IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFEBOATS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Campbell, of the City of Aberdeen,
North Britain, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFEBOATS."
Sealed the 28th November 1871, and dated the 9th June 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Campbell at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 9th June 1871.
•
I, WILLIAM CAMPBELL, of the City of Aberdeen, North Britain, do
5 hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
LIFEBOATS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to simple and effective improvements in life-
boats.
The Invention consists in constructing the boat so as to allow of its
O being fitted with a large amount of buoyancy without materially inter-
fering with the internal capacity, and which is so arranged that if the
boat should by any chance be damaged it would still continue to be
effective.

page_text: The outer sides of the shell of the boat are concaved longitudinally,
and in the concavity at each side are placed suitable tubes covered on
the outside with cork, or the concavity may be divided into suitably sized
chambers or compartments faced on the outside with cork and then
covered with canvas, which will prevent the boat from being damaged
on striking against the side of a ship or vessel. Along the centre of the
boat fore and aft runs a partition or division which besides containing
buoyancy (being internally fitted with air chambers) prevents water
which may have been shipped from rushing suddenly from side to side
of the boat. These air chambers are continued and formed in both ends
of the boat.
The bottom of the boat is crossed at suitable distances apart with
conveniently sized planks forming the same into compartments, in
which are placed (but not fixed) correspondingly sized cases of thin
sheet metal or wood filled and covered with cork, and these are held in
their proper positions by planks fastened or secured to the cross planks,
and which form a flooring to the boat; by these means very effective
buoyancy is given to the boat, and the cases being portable can be
readily removed in order to paint or repair the boat. The boat is placed
on slip chocks fitted on bevilled beams, which will enable.one man to
swing the boat in the davits.
་་
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Campbell in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 9th December 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
CAMPBELL, of the City of Aberdeen, North Britain, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters. Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said William Campbell, Her special license that
I, the said William Campbell, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said William Campbell, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein ex-

page_text: pressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFEBOATS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Campbell, my
exccutors or 'administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of my, said Invention, and in what manner the.
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within 6 calendar months next and-immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Campbell, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement in writing, and on reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to simple and effective improvements in life-
boats.
The Invention consists in building or constructing the boat so as to
allow of its being fitted with a large amount of buoyancy (without
materially interfering with the internal capacity), which is so arranged
that if the boat should by any chance or mishap be damaged it still
continues effective.
Such being the nature and object of my said Invention for "Improve-
ments in Lifeboats," I will now proceed to describe more in detail the
manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect, and in order that the same may be distinctly understood
I have annexed hereunto one Sheet of explanatory Drawings illus-
trative thereof, and have marked the same with figures and letters of
reference corresponding with those in the following explanation thereof,.
that is to say :-
-
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawings Figure 1 illustrates a..
vertical cross section through about the line a, b, Figures 2 and 3;
Figure 2, a central vertical longitudinal section, and Figure 3, a plan
view of a lifeboat constructed according to the present Invention.
The lifeboat is built of wood, and the outer sides a of the shell
thereof are built concave (see Figure 1), or are concaved longitudinally,

