IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM FOR RAISING, LOWERING, AND DISENGAGING SHIPS' AND OTHER BOATS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Nicholson, of South Shields, Durham, Surveyor, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM FOR RAISING, LOWERING,
AND DISENGAGING SHIPS' AND OTHER BOATS."
Sealed the 10th April 1879, and dated the 16th October 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Nicholson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th October 1878.
JOHN NICHOLSON, of South Shields, Durham, Surveyor. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MECHANISM FOR RAISING, LOWERING, AND DISENGAGING SHIPS' AND OTHER
BOATS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in mechanism for raising, lowering,
and disengaging ships' and other boats, whereby such boats may not only be more
safely and readily raised, lowered, and disengaged, but also with considerably less
labour and in a much shorter time than has hitherto been practicable.
To carry out my Invention I proceed as follows:-I fix two upright" davits" in
two sockets, the ends whereof are respectively placed in two quadrants or their
equivalents fixed on the deck or in any other convenient position. Such sockets
rest and work upon shafts having suitable bearings fixed to or formed in standards
or frames which are properly secured to the ship's deck in any convenient manner.
Motion is imparted to each of such quadrants by means of wheel and pinion gearing
or other suitable mechanical appliances.
A small rope or chain barrel is also carried upon the standards or framing which
carry the before-mentioned sockets. Such barrel is actuated by any suitable
gearing, and has attached thereto one end of a steel rope, the other end whereof is
carried through proper guides to the head of the davit where it runs over a sheave,
and is attached to the end of the boat by a suitable slip hook or its equivalent, to
which suitable lines are attached working round a drum placed in the centre of the
TD 11

page_text: boat, and by means of which the same may be readily and instantly disengaged.
A suitable brake is fixed to the framing which can either be worked by hand or
treadle motion, as most convenient, and by which the lowering of the boat can be
readily regulated or controlled.
Another feature of my Invention is that, if desired, a suitable back balance
arrangement of mechanism may be attached to the head of the davit, whereby the
davits can be at once brought back to their original position, thus preventing all
risk of injury to the boat after she is launched.
By the use of my improved apparatus an immense economy of time and labour
in raising and lowering boats is effected, as one or two men can readily perform
work to effect which it has hitherto been necessary to employ several hands for a
long period of time, while at the same time all risk of injury to the boat is
effectually avoided.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Nicholson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th April
1879.
JOHN NICHOLSON, of South Shields, Durham, Surveyor.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
MECHANISM FOR RAISING, LOWERING, AND DISENGAGING SHIPS' AND OTHER
BOATS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in mechanism for raising, lowering,
and disengaging ships' and other boats, whereby such boats may not only be more
safely and readily raised, lowered, and disengaged, but also with considerably less
labour and in a much shorter time than has hitherto been practicable.
And in order that my said Invention may be better understood and readily
carried into effect, I will now, with the aid of the accompanying Drawings, whereon
similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, proceed more particularly
to describe and ascertain the same.
Figure 1 of such Drawings represents a view in elevation of my improved
mechanism as it would appear when looking from the inside of the ship; Figure 2
shews a view in end elevation of the forward gear looking aft; Figure 3 shews a
plan view of my improved apparatus; and Figure 4 shews a view in section at the
davit socket.
To carry out my Invention I proceed as follows:-I fix two upright "davits "a in
two sockets b, the ends whereof are respectively placed in two quadrants c fixed on
the deck or in any other convenient position. Such sockets rest and work upon
shafts & having suitable bearings fixed to or formed in suitable standards or frames e
which are properly secured to the ship's deck in any convenient manner.
Motion
is imparted to each of such quadrants by means of wheel and pinion gearing, as
indicated in the Drawings, or by any other suitable mechanical appliances.
A small rope or chain barrel f is also carried upon the standards or framing e
which carry the before-mentioned sockets. Such barrel is actuated by any suitable
gearing, and has attached thereto one end of a steel rope g, the other end whereof
is carried through proper guides h to the head of the davit, where it runs over a
sheave h', and is attached to the end of the boat by a suitable slip hook i or its
equivalent, to which suitable lines or ropes k are attached worked round a drum
placed in the centre of the boat, as indicated at Figure 3, and by means of which
the same may be readily and instantaneously disengaged.
A suitable brake is fixed to the framing, which can either be worked by hand or
treadle motion, as most convenient, and by which the lowering of the boat can be
readily regulated or controlled.
In order to guide the movements of the davits out and in I fit to the heel of each
socket in any convenient manner two spiral springs m, which springs are made
sufficiently powerful to resist the leverage on the davits, and by this means the
movements of the davits can be readily controlled.
By the use of my improved apparatus an immense economy of time and labour
in raising and lowering boats is effected, as one or two men can readily perform
work to effect which it has hitherto been necessary to employ several hands for a
long period of time, while all risk of injury to the boat is effectually avoided.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner of carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood
that what I claim and desire to secure by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is, the improved arrangement of mechanism, together with the combination

page_text: of the various parts thereof, substantially in the manner and for the purposes
herein-before described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Nicholson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-nine.
JOHN NICHOLSON. (L.S.)