Improvements in and connected with Boat-lowering Apparatus.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in and connected with Boat-lowering Apparatus.
I, LEONARD EUGENE COWBY, Engineer, of 21, Bedford Place, Russell Square, in
the County of London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in and connected with boat-lowering
apparatus, and is designed to provide an apparatus which shall be simple and
reliable in its action, and which shall hold the boat at a distance from the ship's
side in the act of raising and lowering it.
An important feature of the invention consists in providing instead of the
ordinary davits, a pair of frames arranged parallel with the side of the vessel one
of these frames being upright and stationary, whereas the other is hinged or pivoted
near the deck, and serves to directly support the boat which is suspended from the
same in such a position that it is ready for lowering at a moment's notice.
A further important feature of the invention consists in providing means whereby
as the boat is being lowered, the hinged or pivoted frame is caused to turn down
into a position wherein it projects outward approximately at right angles to the
ship's side and holds the boat away from the latter during the rest of the lower-
ing movement, whilst when the boat is being raised the frame remains in such
outward position until the boat has almost reached it, when it commences to rise
with the boat and is finally returned to its normal position.
The invention also comprises other features hereinafter mentioned.
According to one arrangement the stationary frame has arranged beneath it a
suitable winch from which wire ropes or cords extend over pulleys on the said
frames to the fore and aft ends of the boat. The winch may be provided with a
three-throw crank to enable a sufficient number of men to work the apparatus
when raising the boat, and the pulleys or drums may be conical or tapered so that
increased force may be obtained, in raising the boat, by winding the ropes or cords
on to the smaller ends of the pulleys or drums. Variable speed gearing may also
be provided for the same purpose.
In connection with each of the pulloys of the hinged frame, are provided a pair
of stops or fingers readily secured to the frame one or other of which, according to
the position of the hinged frame, extends into the path of a block or projection on
the rope.
When the hinged frame is in its upright position the blocks or projec-
tions lie between the stops or fingers, so that in lowering the boat, as the ropes
commence to run out over the pulleys, the blocks or projections strike the outer-
most stops or fingers and cause the frame to turn into its lowest position the arrange-
ment being such that as the frame reaches this latter position the said outer fingers
are, by the change in the relative angular positions of the rope and frame, with-

page_text: drawn from engagement with the blocks or projections and allow the ropes to
descend freely.
When however the boat is raised the blocks or projections engage with the other
stops or fingers, and so again raise the said frame into its upright position.
When the boat is not in use it may hang from the hinged frame, and be pre-
vented from undue swinging by means of springs stretched between suitable
fastenings on its keel and on the deck of the ship.
It may however be caused to rest on chocks in the usual manner.
Suitable means may also be provided inside the boat for simultaneously releasing
both ends thereof from the lowering tackle.
In order to regulate the speed of lowering, a suitable brake is provided in con-
nection with the winch, while in order to prevent the hinged frame being
accidentally thrown inward against the stationary frame, say by a sudden lurch
for example when partially lowered, I may provide a roller or bar which can be
inserted between the frames and will wedge or jaun itself between them if the
hinges frame should tend to move inward in the manner referred to.
1
1
1002
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southamptou Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Boat-lowering Apparatus,
I, LEONARD EUGENE COWEY, of 21, Bedford Place, Russell Square, in
the County of Loudon, Engineer, 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:--
My invention relates to improvements in and connected with boat-lowering
apparatus, and is designed to provide an apparatus which shall be simple and
reliable in its action, and which shall hold the boat at a distance from the ship's
side in the act of raising and lowering it.
An important feature of the invention consists in providing instead of the
ordinary davits, a pair of frames arranged parallel with the side of the vessel one
of these frames being upright and stationary, whereas the other is hinged or pivoted
near the deck, and serves to directly support the boat which is suspended from the
same in such a position that it is ready for lowering at a moments notice.
A further important feature of the invention consists in providing means whereby
as the boat is being lowered, the hinged or pivoted frame is caused to turn down
into a position wherein it projects outward approximately at right angles to the
ship's side and holds the boat away from the latter during the rest of the lower-
ing movement, whilst when the boat is being raised the frame remains in such
outward position until the boat has almost reached it, when it commences to rise
with the boat and is finally returned to its normal position.
The invention also comprises other features hereinafter mentioned.
In order that my said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into effect I will now proceed to describe the same more fully with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which :---
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my apparatus, with part of the winding mechanism
omitted showing the boat "in board."

