IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFE BOATS AND THEIR ACCESSORIES, AND IN THE MEANS FOR LAUNCHING THE SAME, APPLICABLE ALSO TO THE LAUNCHING OF ORDINARY BOATS
Year: 1877

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Jefferson Wise at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd January 1877. A communication
from abroad by Martin Bourke, of Mineral Ridge, in the State of Ohio, United
States of America.
THOMAS JEFFERSON WISE, of Youngstown, in the State of Ohio, United States of
America, but at present of 14, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFE BOATS AND THEIR ACCESSORIES, AND IN THE MEANS
FOR LAUNCHING THE SAME, APPLICABLE ALSO TO THE LAUNCHING OF ORDINARY
BOATS." A communication from abroad by Martin Bourke, of Mineral Ridge, in
the State of Ohio, United States of America.
This Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement of life boat
and its accessories, and to a specially devised apparatus for effecting the expeditious
and safe launching of the same, either from the deck of a vessel or from the shore,
the said launching apparatus being also applicable for launching ordinary boats.
The improved life boat, which may be constructed of thin wood, metal, or other
suitable material, insures a perfect protection to the passengers from the wind and
waves, is of such shape that it cannot remain capsized, and combines maximum
strength with lightness and cubical capacity. It is provided with a removeable
deck or cover fitted with one or more raised covered hatchways, and constructed
with inclined sides, or made angular in cross section. The hull proper has a slightly
rounded bottom, and its greatest breadth is placed at or below the water line, whilst
its sides are inclined inwards slightly towards the top. The removeable deck or
cover, which when adjusted forms a closed top to the boat so as to completely
shelter the passengers, is provided with a flange having narrow headed screw bolts
passing through it, and entering notches or slots made in a corresponding flange
attached to the upper edge or rim of the body of the boat. When these screw
heads are turned crosswise of the slots or notches the top or cover will be locked
firmly in place; but when it is desired to detach the cover the screws are turned a
quarter round so as to allow their heads to pass through the slots and permit of
the cover being raised.
India-rubber or other packing will in practice be employed to form a perfectly
water-tight joint between the flanges. A hollow conical or other shaped projection
forming a closed box or chamber externally to the boat is fitted to the stern thereof,
for the purpose of receiving the upper bearing of the vertical rudder post, and also

page_text: the tiller, by which arrangement the body of the boat may be shorter at its top
portion than would be otherwise practicable were the boat made of sufficient length
in itself to enclose and protect the tiller.
The said life boat is further provided with revolving side paddles or propellers
worked from the inside by crank handles, a portion of the propeller shafts being
made polygonal for the purpose of receiving a locking device, which consists of a
bar hinged or pivoted to the side of the boat, and provided with a square socket or
open slot, which receives and closely fits the polygonal portion of the propeller shaft.
By this arrangement the paddles can be maintained fixed in a horizontal position
out of the water so as to present no obstruction when the boat is under sail or when
the paddles are otherwise out of use. Light is admitted to the interior of the boat
by dead lights" of a peculiar construction, consisting of an outer or socket tube
provided with external and internal flanges, and with external and internal screw
threads. This socket tube is inserted through an aperture in the boat, and tightened
up in position by an external nut, the joints being made water-tight by a packing of
gasket or india-rubber. The glass is introduced and fixed inside the socket tube by
being held against the internal flange by an inner screwed tube and packing. This
construction of "dead light," which is both effective and simple, is obviously
applicable for other purposes where "dead lights" are required.
"
With a view to facilitate the ready and safe launching of the said improved life
boat an adjustable pall and a stationary cross bar, projection, or lug are fitted into
the keel of the boat as and for the purpose herein-after explained. The launching
ways are made in sections or lengths jointed to each other when in use, and pivotted
at one end to a convenient support on the deck of a vessel or other place, the outer
overhanging portion of the ways being supported or braced by suitable stays, and
raised or lowered to any desired inclination by ropes and tackle connected with the
upper ends of two fixed uprights or posts, which are hinged at or near the middle,
so as to partially fold down and occupy less space when not in use.
These ways
are provided with two parallel rows of antifriction rollers for the boat to run along,
longitudinal parallel ribs or rails being attached to the bottom of the boat for that
purpose. A longitudinal central groove is provided between the ways, having
notches or ratchet teeth formed on one or both sides thereof for the engagement
therewith of the pall. The ratchet teeth on the opposite sides are made in reverse
directions, so that when the pall is turned from the inside of the boat to an angle
in one direction it will engage with the ratchet teeth, and thereby hold the boat
stationary on the ways, but when turned lengthways to the keel it will allow the
boat to slide freely along its ways. By turning the pall to the reverse angle it will
act as a friction break, being made with two rounded corners to enable it to pass
over but produce friction against the ratchet teeth. The central groove is under
cut at its sides throughout a portion of its length for the purpose of maintaining
the boat thereon by the engaging therewith of the fixed projecting lug on the keel.
The boat when shipped or stowed away should be supported upon a turntable, so
that on turning the said table the boat can be brought in a line with the ways, and
pushed thereon directly from off the turntable in order to be launched, the ways
being made of such a length as to insure the launching of the boat well clear of the
ship, a most important desideratum in heavy seas.