Improvements in Apparatus for Launching Ships' Boats.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Oct., 1895-Accepted, 30th Nov., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Launching Ships' Boats.
I, WILLIAM TYREE, of 71, Cathedral Square, Christchurch, in the Provincial
District of Canterbury, in the Colony of New Zealand, Inventor 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 :-
Ships boats are usually carried slung from what are known as davits.
These davits are so arranged that considerable difficulty is often experienced in
getting the boat over the ship's side, the boat having usually to be pushed end-
ways to and fro in order to clear the vertical standards of the davits, moreover
when a catastrophe occurs on ship board the ship often falls over to one side,
making it impossible to launch the boats on the higher side of the vessel.
Now in my invention I employ a line of travelling rails supported upon a
framing carried by columns or standards transversely above the deck of the
vessel.
An extended length of rails is carried upon a pair of hanging brackets, hinged
to the framing referred to, so that such brackets can be operated automatically or
otherwise to project over the side of the vessel or to fold inwardly against the
framing as may he desired.
Suitable gear for raising and lowering a boat is carried upon a platform caused
to travel upon the rails by a pinion gearing into a toothed rack secured by the
side of one or both of the rails.
The boat is suspended "fore" and "aft" by two ropes which are coiled around
a winding drum.
The drum is fixed upon a spindle carried in bearings upon the platform adapted
to be revolved by a person upon the platform or within the boat which may thus
be raised or lowered.
Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein :-
Fig. 1 is an end elevation, and
Fig. 2 a plan illustrating my invention the brackets being shown extended over
the side of the vessel.
Fig. 3 is a side view with the brackets extended over the side of the vessel.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the travelling gear, and
Fig. 5 an end elevation of the winding drum.
Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.
The framing (a) is carried upon columns (b) above the deck of the vessel
(represented by the line (e)) the brackets (d) are connected by hinges (e) (el) to
the framing, a cross piece (f) is pivoted at each end to one of the brackets so as
to permit them to fold; while maintaining them at the correct distance apart when
extended, and acting as a stop for the platform.
The platform (g) is carried by flanged wheels (4) upon rails (i) fixed to the
framing and may be caused to travel by a rack (j) shown in Fig. + secured to the
framing parallel with the rails geared into by a pinion (k) upon a shaft (7)
revolvable in either direction by the handles (m) through the medium of the sprocket
wheel (n) and pinion (o) connected by a chain (p).
A brake drum (r) surrounded by a brake band and operated in the ordinary
manner is mounted upon the spindle carrying the handles (m) in order to regulate
the speed of the traveller.

page_text: If it is desired to move the platform from the deck the handles (m) may be
dispensed with and a chain wheel employed provided with an endless chain reaching
to the deck.
The boat to be launched is attached to ropes (s) (t) wound upon the drum (u*)
fixed upon the spindle (*) carried in bearings (2) fixed to the platform (g).
A brake drum (w) is fixed upon the spindle (v*) and is provided with a band or
other usual frictional contrivance which may be operated through a cord or chain
by a person in the boat.
In operation it may be desirable to employ two platforms travelling upon the
same rails as shown in Fig. 3.
A number of boats being arranged alongside each other beneath the framing
as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The travelling platforms conveying one after another
over the side of the vessel for launching.
A flanged runner (y) working upon a rail (a) fixed to the side of the framing,
and brackets may be employed to ensure the wheels (h) remaining upon the
rails.
The brackets are normally folded against the framing, but when a boat is to be
launched they are moved out either manually or by a projecting portion of the
platform.
Ordinary spur or worm gearing may be used in connection with the winding
drums (u) when it is desired to lift boats as well as to launch them.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is;
1. The apparatus for launching boats consisting of the combination and arrange-
ment of parts substantially as and for the purposes herein described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
2. In apparatus for launching boats the combination with a framing such as (a)
of hinged brackets such as (d) arranged to fold inwardly parallel with or to
project over the side of a vessel upon which they are employed substantially as
and for the purposes herein described and illustrated.
Dated this 17th day of August 1895
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.