Year: 1886

page_text: I, SIMON JACOB ENGELHARDT JÖRGENSEN, of Lauget, near Risöer, in Norway,
Shipmaster, temporarily residing at Port Melbourne in the Colony of Victoria, 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 essential feature of this invention is to construct the water tanks of a ship
in such a way as to enable each one to be used separately as a life-saving con-
trivance or connected together so as to form a boat. In the former case. it is only
necessary that each tank no matter what its shape should be fitted with a false
bottom for carrying ballast below so that in the event of its being tumbled into
the sea it will always right itself, the space between the false bottom and the top
of the tank forming a chamber for carrying persons and provisions. In the latter
case, these water tanks in addition to having a false bottom are so constructed as
to be readily converted into a life-boat at sea or for bringing cargo or water to or
away from the ship. They are furnished with suitable devices for expeditiously
securing them together and each has its length of keel formed at its bottom, while
the tank which forms the stern of the boat is provided with a rudder. The false
bottom before referred to forms a deck plate, the space below which forms a water-
tight compartment in which to retain sufficient water to act as a ballast when the
tanks are being used as a boat and also to keep the supply of fresh water for
its occupants. Each tank or section of the boat is loosely mounted upon wheels
for convenience in putting them together and for supporting them when on ship
board.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood I will now explain it with
reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings which illustrate the suitably
constructed tanks converted into a life-boat and shewing several methods of
attaching the said tanks together and in which drawing
Figure 1 is a side view and part section of such life-boat and
Figure 2 a deck plan of it, while
Figures 3 to 11 shew four distinct methods for affixing the tanks together to
form a boat.
In these Figures, A is the tank or cistern which forms the fore part or section
Al the tools which from the midahin'a mnation and At the tank which

page_text: ⋅
forms the stern section, which is furnished with the rudder A³ as shown. A* is the
keel attached to the bottom of the tanks and furnished with the joint plates A'
which are secured by the bolts A6. A' is the inner deck plate furnished with the
door or cover A, and Aº the water ballast chamber between said deck plate and
the bottom of tank. A10 is a door provided at the top of each tank, and A" a plug
or valve to enable the top chamber A* to be quickly emptied when the tanks are
to be put together to form a boat. B is a longitudinal tie rod passing through the
snugs B¹ adjacent to the keel and having a screwed end by the aid of whose nut, B³,
the bottom of the said tanks are brought and held closely together.. O is a cork
band secured to each side of the boat and D the mast which passes through one
of the holes A¹º.
The first means of securing the tanks together and which is shewn at joint a, a,
Figures 1 and 2, and at Figures 3 and 4, is formed by securing to the joint plate
of one of the tanks the lower horizontal bevelled-edge bar E upon which fits the
bevelled angle bar E¹ secured to the opposite joint plate and each joint plate has
suitably bevelled vertical bars E-secured-to-them-to form-grooves-to-receive the
dovetailed keys E³. E are angle bars similar to E' fitting one another and each
secured to different joint plates between said vertical bars E³. Es are side cover
plates provided with a groove in them which fits upon the dovetail recess formed
in the side bars E. E7 are hinged straps secured to one tank and having slots in
them to pass over the pins Es on the other tank and which pins are furnished with
cotters E for locking said straps in position.
The second method of connecting the tanks is shewn at joint b, b, Figures 1
and 2 and at Figures 5 and 6. In this method the joint plates are brought close
together and it is formed by having a bevelled-edge ledge F projecting from the
lower edge of the one tank and which ledge fits in a corresponding recess in the
other tank. Above these are vertical dovetailed recesses F¹ opening out at the top
of the tanks and into which recesses is driven the suitably shaped keys F. The
sides of the tanks are recessed and have dovetail ribs F on them to receive the
strong covers F* which thus cover the joint and assist in binding the two adjoining
tanks together. The tanks have also secured to them at their top edges the strong
lugs F having holes through them to receive the pins Fe which are furnished with
split keys F at their front end. The keys F' have notches or teeth formed on
them at their one side to enable them to be lifted from the grooves when desired.
The third method of connecting the tanks together is shewn at joint c, c, in
Figures 1 and 2 and at Figures 7 and 8 and to accomplish it by this means a space
is again left between the joint plates on one of which is affixed a number of hook
straps G the top ones of which are furnished with holes to receive split keys Gand
these hooks engage with the slotted snugs or staples G* affixed to the other joint
plate. Around the three edges of one of said joint plates are secured bars of
wood G³ simply as a means for closing the joint while the top of one of the tanks
is furnished with hinged straps, G', which have holes at their ends to pass over the
screwed stud Go which is secured to the other tank and is provided with a nut as
shewn,
The fourth method of connecting the tanks together is shewn in Figures 9, 10
and 11 and it also has a space between the joint plates the bottom edge of one of
which has secured to it the horizontal recessed catch bar H into which fits a suitably
shaped plate H¹ secured to the other joint plate which also has secured to it two
vertical rectangular bars H³ which fit in the groove formed by the vertical angle
irons H³ secured upon the first named joint plate which also has secured to it
between said vertical bars the transverse catch plate H which engages with
similarly placed catch bars H³ upon the opposite joint plate the end spaces
between which are filled in by the bars He which are secured to one of them
and the top fastenings are marked by the letters F F F and are similar to those
described for joint b, b, while to further secure this joint, draw straps H7 are pro-
vided at the sides of the tanks, which slide in the staples H' or these may be
substituted by hinged straps similar to those marked by the letters E7 to E' and

page_text: shewn in connection with joint a, a. All these joints are further supported by
the straps A which as already described also bind the keel A* together and ensure
of its being in line.
One means devised for mounting the tanks loosely upon wheels is shewn in
Figures 7 and 8 and it consists in supporting each wheel J in the castor or
bracket J¹ which is pivoted to the end of the transverse strap J' having a gap
formed at its centre to receive the keel which is slightly notched out as at J³ to
receive it thus it is evident that if the tank was lifted up it would not take its
wheel frames with it.
In ships which carry more than say four tanks I make the amidship's sections
of a parallel width so as to simplify the construction of the tanks as for instance
when a boat such as I have shewn made of four tanks is used on a ship having
five tanks the intermediate section being parallel the boat would assume the shape
indicated by the dotted lines in Figures 1 and 2.
I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details
herein described and explained nor to the size, shape or number of tanks employed
when converting them into a boat.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. Constructing ships' tanks with a division plate or false bottom in each so as
to form a lower water-tight compartment in which to contain ballast etc., so as to
enable each one to be used as a life-saving appliance.
2. Constructing ships' tanks in such a manner as that when they are secured
together they form a boat substantially as and for the purposes herein described
and explained and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of my drawings.
3. Constructing ships' tanks in boat sections with either a fixed or a movable
keel A and affixing within said tanks a deck plate A' furnished with door A3 80
as to form a lower water-tight chamber A substantially as and for the purposes
herein described and explained and as illustrated in my drawings.
4. The combination of the tank or boat section A' such as above claimed with
the rudder A, the tanks being either with or without the cork band C substantially
as herein described and explained and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of my
drawings.
5. Mounting such tanks or boat sections loosely upon wheels in the manner
such as herein described and explained and illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 of my
drawings.
6. The combination of the distinct sets of parts which form the four separate
methods for securing the tanks or parts of a boat together substantially as herein
described and explained and as illustrated in my drawings.
Dated this 15th day of February One thousand eight hundred and eighty-six.