IMPROVEMENTS IN COAST LIFE BOATS AND IN SHIPS' LIFE PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION FITTINGS AND APPLIANCES FOR BOTH KINDS.
Year: 1883

page_text: ‘LETTERS PATENT to William Marsland Francis Schneider a Partner in the
Firm of Forrestt and Son of Norway Yard Limehouse Middlesex for an
·Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN COAST LIFE BOATS AND IN SHIPS' LIFE
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Marsland Francis
Schneider at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th March
1883.
WILLIAM MARSLAND FRANCIS SCHNEIDER & Partner in the Firm of Forrestt
and Son of Norway Yard Limehouse Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN COAST LIFE
BOATS AND IN SHIPS LIFE BOATS AND IN THE FITTINGS AND APPLIANCES FOR
BOTH KINDS.
"
This Invention of improvements in Life Boats and in the fittings and appliances
for them, relates to improvements intended to obviate some of the Chief difficulties
found in the working of life boats, and which are well known to exist in life boats
of the present construction.
I construct the bilges of the boat well forward amid ships and aft, especially
under the bows and quarters and gain greater stability and reduce the liability
of the boat to capsize either broadside or end over end
I construct the stem rounded back at the upper end to avoid the chance of the
boat being nipped under any projecting part of a vessel which has frequently
happened; and the forward end. of the after air compartment, is made in a
rounded form, above the gunwale, to present less resistance to the wind and to
break the force of the seas shipped over the waist of the boat.
.
I construct the iron keel of the boat wide and horizontally, not as now, narrow
and vertically, the keel offers less resistance because less surface is offered to the
action of the sea, and consequently there is less risk of the boat capsizing, and the
action of its weight for ballast is even increased or can be so and chiefly because
this construction helps to reduce the draught
I construct a centre board for this keel by slotting it up the centre the length

page_text: required and in which the centre board is fitted with suitable appliances for raising
or lowering, the boat then becomes more efficient under canvas, there is also this
peculiarity in the form of the centre board that which ever way the centre board is
struck either by a spar or the rocks or beach it at once rises in board. This I
cause to happen by giving to the centre board a recurved form.
I construct the gunwales of the boat low and nearly parallel or in the same
plane between the bow and stroke rowlock, the leverage of the bow and stroke
with the intermediate oars are equalised, and the men pull more evenly, the bow
and stern and intermediate oarsmen being able to exercise their efforts with more
average force than as now when the bow and stern are at the greatest disadvantage
compared to the intermediate rowers.
I construct a fender of wood all round the boat outside and of such shape as to
prevent the boat being fouled by any projection from a ships side when lying
broadside on to a ship.
I construct this boat without the holes and tubes of an ordinary coast lifeboat
this boat being freed from the water shipped by scuppers and self acting valves
fitted in the sides of the boat on a level with the deck
These scuppers and valves are placed principally at the ends of the deck space,
as the weight of water shipped by the boat lays far more at either end than in
the centre of the boat When the present boats are grounded upon a soft sand the
tubes in the bottom are at once choked and rendered useless, and when the present
"boats are under weigh these holes in the bottom form a great drag on the boat.
This arrangement of the valves is an essential feature of the Invention and I give
to the deck athwart ships a curved form to throw the water towards the suppers
and along the sides of the main deck I construct two water ways.
I construct in the forward, or aft, air compartment or both a receptacle, or case
for oil where oil either under pressure or not, can by suitable valves be released to
flow out on to the water, the intention being to have a ready means of applying
the oil when the boat is being beached or approaching a ship.
I construct the stretchers so as to give the rowers foot, heel and toe, a firm solid
base with adjustment for the angle required by each rower
I prefer to build these boats of the usual materials for such but I consider that
these improvements can be carried out if the boat should be built of such materials
as are not usually employed at present various kinds of metals alloys of copper
steel &°
I also construct the shipping of the mast and the fixing of the shrouds and
rigging so that if the boat should turn over the mast shrouds and haulyards becomė
detached and so allow the boat to right itself
I step the mast in a shallow hole or on a pin or in the usual way and the shrouds
are fastened as usual but dependent in one position of their continuity on the well
known cable holder or stopper consisting of a rotating sleeve in which in a slot
reposes the pin hinged in any convenient way forming a link or pin from which
the shrouds proceed either by a loop or ring to the upper portion of the mast
This rotating sleeve being turned round the pin naturally will fall out, in the
same way the strap to the mast can be held. Now it is evident that if the rotation
of this sleeve can be made self acting when required that I have the means of
releasing the mast from the strap and the shroulds and haulyards from the hinged
pin I therefore construct to this sleeve a short lever and weight the end of it so
that so long as the boat upright or even nearly on her beam ends the mast and
shrouds and haulyards are all taut and in proper position but if the boat passing
over, her beam ends or nearly bottom upwards then the mast haul yards and
shrouds all become released' instantly by the weight on the end of the lever
rotating the sleeve and releasing, the pin

