A New or Improved Flexible Raft for Saving Life at Sea.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Mar., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 6th Oct., 1897-Accepted, 27th Nov., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Flexible Raft for Saving Life at Sea.
I, JAMES WILLIAM MILLER, of Gordon House, East India Road, Poplar, in the
County of London, Retired Mine Owner do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to a Raft for saving life at sea in cases of shipwreck and
the like so constructed as to be rolled up for storage and attached to the ship's
side and so that when the fastenings are released the raft at once unrolls and
floats on the water ready for the reception of its load, and moreover means are
provided by which the transfer of passengers from the ship to the raft in rough
weather is greatly facilitated.
According to my invention the raft is partly composed of, and its power of flota-
tion principally obtained by a series of pillow or bolster like cases of waterproof
material filled with a light and buoyant substance preferably cork or cork shavings,
and on each side of each such bolster I provide a flange or horizontal extension
by means of which it is attached, say for instance by means of a set of eyelet
holes and a lace, to the next one.
A convenient number, say for example five or six, of such bolsters, the length
of each being equal to the width of the raft, are laced or joined together side by
side and then a spar of the same length as the bolsters placed next and then another
series of bolsters and another spar and so on until the full length of the intended
raft has been made up.
A series of bands, perhaps of steel spring metal, or other metallic substance, are
passed round the structure connecting the various items together.
A covering of waterproof canvas may be fitted over all, giving it the form of a
huge mattress.
The ends may be turned up and so retained by ropes stretched along each side
from end to end.
A metal cylinder or cylinders may be placed in the raft and fitted for the storage
within of provisions and the like, and such cylinders may be divided into water-
tight compartments, and may also be used to contain drinking water, or a water-
proof canvas cylinder specially constructed for the purpose may be substituted
for one of both of them, and valves are suitably arranged for access to the water.
The rigidity of the whole may be increased by boards each fastened by a pivot
bolt to one or other of the spars and so that they can be brought round and
fastened to the next spar.
Another skin of waterproof canvas is brought over the whole, with side pieces
adapted to fasten to the before mentioned ropes, thereby forming sides which
serve to keep the wash of the water off the raft.
Stanchions are provided and arranged hinged on the spars and adapted to be
fastened to and to help to support the canvas sides.
I provide valves for the escape of any water, and expanding rods with rowlocks.
Provision may be made on one of the spars for stepping a mast, and bolts for
securing sails.

page_text: The whole of the above described is intended to be rolled up on the metal
cylinder and can then be placed in an apron attached to the ship ready to be
launched when required.
Canvas or other coverings or shelters may be provided for the shelter of the
passengers.
The arrangements for launching the raft and for placing the passengers on
board it are such as are next described.
Strong ropes, which may be elastic, preferably four in number, are fastened
by spring hooks to ring bolts in the raft and reach from the raft to the bridge or
bulwarks of the ship (to which it is intended to fix the raft) and on these are fixed
a strong canvas shoot terminating above the raft, and under the end of the shoot
I hang a spring hammock into which the passengers can drop through the shoot
from the deck or bridge as the case may be. Those ropes serve also as moorings
to keep the raft at the side of the ship, and give and take with the rise and fall of
the waves and rolling of the ship, as do also rope ladders which extend from the
ship to the raft and by which seamen can ascend and descend.
An iron bolt a little longer than the width of the raft is fixed to the bulwarks
or to the bridge of the ship and this bolt is provided with several tynes.
The raft is generally kept rolled up (with provisions and water and all necessaries
on board) and placed in the apron before mentioned which is then brought up
around the raft and the rings slipped on the tynes of the bolt which is then shot
home. The rings of the ladders and elastic ropes are put on their spring hooks
and all is ready for launching when required.
.
By simply drawing back the bolt the apron drops, the raft springs out on to the
sea unrolling as it falls, and floats with sides erect, shoots and laquers extended,
and spring hammock ready to receive passengers. When loaded the hooks can
be slipped and the ship cleared in a few minutes.
Dated the 25th day of March 1897.
A New or Improved Flexible Raft for Saving Life at Sea.
I, JAMES WILLIAM MILLER, of Gordon House, East India Road, Ponlar, in the
County of London, Retired Mine Owner, 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:-
My Invention relates to a raft for saving life at sea in cases of shipwreck and
the like, so constructed as to admit of it being rolled up and attached to the bulwark
or other convenient part of a ship when out of use, and so that when required for
use the mere disengagement of a single bolt will serve to release it and allow it
instantly and automatically to unroll and descend on to the water in the form
necessary for receiving its load, means being also provided for facilitating the
transfer of passengers from the ship to the raft and ensuring their safety during
such transfer.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying draw-
ings in which :-
Figure 1 is a plan, Figure 2 a side elevation and Figure 3 a longitudinal section
of one of my improved rafts.
Figure 4 is a transverse section of the raft looking towards the stern thereof.
Figure 5 shows in end and front elevation a convenient form of water beaker
for use on the raft.

page_text: Figure 6 is a plan of the before mentioned bolt and other adjacent parts.
Figure 7 is an elevation of part of the apparatus as seen from the deck of the
vessel.
Figure 8 is an elevation of the rear end of the raft and portions of the passenger-
transferring devices connected therewith, this view being taken as when looking
towards the ship i.e. in a direction opposite to that from which Figure 7 is taken.
Figure 9 is a view showing the raft rolled up and secured to the bulwarks and
Figure 10 is a view showing the whole apparatus as immediately after the bolt has
been released and
Figure 11 is an enlarged view of a portion of the passenger-transferring shoot.
Similar letters of reference indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the
various figures of the drawings.
According to my invention the raft is partly composed of, and its power of
flotation is principally obtained by a series of pillow or bolster-like cases A of
waterproof material, filled with cork, cork shavings or other light and buoyant
substance a, and on each side of each such bolster A. I provide a flange or hori-
zontal extension a¹, by means of which it is attached to the next one say for
instance by means of stitching or lacing a² Fig. 4, or a number of bolsters may
be contained within the same case.
A convenient number of the bolsters A, say for example as shown in Fig. 3,
eight, the length of each being equal to the width of the raft, are laced or otherwise
joined together as previously described, and then a wooden spar B of the same
length as the bolster is placed next, and then a series of say four, bolsters, and
another spar B and then another series of four bolsters and then another spar B and
then a second series of eight holsters so as to complete the raft of the particular
length required, more or less of the bolsters being used according to whether the
raft is to be longer or shorter..
The spars B have a double row of auger holes bored through them, and through
these holes the rope lacing from the bolster A is passed and securely fastened to
the bolster A on the other side of the spar.
D are three metal bands or springs which extend from stem to stern beneath the
bolsters A and between the bolsters and the casing F. Each of the springs D is
secured at its two ends conveniently by wooden rails & to two of the bolsters A at
the stem and stern of the raft and may also be secured to the spars B at the parts
where they cross them. These springs D tend always to assume the position in
which they are shown in Fig. 3 but are sufficiently flexible to allow of the raft
being rolled up into the form shown in Fig. 9.
EE respectively are wooden stem and stern rails secured to the two outermost
bolsters A, and F is a flexible waterproof casing into which the bolster A, spars B
springs and rails EE are enclosed so as to give to the whole the form of a huge
flexible matress.
To the two ends of this device are secured stem and stern spars GGI respectively
and these are secured together by a rope g which serves to support the bow and
stern of the raft in the substantially vertical positions shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 10.
A wooden, metal or other cylinder H or two or more such cylinders may be
secured within the raft preferably at the bow end thereof, and such cylinder or
cylinders may serve for containing provisions, or the like, access being had to the
interior thereof by means of doors h Fig. 1; the interior of the cylinder or cylinders
if desired may be divided into separate compartments some of which may be used
for containing drinking water; or a waterproof canvas cylinder specially con-
structed for the purpose may be substituted for the cylinder or cylinders H suitably
arranged valves being provided for drawing off the water.
The canvas sides are suitably secured to the before described casing F and
rope g and serve to keep the wash of the water off the raft, and they are provided
with valves or scuppers ; to admit of the escape of any water that may be
shipped." The canvas sides J are supported by stanchions j' stitched or other-
wise secured to them and the stern is similarly supported and maintained rigid by

page_text: suitably shaped stanchions secured in position within canvas pockets or by any
other convenient means.
The rigidity of the raft may be increased by brace-rails K pivotted at their
outer ends to the before mentioned spars G G¹ and adapted at their inner ends to
be secured to or against blocks K¹ fixed to the centre one of the three spars B.
Rope or other rowlocks gl may be secured to the rope g the one at the stern
serving for accommodating an oar which may be used for steering.
Rails may be secured to the spars B and provided the forward one, with means,
such as the hole for stepping a mast, and all of them with ring bolts 2 or
equivalent for securing the hereinafter described shoot-ropes or the ropes connected
with the sail or sails while other ring bolts ³ or equivalent are also provided on
the stern spar G¹ for this latter purpose. Tapes or equivalent k may be secured
to the three rails k to enable oars, masts sails or other appurtenances to be placed
beneath them, so that these devices will be retained in position when the raft is
rolled up, and may be readily removed when the raft is unrolled. L are canvas
pockets formed at the stern of the raft for containing the water breaker L' Fig. 5
or any other desired articles.
M are two seats extending athwart the raft for accommodating the oarsmen and
passengers.
The whole of the before described apparatus is adapted to be rolled up on to the
cylinder or cylinders H at which time the brace-rails K are detached from the
blocks K and turned inwards transversely across the raft and the canvas sides J
are folded inwards on to the floor or bottom of the raft; in this condition the device
may, as shown in Fig. 9, be supported in an apron N attached to the ship, so as to
be ready to be launched at any instant.
One end of the apron N is secured by a rod N¹ to the outer side of the ship just
below an opening which is large enough to admit of the passengers passing
through it. The other end of the apron N is provided with a series of eyes or
loops n adapted, as shown in Fig. 6, to receive pins or tines p formed on a bolt P
which is mounted so as to be capable of moving longitudinally on the bulwarks,
bridge or other convenient part of the vessel.
In Figs. 6 and 7 I have shown the bolt l' as provided with a hand lever P¹ for
releasing it, this lever when operated being adapted to bear upon a stud which
then constitutes its fulcrum; normally the lever P is retained in the position
shown in Figs. 6 and 7 by a loop 2 which may readily be removed whenever
necessary.
The arrangements for effecting the safe transference of the passengers to the
raft may be constructed as follows:-
Each
Four ropes are secured at one end to the four corners of the before mentioned
opening O and at the other end by spring hooks, "toggles" or other readily detach-
able fastenings to four of the ring bolts at the bottom of the raft. On each of
these ropes r is coiled a helical spring the two ends of which are secured to the
rope at the time that the spring is elongated to its fullest extent and the rope is in
tension, so that the said spring will serve automatically to take up the slack in the
rope, by crinkling it as shown in Fig. 11, or pay it out whenever the over-all
length of the latter is varied through the rocking or swaying of the raft.
of the springs is encased in a canvas tube 2 which in turn is enclosed in a
tubular pocket in one corner of the canvas shoot R the upper end of which is
made fast to the ropes r so as to be close up to or within the opening O. Below.
the lower end of the shoot R and suspended from the four ropes r I provide a
hammock S into which the passengers can fall as they emerge from the shoot.
The ropes r serve also to keep the raft at the side of the ship and by reason of the
springs give and take with the fall and rise of the waves and rolling of the ship
as do also two rope ladders T extending from the ship to the raft at either side
of the shoot R. The ladders T may be permanently attached to the ship in any
convenient manner and they are connected to the raft by readily detachable
fastenings such as the "toggles" t represented in Figs. 8 and 10, each of which

page_text: consists of two loops one attached to the raft and the other formed on the lower
end of the ladder T and adapted to fit over the first loop through which it is after-
wards passed a plug or toggle" which, until withdrawn, secures the two loops
together.
The seamen can ascend and descend by means of the ladders T.
If desired the fastenings for securing the shoot and ladders to the raft may be
connected to one and the same cord by pulling which these fastenings may all be
released simultaneously.
The raft is generally kept rolled up with provisions and water in the recep-
tacle H L and oars, mast, sail, sea anchor U Fig. 1 and other necessary appur-.
tenances and the shoot R and ladders T suitably arranged within the roll, the
whole being supported by the apron N and bolt P as shown in Fig. 9, the ropes r
and ladders T at this time being secured to the appropriate ring bolts on the raft.
By disengaging the loop pa from the lever Pi and by means of this latter,
drawing back the bolt P, the apron N is released and the raft immediately springs
out on to the water, unrolling itself as it falls, and floats with the sides J erect,
shoot R and ladders T extended, and the hammock S ready to receive the passen-
gers. The brace-rails K may then be made fast and the whole will form a
substantially rigid structure.
When the raft is loaded it may be disconnected from the ship by releasing the
before mentioned "toggles" or fastenings.
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: -
First. A life-saving raft comprising a series of bolster-like buoyant bodies such
as A a flexibly connected together substantially as herein before describ-1 with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
Secondly. In a life-saving raft the combination with a series of bolster-like
buoyant bodies such as A a, of rigid spars such as B all flexibly connected
together substantially as herein before described with reference to the accom-
panying drawings.
Thirdly. In a life-saving raft the combination with a series of bolster-like
buoyant bodies such as A a, of a spring or two or more springs such as D sub-
stantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
Fourthly. In apparatus for saving life at sea the combination with a flexible
raft such as described, of an apron such as N n and bolt such as P p substantially
as and for the purpose hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
Fifthly. In apparatus for saving life at sea the combination with a shoot such
as I of spring-controlled ropes for supporting it and connecting the raft to the
ship substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
Sixthly. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete
life-saving apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
Dated the Rith date of Cintahan 1007
JAMES WILLIAM MILLER.