IMPROVE- MENTS IN LOWERING AND DETACHING SHIPS' BOATS, AND IN THE MECHANISH OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Walter Alexander, of Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, North Britain, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN LOWERING AND DETACHING SHIPS' BOATS, AND IN THE MECHANISH
OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR."-A communication from abroad
by William Ferguson, of Ohicago, in the United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Walter
Alexander at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
his Petition, on the 29th September 1875.
I, JAMES WALTER ALEXANDER, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOWERING AND DETACHING SHIPS' BOATS, AND IN
THE MECHANISM OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR," a communication to me
from abroad by William Ferguson, of Chicago, in the United States of
America, to be as follows, that is to say :-
-
This Invention relates to improvements in lowering and detaching
ships' boats, and it consists of two essential features, viz.—

page_text: And, Secondly. That by which it is detached from the falls or ropes
by which it is suspended from the davits.
"
The mechanism for lowering a boat consists of an upright winch
fixed on deck on the quarter or taffrail, as required, close to and under
the rail, the ends of the boat "falls being secured to and passing {
around the centre drums. Round the bottom of the winch is a brake
clasping it and held in its place by a weight suspended at the end of
a lever. When the weight is allowed to fall it contracts the brake,
which then tightly clasps the winch and holds the boat suspended by
the davits. On raising the weight at the end of the lever the pressure 1
of the brake on the winch is relieved and the weight of the boat causes
it to descend, the velocity of the descent being regulated by the man in
the boat (who is thus independent of any carelessness or inattention of
any one on deck) holding in his hand a line attached to a lever which
controls the weight holding the brake, thus enabling him to lower the 1
boat to any distance from the water he considers advisable.
When it is wished to stop the descent of the boat at any time the
man in the boat drops the line in his hand, when the weight also
dropping the brake is tightened and the boat held in position at his
pleasure.
The winch is fitted with a handle attached to a pinion and used in
winding up the falls when the boat is hoisted. The pinion can be
thrown out of gear by a clutch. The upright shaft of the winch
revolves on a pivot on deck below and secured above to the rail or side
of the ship.
The mechanism for detaching the boat after it is lowered consists of
two rods passing above the bont's keel, joined in the centre and con-
trolled by a double eccentric moved by a lever. The ends of the rods
pass through double eye bolts at stem and stern. A strong rod with
a loop attached to the ordinary tackle block by a ring or hook passes
from the boat's thwart and entering between the jaws of the double cyc
bolt is caught by the end of the rods and securely held in place by
lowering the lever, which locks both ends at once by one action.
In order to detach the boat instantaneously from the ship the lover
is raised, the ends of the rods are drawn clear out of the bolts, and the
rod attached to the falls being released, the boat drops into the water
on even keel, and is immediately clear of the ship.

page_text: As some vessels carry their stern boats close up to the davits a short
set of rods can be used, bringing the boat's keel close up to the tacklo
blocks.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Walter Alexander in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 29th March 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
WALTER ALEXANDER, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
39th year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said James Walter Alexander, Her
special license, that I, the said James Walter Alexander, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James
Walter Alexander, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed; should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOWERING AND DETACHING SHIPS' BOATS,
AND IN THE MECHANISM OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOB,” being a com-
munication to me from abroad by William Ferguson, of Chicago, in the
United States of America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said James Walter Alexander, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Walter Alexander, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same

page_text: The said Invention relates to improvements in lowering and detaching
ships' boats, and it consists of two essential features, viz.,—
First. The mechanism by which the boat is lowered.
And, Secondly. That by which it is detached from the falls or ropes
whereby it is suspended from the davits.
E
And in order that the said Invention may be properly understood
I now proceed more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or 1
manner in or under which the same is or may be used or practically
carried into effect, reference being had to the annexed Sheet of
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say:-
On the Sheet of Drawings hereunto appended Figure 1 is a longi- 1
tudinal section of a portion of a ship's deck with the bulwark A in
elevation, and having the improved boat lowering apparatus constructed
in accordance with the first part of the said Invention applied thereto.
As shewn on the Drawing the boat lowering apparatus consists of an
upright winch B, the shaft of which revolves on a pivot or bearing fixed a
on the deck and in a bracket or bearing C attached to the bulwark or
rail above the winch. The ends of the boat falls D are secured to and
passed in different directions round the centre drums E of the winch,
from whence they are conducted through guides blocks a, and then
through the davit lowering and hoisting blocks b at the bow and stern ?
of the boat. A friction drum is formed at or situated on the lower end
of the winch B, and around the said drum a brake F is passed.
Figure 2 of the Drawings is a detailed plan of the brake band F, and
as shewn thereon, and also by Figure 1; it is attached at one end to the
deck and bulwark or rail by bolts passed through the palm or sole c. 3
The other end of the brake band F is connected by a strap d and links e
to one extremity of a lever G centred on a pin or stud f. A weight H
is placed upon the opposite end of the lever G, and when the said
weight is allowed to fall, it through the intervention of the lever
contracts the brake band F, whereby the band is caused to tightly clasp 3
the friction drum of the winch B and hold the boat suspended from the