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Marsland Francis Schneider in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 5th September 1883.
WILLIAM MARSLAND FRANCIS SCHNEIDER a partner in the firm of Forrestt
and Son of Norway Yard Limehouse Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN COAST LIFE
BOATS AND IN SHIPS' LIFE BOATS AND IN THE FITTINGS AND APPLIANCES FOR
BOTH KINDS."
This invention of improvements in life boats and in the fittings and appliances
for them relates to improvements intended to obviate some of the chief difficulties
arising in the working of life boats constructed upon systems at present in use.
In carrying out my invention I construct the bilges of lifeboats well forward.
amidships and. aft, especially under the bows and quarters and thereby I am
enabled to obtain greater increased stability and to reduce liability of the boat to
capsize either broadside or end over end.
I construct the stems of the lifeboats rounded back at the upper ends thereof so
as to avoid the risk of the boats being nipped under any projecting part of a
vessel, a mishap which has in some instances occurred and the forward end of the
after air compartment is made in a rounded form above the deck line or level in.
order to present less surface resistance to the wind and to break the force of the seas
shipped over the waist of the boat. This rounded form of construction of the fore
end of the after air compartment also enables the bollards to be arranged so as to
be more easily accessible by reason of their being without that compartment, by
which arrangement also the danger of a portion of that air compartiment being
carried away should damage occur to such bollard is avoided and greater strength
is thereby otherwise secured.
-
I construct the iron or steel keel of the lifeboat of increased horizontal width in
place of making such keel narrow and deep vertically as is now generally practiced
and by means of my improved construction I am enabled to secure increased action
of the weight of such keel as ballast and to effect reduction of the draught of the
boat.
I construct the keels of lifeboats with a slot up the centre of each of the length
required to receive centre boards and within these slots or channels or wells 1 fit
centre boards provided with suitable raising and lowering or retaining appliances,
so as to enable such lifeboats to become more efficient under canvas and further I
so form these centre boards that when lowered if they be struck in passing over a
spar or rocks or the beach or other obstacle, the centre boards rise in-board and
this form I find best adapted to the object when somewhat of a recurved contour
of outline. Means may be provided by frictional studs, catches or otherwise for
controlling the too sudden movements of the centre boards.
I construct the gunwales of lifeboats low and pearly parallel with or in the same
plane between the bow and stroke rowlocks whereby the leverage of the bow and
stroke oars and the intermediate oars are equalized and the men are enabled to pull
more evenly and the bow, stern and intermediate oarsmen are thereby enabled to
exercise their muscular force with better average effect upon the boat, than when
as under ordinary circumstances the bow and stern oarsmen are placed at the.
greatest disadvantage for the exercise of power compared to the intermediate
oarsmen.
I construct the improved life boats with a fender around the outer side thereof
and of a form such as will best prevent the boat being fouled by any projection from
or other portion of a ships side or other surface against which it may come in

