the boat, where the end
of the pipe is closed up, and the lower side made full of small holes to
prevent everything but liquid being drawn into the pump and derange
its working properly; this pump is also made to wash out the water-
closet, the pan of which is partially seen in section at ³, and is made of
iron, copper, or other material, which will stand a considerable pressure;
for in cleansing or washing it out the lid v', is screwed firmly down,
and the tap, opened, which communicates with the pump u 4; the
ordinary eduction water tap v 6, at the time being closed, and the tap
7, below the pan opened; water is then forced through the pan and
pipes at a pressure corresponding to the height of the water outside in
which the boat floats; when a sufficient quantity of water has been
forced through to thoroughly cleanse it, tlie tap v7, is shut, and the
tap, opened again; but as the pan will be full of water, the lid is
unscrewed, and a communication opened between the bottom of the
pan and pump by the tap v8, and a few strokes of the pump empties it
and forces the water through the ordinary bilge pipe v'. . Before the
mast a number of thwarts w', are laid, when required, side by side, so
as to form a sort of platform or sleeping berths. w, are air-tight boxes
for holding provisions, and from which the air can be withdrawn by
opening a communication between them and the air pumps m 5, for-
merly described, or they can be exhausted by means of a small portable
hand air pump. w 3, is the floor of the boat laid on the cross beams
w4, seen in section in Figures 3, and 5; below this floor-heavy useful
articles are stowed, so as to serve the purpose of ballast and greater
accommodation at the same time. A longitudinal box w 5, encloses
the screw shaft s 2, and pinion s 5, from obstruction. w³, shews the ribs
of the boat in section, as if built of timber. 'In order to secure my

page_text: boat from the attack of any hostile party where it might happen at sea
or close
laud I pierce the sides, bows, and stern with a number of
loop holes or gun ports a 2, so that fire-arms, or any other means of
defence, may be used, and which ports are closed up by means of the
circular plates à 8, and bars a 4, which cross their centres, and are in-
serted in the staples or holdfasts y, which are fixed in the sides of the
boat, and the plates pressed to the sides of the loop holes by means
of the screws y', which are tapped into the bars a', and the points abut
against the centres of the plates, and force them up so as to render
them completely air and water tight, the ends of the bars being held
by the staples or holdfasts y, the whole being similar to the mode of
fixing on retort covers in gas works. The better to prevent shot from
injuring a crew or passengers in my boat in case of attack I cover
it all round and down to the water with some soft matting, such as
is made from cocoa nut fibre, cotton, wool, or other materials, or by
using the buoyant covering of cork before mentioned.
To secure
my boat from leakage, should it in any manner get stove, I make use
of plates of such a form and size as will fit between the ribs w 6,
of the boat; they may be of the shape as shewn in Figures 11, and
Figure 12, where A, is the plate, and on the face of these plates strips
of india-rubber or other soft substance of about an inch in breadth
or thereby, and of any suitable thickness, is fixed round the edge, so as
to ensure it to bed better on the skin of the boat, or the face of the
plate may be covered all over; a number of these plates are always to
be kept in readiness; they are fixed to the side of the boat by means
of the T pieces B, hooks C, (one of which is jointed to each end of
the T piece,) and screws D; the plate is first put into its place, then
the T picce is taken, and one or two of the hooks are inserted in the
holes in the ribs, which are all pierced for the purpose; the T piece is
then pressed down, and the other or remaining hooks inserted; the
screws D, are then screwed until the plate is pressed up against the
skin of the boat until the leakage stops; any convenient number of
screws and hooks may be used, but to prevent confusion I have only
shewn three screws and three hooks. Figure 11, is a plan of the plate;
Figure 12, a plan of a T piece B, with plate A, ribs w 6, part of

