Improvements in the Construction of Boats for Life-saving or other purposes, and in connection with Davits for same.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Mar., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 31st Dec., 1890-Accepted, 21st Feb., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Boats for Life-saving or other
purposes, and in connection with Davits for same.
We, JOHN WILSON and JAMES WILSON, both of No. 17, Coulton Street, in the
Parish of Barrow-in-Furness, in the County of Lancaster, Shipwrights, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The first part of the invention consists in the construction of a sea boat; more
especially adapted for being carried on ships for life saving purposes, the novelty
of the invention consisting in the boat being made in three parts which are hinged
together so as to enable the boat to be folded (in a manner hereinafter described)
so as to occupy a small space on the deck, thus enabling a ship to carry a larger
number of life boats than at present, without sacrificing any more space.
In this invention the folded boats are available for launching without any
extensive preparation.
The boat is flat bottomed and consists of three separate parts viz.: the middle
part which forms the boat bottom including the bow and stern, and two side parts,
which, when united to the middle part form a complete boat.
The middle part consists of a series of cellular watertight compartiments.
The side pieces, forming the gunwale and completing (when joined to the
middle part) a properly shaped boat, are also constructed on the cellular principle
forming watertight compartments.
The two side pieces are hinged to the bottom of the middle portion with strong
strap, or other strong and simple form of hinges so as to allow of the sides being
folded under the middle part.
When the boat is required to be launched, it is only necessary to sling it clear of
the deck and the sides can be lifted into position with comparative ease, an
automatic locking arrangement is provided, so as to instantly hold the sides in
position.
We do not rely entirely upon this locking arrangement for securing the sides to
the middle part but only adopt this arrangement for holding the boat together
until the seats can be fixed from side to side, our boat is then thoroughly & securely
braced together:
The cellular compartments in the bottom of the boat may have watertight doors
fitted to them so that fresh water and stores may be carried within them.
The joints between the hinged parts of the boat need not necessarily be
watertight, as the open spaces will allow of the escape of water which may wash
over into the boat.
These boats may be made in iron or other suitable metal but we prefer steel on
account of its greater strength and lightness.
The second part of our invention relates to the construction of the deck sockets
for, the davits with which the boats are launched.
This socket (instead of being like the ordinary plain deck socket for receiving
the davit post) is made with a series of friction rollers placed in cavities round
the interior of the socket so as to allow of the pin of the davit post rubbing
against the rollers, instead of the sides of the bored socket.
We also arrange
another series of friction rollers in such a position within the socket as may be
desirable for receiving the weight of the davit post. In this way the davit post is
supported by friction rollers and steadied by friction rollers.
درو

page_text: By this arrangement the davit post can be worked freely in any direction with
ease & will thus minimise the labour required in launching ships boats.
Dated this 29th day of March 1800
F. G. NORMANTON,
90, Duke Street, Barrow-in-Furness,
Agent for John Wilson and James Wilson.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Boats for Life-saving or other
purposes, and in connection with Davits for same.
We, JOHN WILSON and JAMES WILSON, both of No. 17, Coulton Street, in the
Parish of Barrow-in-Furness, in the County of Lancaster, Shipwrights, 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 :-
Our invention relates to an improved construction of boat, and more especially
of that kind which is adapted for being carried on ships for life saving purposes,
the object of the invention being to enable the boat to be folded, as hereinafter
described so as to occupy a small space on the ship's deck, thereby enabling a
ship to carry a larger number of life boats than at present without sacrificing
any more deck space. The invention also relates to the construction of the deck
sockets and bearings for the davits which serve to launch our improved boats,
the object being to reduce friction in the said sockets and bearings so as to
minimise the labour required when operating the davits to launch the boats.
According to our invention we construct our improved ships' life boat in three
separate portions in the direction of its length the two side portions being hinged
to the central portion and adapted to be fastened thereto by suitable fastenings
when slung clear of the deck so as to form the boat, but when on the ship's deck
the side portions hang down below the central portion. Each portion of the boat
is preferably constructed on the cellular or water-tight compartment principle.
Our improved deck sockets and bearings are each constructed with a series of
friction rollers or balls so that the surface of the davit post can roll against them
when revolving, the deck socket being also provided with friction rollers or balls to
lessen the friction due to the weight of the said post.
In order to enable our invention to be fully understood we will describe how
it can be carried into practice by reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which,
Figures 1 and 2 are a plan and side elevation respectively of a boat for life
saving or other purposes, constructed according to our invention.
Figure 3 is a transverse section of the same on the line x, x of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a similar view to Figure 3 but shewing the sides of the boat in
their lowered or open position.
Figure 5 is an elevation of a davit shewing our improved deck socket and
bearing applied thereto, and
Figure 6 is a section on the line y, y of Figure 5 shewing the deck socket
in plan.
Similar reference letters indicate similar or corresponding parts throughout the
drawings.
Referring to Figures 1 to 4, a represents the central portion of the boat and b, b
the side portions of the same which are hinged to the said portion a by suitable
hinges c, c so that when slung clear of the deck the said portions b, 6 can be
connected by suitable fastenings d, d so as to form a boat as shewn in Figures 1, 2
and 3; or when on a ship's deck the said side portions can be let down as shewn in
Figure 4 so that the boat occupies less space on the deck. In addition to the

page_text: fastenings d, d the seats e, e engage with pins f, f on the side portions b, b and
serve to hold the said portions in their closed position.
g, g represent the watertight compartments into which the several portions of
the boat are preferably divided and h, h are openings which are advantageously
made in two of the said compartments for the reception of food and water and
which are provided with suitable doors (not shewn) to keep them watertight.
In Figures
and 6 i, i are the friction rollers with which we provide the upper
bearing and deck socket k, against which rollers the surface of the davit post l
rolls. m, m are the friction balls arranged in the deck socket k so as to lessen the
friction due to the weight of the post.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
(1). A boat for life saving or other purposes constructed in three parts hinged
together substantially in the manner and for the purposes described.
(2). The improved boat for life saving or other purposes substantially as
described and illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.
(3). Providing the bearings and deck sockets of the davits for launching boats
of the kind described in the preceding claiming clauses with friction rollers or balls
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 of the
accompanying drawings.
Dated the 31st day of December 1890.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicants.