Improvements in Life-boats and other Boats, and in Means for Propelling and Steering the same.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 6th June, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Feb., 1897-Accepted, 5th June, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Life-boats and other Boats, and in Means for
Propelling and Steering the same.
ROBERT JAMES PLUNKETT Apsley Villa Acraman's Road Southville
Examining Officer, H.M. Customs Bristol, lo hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The improvements in life-boats and other boats, and in means for propelling, and
steering the same. The boats shall be constructed of wood and cork, "sharp bow
and stern" two rudders, three keels, four bulk-heads, between the stem, and bulk-
heads at each end, will be filled with cork the frame of the boats, will be of wood
planking, or lining, which will be fastened to ribs, or timbers, at intermediate
positions, and belted all with cork, between each timber, extended from the gun-
wale to the keels, each bilge keel will have three wood, or metal wheels, for
transporting, and launching purposes.
The mechanical propelling appatus shall be constructed of wood, copper, brass,
or composition metal, and consist of our paddle wheels, with eight floats to each
wheel, two of the paddle wheels being laced on each side of the central, or main
keel, one before the other in line with th, central keel, in cased chambers, opened
at the bottom of the boat, to the sea, each air of paddle wheels to be worked on
each side of central keel, by two shafts, one grooved stud chain grip wheel; being
attached to each shaft, with two grooved stud chain grip cog wheels, being attached
to axis; and one cog wheel being attached to a central shaft, between the two
grooved stud chain grip cog wheels, which are placed one on the top, and the other
under, the three wheels being in a perpendicular position, an endless link chain
being passed round the paddle shaft grooved stud chain grip wheels, and the two
grooved stud chain grip cog wheels, a crank handle being attached to the centre
shaft cog wheel, the main shaft being passed through the fore, and aft partitions of
the cased chambers each side in the boat, which will work separately, or by
connecting (conjointly) by the hands, a crank is attached to each paddle wheel
shaft, to which is attached a foot board crank bars, with spiral springs, which will
be worked by foot, in conjunction with the hands on each side of the central cased
chambers to propel the boat.
The apparatus for steering shall be constructed of copper, brass, composition
metal, or wood, and to consist of yoke, couplings, tiller, and yoke lines; the tiller
being attached to the couplings, and yoke at the rudder-head, and bolted by a
movable bolt, at the handle to keep rudder secure when not in use, or to steer the
boat when required.
be
The boats are constructed to be unsinkable for saving life at sea, but may
used for river-service, and for military purposes; the paddle wheels being
protected by the belted cork sides of the boats.
Dimensions of life boats and, other boats, will be acording to requirements.

page_text: Improvements in Life-boats and other Boats, and in Means for
Propelling and Steering the same.
ROBERT JAMES PLUNKETT Apsley Villa Acraman's Road Southville
Examining Officer, H.M. Customs Bristol 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 :-
The improvements in life-boats, and other boats, and in means for propelling,
and steering the same. The boats shall be constructed of wood, and cork "sharp
bow, and stern" two rudders, three keels, four bulk-heads, between the stem, and
bulk-heads at each end, will be filled with cork. The frame of the boat will be of
wood planking, or lining which will be fastened to ribs, or timbers, at intermediate
positions, and belted all with cork, between each timber extended from the gunwale.
to the keels, each bilge keel will have three wood, or metal wheels for transporting
and launching purposes.
The mechanical propelling apparatus shall be constructed of wood, copper,
brass, or composition metal, and consist of four paddle wheels, with eight floats to
each wheel, two of the paddle wheels being placed on each side of the central, or
main keel, one before the other in line with the central keel, in cased chambers,
opened at the bottom of the boat to the sea, each pair of paddle wheels to be
worked on each side of central keel, by two shafts, one grooved stud chain grip
wheel being attached to each shaft, with two grooved stud chain grip cog wheels,.
being attached to axis; and one cog wheel being attached to a central shaft,
between the two grooved stud chain grip cog wheels, which are placed one on the.
top, and the other under, the three wheels being in a perpendicular position, an
endless link chain being passed round the paddle shaft grooved stud chain grip
wheels, and the two grooved stud chain grip cog wheels, a crank handle being
attached to the centre shaft cog wheel, the main shaft being passed through the
fore, and aft partitions of the cased chambers each side in the boat, which will.
work separately, or by connecting (conjointly) by the hands, a crank is attached
to each paddle wheel shaft to which is attached a foot board crank bars, with spiral
springs, which will be worked by foot, in conjunction with the hands on each side
of the central cased chambers to propel the boat.
The apparatus for steering shall be constructed of copper, brass, composition
metal, or wood, and to consist of yoke, couplings, tiller, and yoke lines; the tiller
being attached to the couplings, and yoke at the rudder-head, and bolted by a
movable bolt, at the handle to keep rudder secure when not in use, or to steer the
boat when required.
The boats are constructed to be unsinkable for saving life at sea, but may be
used for river-service, aud for military purposes, the paddle wheels being protected:
by the belted cork sides of the boats."
Dimensions of life boats, and other boats, will be according to requirements.
FIG: SHEET 1.
A. bilge keel and wheels. B. bilge keel wheel. C. bilge keel wheel axis.

page_text: wheel chambers inside of boat. C. top of covered chambers. D. partitions of
chamber. E. main keel. F. bilge keel Q platform for working propelling.
apparatus. H. cork belting. 1. gunnel. J. line of main keel.
Propelling apparatus of metal.
A grooved stud chain wheels. B grooved stud chain cog wheels. C. central
E. spiral
cog leading wheel. D spiral spring bar and regulating screw nut.
springs. F. hand and foot crank lever. G. lever frame. H. endless link chain..
1. paddle shaft holes. J. main shaft hole. K axis holes for grooved stud cog
chain wheels. L. platform.
FIG. 5 SHEET 3.
A central chambers port, and starboard. B four paddle wheels C paddle wheel
shafts. D. main shaft for connecting and disconnecting for working paddle-
wheels conjointly or in pairs port or starboard. E main paddle wheel shaft.
bearings. F paddle wheel shaft bearings. G cog leading central wheels, and
handles for working propelling apparatus. H. grooved stud chain wheels..
I. crank and bar for paddle wheel shafts. J crank bearings. K line of main
keel. L space between chamber partitions inside of boat working propelling
apparatus etc.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. That the propelling apparatus being a combination of cog chain stud wheels.
and link chain with spiral springs hand, and foot gear.
2nd. That the boats being constructed of wood and belted with cork, which is.
secured to the wood frame of the boats with wire and wood pegs.
3rd. That the boats being propelled by four paddle wheels in two central-
chambers will revolve in smooth water.
4th. That the paddle wheels can be worked separately in pairs, or conjointly by
connecting of, or disconnecting the apparatus for propelling.
5th. That the boats being constructed with two rudders and the steering
apparatus which can be fixed, or used for going ahead, or astern also the bilge
keel wheels for launching and transporting.
Dated this 4th day of June 1897.
ROBERT JAMES PLUNKETT