Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Nov., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 29th June, 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 3rd Aug.,
1888
I, WILLIAM JOHN GELL, of Seacombe, in the County of Chester, wraster
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object an arrangement by which a cover can be placed
upon a ships' boat, so as to prevent people jumping into it until that cover be
removed, and an arrangement by which that cover can instantly be released and
removed from over the boat...
The invention is best described by detailing my experimental apparatus as
follows:-
The tarpaulin or other cover has a spar fixed along its centre, which spar extends
preferably from stem to stern of the boat. This is supported on two or more iron
trusses, each in two parts hinged together at the spar so as to fold together. It is
prevented from spreading too wide, by a tie-rope or its equivalent attached to the two
ends. These two ends fit on the gunwale of the boat and have preferably swivelled
thereto a pin fitting into the gunwale or the rowlock-hole.
Linked to each end of each truss is a link folding over the gunwale of the boat and
hanging down and attached to this is a second link,-called hereafter, the "grip-
link," which is attached to the deck-chains in the following manner. A band catch or
lever is linked by a short link to the grip-link. This lever passes through the last
link of the deck-chain and is hooked up against the grip-link, and a lock-link linked
into the grip-link is slipped over the end of the lever holding it tight to the grip-link.
The two small lock-links on the outside of the boat are detached by means of a cord
passing across the boat to the other side, and the two remaining lock-links are undone
by band when required.
The cover is linked to a series of loose rods, and these are attached to the
corresponding ones on the opposite side by means of chains or ropes passing under
the boat from one side to the other, and connected on the inside by a grip-link lever and

page_text: lock-link similar to those already described. Each of these ropes or chains is
connected to the loose rods in the cover by two or three cords so as to distribute the
bearing on the cover as much as possible.
The spar itself is attached to the trusses by means of the pivot which pivots the two
trusses to each other. This pivot passes through eyelets on the spar, and lugs on the
trusses bear against the spar. This to some extent helps the tie-rope.
The ropes fastening the lock-links of the cover are all connected together so as to.
form a single rope, and this is passed through the davit. By therefore pulling on this
rope the entire cover is at once freed and can be lifted from the boat, even after the
boat has descended to the water.
Dated this 31st day of October 1887

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Appertaining to Fastenings and Covers for
Ships' Boats.
I, WILLIAM JOHN GELL of Seacombe in the county of Chester, Master Mariner
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:-
This invention has for its object an arrangement by which a covering is attached
to a boat so as to prevent people jumping into it until the said cover be removed, and
by which the boat is fastened to the deck, and by which either or both fastenings can
be instantly released and the cover or boat or both removed exactly as required.
The invention may be best described by referring to the accompanying drawings,
which set forth the various details of my experimental apparatus.
Figure 1 is a general front elevation of a boat and davits with cover attached.
Figure 2 is an end elevation of same as secured on deck.
Figure 3 is a similar view showing the boat swung over the ship side and the cover
detached, but not entirely raised.
Figures 1 to 10 inclusive are enlarged detail views.
Figure 4 being transverse section through a figure 1.
Figure 5, an elevation of front fastening device for cover supporting frame.
Figure 6, an elevation of back fastening device for ditto.
Figure 7 a plan of underside of a portion of said frame.
Figure 8 an elevation of back fastening device for cover.
"
Figure 9, an elevation of front fastening device for cover, and Figure 10, a side
elevation of device shown in Figure 9.
A is the tarpaulin or other cover along the centre of which is fixed a spar B,
extending preferably from stem to stern of the boat (. The spar B is supported (as
in Figure 4) on two or more metallic trusses, each in two parts D D¹ hinged together
at the spar, so as to fold together. Each truss is prevented from spreading too wide
apart by a tie-rope E or its equivalent attached to the two ends D2² & B³ thereof,
which fit on the gunwale of the boat.
spar
The B is attached to each of the trusses as shown in Figures 4 & 7 by means
of the pivot d of the hinge, which connects the two portions D D'. This pivot passes
through cyclets on the spar. Lugs d on the trusses bear against the sides of the
spar and to some extent reduce the strain on the tie-rope E. The pivot d is preferably
provided with a cord or chain 2 by which it may be withdrawn from the outside of
the boat.
Referring to Figures 4, 5, & 6. Hinged to each end D² & D³ of each truss is a
link F folding over against the side of the gunwale of the boat, and connected with
the lower end of this link is a second link G called hereinafter the "grip link," which
s connected to the deck chain H in the following manner.
A catch lever J is linked by a short link to cach grip-link. This catch lever
passes through the last link of the deck-chain H and is hooked up against the grip
ink, a lock link K which is linked into the grip-link being slipped over the end of the
ever, so as to hold it in position alongside of the grip link. The lock links on the
back or seaward side of the boat are each suspended to the end of a cord or rope k
which passes to the front side of the boat beneath the cover A as in Figures 4 to 6.

page_text: By this means the seaward lock links can be undone from the front or deck side of the
boat. The lock links on the front or deck side of the boat are simply undone by hand
when required. The cord k may be guided and supported by a ring k¹, which is
suspended from the spar or truss as in Figure 4. The grip links, catch levers, and
lock links may be placed at any convenient point of the deck chains, but preferably at
the upper end as shown.
The cover is secured at each edge to a series of rods L, the rods on one side of the
cover being secured to the corresponding rods on the opposite side by means of chains
or ropes 1, (Figures 1 and 2) passsing under the boat, and connected on the front side
(as in Figures 9 & 10) by a grip link G, catch lever J and lock-link K similar to those
already described.
Instead of passing the catch lever J, through a link on the chain or cord 1, it is
preferable to pass it through a separato ring or link ♬ which is connected to a ring or
eye on the end of the chain or cord by a mousing . This enables the cover to be
drawn taut.
Each of the ropes or chains is connected to the rods L in the cover by two or three
cords so as to distribute the strain on the cover as much as possible. A convenient
method of uniting these cords to the chain or cord may be seen in Figures 8, 9
and 10.
spar
It is preferable to connect the spar B by means of blocks and tackle M. to the cross
N uniting the davits. This enables the cover and its supporting devices to be
raised bodily from the boat, either before or after the latter is lowered into the water.
In Figure 3, the cover is shown suspended after being detached from the boat, but
prior to being raised clear of it. The deck chains may also be connected by mousings,
if desired.
The ropes fastening the lock-links of the cover may all be connected to a single
rope, which may be passed along to the davit. By pulling on this rope, the entire
cover may be at once freed.
The boats may be supported on any suitable chocks. Those shown in Figure 2 are
of a special construction and were described in my patent specification No. 6618 of
May 17, 1886.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood, that I
make no claim for any single individual piece of mechanism taken separately, nor for
any partial aggregation of those individual parts when used for other and different
purposes than those set forth, nor yet for a cover supported by a longitudinal bar and
fastened down to the boat by numerous lashings or fastenings, nor yet for the broad
principle of fixing a chain or rope, so that it can be immediately released by a catch
lever such as J, but that what I claim is :-
1st. The method of and appliances for fixing, maintaining in position and quickly
releasing a boat cover, substantially as set forth and subject to the disclaiming clause.
2nd. The combination of a boat and cover, whereby the latter shall prevent any one
getting into the boat while the said cover is in place, and yet so arranged that when
the boat is launched the cover can be instantly released and removed, substantially as
described.
3rd. The method and arrangement of mechanism, whereby the boat is held to the
deck chains (and thus to the deck) and instantly set free when required, substantially
as herein described.
Datad this 50th of Lune 1000