Improved Means for Use in Launching Ships' Boats.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Use in Launching Ships' Boats.
I, WALTER JONES, of Holly Mount, Stourbridge, in the County of Worcester,
Engineer and Ironfounder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:
-
This invention has for its object, improved means for use in disconnecting
ships' boats from the block tackle by which they are suspended from the davits,
to ensure the simultaneous disconnection from both sets of tackle.
The improved means forming the subject-matter of this invention, for the
purpose above stated, comprise two sets of apparatus in each of which there is a
pawl or bolt pivoted at one end to an arm or other support which is securely
attached to the boat, and an arm or support which is adapted to receive the outer
end of the pawl. The part to which the pawl is pivoted, and the part which is
adapted to receive its outer end, are so mounted that one or each of them may
be moved in relation to the other, to disengage the outer end of the pawl from
the part which receives it, or to engage it therewith. The boat is connected with
the tackle by passing each pawl of the apparatus through a ring or equivalent
part of the tackle, and then engaging the outer end of the pawl with the arm or
support which is adapted to receive it. The relative positions of the arms or
supports to which the pawl is pivoted and its outer end engaged respectively,
are securely held from moving in relation to one another until it is. desired to
release the pawl from the tackle, and then these parts are opened out in relation
to one another either by moving them both apart, or by moving one of them apart
from the other, and the operation in respect of both sets of tackle takes place
simultaneously by the movement of a single handle, so that the outer ends of
both pawls are simultaneously disengaged, and turning up on their pivot axes
simultaneously release the tackle.
According to a convenient application of the invention, the part to which each
pawl is pivoted is formed as an arm which is mounted loosely on a fixed trans-
verse spindle carried by brackets fixed to an iron stretcher which is itself fixed
athwart the boat immediately under one of the seats, and the part with which
the outer end of each pawl engages is formed also as an arm which is loosely
mounted on the spindle aforesaid. Both the arms stand upwards some distance
above the level of the seat, so that the point of suspension from the tackle may
be well above the centre of gravity of the boat and prevent undue rocking while
the boat is suspended; and each arm extends downwards below its pivoted axis
and is there pivotally connected with an internally-screwed sleeve which is
screwed upon a spindle running lengthways along the bottom of the boat. The
lower end of each arm is pivotally connected with a separate sleeve, and one of the
sleeves is screwed right hand and the other left hand, so that as the spindle is
turned in one direction the sleeves are brought towards one another, and as it is

page_text: turned in the opposite direction they are moved outwards from one another. The
same spindle operates both pairs of arms, and by forming the screws of a very
quick pitch a comparatively small movement of the handle by which the spindle
is turned will effect sufficient movement of the arms to disengage the outer ends
of the pawls from the parts with which they are engaged, and thus release the boat
from the tackle.
The lower end of each arm, instead of being pivoted directly to the sleeve is,
preferably, pivoted to a clip which is tightened up within a groove formed around
the sleeve, and thus by slackening a clip any desired adjustment of a sleeve
in relation to the corresponding arm may be readily effected. In the upper
end of each arm with which the outer end of the pawl engages is carried an
anti-friction roller against which the pressure of the upward pull of the pawl
is transmitted to the arm.
According to a modification of the invention, the arms or parts to which the
pawls are pivoted may be permanently fixed, and the arms with which the outer
ends of the pawls engage be mounted on suitable pivot axes and extend below
such axes, and the lower ends of the extensions of such arms be connected to-
gether by means of a rod, which is moved endways by a suitable handle for re-
leasing the boat from the tackle or for engaging it therewith; and this arrange-
ment may be still further modified by connecting the lower extensions of the
arms together by means of rods which are coupled together by a sleeve which is
internally-screwed to take upon a right hand thread of the one rod and a left
hand thread of the other. This sleeve is turned by a suitable handle, and when
turned in one direction moves the arms in a direction to disengage their upper
ends from the outer ends of the pawls, and when turned in the opposite direction
moves the arms back again for engagement with the pawls. In either arrange-
ment, the part to which a pawl is pivoted may be the movable part, and the part
with which the outer end of a pawl engages be the fixed part.
Dated this 7th day of October 1899.
STEPHEN WATKINS & GROVES,
Wolverhampton, Agents for the Applicant.
