IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SUSTAINING AND LOWERING SHIPS' BOATS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Cortland Herbert Simpson, of Bexhill, in the
County of Sussex, Commander Royal Navy, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SUSTAINING AND LOWERING SHIPS'
BOATS."
Sealed the 26th January 1866, and dated the 5th August 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Cortland Herbert Simpson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th August 1865.
I, CORTLAND HERBERT SIMPSON, of Bexhill, in the County of Sussex,
Commander Royal Navy, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention'
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SUSTAINING AND LOWERING SHIPS'
BOATS," to be as follows:-
My Invention of improvements in sustaining and lowering ships' boats
relates to apparatus for that purpose, in which the boat while being sustained
at a ship's side is held by one attachment only, and in which it is only necessary
to perform one act, that is to say, ease off a rope, or to operate some other
simple and single contrivance in order to release the boat, which will become
detached at a certain predetermined position or height from the water; and
this without the possibility of failure. .
The apparatus of my Invention consists of three arms, which I term the
davits, although all combined and acting as one frame. These arms are each
jointed to strong brackets or knees firmly fixed to the side or gunwale of the
ship.. These arms are placed at distances of, say, five feet apart, the joints of

page_text: the whole being in the same horizontal line, and free to describe an arc equal
to a semicircle or more, that is to say, they may fall down against the outside
of the ship, or be raised upwards and inclined inboard over the bulwarks.
The middle arm is straight and strongest, it having to support the whole
weight of the boat, which is supported by a strong hook or spur-like pro-
jection formed on the under side, and in about the middle of the length of
that arm.
The other two and extreme arms are each in the form of three
sides of a parallelogram, the middle long sides of which are in a plane
parallel to the central arm, but at a level of, say, about a foot lower (supposing
them to be extended in a horizontal position) than such centre arm. The
extreme ends of all the arms are connected by a suitable tie rod, so that all
three arms move together on their hinges as one frame. Sheaves are fitted
in the central arm just beyond the supporting hook; over which sheaves a
tackle is rove for the purpose of hoisting the boat into position to be supported
by the davit. The whole apparatus resolves itself into a frame swinging
outwards from a ship's side on a horizontal axis parallel therewith. It is
supported at the outer end by a single part of a rope or chain led up to the
mast or other standard over a pulley and down to the deck to a point where
it can be eased away with 'certainty and facility as described. The boat is sus-
pended by slings from either end, attached to a ring and slung amidships,
the whole terminating in a second ring or link, which is to be placed on the
hook or spur before mentioned, and by which the boat is wholly supported.
This book, as before stated, is a strong spur-like projection disposed under the
mid arm, and is in a direction somewhat parallel therewith, but inclined to
the plane of the extreme arms, so that when the suspending ring is trans-
ferred from the lifting tackle on to the book it slips down thereon (the davit
frame being in a raised position at the time) the incline of the hook draws
the gunwale of the boat hard up against the under side of the outer arms,
whereby the boat becomes firmly secured and fixed; small notches are formed.
in the boat's gunwale to fit on the extreme arms. The lifting tackle is
altogether removed, and the davit frame secured in the upward position by the
rope led up to the mast or standard, before mentioned, and is so kept always.
in readiness for use. A pawl and ratchet teeth are provided on the middle
arm as stops, against which to regulate the raised position of the davit frame
and boat, which may be over the ship's side, or on board if desired. When
it is desired to lower the boat it is simply necessary to ease away the sup--
porting rope before mentioned, so as to lower the davit frames outwards until it
reaches a certain predetermined position, which will usually be a little beyond

page_text: and below the horizontal position of that frame; at this point the ring sup-
porting the boat from the hook will slip therefrom by reason of its inclination,
and the boat will be free to fall into the water without the possibility of
mischance.
Oars and other accessaries are, of course, always fixed in the boat; while the
crew or passengers get into the boat before the davit frame is lowered. Life
buoys are attached to the davit frames, which may be used in steadying the
boat while hoisting her.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Cortland Herbert Simpson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 5th February 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CORTLAND
HERBERT SIMPSON, of Bexhill, in the County of Sussex, Commander Royal
Navy, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Cortland Herbert Simpson, Her special licence that I, the said Cortland Herbert
Simpson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Cortland Herbert Simpson, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SUSTAINING AND LOWERING SHIPS' BOATS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Cortland Herbert Simpson, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Cortland Herbert Simpson, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to

