An Improved Semi-collapsable, Unsinkable, Metallic Ships' Lifeboat.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Sept., 1891-Accepted, 28th Nov., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Semi-collapsable, Unsinkable, Metallic Ships'
Lifeboat.
JOHN LOCKIE, 2 Customhouse Chambers, Leith, Scotland Consulting Engineer,
and NICOL ARTHUR, 25 Cambridge Gardens, Leith, Scotland Shipbuilder do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
--
Our invention consists of a metallic ship's lifeboat, so constructed as to be
semi-collapsable, unsinkable, uncapsizable, easily stowed and practically inde-
structable.
This lifeboat has an almost flat bottom, with pointed bow and stern and is
constructed entirely of thin sheet steel or other suitable metal.
The manner of construction is that the outer shell & deck are connected together
by girders, placed fore & aft and athwart and so arranged as to form a large
number of watertight compartments. The number being sufficient to provide
ample boyancy in the event of several of the compartments getting damaged and
filling with water.
The girders and plates are all flanged and are so arranged that they can be all
connected together by rivets. The riveting operation being in all parts performed
with ease and facility.
A "well," open to the sea is provided between the two centre longitudinal girders,
extending nearly the whole length of the boat. The use of this "well" is, that
any water which may be shipped over the boats sides may run through the well
into the sea, and so prevent the boat becoming waterlogged & also obviate the
necissity of bailing.
A centreboard is fitted loosely in this "well" & is so arranged that when
the boat is afloat, it can be lowered under the bottom of the boat and so prevent
undue rolling or capsizing. The centreboard is made hollow & is provided with
holes so arranged that, when afloat, it fills with sea water & so provides, a keel,
which adds to the stability of the boat. The arrangement thus serves the double
purpose of a centreboard and keel.
A tubular steel mast is provided for taking a sail and this mast is connected to
the centreboard in such a manner that when the boat is stowed on deck the mast
lies flat in the bottom of the boat, but when the boat is afloat the operation of
raising the mast lowers the centreboard and when the mast is upright the centre;
board is rigidly fixed in position for use.
Means are provided at the bow & stern of the boat for applying an oar for
steering purposes.
Bulwarks of light sheet metal are provided all round the deck of the boat.
These bulwarks are hinged to the edge of the deck by a specially designed angle,
so constructed as to keep the hinge practically watertight. The bulwark is in
sections which lift separately and special means are provided for keeping the over-
lapping parts practically watertight.
The bulwarks are held in an upright position by hinged metal stanchions. A
series of semi-collapsible seats, formed of light metal tubes are hinged to the
bulwarks & they are so arranged and provided with specially designed hooks,
that when the seats are raised into position these hooks engage with pins on the
stanchions & so lock the bulwarks, stanchions and seats rigidly in position.
Thwartships seats on a similar principle are provided.
A series of light metal tubes run along the tops of the bulwarks & specially
designed rowlocks rest on these tubes & form a means of applying the oars which
are provided with the boat.

page_text: Several of the watertight compartments into which the boat is divided arc
provided with holes, having removable screwed covers and these compartments
are used as tanks & lockers for carrying fresh water, provisions & stores.
All the metallic girders, plates & fittings of the boat are galvanized to prevent
corrosion and where necessary the seams are soldered to render them perfectly air
& watertight.
Chains rings and hooks are provided for slinging the boat overboard by means
of the ordinary ship's davits & tackle.
Life lines are fixed round the edge of the boat.
When not in use the boats are stowed one on the top of the other, in a suitable
place on deck, the bulwarks, seats, mast, sail, centreboard, & oars being all flat and
all the fresh water & stores on board ready for use.
When required to be used, the bulwarks are raised into position and also the
seats the persons are then placed on board & the boat with its freight on board is
swung over the ships side. When the boat is afloat the mast is raised into position,
which action lowers the centreboard & the boat is then fully equipped ready
for sea.
The whole invention forms an absolutely safe, stable, & unsinkable lifeboat,
which is practically indestructible & is light, strong, & occupies the least possible
stowage room.
