Improvements in Apparatus for Pricking Floating Signal-lights and Releasing Life-buoys.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Nov., 1886.
Complete Left, 30th Aug., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 30th Sept., 1887
RES.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Pricking Floating Signal-lights and
Releasing Life-buoys.
I, BENJAMIN FIELDING MATTHEWS of 13 Montem Road, Forest Hill in the county
of Kent, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as
follows:-
In the use of the "Holmes" and other similar floating signal-lights, which ignite
on contact with water and which require the outer case pricking or puncturing
before being thrown on the water, it has hitherto been customary to perform such
pricking or puncturing by hand, and in the case of a man falling overboard, where it
is required to throw out a life-buoy with a signal-light attached, much valuable time
is frequently lost through delay, caused by such method of pricking the said signal
light.
My improved apparatus, which is designed to overcome this difficulty is constructed
substantially in the following manner.
The signal-light is placed in a box or metal frame of suitable form, open at the
back, and such box is fixed upon the railing at the side of the ship, with the open part
outwards. Two levers are pivotted externally, one on each side of the box or frame,
and are provided with sharp pointed pins, which are so situated, that on the said
levers being pressed inwards the pins enter openings in the box or frame and puncture
the case of the signal-light at both ends. One lever is pivotted near the back of the
box or frame by its outer end, and has the pin affixed at about the middle of its
length, while the other lever is pivotted near the front of the box or frame a short
distance from its inner end. This second lever is only about half the length of the
first one and has the pin affixed at its outer end, the inner ends of the levers are both
jointed to a connecting link, and it will be seen that when the said connecting link is
moved in one direction, both pins will be thrust in the box and puncture the case of
the signal light, and when moved in the other direction, they will both be withdrawn.
A spar of suitable length is fixed on the rail near the aforesaid box or frame, and
projects horizontally over the ship's side. A vertical slot or opening is formed near

page_text: the outer end of the said spar, and a groove is provided along the top, containing a
rod having a suitable handle at its inner end, and capable of sliding longitudinally in
the groove. A short link has one end jointed to the said rod, so that it can be dis-
connected in the daytime, and the other end jointed to the connecting link on the
pricking levers. When the rod is in its outward normal position the said link is at
an angle with the connecting link, and the pricking points are therefore withdrawn,
but on the rod being pulled inwards the links are brought into line and the levers
pushed in, while the further motion of the rod withdraws the pins again clear of
the box.
The action of the apparatus is as follows. The life-buoy has a ring attached to it
by means of lines, and this ring is passed up through the vertical slot near the outer
end of the spar, and the end of the rod lying in the groove is pushed through it, so
that the buoy is securely suspended over the ship's side; a signal light is placed in
the box or frame upon a suitable cradle and is connected by a line with the life-buoy.
By pulling the rod smartly inwards, the pricking points are instantly thrust into the
signal-light and withdrawn, while at the same time the buoy is released and falls on
to the water dragging with it the signal-light out of the box or frame.
The advantages of my apparatus, are, that the buoy and light are held in a con-
venient position ready for immediate use, and that when wanted they can be instantly
launched into the water by the mere motion of pulling a handle, while the construction
is simple and not likely to get out of order.
The spar and box may be hinged to the rail, or other part of the vessel on which
they are fixed, so that while in dock or other places where they are not likely to be
required they can be turned up out of the way,
Dated this 30th day of November 1886.
AMBROSE MYALL, C.E.,
21, Cockspur Street, London, S.W.,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Pricking Floating Signal-lights and
Releasing Life Buoys.
I, BENJAMIN FIELDING MATTHEWS, of 13 Montem Road, Forest Hill, in the county
of Kent, Gentleman 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 :-
-
In the use of the "Holmes" and other similar floating signal-lights, which ignite
on contact with water and which require the outer case pricking or puncturing
before being thrown on the water, it has hitherto been customary to perform such
pricking or puncturing by hand, and in the case of a man falling overboard, where it
is required to throw out a life buoy with a signal light attached, much valuable time
is frequently lost through delay caused by such method of pricking the said signal
light.
