A NEW AND IMPROVED LIFE RAFT, PONTOON, AND LIFE BOAT
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Michael Henry Brown, of New Cross, in the
County of Kent, for the Invention of "A NEW AND IMPROVED LIFE
RAFT, PONTOON, AND LIFE BOAT."
Sealed the 14th December 1875, and dated the 18th June 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Michael Henry Brown
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 18th June 1875.
I, MICHAEL HENRY BROWN, of New Oross, in the County of Kent,
5 do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "A NEW AND
IMPROVED LIVE RAFT, PONTOON, AND LIFE BOAT," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in a new and improved life raft and pontoon,
which will be more easily stowed away and got ready for use than life
rafts or pontoons constructed as heretofore, at the same time being safer
O and less liable of being injured.

page_text: I propose to construct the said life raft or pontoon of several oblong
cassoons placed parallel to each other, and held together by means of
ropes passed transversely underneath the same, and fastened to gudgeons
and rings, also by longitudinal attaching rods furnished with bolts,
which are made to enter sockets provided for that purpose, so as to hinge t
the cassoons together. Braces with toggles and jaws are also used to
further secure the whole construction.
The said cassoons are composed of two casings of metal, wood, canvas,
or other suitable material, which constitute the outer and inner casing,
between which I pack cork shavings or such like light material in order
to increase the buoyancy of the said cassoons. The casings are divided
into compartments, so as to render every part independent of each other.
I also strengthen the cassoons by means of cross beams, and the spaces
between them constitute tanks, which are closed by water-tight lids, and
are used for storing away edibles, water, and other necessaries. Man-
holes are also provided to form seats for men to sit in when the raft is
propelled by oars. The ends of the outer cassoons are rounded off, so as
to offer less resistance to the water. I also propose to provide stanchions
to the edge of the cassoons, to which are attached nets rolled up when
out of use to serve as bulwarks.
As regards life boats constructed according to this Invention I
propose to construct them as follows:-The boat is formed of two
cassoons (with suitably elongated or rounded ends) hinged together
longitudinally, and furnished with braces, and toggles, and jaws, some
of the latter being placed along the keel, so that when the two cassoons
are opened out they will become fixed, and thus form a life boat.
A life raft, pontoon, and life boat constructed as above is light and
strong, and is easily taken to pieces or put together, and may be stowed
away or suspended to the davits ready for use.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Michael Henry Brown, Her special
licence that I, the said Michael Henry Brown, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Michael Henry
Brown, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
“A NEW AND IMPROVED LIFE RAFT, PONTOON, AND LIFE BOAT," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that .I, the said Michael Henry Brown, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Michael Henry Brown, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, that is to say :—
This Invention consists in a new and improved life raft and pontoon;
which will be more easily stowed away and got ready for use than life
rafts or pontoons constructed as heretofore, at the same time being safer
and less liable of being injured.
I propose to construct the said life raft or pontoon of several oblong
cassoons placed parallel to each other, and held together by means of
ropes passed transversely underneath the same, and fastened to gudgeons
and rings also by longitudinal "attaching rods" furnished with bolts
which are made to enter sockets provided for that purpose, so as to
hinge the cassoons together. Braces with toggles and jaws are also used
to further secure the whole construction.

page_text: means of the ropes E, which pass underneath the pontoons. In Figure 1
one of the cross bars D is shown in position, and the other D' out of use.
:
The cassoons are composed of two casings of metal, wood, canvas, or
other suitable material, which constitute the outer and inner casing,
between which I pack cork shavings or such like light material, as at
Figure 3. The casings are divided into compartments, so as to render
every part independent of each other. I also strengthen the cassoons by
means of cross beams a, and the spaces between them 6 constitute tanks,
which are closed by water-tight lids, and used for storing away
edibles, water, and other necessaries. The tanks d I reserve as air
chambers. The ends of the cassoons are rounded and bevelled off at F
and G, so as to offer less resistance to the water. A net H, kept up by
suitable stanchions K, which may be telescopic or otherwise, serves as
bulwarks.
A raft constructed as above can easily be got ready for use and stowed
away, or if preferred can be kept in readiness and suspended to the
davits, as shown in Figure 4.
Figure 5 is a top plan view, Figure 6 an elevation through the
line A, B, of Figure 5, and Figure 7 a section through the line C, D, of
Figure 5 of a life boat constructed according to my said Invention.
The boat is formed of two cassoons A, A', (with suitably elongated or
rounded ends) hinged together longitudinally at B, and when in use
held firmly together by means of toggles and jaws, shewn at O. The
cassoons are also composed of two casings of metal, wood, or other
3 suitable material, and divided into compartments, which are packed with
cork shavings, as at Figure 7. D are air chambers; E, seats; and F,
false keel.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention for
"A New and Improved Life Raft, Pontoon, and Life Boat," and the
means by which it may be effected, I hereby declare my Invention to
consist in and I claim,-
Firstly. Constructing life rafts or pontoons of separate cassoons A,

page_text: partments, substantially as described and represented in Figures 1, 2, 3,
and 4.
Secondly. Constructing life boats of separate cassoons A, A², held one
against the other, and made of two casings of suitable material and
divided in compartments, substantially as described and represented in
Figures 5, 6, and 7.
In witness whereof, I, the said Michael Henry Brown, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of December, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.