Improved Means for Use in Launching Ships' Boats.
I, WALTER JONES, of Holly Mount, Stourbridge, in the County of Worcester,
Engineer and Iron-founder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, an i
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, improved means for use in disconnecting
ships' boats from the block tackle by which they are suspended from the davits,
to ensure the simultaneous disconnection from both sets of tackle.
The improved means forming the subject-matter of this invention, for the
purpose above stated, comprise two sets of apparatus in each of which there is a
pawl or bolt pivoted at one end to an arm or other support which is securely
attached to the boat, and an arm or support which is adapted to receive the outer
end of the pawl. The part to which the pawl is pivoted, and the part which is
adapted to receive its outer end, are so mounted that one or each of them may
be moved in relation to the other, to disengage the outer end of the pawl from
the part which receives it, or to engage it therewith. The boat is connected with
the tackle by passing each pawl of the apparatus through a ring or equivalent
part of the tackle, and then engaging the outer end of the pawl with the arm or

page_text: support which is adapted to receive it. The arms or supports to which a pawl
is pivoted and its outer end engaged, respectively, are securely held from moving
in relation to one another until it is desired to release the pawl from the tackle,
and then these parts are opened out in relation to one another either by moving
them both apart, or by moving one of them apart from the other, and the operation
in respect of both sets of tackle takes place simultaneously by the movement of
a single handle, so that the outer ends of both pawls are simultaneously disen-
gaged, and turning up on their pivot axes simultaneously release the tackle.
A preferred form of this invention is illustrated by Figure 1 of the drawings
herewith, which shews the releasing apparatus in side elevation and a portion
of the boat to which it is applied in longitudinal section.
The mechanism comprises, as above stated, two sets of apparatus, namely one
set for each set of tackle, each of which comprises a pawl o which is pivoted at
one end to the upper end of an arm F. This arm is capable of turning upon
an axis q which is fixed in relation to the boat. The pawl o passes through the
lower ends of the corresponding set of tackle, and its outer or free end passes
under a roller r carried in the upper end of an arm G which may be turned about
the pivot axis q. So long as the free end of the pawl is beneath the roller r the
apparatus is connected with the corresponding tackle, but if the arms G and F
are moved so as to clear the pawl o from the roller r, the pawl immediately turns
upwards on its pivot axis and slips clear of the tackle. The two arms F and G
are continued below their pivot axis, as indicated by the letters F1 and G¹, re-
spectively, and the lower ends of these extensions are pivotally connected with
nuts or sleeves t u which are threaded, respectively, in the case of one set of
apparatus, onto left and right hand screw-threaded portions of a rod or spindle H,
and in the case of the other set of apparatus, respectively, onto right and left
hand screw threads of such rod. This rod is common to both sets of apparatus,
and runs lengthways along the bottom of the boat. By giving it a half turn,
or less, by means of a handle J, the arms of each set of apparatus may be operated
to move their upper ends apart for releasing the pawl from the roller r, or may be
moved towards one another again to bring the roller over the pawl. By forming
the screw threads of the rod of a quick pitch a small turning movement of the
handle will effect the desired result.
The lower end of each arm F¹ or GI instead of being pivoted directly to the
corresponding sleeve is, preferably, pivoted to a clip which is tightened up
around the sleeve within a groove, and thus, by slackening a clip, any desired
adjustment of a sleeve along the rod H may be readily effected.
Modifications of this invention are shewn by Figures 2 and 3, which differ from
the apparatus already described in that the arms or supports F to which the
pawls o are pivoted are permanently fixed. In Figure 2 both the pawls are shewn
to be pivoted the same hand, but in Figure 3 they are shewn as pivoted the
opposite hand to one another. In the modification shewn by Figure 2, the
arms G are moved by means of a rod ¹ which connects together the lower ends of
downward extensions G¹ of these arms, the rod being moved by a handle lever K.