My improved apparatus, which is designed to overcome this difficulty, is constructed
substantially in the manner shewn in the accompanying two sheets of drawings, in
which Fig. 1 is a plan, and Fig. 2 a front elevation of an apparatus constructed
according to my invention.
Similar letters of reference denote similar parts in both figures.
The signal light, which is represented in dotted lines at A, is placed in a box or
metal frame B, of suitable form, open at one side, and such box is fixed upon a plate
or frame C, hinged to the railing Û¹at the stern or side of the ship, so that the open
side is outwards. Two levers D and E are pivotted externally, one on each side of
the box or frame at D and E, and have sharp pointed pins F and H pivotted to
them, so that on the said levers being moved in one direction the pins enter openings
in the box or frame B and puncture the case of the signal light A at both ends. The
inner ends of the levers are both jointed to a connecting link J, and it will be seen
that when the said connecting link is moved in one direction both pins will be thrust
in the box B and puncture the case of the signal light A, and when moved in the
other direction, they will both be withdrawn.
A spar K, of suitable length, is fixed on the plate C near the aforesaid box or
frame B, and projects horizontally over the ships stern or side.
A vertical slot or opening L, is formed near the outer end of the said spar and a
groove is provided along the top, containing a rod M, having a suitable handle M' at
its inner end, and capable of sliding horizontally in the groove. A short link N has
one end jointed to the said rod M, by means of a screw and nut N¹, so that it can be
disconnected in the daytime, and the other end jointed to the connecting link J on the
pricking levers D and E.
When the rod is in its outward normal position, the link N is at an angle with the
connecting link J, as shewn in Fig. 1, and the pins F and H are therefore withdrawn,
hut on the rod being pulled inwards, the links J and N are brought into line and the

page_text: pins pushed in, while the further motion of the rod, withdraws the pins again clear of
the box.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-the life-buoy P has a ring or loop Q
attached to it by means of lines, and this ring is passed up through the vertical slot L
near the outer end of the spar K, and the end of the rod M lying in the groove, is
pushed through it, so that the buoy is securely suspended over the ships side; a signal
light A is placed in the box or frame B, upon a suitable cradle, and is connected by a
line R with the life buoy. By pulling the rod M smartly inwards, the picking pins
are instantly thrust into the signal light and withdrawn, while at the same time the
buoy is released and falls on to the water dragging with it the signal light out of the
box or frame.
A shelf S is preferably fixed to the box B, as shown, to give a fair lead to the line R,
when pulling out the signal-light, and prevent the ring T, to which the line is attached,
catching on the bottom of the box,
The advantages of my apparatus are, that the buoy and light are held in a con-
venient position ready for immediate use, that the light can suffer no deterioration
from damp or moisture, as the case is not pricked until the moment it is required,
and that when wanted the buoy and light can be instantly launched into the water by
the mere motion of pulling a handle, while the construction is simple and not likely to
get out of order.
The spar and box being hinged to the railing or other part of the vessel on which
they are fixed, can be turned up out of the way, while in dock or other places where
they are not likely to be required.
It is obvious that although my invention is described as fixed on board ship,
it may, if desired, be fixed on a dock or pier wall, or in other situation where a life
buoy may be required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:-
(1). The apparatus, for pricking a floating signal light and releasing a life buoy,
constructed substantially as and for the purposes herein described and shewn with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
(2). The apparatus consisting of a box or frame B, a system of levers, rods and
links D, E, J, K, M, and N and pricking pins F, H, for pricking and releasing a
floating signal light by a single notion of the rod M substantially as and for the
purposes herein described and shewn with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 29th day of August 1887.
AMBROSE MYALL,
21, Cockspur Street, London, S. W.,
Agent for the Applicant.