IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS HAVING FOR THEIR OBJECT TO FACILITATE THE, SAVING OF LIFe at Sea.
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Taylor Máchattie, of Glasgow, in
the County of Lanark, North Britain, Doctor of Philosophy and
Analytical Chemist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS HAVING FOR THEIR OBJECT TO FACILITATE THE,
SAVING OF LIFe at Sea.”.
.
Scaled the 31st August 1875, and dated the 14th May 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Taylor
Machattic at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 14th May 1875.
I, ALEXANDER TAYLOR MACHATTIE, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Doctor of Philosophy and Analytical Chemist, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS HAVING FOR THEIR OBJECT TO FACILITATE THE SAVING
OF LIFE AT SEA," to be as follows, that is to say :-
This Invention, which relates to improvements in the construction of
ships, has for its object to render an upper part, which is attached to the

page_text: deck, capable of being readily detached on an emergency and cast into
the sea, thereby constituting a series of rafts to which persons on board
the ships are enabled to attach themselves by ropes, with which the
removable parts of the ship are provided, or by other convenient or
suitable means.
The Invention consists in covering the upper deck by means of a false
deck at a sufficient distance from the true deck, and constructed with
proper spaces for the stowage of ropes, life buoys, food, water, and other
necessaries between the false and true deck.
The false deck may extend partly or entirely over the true deck, and 10
it is formed in sections, being attached by strong bolts or stays to the
deck proper.
In the case of shipwreck or other emergency occasioning danger to
life, or the necessity for the persons on board to leave the ship, the
bolts are loosened, and the portions constituting the false deck are 1
thrown overboard, each one constituting a life raft, the ropes hanging
loose to enable persons in the water to lay hold of.
The rafts may also be connected together by ropes, which will prevent
their being scattered at sea, and they may also be attached by ropes to
the ship of sufficient length that in the event of the ship sinking they 2
could be retained in the neighbourhood of the wreck.
When in position in the ship the rafts constituting the false deck do
not interfere with the working of the ship or occupy useful space
thereon.
.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Taylor Machattic in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 12th November 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER 30
TAYLOR MACHATTIE, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Doctor of Philosophy and Analytical Chemist, send greeting.

page_text: Each of these sections is constructed of such a size as will render it
capable of being easily launched in the case of shipwreck or other
emergency occasioning danger to life or the necessity of the persons on
board leaving the ship, in which case each section constitutes a separate
life raft, and it is or may, if desired, be provided with life buoys, ropes, 5
food, fresh water, clothing, signals, means of propulsion, or as many of
these as may be deemed advisable.
1
The false deck or covering is placed at such a distance above the true
deck or other portion of the ship on which it is supported as will
provide room for the stowage of any or all of the articles set forth,
and at the same time allow for the attachment of water-tight air
chambers in order to give floating capacity or buoyancy to each
section when detached and launched. The under side of the false deck
or covering, when stowed on board ship, constitutes the deck of each
section or raft when in the water, and the form, size, and construction 1
of each such section varies according to the form or shape of that
portion of the ship to which it is attached when on board.
·
On the side intended to be uppermost when in the water, ridges or
projections are or may be formed to keep the various chambers at a
slight distance from the true deck or other part of the ship. These pro- 2
jections also assist in keeping the air and stowage chambers dry, whilst
they also admit of loops or rope being attached to them to assist persons'
in the water to get on the raft when afloat, and retain their position
when on it, besides affording some foothold.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood I 2
now proceed more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or mannėr
in or under which the same is or may be used or practically carried into
effect, reference being had to the annexed Sheet of Drawings and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
MARAY
•
On the Sheet of Drawings hereunto appended, Figure 1 is a side 3
elevation of a ship or vessel with a portion of the bulwarks removed;
Figure 2 is a deck plan thereof, and on these two Figures is illustrated
one arrangement under which the ship may be provided with the false
deck or covering constructed in accordance with my said Invention;
Figure 3 is a side elevation of one section or raft in the position which 3
it occupics when on board ship, whilst Figure 4 is a plan of the same in
the position it occupies when floating in the water,

page_text: On Figures 3 and 4 the parts through which the bolts, stays, or other
fastenings attaching the false deck to the deck proper or other part of
the ship are passed are marked a, b; Figures 2, 3, and 4, are the water-
tight buoyant and other chambers herein-before referred to; c are the
› projections or ridges on which the different sections of the false deck
rest, and to which the ropes d to assist the persons to get on to the raft
are attached. Ropes e are also attached to each section as shown at
Figure 4 to enable persons to retain their position on the raft.
Ropes, boat hooks, paddles, and signalling apparatus may be lashed
to the portion of each section projecting around the chambers 6, and
by these ropes the rafts may be launched into the water and connected
together when afloat so as to prevent them scattering, or the rafts may
be towed by such ropes, or in the event of the ship sinking, the rafts
may by ropes of sufficient length be moored to the hull and so pre-
vented from leaving the neighbourhood of the wreck.
It is to be understood that instead of arranging the rafts as shewn on
the Drawings, they may be made to cover the whole of the deck and
other parts of the ship or vessel, and it is further to be understood that
it is not intended under my said Invention to dispense with the usual
complement of boats provided for ships, but that the rafts should be
used as supplementary thereto in cases where the boats are not sufficient
to contain the number of persons on board the ship, the intention being
merely to provide sufficient life preserving facilities readily available,
and which will not in any way interfere with the proper working of the
ship, or with the integrity of the hull.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the
same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, I would observe
in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original, and there-
fore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent is, providing ships or vessels with life rafts
extending over or covering the whole or a portion of the upper deck,
spar deck, coverings of hatchways, roofs of deck houses, bridges, gang-
ways, or over one or other of these or other parts, and so constructed
with water-tight chambers as to afford buoyancy and facility for stowage
of food, water, ropes, life buoys, and other necessaries, substantially as

page_text: hereunto appended.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Taylor Machattie, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of November,
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
SЯUMRIT TO
ALEXANDER TAYLOR MACHATTIE. (L.S.)