page_text: Figure 2 shows a cross section of a similar apparatus to that shown in Figure 1,
the dotted lines indicating the position of the apparatus when the boat is being
lowered.
Figure 3 is an enlarged view shewing one of the winding drums and the clutch
to throw the pair of drums as shown in Figure 1 into and out of gear.
Figures 4 and 5 are end views of apparatus for operating the winding drums by
hand.
Figure 6 shows a suitable band brake apparatus for use with the winding
machinery shown in Figure 5.
Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view showing one of the studs on the ropes.
In the particular arrangement of the apparatus shown, referring to Figures I
to 3, the hinged frame consists of the arms A A suitably hinged to the deck at a a,
and a rod connecting them. The fixed frame consists of two end brackets B
carrying a rotating tube or bar B'. DD are the drums mounted on the tube B¹
and on which the ropes R R for raising and lowering the boat are wound. C is the
boat. is a buffer on the tube B' against which the boat rests when inboard.
E is the driving shaft which passes through the tube B' with which it may be thrown
into or out of gear by means of a clutch F actuated by a lover f pivoted to one of
the brackets B. This clutch is of ordinary construction and while capable of slid-
ing longitudinally on the shaft E is also caused to revolve with the latter, by means
of a feather or key thereon which engages with the groove e (Figure 3); or any
other suitable form of clutch may be used. The shaft E extends along one side
of the ship so as to be capable of raising or lowering all the boats on that side,
and is caused to rotate by means of a suitable winch worked by steam or other
motive power. Each of the drums D is provided with a ratchet wheel with which
a pawl such as d (Figure 4) engages when the boat is "inboard" and the drums
are disconnected from the shaft 1. Each of the brackets B, against which one of
the arms A works, is provided with stops to limit the angular movement of
the arm A and also with a rack with which a pawl a', pivoted to the arm A,
engages when the boat is being lowered.
Each of the arms A carries a pulley at its upper end, over which one of the
ropes R passes. Projecting radially from the upper end of each of the arnis A are
fixed pairs of fingers a¹ which engage with a stud or stop S on the rope R as
hereinafter described and the ends of the pairs a¹ of which are respectively joined
as shown in Figure 1 and serve as guides to the ropes, when the boat is raised or
lowered.
When it is required to lower a boat the tube B' and its drum D D are thrown
into gear with the shaft E by means of the clutch F, and the pawls d' are turned
out of gear with the ratchet wheels d. As the ropes unwind from the drums the
studs S, engaging with the fingers a, cause the movable frame to turn on its
hinges and project over the water so that the boat is held clear of the ships side.
Owing to the altered angular position of the arms A the fingers a are moved out
of the path of the ropes so that the studs S escape, and as the drums continue to
unwind the boat is lowered into the water and the fingers a¹ act as rope guides,
being joined at their extremities. The lowering operation is controlled by means
of a powerful band brake fitted to the winch for operating the shaft E. During
the lowering of the boat, the pawls engage with the racks and prevent the
movable frame from being suddenly thrown into its inboard position by any
possible rolling of the vessel. It is obvious that this pawl and rack may be replaced
by any mechanical equivalent such for instance as a bar or rod which may be
inserted between the frames so as to wedge or jam itself between them if the hinged
frame should tend to return. The outward movement of the movable frame is
limited by the stops on the brackets B. To raise the boat the pawls a' are turned
out of gear with the racks, the ropes are wound upon the drums DD by rotating
5 the shaft E and the boat raised till the stops S engage with the fingers a¹ on the
movable frame, upon continuing to wind up the ropes the hinged frame will now
be raised into its inboard position, when the arms AA will rest against the stops b³.

page_text: Their respective pawls are then turned into engagement with the ratchet
wheels d, and the clutch F' is thrown out of gear with the tube Bt until it is again
required to lower the boat. This arrangement of the shaft E and clutches Fenable
all or any of the boats to be raised or lowered with great rapidity and ease.
Referring to Figure 4, which shows a suitable form of mechanism for raising
or lowering light ships boats by hand, is a bevel rack fixed to the end of one of
a pair of drums D; gearing with this rack is a bevel pinion which is fixed to
a spindle mounted in bearings carried by the bracket B. G is a band brake
provided with a lever or handle g and is used in the well known manner in con-
nection with a drum mounted on the spindle d, to control the lowering of the
boat; the brake being thus in direct gear with the pinion . The end of the
spindle is square in cross section and is provided with a removable cranked
handle by means of which it is rotated when it is required to raise the boat. With
the apparatus shown in this figure the winding handle is fitted at the right hand
side of the brake and is situated across the ship.
Figure 5 shows a modified form of hand raising and lowering gear in which a
toothed rack is fixed to the end of one of a pair of drums 1, gearing with which
is a pinion carried on a spindle journalled in the bracket B. The spindle d
in this case being provided with a winding handle situated parallel to the length
of the ship.
Figure 6 shows a band brake and hand lever for use with a brake drum mounted
on the spindle as arranged in Figure 5.
It is obvious that similar hand elevating gear may be applied to both the drums
of a pair if required, and that when using hand gear a separate brake will be
required for each pair of drums.
Referring to Figure 7, which shows an enlarged longitudinal section of one of
the studs or stops S, & are a number of separate, (preferably steel), rings having
packing washers 3 placed between them. The rope R passes through the centre
of these rings which are held in position thereon by means of the cross pieces
which pass through the rope and have their ends respectively attached to the top
and bottom rings of the series. It will be seen that these studs readily adapt
themselves to the curve of the pulley wheels when in contact therewith.
When the boat is not in use and is hanging from the hinged frame it may be
prevented from undue swinging by means of springs attached between suitable
fastenings on its keel and on the ships deck; or the boat may rest in chocks in
the usual manner; or be bound against the buffer b.
If necessary, suitable guys may be attached between the heads of the arms A
and the deck or other suitable part of the vessel; and the ropes R may pass over
suitable guiding pulleys situated between the winding drums and the pulleys a³.
In order to obtain increased leverage when raising the arms A from their extreme
outward position I may taper the winding drums 1), or 1 may effect this by using
variable speed winding gear.
If, as is frequently the case, it is required to allow the after end of the boat to
reach the water first, this may be done by still further tapering one end of the
winding drum which controls the rope attached to the after end of the boat; the
result of this being that while the boat is horizontal when raised, the after end
thereof is lowered at a slightly greater pace than the forward end, so that the stern
reaches the water first.
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. In boat lowering apparatus of the type referred to, the combination with a
pulley carried at the top of each of the swinging arms, of pairs of radial fingers
operating in connection with studs or stops attached to the winding ropes, for the
purpose specified.
2. The combination with the aforesaid swincing arms and th
11

page_text: radial fingers, of means for preventing the said arms from being accidentally
thrown inboard when lowering the boat, substantially as described.
3. Boat lowering apparatus constructed, arranged and operating, substantially
as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings and for
the purpose specified.
tember 1898.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.