Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Nov., 1887
Complete Left, 6th Apr., 1888
Complete Accepted, 11th May, 1888
RESERVE
We, ROBERT CHAMBERS, Shipbuilder, and WILLIAM LIDDELL, Agent, both of
No. 2 Oswald Street, Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This Invention has for its object the construction of lifeboats in such a manner as
permits of a large number thereof being carried in sea-going vessels in a limited
space, and it consists in the shell of the boats being constructed from the keel to the
gunwale of either iron or steel or wood or of other suitable material, the upper sides
from the gunwale to the rail consisting of canvas or other flexible material attached to
the gunwale of the shell in such a manner as to be water tight, and so constructed
that when not in use, it lies flat inside the shell. When the boat is in use the canvas
sides are raised and kept in position by stanchions and self locking stays and rails
running through the stanchion heads. The rowlocks may be formed in the rails or
may be separately attached thereto. The hull contains watertight compartments fore
and aft on each side and athwartships so that in the event of one or more of these
being struck into by collision or otherwise, and water thereby admitted into them, the
remaining uninjured compartments keep the boat afloat.
Dad L
CAL
L1007
ST. JOHN V. DAY,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Petitioners' Agent.

page_text: We, ROBERT CHAMBERS Ship-builder and WILLIAM LIDDELL Agent both of
No. 2 Oswald Street, Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain 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
Our Invention relates to improvements in lifeboats and boats of a like character,
these being constructed in such a manner as to enable a large number thereof to be
carried on board sca-going vessels in a limited space. According to this Invention
the lower part of the shell or hull of the boats is constructed from the keel to the
gunwale of either iron, or steel, or wood, or of other suitable material whilst the
upper part from the gunwale to the rail consists of strong canvas, preferably water-
proofed, or of other flexible material attached at its lower edge to the gunwale or deck
of the hull or shell in such a manner as to be watertight and so applied that when not
in use, the upper part is caused to fold and lie flat against or upon the top of the
rigid part of the hull or shell. When the boat is in use the canvas sides are raised by
the rail to which the upper edge thereof is attached and kept in position by stanchions
and by self-locking or self-supporting stays and by the rails running through the
stanchion heads. The rowlocks may be formed in the rails or may be separately
attached thereto or when convenient may be attached by hinged pieces or otherwise
to the shell or hull of the boat. The hull is provided when required with watertight
compartments and with hand-grips on either side of the keel by means of which in
the event of the boat being capsized it may be righted by persons in the water.
In order that our Invention may be properly understood and readily carried into
effect, we hereby proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexod.
Figure 1, is a sido elevation of a boat constructed according to and constituting our
Invention.
Figure 2, is part plan and horizontal section of the same.
Figure 3, is a vertical transverse section thereof on an enlarged scale taken
amidships.
The hull or body of the boat A, is constructed of wood (but as hereinbefore stated
it may be of iron, steel or other suitable material). Around the said boat A, from
bow to stern, along its line of gunwale, and flush with the thwarts, the stanchions a,
are attached, each being fitted with a self locking stay ; each stanchion a, and
stay b, being hinged at the lower ends and capable of being lowered or raised together.
But the raised and lowered or closed down positions of the upper part of the boat are
shewn in the enlarged view Figure 3; the raised position being indicated by hard
lines and the lowered position by dotted lines, and the construction of the stanchions a,
and the stays b, are also in this Figuro more fully illustrated than in the smaller views
Figures 1 and 2. By virtue of the construction of the joints 61, of the self locking

page_text: stays b, which are formed with square shoulders, the two portions of the stays when
opened out straight abut against each other, and the stanchions a, when raised to their
fullest extent are thus maintained locked and thereby present a stiff structure capable
of offering great resistance to the action of the waves or other forces acting against
them from without or within.
a,
the
Upon or within the heads of the stanchions a, the rail c, is carried round the boat
as seen more particularly in the plan Figure 2. By this rail c, when extended
upwards and kept in position outwards by its attachment to the stanchions
canvas or other flexible waterproof material d, shewn in Figure 3, attached at its
upper edge thereto is stretched tight, the lower edge of the canvas or its equivalent
being attached to the gunwale or lower part of the boat or to the deck thereof as
shewn.
To enable the boat to be propelled in the ordinary way rowlocks e, are formed in the
rail
for the oars at either side of the boat, the rowlocks are preferably supported by
stays k, attached to two adjacent stanchions a. The shell or hull is constructed with
bulkheads and watertight compartments and some of these may constitute receptacles
for containing food, fresh water, clothing and other commodities in view of a
lengthened period at sea. The thwarts whilst serving the purposes of seats are fitted
underneath with tanks which also may serve for the storage of water, provisions,
clothing and distress signals.
It is obvious that boats made in the manner above described while they are
especially suited for acting as ships' life boats may be usefully employed for other
purposes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The improved boats constructed generally as described and shewn on the annexed
drawings.
2. The combination in a boat suitable for use as a life boat of a lower part or shell
or hull such as A, constructed of iron, steel, wood or other material and an upper part
formed of a flexible material d, attached by its upper edge to the rail c, and by its
lower edge to the shell or hull A, as described and shewn upon the annexed drawings,
the boat being by preference fitted with water tight compartments.
3. The use in a boat such as is herein described of folding mechanism made of jointed
stanchions such as a, and jointed stays such as b, for the purpose of enabling the
upper flexible part of the boat to be raised or lowered and fixed or retained in either
position as shewn and described.
4. The employment of the upper rail c, with rowlocks e, as shewn and described.
Dated this 5th draf : 1000
ST. JOHN V. DAY,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Applicants' Agent.