Improvements in Boat-lowering Apparatus.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Oct., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Mar., 1891-Accepted, 25th Apr., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Boat-lowering Apparatus.
1, HENRY EDWARD BOWRING, of Mole Bank, East Molesey, in the County of
Surrey, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in boat lowering apparatus, and the
principal object of it is to provide for the simultaneous detaching of both suspending
lines from the boat. A secondary object is to connect the suspending lines to the
boat so as to diminish the amount of rocking on the part of the boat before the lines
are freed.
In carrying my invention into effect, I provide two bars which stand vertically
upon suitable bases or seatings, in the bottom of the boat. The tops of these bars
project up through openings, preferably in the respective thwarts, and are made fast
to their respective lines.
The bars above mentioned are held to the boat by any suitable mechanical device
which can be made to free both bars simultaneously, and which device can be
operated by a simple act such as a single pull on a line from any part of the boat.
Provided that the device complies with the conditions set out above. I do not
confine myself to the details of its construction, nor to the method of its operation.
Dated this 14th day of October 1890.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Boat-lowering Apparatus.
1, HENRY EDWARD BOWRING, of Mole Bank, East Molesey, in the County of
Surrey, Gentleman, 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 boat-lowering apparatus, and as it is
applicable to all kinds of boats which require to be lowered from a ship's deck, it
includes, therefore, steam pinnaces and torpedo boats. Its principal object is to
provide for the simultaneous detachment of both falls from the bont by more
compact devices than have hitherto been used. A secondary object is to connect
the falls to the boat in such a way, that, in consequence of such peculiarity in
respect of connection, the amount of rocking to which boats hanging from the falls
are liable up to the moment of detaching the falls from them, shall be diminished.
In carrying my invention into effect, I provide two fall or suspension bars, which
stand vertically upon, or in, suitable seatings in the bottom of the boat. Each of
these bars passes down through a thwart or end-seat, above which it projects, so
that each seating is always vertically under its respective seat.
These bars are held to the bottom of the boat by any suitable mechanical device,
provided that it can be easily caused to release both bars simultaneously, by a single
simple act such as pulling on a suitable line from any part of the boat. Provided
that the device adopted satisfies the above requirements, my invention is not confined
to the constructional details thereof.
In order that my invention, and the means by which the same is to be carried!
into practical effect, may be thoroughly understood, I will now describe them in
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page_text: detail, referring in so doing to the accompanying figures which are to be taken as
part of this Specification and read therewith.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal elevation taken on the line A-B of Fig. 2.
Fig. 2 is a plan of Fig. 1 omitting the falls and the floor of the boat.
Fig. 3 is a transverse elevation taken on the line C-D of Fig. 1.
Figs. 4 and 5 are, respectively, side elevation and plan of a modified form of the
barrel of the holding bolt, shewing the recess into which the suspension bars drop as
open and the bolt retracted..
Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating a modification of my invention.
a¹ are the two falls; and 6, the suspension bars, to the top ends of which the
falls are, respectively, connected in any suitable or well known way.
D, Di are the end seats, and e, e are holes cut in the centrally over the keel,
through which holes the said suspension bars are passed down on to their respective
seatings. The latter are formed in or in connection with the mechanical device by
which the suspension bars are held to the bottom of the boat, and their particular
construction will naturally depend upon the type of the holding device.
The type of combined holding and releasing device illustrated in the accompanying
figures is the one which I prefer because it is simple, strong, and easily operated.
It is a duplex one and consists of the following members, all of which are co-related
in the manner described and illustrated, so that the whole device is at any given
moment either stationary or in motion, either for disengaging the boat or making it
fast to the falls.
G is a post occupying a vertical and central position in the boat.
It is adapted
to turn about its axis in a step bearing g fixed upon the bottom of the boat and in
a socket fixed exactly opposite to the step bearing g, to the middle thwart Hand
depending therefrom.
I, I ar
are a pair of arms fast to the bottom of the post G from which they project
ou, respectively, opposite sides.
J, Jare a pair of bolts fixed at opposite ends of the boat-bottom. The sockets j
are, or may be, fixed to the same base plate as the barrels j', but socket and barrel
are separated by a recess which is adapted, in respect both of size and position,
to receive the bottom end of a suspension bar, and to thereby furnish its seating.
