IMPROVEMENTS IN BOAT DETACHING APPARATUS
Year: 1885

page_text: I EDWIN POWLEY ALEXANDER of 36 Southampton Buildings in the County of
Middlesex Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents do hereby declare the nature of
Baid invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOAT DETACHING APPARATUS (communi
cated to me from abroad by Hickman Edwards Foster of Decatur, in the County
of Macon and state of Illinois, United States of America, Merchant 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 that class of appliances by means of which a ships boat
may be simultaneously cast. loose, both at stem and stern from the davit-falls by
which the boat had been suspended and retained.
"The importance of effecting the release of the boat at the same juncture at bow
and stern is well understood for if this be not done there is not merely the risk of
tipping but if a heavy sea is running there is also imminent danger of the boat
overturning or swamping. Some detaching appliances are intended to operate
automatically by the buoyant influence of the water in contact with the boat. But
there is a chance of a premature release as by the sudden lurch of the ship or an
unusually high sea, besides which in calm weather it is frequently desired to hold the
boat quietly in a floating position without casting off. This invention consists of
certain improvements in boat-detaching apparatus conveniently operated from the
waist of the boat in such wise as to simultaneously release the bow and stern holds,
said invention comprising First a modified construction of the usual eye-bolt so that
it may be adapted to perform the functions of a trip-hook, and, second in combi-
nation with the said modified eye-bolts and their locking devices of the tripping
appliances for releasing the same from engagement with the hook links or tackles
of the davit-falls.
Figure 1 of the drawing annexed is a longitudinal sectional view of a boat
having the said hook detaching apparatus applied thereto. Figure 2 is a plan
view of the same. Figure 3 is a transverse section of a boat having a.modified
form of detaching apparatus applied thereto. Figure 4 is a view in side elevation
of the eye-bolt detached. Figure 5 is a view similar to figure 4 but with the lock
bolt-in section to show the manner of locking the pivot section of the eyebolt,

page_text: .
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Figure 6 is a view of the eye-bolt in side elevation the pivot section being opened
away from its seat. Figure 7 is a front end elevation of the eye-bolt opened as in
figure 6. Figure 8 is a view of a lock bolt detached.
Conveniently fastened by any desired and secure means to the keelson or other
heavy boat-timber are the eye-bolts A one situate at the stern and the other at the
bow of the boat. These eyebolts instead of being forged in one piece as usual
consist of a stationary or main portion 1, extending from the shank and of a pivot-
section 2 secured thereto by a pin bolt at 3. The pivot section 2 has downwardly
curved extensions 4 which embrace the main standard 1 and at its front is formed
into a solid head which bears firmly and squarely upon the end of the standard 1.
At the lower ends of the extensions 4 are semicircular notches or seats 5 which
when the pivot-section 2 is down in place upon the main standard come directly
above and serve as housings for the cut-away lock-bolt 6. This lock bolt has its
bearing in a perforation through the shank of the main standard 1, and near its
outer ends it is cut away as shown, so that in one position the bolts will rest in
and against the seats 5 securely locking the section 2 from turning about its pivot
bolt 3, whereas if the lock bolt 6 be shifted or rotated in its bearing so that the
cut away of the lock bolt 6 shall be about flush or even then the curved extensions 4
being no longer locked will rise clear and away about the pivot pin 3 and the
section 2 will open from its seat against the main standard 1. (see figures 6
and 7).
To accomplish this shift in position of the lock nut 6 there are crank arms 7 set
rigidly on the ends of the said bolts and loosely jointed by links 8 to a reciprocating
bar 9. The reciprocating bar 9 may be conveniently sustained at its ends in
bearings formed by slots in the shanks 10, of the eye-bolts said bar extending from
stem to stern along the bottom of the boat.
About midships a hand lover B is placed fulcrumed as at 11, in suitable eye
bearings and jointed pivottally by links 12 to the reciprocating bar 9 When the
hand lever B is down close against the bar 9 the parts are in the position shown in
figures 1, 4 and 5 so that the lock bolts 6 are turned in place to effectually lock the
extensions 4 and the pivot sections 2 of the eye-bolt is accordingly held in closed
position against the end of the main standard 1. It is plain that with the pivot
section 2 thus securely locked the eye-bolts can as usual be employed to make fast
to the hooks links etc. of the davit-falls. The boat being suspended by the falls
and it being desired to at once release the same both at bow and stern the operator
amidships merely raises the hand lever B thereby reciprocating the bar 9 and
rotating the lock bolt 6 in its bearings so far that the notches 5 are no longer in
engagement with the cut away portions of said lock bolt 6, at which juncture the
pivot sections 2 or rather the curved extensions 4 being no longer locked by the
lock-bolt 6 are impelled to rise about the pin 3 by the weight of the boat and at
once allow the retaining books or links of the davit blocks to slip away thus
releasing the boat simultaneously at both bow and stern. The weighted or solid
head of the pivot section 2 overbalances the extensions 4 of the said section so that
immediately the release of the boat has been effected the said section returns to its
normal position against the main standard 1 in readiness to be locked by shifting
the hand lever B again to its first position.
By constructing the eye-bolt in the manner described it retains all of its
recognized advantages over an open hook from off which a boat may sometimes
work and has none of the defects of set pins, trip levers etc. which have been
heretofore employed in boat-detaching apparatus. The locking mechanism is
secure from interferences and is easily and quickly operated at the will of one man.
Many, modifications of the device will suggest themselves to the skilled mechanic
and which are equally within the spirit of the invention. Thus in lieu of the
reciprocating bar 9 there may be a rock shaft 15 running along the side of the
boat from end to end and having secured rigidly thereto the operating. arm 16
and crank arm 17. These latter will be joined as shown (figure 3) to pivot links 80
and these in turn to crank arms 7 precisely as already detailed. It will be noted

page_text: that in such form the eye bolts are turned at right angles to the first position
described and open athwart the boat instead of lengthwise therewith as before.
The operation however and the structure of the eye-bolt A remain unchanged the
only distinction being as to the special means by which the locking and unlocking
of the curved extensions 4 is effected; in one instance by a reciprocating and in
the other by a rocking or partial rotary movement of the actuating shaft. Since
the curved extensions 4 rise in a circle about the pivot bolt 2 it will be noted that
the cut-away portions of the locking bolt 6 are arranged with respect thereto in
such wise as to offer no obstruction the extensions swinging clear above the said
cut-aways.
The detaching devices may be operated quite as well from nearer the ends, as
amidships and by any other than the special kind of hand lever shown.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. An eye-bolt consisting in the combination with the main-standard of the
pivot section provided with curved extensions and of a rotating lock bolt journalled
in the said main standard and directly engaging the curved extensions so as to lock
the pivot section in its closed position substantially as described.
2. The combination with the main standard 1 and with the pivot-section 2
having curved extensions 4 of the rotating lock bolt 6 journalled in the said main
standard and provided with a cut-away to engage the notch or seats 5 of the said
extensions substantially as described.
3. The combination with the main standard 1 and pivot sections 2 having
curved extensions 4 of the rotating lock bolt 6 journalled in the said standards and
directly engaging the curved extensions and intermediate mechanism substantially
as described whereby the lock bolts may be shifted in unison substantially as set
forth.
4. The combination with the eye-bolts A each consisting of a main-standard 1
and pivot-section 2 having curved extensions 4, of the rotating lock bolts 6
engaging the said curved extensions the crank arms 7 and the reciprocating bar 9
joined pivotally thereto substantially as described.
Dated tho 2rd dov of March 100%