Improvements in Ships, and Rafts for the same.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 28th 'Apr., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 28th Feb., 1894-Accepted, 28th Apr., 1894.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ships, and Rafts for the same.
I, RICHARD ROPER, of Palace Chambers, 9 Bridge Street, Westminster, in the
County of Middlesex, Marine Contractor and Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This invention relates to improvements in ships and ships' rafts and consists in
forming the captain's bridge as a raft and providing means by which the same may
be launched into the water from either side of the vessel.
According to this invention I form the captain's bridge as a raft and support it
upon a pivoted frame carried upon trunnions resting in suitable bearings so that it
may be inclined to either side of the ship. The outer ends of this frame rest in
curved grooves in vertical guide bars which are provided with suitable stops
to support latches or bolts carried by the pivoted frame so that the same may be
maintained in a plane parallel to that of the deck of the vessel. To the ends of this
pivoted frame are connected the two ends of a chain or rope which passes, over
suitable guiding pulleys to a drum, round which it is wound. On the said drum being
rotated by suitable means the chain will be wound up on one side and unwound on
the other side so as to move the frame carrying the bridge into an inclined
position, the bolts or catches supporting the ends of the frame having been first
released.
To the edge of the deck below each end of the bridge is hinged a flap which is
turned upwards to lie against the end of the bridge. This flap is secured in this
vertical position by means of suitable bolts or latches controlled by the same means
as may be employed for controlling and operating the bolts or latches securing the
bridge in position so that when the bridge is released the flap may also be freed and
allowed to fall outward.
The extent of this movement outwards is limited so that it may hang in an
inclined position towards the surface of the water and form a slide over which the
raft forming the bridge may travel into the water. The raft is secured to the frame
by suitable clamping devices which may be released when it is desired to launch it
from the inclined frame over the inclined support on' to the surface of the water.
Dated this 26th day of Amil 1803
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ships, and Rafts for the same.
1, RICHARD ROPER, of Palace Chambers, 9 Bridge Street, Westminster, in the
County of Middlesex, Marine Contractor and Engineer, 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 relates to improvements in ships and ships' rafts and consists
in forming the captain's bridge as a raft and providing means by which the same
may be launched into the water from either side of the vessel.

page_text: According to this invention I form the captain's bridge as a raft and support it
upon a pivoted frame carried upon trunnions resting in suitable bearings so that it
may be inclined to either side of the ship. The outer ends of this frame rest in
curved grooves in vertical guide bars which are provided with suitable stops
to support latches or bolts carried by the pivoted frame so that the same may be
maintained in a plane parallel to that of the deck of the vessel. To the ends of this
pivoted frame are connected the two ends of a chain or rope which passes over
suitable guiding pulleys to a drum, round which it is wound. On the said drum being
rotated by suitable means the chain will be wound upon one side and unwound on
the other side so as to move the frame carrying the bridge into an inclined
position, the bolts or catches supporting the ends of the frame having been first
released.
To the edge of the deck below each end of the bridge is hinged a flap which is
turned upwards to lie against the end of the bridge. This flap is secured in this
vertical position by means of suitable bolts or latches controlled by the same means
as may be employed for controlling and operating the bolts or latches securing the
bridge in position so that when the bridge is released the flap may also be freed and
allowed to fall outward.
The extent of this movement outwards, is limited so that it may hang in an
inclined position towards the surface of the water and form a slide over which the
raft forming the bridge may travel into the water. The raft is secured to the
frame by suitable clamping devices which may be released when it is desired
to launch it from the inclined frame over the inclined support on to the surface of
the water.
And in order that my invention may be more fully understood and carried into
practice I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying
drawings, of which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the frame, and supports, guides
and operating mechanism thereof, on which the raft forming the captain's bridge is
mounted; Figs. 2 and 3 enlarged side and end elevation of portions of the guides
and stops and latches for holding the frame in position; and Fig. 4 a side elevation
of a part of the frame showing a modified manner of operating same. The
captain's bridge which is in the form of a raft of any suitable construction is
supported and secured by suitable clamps or the like upon the frame a pivoted at
its centre to supports b. The outer end of this frame a reste in curved grooves in
the vertical guides c on which are secured suitable stops d to support latches
or bolts d' on the ends of spindles e revolving in the ends of frame a and operated
by handles for the like.
When so mounted the frame may be inclined to either side of the ship to
allow the raft forming the captain's bridge proper to slide into the water whilst
it may be normally retained in a plane parallel to that of the deck by the aid of the
stops and latches.
The movement of the frame to cause it to incline to the one side or the other of
the ship is effected by connecting to the ends thereof or to the spindle e the ends
of the chain or rope g which passes round guide pulleys h to a drum k round which
it is wound. Thus when said drum k is revolved by bandle through spindle m and
bevel gears n, the chain g will be wound up on one side and unwound on the other
80 moving the frame into an inclined position the latches supporting the ends of the
frame having been first released.
Or instead of so operating the frame a this may be effected by securing to
the centre portion thereof a curved rack o (Fig. 4) with which gears a pinion p
mounted and revolved by any suitable means in bearing on the support b.
On the edges of the deck below each end of the bridge is hinged a flap 9 which
normally is turned upwards to lie against the end of the bridge and is so secured by
suitable bolts or latches but may be let down and held by the chains or the like in
an inclined position so as to form a slide over which the raft forming the bridge
may travel into the water.

page_text: 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 :-
A frame capable of being inclined to either side of the ship and supporting upon
it a raft forming the captain's or other bridge, substantially as and for the purpose
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 28th dor of February 1801
$6
CASTLE SMITH,
Invention" Office, 54, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.