page_text: contact either in lying broadside onto a ship or otherwise and such fender may be
of wood or other suitable material as is well understood and separately considered
this means of protection forms no part of the invention.
In my improved construction of lifeboat I dispense. with the tubes and holes
employed in ordinary coast life boats and in place thereof I construct my improved
life boat with scuppers and self acting valves of a peculiar construction so as to be
adapted automatically to relieve or free the boat from water which may be shipped.
These scuppers are formed in the sides of the boat starting from the level of the
deck or thereabouts and arranged principally at or towards the ends of the deck
space of the boat because practically the weight of water shipped by the boat lays
at one or other end far more than in the middle of the boat and the valves are
applied to the scuppers so as to control the passage therethrough whilst permitting
outflow of the water and in order to throw the water towards the scuppers I give
a curved form or contour to the deck of the boat athwartships and by these means
I am 'enabled to relieve the boat of the contained water with great rapidity and
certainty.
J.
:
3
In some cases I construct in the forward air compartment or in the aft compart-
ment or in both of them, a compartment receptacle or case for oil and the contained
oil may be stored therein under pressure or otherwise; so that when desired such,
oil may be allowed to flow'out onto and over the surface of the water upon occasion
arising favorable to its application such as when the lifeboat is being beached or is
approaching a ship or otherwise a local smoothness of the surface of the water is.
desirable such outflow being controlled by suitable valves or stop pieces.
-
I generally employ the usual materials in the construction of my improved life-
boats but the invention affords every facility for their. construction in metal or
combinations of materials giving lightness and strength.
Figure 1 shows a life boat of my improved construction drawn to a small-scale
in outline under sail Figure 2 shews a side elevation of the same boat' to a larger
scale.
↓
..
:
Figure 3 shows a plan of the lifeboat showing the position of the centre board
fore and aft air compartments, scuppers or water channels and parts Figure
shews a diagram of one half of the lines of upper works of the boat and Figure 4
an under side view of the keel with the centre board aperture therein.
Figure 5 is a diagram of the lines of the bow construction and Figure 6 a sectional
view of the amidships construction of the boat.
i
.
3
£.
Figures Zand 8 shew respective front and back elevations of one of the scupper
or channel valves separately full size. Figure 9 shews' a section thereof through
the line A. A..of Figure 7:
Figures 10 and 11 shew front and back elevations of the valve separately with
the flap thereto removed and Figure 12 shews a sectional view of the pivot of the
Hap of the valve separately with its adjacent parts.
In all these views identical parts are indicated by similar letters where they
occur.
•
a. a. indicates the bilge or broad portion of the bottom of the "life boat!
bindicates the stem of the boat rounded back as described and c, indicates
the stern post,. d. d. are masts. e indicates the forward air compartment
and f the aft air compartment f¹ being the forward end thereof formed of a rounded
or segmental outline so as to offer less frictional -resistance to the wind and such
seas as may be shipped over the waist of the boat whilst permitting of a more
accessible and independent situation of the bollards. indicates the keel of
broader and shallower form than generally obtains. indicates a slot in the keel g
passing up through the boat and suitably sheathed to form a well-for the reception
of the centre or stay board i, which board' turns on a centre or axis of motion

page_text: at . and it will be seen that the outline or contour of this centre board i. will admit
of its readily rising inboard on striking any submerged obstacle.
j.j. indicate the gunwales of the life boat low and nearly parallel between the
bow and stroke rowlocks: k indicates a fender around the lifeboat..
I are the scuppers or channels for the flow away of the water shipped or present
in the boat. a indicates the deck of the life boat constructed with a curved
contour athwartships to throw the water to the sides and thence to the channels l. l.
and thence when permitted by the valves n. n. to flow into the sea.
0. o. are side air compartments.
n. n. are the self acting valves such as I employ for controlling the passages of
the water out of lifeboats according to my improvements. n³ is the seat or framing
of the valve n-n³ are pivots or centres on which the valve n turns and these
pivots or centres are carried so as to turn in bearings n³ in the framing n² n' is a
counter balance weight which may be formed of lead or other suitable material
and may be secured to the flap or valve n, by screw n³ or other suitable fastening
the faces of the valve.n at n. n abutting against the valve seating n³ n³ may be
faced with india rubber or other suitable packing to render the junction water
tight.
The operation of the valve is as follows, as the boat heels over the valve n by
reason of its counter weight will remain closed until the boat heels over so as to
bring the side thereof to such an angle of inclination that the water will flow "over
the side" or until the accumulated column or weight of water behind it becomes
so great as to overcome such counterpoise when the valve will open and the water
will pass out with greatly increased rapidity and certainty and having passed out
the counterweight will cause the valve to reclose.
p. p. are clips or pieces that serve to retain the pivots n¹n¹ in their proper
positions.
Having thus described the nature of the invention and means adapted for
carrying the same into practical effect I would have it understood that what I claim
as my Invention is:-
First. The general arrangement and construction of lifeboats and their fittings
and appliances substantially as herein described and shewn by the Drawings
annexed hereto.
Secondly. The construction or arrangements of the channels or scuppers of life-
boats adapted to facilitate the discharge of water from within such boats provided
with self-acting valves to control such discharge of water substantially as herein
described and shewn.
In witness whereof I the said William Marsland Francis Schneider have
hereunto set my hand and seal this Fourth day of September in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty three
TTY
CATT YDINLAT
Witness
1
ALFRED GEORGE BROOKES
59 Chancery Lane London.
ALGET ITTON