IMPROVEMENTS IN BOAT DAVITS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Alexander Brice, of Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, for the Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN BOAT DAVITS."
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Alexander Brice at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st May 1877.
WILLIAM ALEXANDER BRICE, of Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex.
IMPROVEMENTS IN BOAT DAVITS."
My Invention has for its object improved means of turning ships' boats in-board
and out-board when hoisted up at the davits, in order to avoid the inconvenienco
and danger attending the usual method of performing this operation in rough
weather.
According to my Invention I apply a horizontal hand lever to each dayit just'
above the davit socket on the 'bulwarks. This lever would be permanently con-
nected to the dayit either by being passed through an eye forged in the davit, or
by a squared socket on the end of the lever, fitting on a corresponding squared boss.
forged or fixed on the davit, or in any other convenient manner. The levers are of
such a length as to enable the davits to be turned when carrying the heaviest boat
by one or two men at each davit.
When the boat is in-board the davits are secured by fastening the ends of the
levers to the bulwarks or other part of the ship.
Instead of the levers being operated directly by hand I may, in order to multiply
power, combine tackle with the ends of the lovers.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Alexander Brice, in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th
November, 1877.
WILLIAM ALEXANDER BRICE, of Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BOAT DAVITS."
My Invention consists in improved means of turning ships' boats in-board and
out-board when hoisted up at the davits, and it has for its object to avoid the
inconvenience and danger attending the usual method of performing this operation
in rough weather.
Moreover, by my Invention-greater power-is-obtained which is of advantage in
the event of the davits being difficult to turn owing to rust or other cause.
According to my Invention I apply a horizontal hand lever to each davit just
above the hand rail on the bulwarks. These levers are connected to the davits by
a square socket on the end of the lever, fitting on a corresponding square boss
forged or fixed on the davit. The levers may either be permanently fixed to the
davits, or they may be free to slide up to the round portion of the davit so as not to
turn with them when not required. By having the levers permanently connected
to, the davits they are always ready to hand, and cannot be mislaid or washed
away, as is liable, to occur with loose hand spikes placed in holes in a barrel, like a
capstan head fixed on the davit as has been proposed. The levers are of such a
length as to enable the davits to be turned when carrying the heaviest boat by one
or two men at each davit.
When the boat is in-board or out-board the davits are
ends of the lovers to the bulwarks or other part of the ship,
these positions being in a line with the bulwark rail.
secured the guy chains are generally dispensed with.
secured by fastening the
the levers in either of
The davits being thus