page_text: the skin A', underneath. Figure 18, is an edge view of the plate
and T piece B, with the ends of the ribs w 6, in section. I also make
an anchor for my boat of a peculiar construction, a plan of which is
seen in Figure 14, an edge view in Figure 15, and a detached view in
Figure 16. A, is the shank, which forms one piece; the crown B, and
flukes C, form another; an oblong hole is formed through the crown,
shown by the dotted lines a, a, in Figure 16, which is of such a size
as to allow the end D, of the shank A, to be inserted until the shoul-
der b, formed on it abuts against the inside of the crown at E; a pin c,
of peculiar shape is then introduced through a hole «, Figure 14, in
the part of the shank D, that projects through the crown and close up
to it, so as to keep it in its place; the pin has a small feather formed on
it, so that when it is put through far enough it is turned slightly round,
and the feather f, (Figure 17, which is a detached view,) on the pini
turning round (past the small grove that it was admitted through the
shank by) keeps it in its place; g, is the head of the pin, and f, the
feather; Figure 18, is the shape of the hole in the shank for its inser-
tion. For the better protecting passengers and crew while the boat
may be rocking greatly in rough sea I fill up the spaces flush between
cach rib above the scats and all round the top with cushions made of
cork or other materials, and that again may be covered over with
matting from cocoa nut fibre, strong woollen or hair feltirg, so as to
render it less dangerous should any person be forced against it with
violent contact. From the floor w 3, to the scats I likewise fill up
the spaces, but instead of covering it over with matting or felting I
use india-rubber expanding and collapsing bags P, Figure 5, or bags
made of canvass or strong linen coated with india-rubber or gutta-
percha, so as to render them completely air and water tight; these bags
are placed, as it were, bottom upwards, and are of such a length so as to
reach from the floor w 3, to the seats, so as to meet the matting or
felting above; the width of these bags may be such as to lie flush
between each pair of ribs, or the spaces may be filled flush up between
the ribs, and the bags may reach over two or more of them, as may
be most convenient; the mouths of the bags are firmly secured to
the floor by allowing about an inch or inch and half to be laid

page_text: along it, and a piece w 7, of brass, iron, or wood, of about the
same breadth or thereby, to be fixed down to the flooring by means
of screws, and embracing, the india-rubber tightly between them,
and a solution of gutta-percha may be used to render them more
thoroughly air-tight; each of these bags are provided with a tap Q,
Figure 5, which open into them, and two pipes ", one on cach
side (running fore and aft below the flooring), and forms a com-
munication between the air pumps and air. bags, so that they may
be conveniently filled, if required, and kept so by cutting off the
communication by turning, the taps; the use of this arrangement is
to give the boat a greater buoyancy should it happen to spring,a.leak
which cannot easily be stopped. In order to save a crew from a vessel
wrecked on the opposite shore or. headland close to where one of my
boats may be stationed, in order to arrive at the vessel, as soon as
possible, instead of sailing round the headland, .I mount-my boat on a
péculiar sort of carriage, such as is shewn in Figures 19, and .20,
Figure 20, shewing a side view of it, with the boat just. lowered in its
place by means of the ropes A, chains B 3, pulley blocks C, and triangle
legs D. Figure 19, shews an end view of the boat and carriage, with the
triangle legs D, (the ends of which are seen) stowed away within the
supports a, and all in readiness to be drawn by horses or manual power
to the water side, to the nearest or least dangerous point, to the wrecked
vessel, where it can be safer and more speedily launched. E, is the
general frame work of this carriage, which is made to receive the
bottom and keel of the boat; between the side pieces E, and bottom
pieces F, the axles G, are cranked so that the contre part may not
touch the keel; the frame is supported by means of the springs H, the
centres of which are attached to the axle G, and the ends to the
carriage between the wheels I, upon which the whole is mounted; the
whole is drawn means of the hooks J, to which the horses are
harnessed; these hooks are attached to K, which is .the single end of a
double link, and forms a part of it, which link is similar to an ordinary
tuning fork; the double ends L, being furnished with a boss M, and
holes through them, the wheels' I; being placed between these double
ends, and the axle put through the nave, a linch pin is inserted to