Dated this First day of December 1890.
JOHN LOCKIE.
NICOL ARTHUR.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Semi-collapsable, Unsinkable, Metallic Ships'
Lifeboat.
We, JOHN LOCKIE, 2 Custom-house Chambers, Leith, Scotland, Consulting
Engineer, and NICOL ARTHUR, 25 Cambridge Gardens, Leith, Scotland, Ship-
builder, 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 which relates to an improved semi-collapsable, unsinkable
metallic ship's lifeboat consists in the construction of a lifeboat which is semi..
collapsable, unsinkable, uncapsizable, easily stowed and practically indestructible.
This lifeboat, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in elevation Figure 1,
sectional elevation Figure 2, plan partly in section Figure 3, transverse section
Figure 4 and details Figures 5 to 9 inclusive, has an almost flat bottom A, with
pointed bow and stern B and is constructed entirely of thin sheet steel plates C,
or other suitable metal. The said plates C are so arranged and constructed as to
form the outer shell and upper or false floor D which takes the place of the
ordinary floor-boards, and which I will hereafter call the deck D, the said outer
shell and deck D, are connected together by girders E placed fore and aft and by
bulkheads Fathwart, so arranged as to form a large number of watertight com-
partments G, the number being sufficient to provide ample buoyancy in the event
of several of the compartments getting damaged or filling with water.
The girders E, bulkheads F and plates C, are all flanged and arranged in such
a manner that they can be all punched and riveted together the said punching and
riveting operations being in all parts performed with case and facility and pre-
ferably by means of a hydraulic or other punch or rivetter and the joints made
are such that they do not form any obstacles on the outside of the boat, as will
be seen in the detail view Figure 5, which shows in section both the outer shell
plates C connected to the girders E at e, to the bulkheads F at and to the
deck D at d which is also connected to the girders E at d, and bulkheads Fat f
and the bulkheads F to the girders E at f, also in Figure 6, which shows the

page_text: outer shell plates C connected to the bow or stern frame b at c', and to the girders E
at e, the said bow or stern frames are preferably of a section as shown. As a
modification of the outer shell and bulkhead joint f, we may form it as shown in
Figure 7.
The said boat is provided with a "well" H open to the sea between the two
longitudinal girders E and extending nearly the whole length of the boat. The
said "well" H is for the purpose of allowing any water which may be shipped
over the boats sides running back into the sea again, thus preventing the boat
from becoming waterlogged, and also obviating the necessity of bailing. Inside
the said "well" H we fit a centreboard J, preferably in such a manner that when
the boat is afloat it can be lowered under the bottom A of the boat, and so prevent
undue rolling or capsizing, and owing to its construction, it being made hollow
and provided with holes when afloat it fills with sea water and so forms a keel,
which adds to the stability of the boat, thus serving the double purpose of a centre-
board and keel. The said centreboard J is mounted and retained in position by
means of two or more swinging levers J' and the lower end of a pivotted tubular
steel mast K, which is provided for carrying a sail, and which also acts as a means
for raising and lowering the said centreboard J, as when the boat is stowed on
deck the mast lies flat along the deck of the boat and the centreboard is up, but
when the boat is afloat the operation of raising the mast K, lowers the centre-
board J, and when the mast is in position and stayed by the ordinary stay ropes
the centreboard J, is rigidly fixed in position for use.