page_text: davits I. The longer and weighted end of the lever G is connected by
a link or cord / to one end of another lever J centred on a pin or stud g,
and to the opposite extremity of the said lever J the end of a cord or
rope / is attached, as shewn at Figure 1 of the Drawings. The rope or
cord passes into the boat through a hole or opening k¹ formed in the
bulwark or through the space between two rails in ships wherein
bulwarks are not provided.
When it is desired to lower the boat a man therein takes the rope or
cord in his hand, and by pulling it raises the weight H on the lever G,
by which means the pressure of the brake band F on the friction drum
of the winch is relieved, and the weight of the boat then causes it to
descend. The velocity of the descent is regulated by the man in the
boat, who is thus independent of any carelessness or inattention of those
on the deck of the ship, he being enabled to stop the descent of the boat
at any distance from the water he may consider advisable by letting go
or slackening the rope or cord k, so as to cause the weight H to fall and
theroby tighten the brake band F around the friction drum of the
winch B.
To provide means for hoisting the boat in the davits I a bevil wheel L
is placed on the spindle of the winch B, and geared with a corresponding
bevil pinion M carried loosely on a horizontal shaft N, on one end of
which a winding handle or wheel is placed at O, Figure 1. On the
shaft N a clutch P is placed, and which is operated so as to gear the
pinion M with the shaft when it is desired to hoist the boat by means of
the lever or handle R.
In order to retain the levers, weight, and other parts of the
mechanism constituting the improved boat lowering apparatus herein-
before described in position close to the bulwark during the motion of
the ship, clamps or straps m are or may be employed, as seen at
Figure 1, and if desired tho said apparatus, or portions thereof, may also
be covered over or boxed in to preserve it from the action of damp or
of salt water.
The mechanism or apparatus as constructed in accordance with the
said Invention for detaching the boat from the davits after it has been
lowered as herein-before described is shewn in position at Figures 3
and 4, and in enlarged detail of the various parts at Figures 5 to 13 of
the Drawings. Figure 3 illustrates the position of the apparatus when

page_text: has been released.
The releasing mechanism consists of two rods A laid parallel with the
longitudinal axis of the boat, and immediately above the keel thereof.
At their inner ends, which are forked, as shewn at Figure 5, the rods A
are attached to a lever B, which is formed with two reverse eccentrically
curved slots therein, as shewn at Figures 6 and 7, through which the
pins connecting the rods A to the lever pass. The lever B is supported on
a pin or stud carried in a bracket or sole C bolted or otherwise secured to
the keel of the boat. The rods A at their outer ends are enlarged, and
they are bevilled on their under or upper sides, as shewn. At the bow
and stern ends of the boat upright eyes or jaws D are fixed opposito
the ends of the rods A, and in the sides of the said eyes or jaws slots
or openings are made to permit the points of the rods A to pass through
them. From rings or hooks attached to the lowering and hoisting
blocks of the ship's davits other rods F are suspended, the lower ends
of which enter between the sides of the jaws D, as seen at Figure 3,
and in the said rods slots or openings are also made to permit of the
passage of the rods A through them. The rods Faro preferably placed
within tubes or casings G to provent them from fouling or becoming
entangled with ropes.
When the boat is about to be hoisted it is geared with the hoisting
tackle by depressing the lever B into the position shewn at Figures 3
and 6, whereby the points of the rods A are caused to pass through the
eyes or jaws D and rods F, and the apparatus is retained in the said
position so long as the boat is suspended from the davits.
In order to detach the boat instantaneously from the ship when it has
been lowered to the required distance from the water by the lowering
apparatus constituting the first part of the said Invention, and herein-
before described, the lever B is raised to the position shewn at Figures 4
and 7, whereby the ends of the rods A are drawn clear out of the eyes
or jaws D, and the rods Fattached to the falls being thereby released
the boat drops into the water on even keel, and is immediately clear of
the ship.

page_text: boats may be brought close up to the tackle blocks, or to suit other cir-
cumstances on board ship.
The apparatus herein-before described may be otherwise modified, it
being explained that the Inventor does not confine himself to arrange or
construct the apparatus precisely as shewn on the Drawings, as the same
may be considerably varied without departing from the essential features
of the Invention; nor does the Inventor restrict himself to in all cir-
cumstances employ the lowering and releasing or detaching apparatus
together, as it is obvious that the detaching apparatus is capable of
employment without the apparatus for lowering the boat, and vice
versa.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent,
and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or
may be used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in con-
clusion that what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The arrangement and construction of mechanism illustrated at
Figure 1 of the appended Drawings, or any mere modification thereof,
by which ships' boats aro lowered, substantially as herein-before
described.
Second. The arrangement and construction of mechanism illustrated
at Figures 3 to 18 inclusive, of the accompanying Drawings, or any mero
3 modification thereof, by which boats are detached or released from the
ship instantaneously at both ends, and so as to fall into the water on
even keel, substantially as herein-before set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Walter Alexander, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of March,
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
TAB
ATYANDER Gol
JAB W. ALEXANDER. (L.S.)