Improved Boat Chocks.
Year: 1894

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Boat Chocks.
JAMES MUIR 2 Dingle Lane Liverpool Marine Superintendent, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists of an improvement in boat chocks.
The boat is carried up on two, or more, cast iron main supports of approved form,
having a (T) tee iron between them which forms a solid support for the keel of
the boat. The inside chocks are fixtures & rest on a well ribbed bracket, or flange,
cast on the main supports for this purpose; the outside chocks are hinged at the
end near the centre line of the boat & will, if unsupported, fall of their own weight;
at the outer end of each chock a U shaped cup socket is fixed, into which a vertical
stanchion works, these stanchions are hinged at the deck & connected near the top
by a pull-rod with a handle at one end, & are held securely in place by a pin
passing through each cup socket on the outside of the stanchions.
To release the boat the pins are drawn & the handle pulled, the stanchions &
pull-rod drop on the deck, the chocks at once fall of their own weight & the boat
is free for swinging out, without raising it up with the boat falls.
To assist the freeing of the boat, a strip of hard wood is fastened on top the
Tiron keel support, & bevelled on the outside; the keel itself being bevelled the
reverse way, the boat tends to slide down & outwards.
Dated this Eighth day of September 1894.
JAMES MUIR 2 Dingle Lane Liverpool Marine Superintendent, 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 has for its object increased facilities for the rapid launching of
ship's, or other boats, by means of hinged chocks, which on being released drop of
their own weight, and leave the boat free for putting out, without being raised by
the boat falls.
In order to describe fully my invention I annex a drawing which is lettered to
correspond with the following description.
The boat is carried up on two or more main supports A. A. preferably of cast
iron, or cast steel, of approved form, between which I place a (T) tee iron B, on
the top of which is fastened a strip, or facing, of hard wood C. bevelled as herein-
after described and forming a proper support for the boat's keel, so as to prevent
sagging or distortion.
Each inner chock D. is a fixture, and rests on a well ribbed bracket, or flange E.
cast on to the main supports A. A.; the outer, or swinging chocks F. F. are
hinged, and work freely on the main supports A. A. near the centre line of the

page_text: boat, the hinges G. G. are made long and have the chocks F. F. fastened on their
upper sides, so that, if unsupported they drop of their own weight, and hang
downwards clear of the boat as shown to dotted lines H.; at the outer end of each
chock F. F. an open ended cup socket J. is fixed, into which the vertical
stanchions K. K. fit, and are held in place by means of the pins L. L. which_pass
through the sockets on the outer side of the stanchions; the vertical stanchions K. K.
which support the chocks F. F. when they are in position, are hinged at the deck
at N. N. and connected together near the top by the pull-rod O. which has a
handle P. preferably at the forward end.
To clear the boat ready for launching, the pins L. L. are drawn, and the
handle P. pulled, the stanchions (K. K.) and the pull-rod (O.) drop on the deck,
and the chocks at once fall of their own weight leaving the boat clear for swinging
out, the latter operation is assisted by the strip of hard-wood C., already referred
to, which is bevelled outwards and the keel of the boat the reverse way, so that a
slight push sends the boat off until its whole weight is taken by the falls, when it
can be swung out without difficulty.
The bosses, or stoppers M. M. are so placed as to stop the fall of the chocks F. F.
where required.
Similar parts in both views are represented by the same letters.
When the boats are placed overhead, I hinge the swinging chocks, out of line
with the fixed one's, so as to clear the beam or angle iron which usually supports
the chocks, and cut away the platform, if necessary, so as to allow the hinged
chocks to swing freely downwards, the stanchions for supporting the chocks when
in position are made short, and are fixed on to a rod, or shaft, which is carried up
on the under side of the said beam or angle iron, and has a hand lever at one end,
which controlls the stanchions and is used for freeing the chocks when required.
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 :-
In improved boat chocks.
1. The chocks hinged as herein described.
2. The T (tee) support in combination with the bevelling of the hardwood
facing and keel of the boat.
3. The arrangement of hinged stanchions and pull-rod as described, and shown
in annexed drawing.
4. The arrangement as herein described for meeting the requirements of boats
placed overhead.
Dated this 29th day of November 1894.
JAS. MUIR.