IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES FOR SUPPORTING, FREEING, LOWERING, AND RAISING BOATS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Darby, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Ship Wright, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR
APPLIANCES FOR SUPPORTING, FREEING, LOWERING, AND RAISING BOATS."
Sealed the 30th April 1880, and dated the 13th November 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Darby at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th November 1879.
JAMES DARBY, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Ship Wright. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES FOR SUPPORTING, FREEING, LOWERING, AND
RAISING BOATS."
The object of the Invention is to provide simple and efficient apparatus or
appliances whereby boats, whether for ships' use, or use at landing stages or else-
where, may be properly supported and held in position on a ship's deck, or in any
other desired place, when not in use, and whereby such boats may be readily freed
from their supports, lowered over a ship's side, or from off a landing stage or plat-
form, into the water. The above apparatus or appliances are also so arranged and
constructed that the said boats may be readily raised from the water and deposited
and secured in safety in their supporting chocks.
The Invention is carried into practice as follows:-
First. Chocks for supporting a boat in position are hinged each at one end on a
horizontal axis placed longitudinal as regards the boat supported, so as to be capable
of falling away from the bottom of the said boat on the removal of supporting pieces
placed or held beneath or attached to the free ends of the said chocks."
Second. Chocks constructed as above described are combined with levers or
equivalent mechanism for raising and lowering the free ends thereof, and for moving
the supporting pieces into and out of holding position.
Third. Davits for carrying the ropes or chains whereby the boats are raised and
lowered are hinged at the bottom within sockets, for regulating the amount of
motion to the deck or carrying platform near the edge thereof.
Fourth. Davits employed with cleats constructed or arranged under the first or
second heads are fitted with a bar, rail, or strong back stretching from one to the
other, for the purpose of carrying or supporting the usual covering of the boat.
Fifth. Davita, constructed substantially as set forth under the above third head,
are fitted or constructed with the bar, rail, or strong back mentioned under the
fourth head.
Sixth. In combination with the improvements set forth under one or more of the
above five heads I employ a winch operated by hand or power for lowering and
raising the said boats when required.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Darby in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th May
1880.
JAMES DARBY, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Shipwright. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES FOR SUPPORTING, FREEING, LOWERING, AND
RAISING BOATS."
The object of the Invention is to provide simple and efficient apparatus or
appliances whereby boats, whether for ships' use, or use at landing stages or else-
where, may be properly supported and held in position on a ship's deck, or in any
other desired place, when not in use, and whereby such boats may be readily freed
from their supports, lowered over a ship's side, or from off a landing stage or plat-
form, into the water. The above apparatus or appliances are also so arranged and
constructed that the said boats may be readily raised from the water and deposited
and secured in safety in their supporting chocks.
The Invention is carried into practice as follows:-
First. Chocks for supporting a boat in position are hinged each at one end on a
horizontal axis placed longitudinal as regards the boat supported, so as to be capable
of falling away from the bottom of the said boat on the removal of supporting pieces
..placed or held beneath or attached to the free ends of the said chocks.
Second. Chocks constructed as above described are combined with levers or
equivalent mechanism for raising and lowering the free ends thereof, and for moving
the supporting pieces into and out of holding position.
Third. Davits for carrying the ropes or chains whereby the boats are raised and
lowered are hinged at the bottom within sockets, for regulating the amount of
motion to the deck or carrying platform near the edge thereof.
Fourth. Davits employed with cleats constructed or arranged under the first or
socond heads are fitted with a bar, rail, or strong back stretching from one to the
other, for the purpose of carrying or supporting the usual covering of the boat.
Fifth. Davits, constructed substantially as set forth under the above third head,
are fitted or constructed with the bar, rail, or strong back mentioned under the
fourth head.
Sixth. In combination with the improvements set forth under one or more of the
above five heads I employ a winch operated by hand or power for lowering and
raising the said boats when required.

page_text: Third Head. j, j³, are davits hinged at k, k', within sockets 1, 0, to the deck a
near the edge thereof.
Fourth and Fifth Heads. The davits j,j', are fitted with a bar, rail, or strong back
m for the purpose of carrying the cover n of the boat when in position on the
chocks d, d'. Under the fourth head the davits j, j¹, may be of any ordinary or
desired construction.
Sixth Head. o, winch for assisting in raising and lowering the boat p; q, chains
or ropes attached to the said boat p, and passing over pulleys on the davits j, j¹, to
the winch o.
Having now described and illustrated the said Invention in such manner that
others will be enabled to carry my improvements into effect, I claim,-
First Head. Chocks constructed and operating substantially in the manner and
for the purposes set forth.
Second Head. Apparatus or appliances for giving motion to chocks, operating
substantially as set forth.
Third Head. Constructing and arranging davits, substantially as set forth.
Fourth and Fifth Heads. The improved combination of parts, substantially in the
manner and for the purposes set forth.
Sixth Head. The improved combination of apparatus or appliances, operating
substantially in the manner and for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Darby, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twelvfth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty.
J. JOHNSON,
4, Clayton Sqr.,
Witness.
Liverpool.
JAMES DARBY. (L.S.)