In the modification shewn by Figure 3, downward extensions G¹ of the arms G
are connected together by a rod L which is divided in its length. The divided
portions are held together by a sleeve a¹ which is screwed upon a quick right-
hand thread of the one part and a corresponding left-hand thread of the other
part. To this sleeve is fixed a handle 61, and by turning the handle the arms &
are moved in relation to the arms or supports F. The modification shewn by
Figure 3 may be further modified by moving the arms G¹ by means of a screwed
rod as in the arrangement shewn by Figure 1; and in the case of both the modi-
fications shewn by Figures 2 and 3, and of the modified form described of the
modification shewn by Figure 3, the part to which a pawl is pivoted may be
the movable part, and the part with which the outer end of the pawl engages Le
the fixed part.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. In apparatus for use in simultaneously releasing a ship's boat from both
sets of tackle by which it is suspended, pawls for direct engagement with the
tackle, supports carried by the boat to which, respectively, the pawls are pivotally
connected each at its inner or hinder end, keeps or catches for engagement with
the outer ends, respectively, of the pawls, and means by which the distance be-
tween the pivot axis of each pawl and the corresponding keep or catch may be
increased at will to ensure the release of the pawl from the keep, substantially
as set forth.
2. In apparatus for use in simultaneously releasing a ship's boat from both
sets of tackle by which it is suspended, pawls for direct engagement with the
tackle, supports carried by the boat to which, respectively, the pawls are pivotally
connected each at its inner or hinder end, keeps or catches fitted with anti-friction
rollers for engagement with the outer ends respectively, of the pawls, and means
by which the distance between the pivot axis of each pawl and the corresponding
keep or catch may be increased at will, to ensure the release of the pawl from
ihe keep, substantially as set forth.
3. In apparatus for use in simultaneously releasing a ship's boat from both
sets of tackle by which it is suspended, pawls for direct engagement with the
tackle, supports carried by the boat to which, respectively, the pawls are pivotally
connected each at its inner or hinder end, keeps or catches for engagement with
the outer ends, respectively, of the pawls, and means by which both the pivot
axis of each pawl and the corresponding keep or catch may be moved outwards
to insure the release of the pawl from the keep, substantially as set forth.
4. In apparatus for use in simultaneously releasing a ship's boat from both sets
of tackle by which it is suspended pawls for direct engagement with the tackle,
supports carried by the boat, to which, respectively, the pawls are pivotally con-
nected each at its inner or hinder end, keeps or catches for engagement with the
outer ends, respectively, of the pawls, and a screwed rod by means of which
the distance between the pivot axis of each pawl and the corresponding keep or
catch may be increased at will, to ensure the release of the pawl from the keep,
substantially as set forth.
5. In apparatus for use in simultaneously releasing a ship's boat from both
sets of tackle by which it is suspended, pawls for direct engagement with the
tackle, supports carried by the boat, to which, respectively, the pawls are pivotally
connected each at its inner or hinder end, keeps or catches for engagement with
the outer ends, respectively, of the pawls, and means by which the distance
between the pivot axis of each pawl and the corresponding keep or catch may be
increased at will, to ensure the release of the pawl from the keep, which comprise
two pivoted arms which are rigid, respectively, with one of the parts of the pairs
which are engaged with the pawls, a rod running lengthways of the boat, screw
threads formed thereon, and sleeves run upon the screw threads and connected
respectively, with the pivoted arms, substantially as set forth.
.
6. In apparatus for use in simultaneously releasing a ship's boat from both
sets of tackle by which it is suspended, the means of adjusting parts, through
the medium of which the releasing is effected, in relation to a rod with which such
parts are connected through the medium of sleeves upon screwed portions of such
rod, which comprise clips around the sleeves and connections between such parts
and the clips, substantially as set forth.
7. The combination of mechanism constituting apparatus for use in simul-
taneously releasing a ship's boat from both sets of tackle by which it is suspended
substantially as described with reference to Figure 1 of the drawings herewith.
8. The combination of mechanism constituting apparatus for use in simul-
taneously releasing a ship's boat from both sets of tackle by which it is suspended,

page_text: substantially as described with
herewith.
reference to Figure 2 of the drawings
9. The combination of mechanism constituting apparatus for use in simul-
taneously releasing ship's boat from both sets of tackle by which it is suspended,
5 substantially as described with reference to Figure 3 of the drawings herewith.
Dated this 7th day of July 1900.
STEPHEN WATKINS & GROVES,
Chartered Patent Agents.
Wolverhampton, Agents for the Applicant.