Improved Apparatus for Launching Boats.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Aug., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 21st Feb., 1896-Accept d, 25th Apr., 1896
Improved Apparatus for Launching Boats.
I, EDWIN THOMAS of 42 Lambton Quay in the City of Wellington, in the
Colony of New Zealand Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention refers to an improved apparatus for launching boats and more
especially the boats of steam and other ships with the object of launching the same
with greater rapidity steadiness and certainty than heretofore.
My invention is intended to be used with a boat suspended from hinged davits
and held in position on a deck or platform by chocks.
I apply to the davits metal collars or sockets capable of sliding up or down the
bar forming the davit, and by means of nuts fitted into these collars or sockets
worked upon a horizontal or nearly horizontal screw, the davits are projected into
a proper position for lowering the boat.
On the seaward side of the boat chocks are placed in position and supported by
metal hinged doors which fall with the chocks on being released by the withdrawal
of a lever placed in a convenient position.
A reel with screw brake adjustment is attached to the lower portion of one of the
davits from which lowering pulleys are worked and when the chocks are removed
by means of the lever and the davits pushed forward sufficiently to allow the boat
to be lowered over the side of the vessel the pulleys allow the boat to be lowered
clear of everything into the water.
The horizontal screw can be fitted to each davit and worked separately or can
be geared together and actuated by one movement.
Dated 8th July 1895
Improved Apparatus for Launching Boats.
I, EDWIN THOMAS of Warren Taylor Street in the City of Wellington in the
Colony of New Zealand, Engineer 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 refers to an improved apparatus for launching boats and more
especially the boats of steam and other ships with the object of launching the same
with greater rapidity steadiness and certainty than heretofore.
The invention is illustrated on the accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1 represents a side view of my apparatus as attached to a ship and .
Fig. 2 a section of the boat to be launched.
Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the method of supporting and releasing the
chock E.
In both drawings, the letters used to represent the parts are the same.
A is the deck of the vessel. C is the platform on which the boat B rests, being

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held in position by chocks E and E".. The outer chock E¹ is arranged to fall
when released through an opening in the platform C until arrested by projecting
pieces J¹. The outer chock E" is secured in its raised position by means of the
hinged flap J which when turned up closes the opening in the platform C and is
secured by the prongs Fill upon the bolt F. On turning the handwheel F¹ the
screw Facts to withdraw the bolt F" and therefore to withdraw the prongs
from the flap J which falls and allows the chock E to fall. The flap J is also
hinged at J this portion also falling down vertical as shown in Fig. 1. The
platform C is thus left clear for the boat B to be swung out. D. D. are davits
hinged at H and carrying the boat B by blocks and falls in the usual manner.
I is a metal socket which slides freely up or down the davits D, D, to this socket I.
is pivotted a metal socket M. working on screw N. so that in whatever position the
davits may assume it will remain parallel to the screw N. working in bearings O, O,
actuated by wheel G.
It will be seen by this description of the several parts that by turning the
wheel G. and thereby the screw N. the davits and boat will be forced outwards,
taking up the position shown by the dotted lines as shown in drawing (2) and
clear of vessels side, ready for lowering into the water. This operation can
be performed however unsteady the ship may be, the davits being held firmly by
the screw in any position. The falls are controlled by pulley P. worked by
handle K. and lowering the boat with an even keel into the water. This pulley
with brake may be either transversely to the davit as shown or in any other
suitable position. Q is a brake to regulate lowering the boat. If desired the two
sockets I. can be connected by a bar and one wheel geared together in a suitable
manner so as to be operated by one man only.
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 I
claim is;
(1.) The slides working freely on hinged davits fitted with nuts having a screw
or screws; the bolt or lever for letting go the outer chocks as and for the purposes
substantially as described herein and illustrated.
(2.) The whole combination and arrangement of parts constituting my improved
apparatus for launching boats substantially as described herein and illustrated.
Dated this 21st day of November A.D. 1895.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.