All round the deck we provide bulwarks L, which are made of light sheet metal
having suitable strengthening stays 1, the said bulwarks L are made in sections
which are each capable of being raised or lowered, owing to them being provided
with two or more hinges M Figures 4 and 7, which as well as the folding joint of
the bulwarks are kept practically water-tight when the bulwarks L are in an
upright position by means of the lower arm m² of the double angle or T piece,
M' overlapping the said joint, as shown more particularly in Figure 8. The said
sections are connected to each other by means of hinged overlapping doors L'
preferably hinged in such a manner as to permit of them being raised as well as
swung into position this being effected by hinging the said doors L' by means of
a continuous rod hinge whose one side engages with the bulwark L and its other
side with the door L in such a manner as to allow the said door to be raised up
clear of the angle iron d2 and bent plate at bottom, and of the bulwark rails at
top which when the door is shut as shown lie inside the ends of the doors top rail
and so with the assistance of the said catches d2 and 12 keep the door tight and
hard in position and owing to the said doors L' and bulwark ends being beaded
as shown they are thus stiffened and kept tight at the edges as shown more
particularly in Figure 2 thus forming a continuous sheet metal bulwark which
owing to its construction is practically watertight. The said bulwarks L are
provided with hinged metal stanchions N the lower ends n of which are pivoted
to the deck D. A series of semi-collapsable seats R preferably made of light
metal supports r, tubes 71, and wires 72, are hinged or pivoted to the bulwarks L,
and are provided with hooks 3 (shown more particularly in Figure 9) which
engage with pins or corresponding hooks n' on the stanchions N and so lock the
bulwarks L, stanchions N and seats R rigidly in position. Thwartships seats S
are also provided and rowlocks T, which are mounted at the top of the bulwarks L,
thus providing means whereby the boat may be propelled by means of oars which
are provided with the boat. The said boat is also provided at the bow and stern
with means whereby an oar may be applied for steering purposes, that is to say,
by providing a suitable rowlock, which may be fitted into a bracket mounted on
the deck or mounted on the end bulwark doors L', in such a manner as to permit
of the rowlock swivelling.
Several or all of the watertight compartments G, into which the boat is divided
are provided with holes or openings having removable watertight screwed covers

page_text: so as to enable part of the said compartments being used as tanks or lockers for
carrying fresh water, provisions and stores.
All the metallic girders, plates and fittings of the boat are preferably galvanized
so as to prevent corrosion, the said galvanizing also makes all the joints air and
watertight owing to the said joints being brought metal to metal, though if desired
the said joints may be made watertight preferably by local heating by means of
a blowpipe and running the galvanizing metal into the scams and so making the
joints perfectly air and watertight.
Chains, rings or hooks V are provided for slinging the boat overboard by means
of the ordinary ships davits and tackle. Life lines are also provided around the
edges of the boat.
The whole arrangement is such that when not in use the boats are stowed the
one on the top of the other in any suitable place on the vessels deck, the bulwarks,
seats mast, sail, centreboard and oars being all flat and all the fresh water and
stores on board ready for use. When required to be used the bulwarks are raised
into position and locked there by means of the seats, the persons are then placed
on board, and the boat with its freight on board and swung over the ships side and
so floated, after which the mast is raised into position, which action lowers the
centreboard, and the boat is then fully equipped and ready for sea, and which
owing to its construction forms an absolutely safe, stable and unsinkable lifeboat,
which is practically indestructable as well as light and strong, and lastly when
not in use it occupies the least possible stowage room on deck.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
1st. The general arrangement, construction and combination of the various
parts constituting our semi-collapsable, unsinkable metallic ship's lifeboat, all
substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
2nd. The general arrangement and construction of the girders, bulkheads,
plates, and bow and stern frames, whereby they may be punched and riveted
together by machinery, all substantially as described with reference to and shown
more particularly in Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.
3rd. In metallic lifeboats, forming the joints watertight by so arranging the
flanges as to have métal to metal and closing the seams by galvanizing or soldering,
all substantially as hereinbefore described and shown more particularly in
Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.
4th. In metallic lifeboats the arrangement and construction of the well H, in
combination with the centreboard J, all substantially as and for the purposes
hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
5th. In metallic lifeboats the arrangement and construction of the centreboard J,
connected to and actuated by the mast K, all substantially as and for the purposes
herein before described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
6th. In metallic lifeboats the general arrangement and construction of the
sheet metal bulwarks L, overlapping doors L, and the means whereby they
are locked in position and their folding joint made watertight all substantially
as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated thin 1
1
1001
JOHNSONS,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicants' Agents.