page_text: the concavity being carried from stem to stern or only a portion of
such distance as desired.
In the concavity at either side of the boat may be placed suitable
tubes covered on the outside with solid cork, or each concavity may be
divided into suitably-sized compartments or chambers b faced with solid
cork, covered with canvas, which prevents the boat being damaged on
striking against a ship, or vessel, or other object, but the latter arrange-
ment is preferred. These compartments are made by short pieces of
wood c fastened to the inner part of the convavity and extending out-
wards about half the width thereof. The strips care covered by a
plank & extending the entire length of the concavity and suitably
connected thereto. The compartments as thus formed are filled with
air-tight metal cases e which may or may not be covered with solid
cork and cloth or canvas, as desired. On the outside of the plank and
extending to the outside planking of the side of the boat are outer com-
partments.f, which are filled with solid cork put together with marine
glue or other suitable adhesive substance. Over all. the compartments
is a covering of canvas or cloth attached thereto by marine glue or other.
suitable adhesive substance. The outside planking g is then put on and
is suitably fastened to the pieces of wood c forming the divisions.
Along the boat, fore and aft, runs a central longitudinal partition or
division h, which may be made to extend the entire length or a portion
of the length of the boat as desired, and which, besides containing
buoyancy prevents water which may have been shipped from rushing
suddenly from side to side of the boat. It is preferred, however, that
the distance between the first and second thwarts from the stern should
be left clear (see Figures 2 and 3), so that in the event of the boat
shipping a sea " on the one side only the water would gradually be
allowed to flow to the other side. The sides and top of this partition
are built of wood, and inside thereof are placed air-tight cases i. The
partition may be of any width and extends from the bottom of the boat
to the thwartsj (see Figures 1 and 2). The two ends of the boat are
likewise covered into the height of the thwarts and are fitted with air-
tight cases k. On either side of the central partition the bottom of the
boat is crossed at suitable intervals with partitions or planks 7, forming
the same into compartments, which may be carried to any desired height
(see Figures 1 and 2), and in which are placed (but not fixed) corre-
spondingly sized and shaped air-tight cases made by preference of
66

page_text: thin sheet metal and covered with solid cork; these are held in their
proper positions by planks n, forming a portable platform or flooring to.
the boat (but is not shown in Fig. 3), which is suitably fastened or
secured to the cross planks Z.
By the above means very effective buoyancy is given to the boat, and
the cases in the bottom and the flooring being portable can be readily
removed in order to paint or repair the boat.
The air-tight cases i which fill in the longitudinal division h, also
those m in the compartments in the bottom of the boat and those k
which are fitted in the chambers at the ends are constructed as follows:
―They consist of thin sheet metal and are suitably stayed inside, and
outside are covered with solid cork fastened on with marine glue or
other suitable adhesive substance. Outside the cork is attached (by
similar means) a layer or covering of cloth or canvas. It may be
remarked that the number, and size of these cases is immaterial and
will in every case be dependant upon the build and size of the boat to
which they are applied.
Discharge pipes o are fitted in the bottom of the boat (see Figure 1,
and may be of any convenient size and number) and project various
heights above the platform or flooring (see Figure 2).
At the upper part of each pipe is a self-acting valve p (Figure 1)
elliptical in shape (Figure 3), and the upper part of each pipe is corre-
spondingly shaped. The spindle and bearing x on which the valve
works are placed at about 3rd the distance of the length of the valve
from one end thereof. Underneath the shorter portion of the valve a
weight q in the form of a quadrant is fixed to balance it. When the
valve is closed, as at x', the longer portion rests against a small projec-
tion placed above it in the inside of the pipe, while the shorter portion
rests on a similar projection v¹ below it. Both these projections may be
fitted with small india-rubber pads.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention for
Improvements in Lifeboats," together.with the manner, in which the
same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical effect, I
would remark in conclusion that I claim as.my Invention,-
Firstly. The construction of the sides of lifeboats and the arrange-
ment of the buoyancy in the concave spaces therein.

page_text: Secondly. The central longitudinal division and its construction and
arrangement of buoyancy.
Thirdly. The arrangement and construction of the compartments in
the bottom of the boat inside, and the. portable buoyancy over which is
the portable platform or flooring.
Fourthly. The construction of the air-tight cases and the covering of
them with solid cork.
Fifthly. The arrangement of the discharge pipes in so far as they are
of various heights above the portable platform.
Sixthly. The construction of the valves on the top of the discharge
pipes so far as regards their shape (elliptical) and the application and
arrangement of the balance weight.
And, seventhly. The combination of the whole forming the improved
lifeboat, all substantially as herein described and as shewn on the accom-
panying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whercof, I, the said William Campbell, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.
WILLIAM CAMPRELL