An Improved Automatic Self-closing Boat-plug.
Year: 1899

page_text: HENRY EDMUND FINN, 1, Rosedale Villas, Steele Road, Isleworth, Boat-builder, and
FREDERICK CHARLES HERBERT FINN, Gordon Boat-house, Isleworth, Middx., Boat-
builder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
An improved automatic, self-closing boat-plug, for ship's boats, to allow spray or rain
water to escape while boats are slung in the davits on deck, but which closes auto-
matically the moment the boat is afloat in the water. The method of the action of
the plug is as follows. —A hollow brass flange (with strainer holes) and
socket in one casting, to be screwed on the inside of the keel plank in the usual plug
hole of the boat. The hollow flange, when fixed, rests on the inner side of keel
plank, while the socket part of plug fits into the usual plug hole. The inside of the
socket is turned slightly conical, with, if required, a rubber washer or ring around a
vent hole at the top of socket. Enclosed in the socket is a wooden or light metal
ball, (hollow) which acts as a closing valve. At the bottom of the socket a brass
strip is to be fixed, to keep the ball from falling out of socket. While the boat is
out of water, the ball remains resting on the brass strip or rest, at the bottom of the
socket, thus allowing rain water etc. to escape from the boat. Immediately the boat
is afloat in the water, the ball valve floats & presses of its own accord, around the
rubber ring in the inside of the socket, thus preventing any water from coming into
the boat. The top part or lid of the flange may be made removable, if required, to
enable a person to get at the plug hole, if necessary.
An Improved Automatic Self-closing Boat-plug.
HENRY EDMUND FINN, 1 Rosedale Villa, Steele Road, Isleworth, Middx.,
Boat-builder, FREDERICK CHARLES HERBERT FINN, Gordon Boat-house, Isleworth,
Middx., Boat-builder, 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 :—
An improved automatic self closing boat plug for ships' boats, to allow any spray
or rain water to escape while the boats are slung in the davits on deck, but which
closes automatically the moment the boat is afloat in the water. The method of the
action of the plug is as follows:-A hollow brass flange (with strainer holes), and

page_text: socket in one casting, to be screwed on the inside of the keel plank in the usual plug
hole of the boat. The hollow flange when fixed, rests on the inner side of keel plank,
while the socket part of plug fits into the usual plug hole. The inside of the socket
is turned slightly conical, with, if required, a rubber washer or ring, around a vent
hole at the top of socket. Enclosed in the socket is a wooden or light hollow metal a
ball, which acts as a closing valve. At the bottom of the socket a brass strip is to be
While the boat is out of water the
fixed to keep the ball from falling out of socket.
ball remains resting on the brass strip or rest, at the bottom of socket, thus
allowing rain; water &c. to escape from the boat. Immediately the boat is afloat in
the water, the ball valve floats and presses of its own accord around the rubber ring
in the inside of socket, thus preventing any water from coming into the boat. The
top part or lid of the flange may be inade-removable, if required, to enable a person
to get at the plug hole if necessary. It is a well known fact that when a ship's boats
are slung in the davits "on deck, the plug is always left-out so that rain water may
escape & leave the boat comparatively dry. It is an equally well known fact that in
the event of a collision, wreck or at any time whatever when the ship is in danger of
foundering, the boats are lowered into the water with the utmost speed. In the
hurry and excitement of so doing, the plugs are forgotten, and the consequence is,
the boat with its complement of passengers and crew is completely swamped before
it has been afloat. many minutes, as witness, the boats, belonging to the unfortunate
"Stella." The drawings hereunto annexed shews a valve or plug, to be constructed
and applied in the manner we propose carrying out the invention.
We propose to construct a self-acting boat-plug, which, while allowing the boat to
keep free from water while slung on davits, will close itself and not allow any water
to enter the boat directly it is afloat. The plug and its component parts are to be
made of brass, or any other non-corrosive metal.
By reference to Fig. 1 a vertical sectional view of the plug is shewn as we propose
it to be fixed.in the boat.
The
The letters H H Fig. 1 represent the bottom or keel plank of the boat.
letters A A Fig. 1 denote the flange, which may either be a hollow or a solid one.
The socket C C Fig. 1 fits into the usual plug hole in the keel plank, and is cast in
one with the flange. On the top of the flange is shewn a movable cover or lid, with
This lid or
strainer holes th of an inch in diameter, see B Fig. 2, and B Fig. 1.
cover is kept in its place by means of a small spring clip or any other fastening, to
be fixed on the lid or cover, which fits in the recess shewn in the flange, see J Fig. 2.
Should it be necessary to open the plug for inspection, a pressure of the finger on
the spring K Fig. 1 instantly allows the lid or cover to slew round on the fixed
pin Fig. 2. By reference to CC Fig. 1 the sectional view of the socket is shewn.
The inside of socket is turned in the shape of a cone, with sufficient space for any
water and dirt which may enter through the strainer holes in the lid or cover to pass
by the ball valve F Fig. 1, and so through the large strainer holes in the brass strip
or strainer fixed on the outside of the keel plank of boat, see G Fig. 3 and
G Fig. 1.
At the top of the socket the vent hole is shewn M Fig. 2 and M Fig. 1. Through
this all the water passes which may get into the boat while slung in the davits. It
will be readily seen that when the boat is out of the water, the ball valve F Fig. 1
by its own weight remains resting on the bottom strainer G Fig. 1 and G Fig. 3
and allows free egress for any water from the boat while slung in davits on
deck.
Immediately the boat is afloat, the ball valve F Fig. 1 floats up into the top part of
the coned socket, and presses against an asbestos, rubber, or any other kind of ring or
washer, which we propose fixing in the recess turned for that purpose in the top part
of socket, see D Fig. 1 thus effectually closing the plug, and preventing any water
from coming into the boat. We also propose to coat the lid or cover, see B Fig. 1
and B Fig. 2 with luminous paint so that it could easily be found at night time,
should it be necessary to do so.
'

page_text: If it is absolutely necessary to drain the boat quite dry, the flange may be let in
flush with the top of the inner side of the keel plank. B Fig. 4 shews a plan of the
lid or cover as it would be when fixed in the boat.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. That it applies to ships' boats an automatic self closing plug, in the manner
described, for the purpose of allowing any water that may get into the boat to run
out, while the boat is slung in davits on deck, but which closes automatically the
moment the boat is put afloat in the water.
2. Applying automatic plugs or valves to ships' boats in the manner and for the
purpose described.
1
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2000
HENRY EDMUND FINN,
FREDERICK CHARLES HERBERT FINN.