page_text: keep all together; by these means the draught is taken direct to the
axles and wheels at once, and saves much- jarring that would ensue
otherwise. The mode in which my boat is carried on board a vessel is
represented in Figures.21, and 22. Figure 21, is a side view, and 22,
an end view. A, is the deck planking; B; the beams on which it is
laid; C, C, are blocks cut out to the shape of the boat, to allow it to
rest securely in; a, a, are ropes or slings attached to the eye bolts E,
which go through the planking A, and beams B, and are furnished with
hand nuts F, to screw the whole firmly down; the ropes or chains a, a,
a, a have each an eye b, b, on their ends; which are looped over each
other on studs or pins c, which project about an inch and half, or
thereby; through the top of the boat. To secure the boat in its place
the hand screws F, are unscrewed as far so as to allow the looped ends
of the ropes a, a, a, a, to pass over the studs or pins c; the hand-nuts F,
are then screwed fast, which causes the eye bolts E; E, E, E, to be
drawn through the blocks C, planking A, and beams-B, and therefore
tightens the ropes a, and fastens the boat firmly on deck. To render
it still more secure the square pieces A', A', Figure 1, with staples or
eyes B, rivetted in their centres, arc inserted in a crease or recess
formed for the purpose in the boats sides; there is a hand screw to each
piece passing from the inside, and screwed into the sides and square
pieces A', A; through the eyes B2, B3, a rope is passed and lashed
fast to the deck, and the boat is thus' made doubly secure; the use of
this apparatus, besides keeping the boat fast, is for the purpose of casting
the whole clear of the ship instantly, should an accident happen
to the vessel suddenly on board of which the boat is carried;
should the vessel be filling and sinking fast, and no time to lower
the boat from the davit partly seen at C, Figure 3, the crew and
passengers have only to get into the boat while it is on deck, then
close the manholes, and as one' person can be stationed at each of the
screws which are screwed into A¹, and another to each of the screwed
studs or pins c, Figures 21, and 22, they can all be set at liberty
nearly simultaneously, and the boat float off just when the ship is going
down; should the vessel sink so fast as to be inclined to take down
the boat 'before it is free, then the pin o 4, Figure 8, is removed, and

page_text: the short arm of the lever o2, is pulled down by the handle o3; the
float N, (Figures 1, 2, and 4,) and coil of tubes are then released,
and the float allowed to float about on the water subject to the controul
of the tubes n5; and o1; the tubes are fixed together by slight lashings
round both at short distances, so as to preserve their parallelism, and
prevent them more so from getting entangled with rigging or anything
that may be in their way. To lower my boat from a ship's side
make use of one davit only, seen partly at C', in Figure 3; in the end
of the davit a block pulley is inserted, and turns on the pin C2, over
which a strong rope or chain is passed, one end C 3, of which is secured
in the ring C4, into this ring other four short pieces of chains B3, B
are fixed, two only being seen in Figures 3, and 20; the other ends of
these chains are attached to hooks B4, and straps D2, which are firmly
fixed on the sides of the boat about a fourth part from each end, so
that when the rope or chain C3, is drawn tight an equal bearing
will be put on the chains B3; the other end of the rope or chain C3,
after passing over the pulley in the davit head, goes down into
the interior of the boat through the centre manhole E, and is kept
wound on the barrel D³, of a strong crab secured to the floor and
beams of the boat; on the barrel D³, a spur wheel D4, is fixed, geared
into by a pinion E', on the shaft E 2, on which a friction whicel E8, is
keyed; round this wheel a strap is placed which can be brought to bear
on it by means of the lever E4, to which at equal distances on the lever
(from the pivot or stud F¹, on which it moves) the ends of the strap
are attached by the pins G1, G2; on the same shaft as the friction
wheel E', and pinion E, another spur wheel is keyed and geared into
by a pinion on a shaft on which a winch is placed; this winch and train
of wheels are used to raise the boat to the davit head either from the
ship's deck or from the water; when raised from the deck the boat and
davit C, is swivelled round so that it may drop clear of the ship's
side, the steersman being ready on a saddle shaped seat H 1, through
the front of which the shaft t4, projects, and on which the steering
wheel 3, is fixed; when all is ready to be let go one person holds the
friction strap firm to the wheel by the lever E 4, (the pinion spur wheel
and winch before described, but not shewn, are put out of gear, or the

page_text: winch handle may only be taken off to prevent accidents with it while
spinning round;) the lever and strap are then slight released until the
boat begins to lower, when it may be dropped into the water at any
speed convenient, and any of the modes of propelling may be adopted
to keep the boat away from the vessel or close up to it, if required.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, what I claim is,-"The
"mode of building covered hulls or bodies of boats of the peculiar shapes
(as shown in the Drawings), with their domes or cylinders, apertures,
"and coverings as described, with the combination of apparatus for
"working the same for the protection and preservation of life on water,
as herein-before explained and described."
In witness whereof, I, the said Donald Brims, have hereunto set
my hand and scal, this Eighteenth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
Signed and sealed by the above-
named Donald Brims in the
presence of
JA JENKYN,
Sol",
8, Sherborne Lane, City.
DONALD BRIMS. (L.S.)