IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO CHOCKS FOR SHIPS' BOATS, AND IN THE MODE OF PUTTING OUT THE SAID BOATS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Ruxton, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Master Mariner, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING
TO CHOCKS FOR SHIPS' BOATS, AND IN THE MODE OF PUTTING OUT THE SAID
BOATS."
Sealed the 10th April 1879, and dated the 18th October 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Ruxton at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th October 1878.
GEORGE RUXTON, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Master Mariner,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO CHOCKS FOR SHIPS' BOATS, AND IN THE
MODE OF PUTTING OUT THE SAID BOATS."
In putting boats out from the ordinary chocks it is necessary to hoist on the
falls, and this in the hurry and excitement of a shipwreck or accident is often a
troublesome matter. Now my Invention obviates this evil. I place the chocks on
wooden or other supports keyed to them. One, preferably the inside chock, is
keyed by wedge-shaped keys driven from each side, elevating the chock to a con-
siderable height, say six inches from the main support; by knocking out the said
keys the chock is lowered and falls off. The boat thus relieves herself from the
outside chock, which falls down, and leaving the boat in the falls the gripes are
knocked off and the boat swings out, sufficient clearance having been left below the
keel. I do not bind myself to these exact details, as it is obvious that when once
the idea is suggested of making the chocks so that one or both of them can be
unshipped by withdrawing keys or by other mechanism the boat can be left to hang
free on the falls, other mechanism can be used; the main point of my Invention
being to arrange the chocks so that one at least can be easily lowered on the
support or withdrawn, and the boat left hanging freely without previous hoisting.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Ruxton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th
April 1879.
GEORGE RUXTON, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Master Mariner.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO CHOCKS FOR SHIPS' BOATS, AND IN THE
MODE OF PUTTING OUT THE SAID BOATS."
In putting boats out from the ordinary chocks it is necessary to hoist on the
falls, and this in the hurry and excitement of shipwreck or accident is often a
troublesome matter. Now my Invention obviates this evil. I place the chocks on
wooden or other supports keyed to them. One, preferably the inside chock, is
keyed by wedge-shaped keys driven from each side, elevating the chock to a con-
siderable height, say six inches from the main support; by knocking out the said
keys the chock is lowered and falls off. The boat thus relieves herself from the
outside chock, which falls down, and leaving the boat in the falls, the gripes are
knocked off and the boat swings out, sufficient clearance having been left below
the keel.
To elucidate my Invention I have annexed Drawings, in which Figure 1 is an
end view of boat housed on chocks; Figure 2, an oblique side view of same;
Figure 3, end view of boat hanging by the falls; Figure 4, oblique side view of
same. Like letters refer to like parts in all the Figures. A is the boat suspended
from the davits B, B, by falls and blocks C, C, or otherwise; D, D, are the usual
standards supporting the chocks which carry the beds or platforms E, E, on which
the chocks rest. I place the standards so that the level of the platforms E is above
the top of the rail or bulwark, as shown; F, F, are the outer chocks, which I form
with one or more grooves or holes a, as shown; the other part or half of said hole
or groove being formed in the platform E, so that a pin or key b may be driven or
placed in the hole to prevent the chock slipping sideways under the weight of the
boat. I also prefer to cut a rebate along the edge of the chock to abut against a
ledge e on the platform E for the same purpose; G, G, are the inner chocks, which,
as will be seen, are made considerably shorter in height than the outer ones, and
are supported on wedges or tapered keys H, H; these wedges are formed with ribs
or projections c, c, which enter corresponding grooves or holes d, d, in the chocks G
and platforms E to prevent lateral motion; these wedges when the boat is in the
correct position on the chocks are driven in from opposite sides of the chocks G, the
taper form which I prefer holding the chock firmly 'when the boat is placed on it,
and then secured by the usual chains and lashings. I connect the wedges or keys
and chocks by chains or cords to the standards, platforms, or rails, or other part to
prevent them being knocked overboard when loose. The shape or section of the
keys might be varied to suit circumstances, but I find the forin given above to
answer well in practice.
To put a boat.out the lashings are cut or loosed, the wedges H, H, knocked away;
when the chocks G, G, fall, the weight of the boat pressing on chocks F, F, of
course knocks them from under her, and she is left hanging by the falls, as in
Figures 3 and 4; the davits are then swung round and she is lowered in the usual
manner. By this plan of fitting the chocks the falls do not require to be hoisted on
after the chocks are released, as at present. To secure the boat she is hoisted up
and swung inboard, and the chocks and keys being placed and held in position she
is lowered on to them. If desired both sets of chocks might be supported on the
keys or wedges, but I prefer the plan shown. I might instead of supporting these
chocks on standards, as shown, place them on the deck and make the rail or
bulwark opposite the boat hinged or pivotted so as to fall outward, and so allow
the boat to be lowered without hoisting on the falls; or the rails or bulwarks
(especially when the boats are carried on a hurricane deck) can be removed entirely

page_text: opposite the boat.
I do not bind myself to the exact details here given, as it is
obvious that when once the idea is suggested of making the chocks so that one or
both of them can be unshipped by withdrawing keys or by other mechanisin the
boat can be left to hang free on the falls. Other mechanism can be used, the main
point of my Invention being to arrange the chocks so that one at least can be
easily lowered on the support or withdrawn, and the boat left hanging freely
without previous hoisting.
Having now described my Invention, and the best mode known to me of
carrying it into effect, I wish it to be understood that what I believe to be new and
desire to claim under the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The mode described of supporting the chocks on which ships' boats rest on
keys, pins, or their mechanical equivalent, interposed between the chock and the
supporting platform, pillar, or deck, so that on knocking away or releasing said
keys, or their equivalent, the chocks shall be set free under the boat, leaving the
boat hanging by the falls.
Second. The keys or wedges H, H, applied to the chocks of ships' boats for the
purposes described.
Third. The mode of putting out ships' boats by arranging the chocks as described,
so that by knocking away or releasing their intermediate supports the boats shall
remain suspended from the falls,. and can be swung out and lowered at once
without requiring to be hoisted to clear the bulwark or rail.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Ruxton, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this First day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-nine.
Witness,
W. P. THOMPSON
of the International Patent Offices,
6, Lord Street,
Liverpool,
& 323, High Holborn,
London.
GEORGE RUXTON. (L.S.)