page_text: be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):
My Invention of improvements in sustaining and lowering ships' boats
relates to apparatus for that purpose, in which the boat while being sustained at
the ship's side is held only by one attachment; and in which it is only necessary
to perform one act, that is to say, ease off a single rope, or to operate some
other simple and single contrivance in order to release the boat. The boat
becomes detached in a certain predetermined position and height from the
water, and this without any possibility of failure.
The apparatus of my Invention consists of three arms, which I term the
davits, although all combined and acting as one frame. These arms are each
jointed to strong brackets or knees firmly fixed to the side or gunwale of the
ship. These arms are placed at distances apart, say, of five feet, the joints of
all three being in the same horizontal line are free to describe an arc equal to
à semicircle, more or less, that is to say, they may fall down against the
outside of the ship, and be raised upwards and inclined inboard or over the
bulwarks. The middle arm is straight and the strongest of the three, having
to support the whole weight of the boat, which is supported therefrom by a
straight hook or spur-like projection formed on the under side rather beyond
the middle of the length of the arm. The other two and extreme arms are
each in the form of three sides of a parallelogram, the middle and long sides
of which are in a plane parallel to the central arm, but at a level of, say,
ábout a foot lower (supposing them to be extended in the horizontal position)
than such centre arm. The extreme ends of all the arms are connected by a
suitable tie rod, so that all three arms move together on their hinges as one
frame; the hinged joints being fixed to the gunwale or side of the ship in
line with the joint of the mid arm, as before described. Sheaves are fitted in
the central arm near the position of the supporting hook or spur, over which
sheaves ropes are rove for the purpose of hoisting the boat into position to be
supported by. the davits. The whole apparatus forms a frame swinging
outwards from the ship's side on a horizontal axis parallel therewith. It is
supported at the outer end by a single part of rope or chain led up to the
mast or other standard over a pulley and down to the deck to a point where
it can be eased away with certainty and facility. The boat is suspended by
longitudinal and cross slings from either end and side of the boat, which are
secured to a ring and slung amidships, the whole terminating in a single ring,
by which the boat is hooked on to the lifting tackle; a second ring is con-

page_text: nected with the slings, which is to be placed on the hook or spur before men-
tioned; and by which the boat is wholly supported when fixed in position.
The slings supporting the boat have a part carried down to the keel of the
boat, by which the more direct weight is supported. The hook, as before
mentioned, is a strong spur-like projection disposed under the mid arm, and
is in a direction somewhat parallel therewith, but inclined a little from the
plane of the arms, so that when the ring, before mentioned, is placed over tho
hook it slips down thereon (the davit frame being in a raised position at
the time) so that the incline of the hook draws the gunwale of the boat hard
up against the under side of the davit arms, thereby fixing the boat. Small
notches are formed in the boat's gunwale to fit on the extreme davit arms,
When the boat is in position the lifting tackle is altogether disconnected, and
the davit frame secured in the upward position by the rope.led up to the mast
or standard and down to the deck, as before mentioned, and is kept always in
readiness for immediate use; teeth are provided on the middle arm, and a
pawl to provide stops against which to regulate the raised position of the
davit frame and boat. It may be sustained at a distance from the ship's side,
or even inboard over the bulwarks if desired. When it is desired to lower
the boat it is simply necessary to ease away the single supporting rope before
mentioned, so as to lower the davit frame outwards until it reaches a certain
and predetermined position, which will usually be a little beyond and below
the horizontal position of that frame, when the ring supporting the boat from
the hook or spur will slip therefrom by reason of its inclination, while the
boat will be free to fall into the water, and this without the possibility of
mischance.
Oars and other necessities are, of course, always fixed in the boat, while the
crew or passengers get into the boat when the davit frame is lowered to a
position convenient for that purpose. Life lines.or guys are attached to the
davit frame, which are used in steadying the boat while hoisting her.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 represents in part the side view. of a ship having my improved davit
frame or boat-lowering apparatus attached, with the frame and boat in a
horizontal position; Fig. 2 is an end view of Fig. 1, with partial section of
ship; Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 1, but with the davit frame and boat
raised to their highest position; while Fig. 4 represents an end view of Fig. 3,
with partial section of the ship..
A, A, is the mid arm, and B, B, the extreme arms of the frame, made of