Whether the socket and barrel are fixed to the same base plate is a matter
of convenience.
Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, the modification illustrated therein consists in
providing sides j² to the recess k. These sides are continued from the barrel to the
socket, being thereby adapted to act as a guide for the nose of the suspension bar as
the latter is being dropped on to its scating. Holes j³ are formed in the said sidės
to allow of the removal of dirt from off the seating. is a hinged cover adapted
to close the recess, when the bar is out, against the entrance of foreign matter.
Fig. 4 illustrates the bar as in the act of being dropped into the opened recess k,
the cover having been swung back.
The bottom ends of the suspension bars are perforated to allow of the respective
bolts passing through them from barrel to socket for the purpose of holding the
said bars to the bolt. 1, are bolt stops and, with the barrels,, serve as guides for
the bolts.
The bolts J, Jare respectively connected to the arms I, I by links M, M'.
N, N' are a second pair of arms, fast, preferably, to the top of the post G, from
which they project in opposite directions, as to each other; but in directions at right
angles to the arms I. I, respectively. Or, in other words, the four arins form two
bell crank levers I, N, 1, N', both having their fulera in the post G. Each of the
arms N, N', has a line O, O', fast to its outer end. These lines are, respectively,
provided for the purpose of releasing and shooting the bolts, and as the four arms,
the two links, and bolts are so closely connected that all must move together; or not
at all, it follows that only one of the lines O, O', can be operated at a time. O'is
the releasing line, and ¹, the line for. shooting the bolts through the ends of the
suspension bars into the sockets of the former.

page_text: The bolts J, J', links M, M', and arms I, l'are fixed between the boat-bottom
and the floor P.
I prefer that a releasable detent should be provided to prevent the premature
withdrawal of the bolts from their sockets, and a convenient one for that purpose
consists of pin i adapted to pass through one of the first mentioned pair of arms
into a fixed socket. This is illustrated in Fig. 1 as passed through the arm 1'into
a socket in the base plate of the step bearing 9.
My invention constructed as illustrated in the figures is operated as follows. The
figures shew the boat as hanging from the davit falls, and ready for being dropped
therefrom. At the word of command, the line O is pulled and both bolts are
thereby withdrawn from their respective sockets, with the result that both suspension
bars are freed simultaneously, from which the boat drops clear. The new positions
of the arms, links, and lines are indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2.
When the boat is to be taken on board again, the ends of the bars are placed in
their respective seatings, both bolts being at the same time in their respective
barrels, and the other line O is pulled with the effect of making both falls fast to
the boat.
Suitable cleats or detents are provided for the lines O and O'.
The before mentioned secondary object of my invention is accomplished by the
use of the suspension bars fast by their bottom ends to the boat bottom at as Low a
level as practicable, and having the points of attachment to the falls above the
thwarts, i.e., about in the usual plane.
The arms 1, 11, N, N' may be adapted to work in the vertical plane in which case
their axis (the post) G would be horizontal.
The modification illustrated in Fig. 6 consists in the combination with the
suspension bar of a horizontal bar H and two tension and thrust bars h³, h². The
two latter connect the extremities of the horizontal bar H with the fall, or with
the frame of the pulley p in the bight thereof when a double fall is used. The points
of connection of the bars h, 2 to the fall or to the frame of the pulley p, whether a
single or double fall is used, is always between the end of the said fall or the said
pulley, on the one hand, and the top of the suspension bar on the other, as illustrated
in Fig. 6. In other words, the horizontal bar H and the two bars ', h², form au
isosceles triangle with the top of the suspension bar in the centre thereof.
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 1
claim is :-
―
1. The combination of two suspension bars fast to the respective davit falls, and a
duplex gear worked from one point only and adapted to disengage the said bars
simultaneously from the boat, as set forth.
2. The combination of two suspension bars, devices for holding them to the boat-
bottom, and holes in seats or thwarts through which the top ends of the said bars
project, as set forth.
3. The combination of a pair of bolts, or equivalent devices, fixed upon the boat-
bottom, and adapted to be simultaneously disengaged from, or engaged with, bars
fast to the respective falls, by a duplex gear between the boat bottom and its floor.
4. The combination of fall, suspension bar, horizontal bar, and two thrust and
tension bars, as set forth.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, Agents for the Applicant.