An Improved Life Boat.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 30th June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 16th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 30th June, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Life Boat.
JAMES GIBB Engraver 344 Munton Road New Kent Road London do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The advantages of these boats over those generally in use on passenger ships are
economy of space and greater safety as they are practically unsinkable and self-
righting. Each boat is struck or pressed from dies and is provided with two air-
tanks made of iron or steel and placed one in the bow and one in the stern. These
tanks are movable and when not in use can be taken out of the boat with the utmost
facility. Economy of space is secured by placing 4 or 5 boats (all exactly alike
and of the same size) one inside the other; the top one will hold the whole of the
tanks for the remainder of the boats but otherwise each boat will be complete in
itself, with oars, helm, seat etc.
Figures
and 2 show the boats fitted into each other and Figure 3 is deck
plan of boat showing:
A, key plate & helm rod, on to which helm slides by means of hollow tube being
then kept in position by spring.
When not in use are kept at bottom
D seats, of which there are 6 in each boat.
of boat with helm oars etc. as seen by D in Fig. 2.
E, bottom of boat, sunk 4 inches, not seen in drawing. Its greatest width is
2 feet and it would serve to hold stores etc. and also as a keel. Among other
advantages this broad keel would enable the boat to be loaded on deck, an
important thing in case of sudden emergency.
F, flat cross-bar, 6 inches from end of boat and directly under seat rest, for tank
to rest on. When the boats are taken out of each other, it swings into place by
means of a spring but when not in use the bar is kept close into side by the boat
fitted into its own boat, for of course if kept in its cross position it would prevent
the boats being contained in one another.
G, air-tank, the upper part of which is rounded, overlapping and resting on
gunwale as shown at M. The bottom is a strong iron frame on to which the tank
is rivetted. Its edges project from under tank and catch under seat-rest as shown
at L in Fig. 5. Here it is further secured by a spring linch-pin. The tank is
fitted into its place by putting it about 4 inches from its proper position, that is
to say where the boat is a little wider so that by pushing it forward the projecting
edges catch under seat-rest as stated; it is then kept secure by a cross-bar M
which fixes by a spring into gunwale in the same manner as at L. But for the
bar F the tank would sink forward when being pushed into position only resting
about inch on gunwale at 1. Every tank is made exactly alike and same size, to
fit stern, so that they would do either for bow or stern, thus avoiding mistakes
during confusion. The ends of boat curl over in front, forming cap-railing to further
secure tank, as seen at K.
J, is seat-rest strongly made of light-iron passing along both sides of boat its
whole length parallel with gunwale.
Figure 4 shows :
B slope of bow.
C do. stern.
The latter slope is greater than the former so as to allow more space for helm
7+73)

page_text: 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
1 claim is:
1. That the boats are unsinkable and self-righting.
2. That by having tanks which are movable 4 or more boats can be fitted into
each other, effecting a great economy of space thereby.
3. That the broad keel enables the boats to stand and be filled on deck, in
cases of foundering suddenly, where there is no time to launch boats, and gives
greater stability to boats.
4. That the helm is a key-helm, easily and quickly adjusted.
5. Cheapness of production, the boats being pressed or stamped from dies.
2nd day of June 1800
JAMES GIBB.