page_text: iron and sufficiently strong; they are jointed to strong knuckle joints E fixed
to the gunwale of the ship. All three of the joints are in line, and I prefer to
pass a single pin or rod b, b, through the whole; a like rod c, c, passes through
and connects the extreme ends of the arms; eyes d, d, are disposed at either
end, to which stay chains D, D, are attached; the other ends being attached
to ring bolts in the gunwale, disposed in line with the joint pin or rod b. It
will be observed that the arm A is a straight bar, while the arms B, B, are
bent, as seen in views Figs. 2 and 4; it may be at right angles at both ends as
indicated by the dotted lines Fig. 4, but I prefer the one bend to be inclined
as shown in line, as it allows the davit frame to fall to a lower angle. The
arm A forms the point of support for the lift and sustaining of the boat, while
the arms B, B, which are at a lower level (when horizontal) offer a bearing
for the gunwale of the boat to be drawn and held up against the whole,
moving freely as one frame on the joints E, and describing an arc represented in
Figs. 2 and 4. F is a pawl taking into teeth on arm A to form stops against
which to pull up the arm A in order to fix it at different elevations. The
davit frame is raised and lowered by the chains H and h, h, H being the
principal part leading to arm. A, while h, h, are steadying parts led to arms
B, B. The three chains H and h, h, are united at point i to a single rope K
led up over a single block or eye y, and down to a cleat a, where it is belayed
and kept in readiness for immediate use. For raising and lowering the boat
it is furnished with chain slings f, f, f, f, leading to each end and across the
boat, and all united in a single ring I in the middle of the boat; another part
of the chain sling / leads down to the keel of the boat where it is made fast,
and being direct will sustain for the most part the weight of the boat. From
ring I a short chain Lis led with a ring to place on the spur or hook M formed
on the arm A; this is of strength sufficient to sustain singly the boat and any
weight she may be subject to. In ring I is a second ring P, into which is inserted
the hook g of the tackle by which the boat is to be hoisted up to the davit frame.
The tackle for hoisting the boat up consists of a main rope or chain R led
over a sheave m in the arm A and up to an eye suspended from the block p of
the 'block and fall purchase p, q, r. Two other sheaves 8, 8, are fitted to
arm A, over which the lines S,.S, are led, they being fixed above at same
point as R from sheaves s, s, the lines are led to the stay chains d, d, as seen,
from which they depend directly over the ends of the boat. These lines
besides being useful in steadying the boat while hoisting her, are also useful
as life lines. The end t of the purchase p, q, r, is led down to the deck
as seen.

page_text: The operation of the davit frame is as follows:-With the frame A, B, B,.
lowered to the horizontal position by the rope K, the boat is brought under-.
neath the lines; S, S, are pulled taut and made fast, to cleats at the head
and stern of the. bont, which is thereby steadied; the purchase p, q, r,
at the time being overhauled, and the rope R hanging down, the hook gon
this rope is hooked at same time into the ring P, and the tackle or pur-
chase P, q, r, hove upon. In this way the boat will be lifted out of the water
steadily, all three parts of rope R and S, S, rising at same speed until her gun--
wale comes in contact with the arms B, B, in which (the gunwale) there are
notches u, u, to fix them. When so raised the part L of the sling is hooked
on to the spur or hook M. The continued heaving on purchase p, q, r, now
lifts and tops up the davit frame to the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the
position being adjusted by the pawl F taking into the notches on arm A, as
before described, or the davit frame may be brought more in-board and
allowed to bear up against and over the bulwarks if desired. In this position
the boat will fix itself firmly on the hook or spur M, from which it is sub-
sequently solely to depend. When the davit frame and boat are so raised the
slack of rope K is taken up, and it is made fast on a cleat or belaying pin, or
in any other convenient manner. In raising the davit frame and boat it is
necessary to lift the pawl at the time, but one fixed stop may be substituted
for the pawl and teeth if preferred. The purchase p, q, r, is now disconnected
by unhooking the hook g, and unfastening the lines S, S, from the boat, and
also by unhooking the ropes R and S, S, from the hook of the block p; these
ropes being united to a single eye for that purpose. The davit frame and
boat when so arranged will be supported solely by a single part of rope or
chain K, by veering away which the whole will be lowered. In lowering the
boat the davit frame is first lowered to a position somewhat above the
horizontal, and in which she will hang perfectly secure on the hook or
spur M. The crew or passengers of a ship then get in, with stores if
necessary; when the hands in the boat are ready the rope K is veered away
a little more, until the davit frame assumes such a position that the ring
of L on the hook M slips off that book, when the boat immediately falls into
the water without the possibility of any obstruction so generally the case
when lowering boats supported from two points.
Having described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as my Invention to be
protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the con-
struction and arrangement of apparatus herein-before described and represented

page_text: in the Drawings annexed for effecting the sustaining and lowering of ships'
boats, substantially in the manner herein-before set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Cortland Herbert Simpson, have here-
unto set my band and seal, this Third day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
C. H. SIMPSON. (L.S.)