Structures, and to Large Buffer-surfaces in General.
Year: 1885

page_text: Structures, and to Large Buffer-surfaces in General.
I, ANNIE MATILDA WOOD of Firs Cottage, East-Sheen, in the county of Surrey
Gentlewoman, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
My invention chiefly relates to life-boats, (and other boats) so constructed as to
be practically unsinkable and unbreakable, but it is partly applicable to other
floating structures and large buffer surfaces in general, for instance those of
landing stages, jetties, docks, quays, lighthouses, bridge-piers and abutments.
By reason of the proposed construction the boat forms, in effect two boats,
joined together and constructed without keels, but with a ridge running from bow
to stern in both the upper and lower portions of the boat, and as the ridge is
preferably of an inverted V shape, whichever side up the boat floats, it will form
a saddle or seat for the persons in the boat. If the said ridge is made of india-
rubber, gutta percha, cork or other buoyant material, it will give the boat great
floating power, and no matter, what part of the boat may be broken, the ridge
alone will float the boat. The bottom half or section of the boat is made exactly
like the top, so that it is obvious, that if the boat capsizes, which is almost impos-
sible, it will merely turn the bottom boat uppermost instead of the top one, thus
presenting the advantage of two boats in one.
The ridge or V shaped seat may be constructed solid or hollow, so as to permit
of shifting ballast (if desired) The sides (or any convenient part of the surface)
of the boat or other structure may be provided with a rim or bolster of rubber,
which forms a buffer adapted to break the force of any blow or thrust.
The rudder may be secured at one or both ends, to an iron shaft running in an
open slot, so that of its own gravity it will drop into its place, whichever side up
the boat may be.
The form of the rudder will preferably be a semicircle so as to present the same
surface either way.
If desired, the inside and outside of the boat may be coated with rubber, alone
or with the addition of wire gauze to give the necessary support, rigidity or
protection.
The body or sides of the boat are preferably composed of blocks of rubber,
wood, metal or other suitable material, placed side by side at a right angle to the
said surface and fitted into the panels of a metallic trellis or net work, which forms
01....מ

page_text: a skeleton frame of the buffer surface. The said blocks may be rectangular,
hexagonal, round or otherwise shaped in cross-section; they are preferably tapered
from the outer towards the inner end, and rounded at their outer end so as to
project over the outer surface of the trellis work. The inner ends of the blocks
are also held in the panels of a trellis work and abut against a thick metal plate
or other solid base, strong enough to resist the pressure transmitted through the
blocks after the said pressure has been reduced by the work expended in the
compression of the blocks.
The inner and outer net or trellis work are connected with each other so as to
form cells similar to those of a bee-hive.
This connection may either be rigid, or made compressible by the interposition
of springs (or by a combination of pivoted links crossing each other like
lazy-tongs).
Each block is preferably made of india rubber, or of a spiral spring or springs,
guided between a front and back plate or enclosed in a compressible tube or
casing, or in telescopic tubes. Or a block may be composed of several springs
and plates or tubes. Each block may also be surrounded with one or more bands
or collars of rubber, wood, metal or other suitable material, or enclosed in a casing,
made solid or of wire work or netting. The rubber blocks or the casings, may be
made to interlock with the contiguous blocks or casings by means of collars, pro-
*jections or keys. The contiguous casing containing the blocks, may be connected
with each other by springs or elastic bands and the interstices filled with rubber
or cork,
The metallic casing with elastic connection may be used in addition to, or as a
- substitute for, the metallic trellis or net-work.
In the case of ships, reserve blocks may be placed inside, to fill up any cavity
that may be struck by a shot or otherwise.
A ships armour may be composed of two or more superposed layers of buffer
blocks, the outer blocks being adapted to receive the shocks at the outer end, and
to transmit the same at the inner end upon an elastic metal plate, which dis-
tributes the pressure upon the contiguous blocks of the second layer, which again
transmit it upon the metallic base plate in contact with the inner ends of the
second layer of blocks, and so on.
In order to reduce the resistance of a ship to its propulsion in the water, the
whole or a part of the sectional buffer surface may be covered with thin sheets of
steel or other substance.
The boats may also be constructed to allow the interstices between, or in front
of, or behind the blocks to be filled with pieces of rubber or other floating material.
Life boats constructed as described may also be constructed to carry sails, should
they be required.

page_text: Structures, and to Large Buffer Surfaces in General.
I, ANNIE MATILDA WOOD of Firs Cottage, East Sheen, in the County of Surrey,
Gentlewoman, 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 :-
This invention relates chiefly to life boats and other boats, which are so con-
structed as to be practically unsinkable and unbreakable, but it is partly applicable
to other floating structures and to buffer surfaces in general, for instance to those
of landing stages, quays, docks, lighthouses, piers and similar constructions.
Referring to the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 is an elevation of my improved life boat. Fig. 2 is a vertical midship
section thereof. Fig. 3 shows on an enlarged scale a section through the buffer
surface of the boat. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the boat. Fig. 5 shows a method of
construction for the sides of the boat. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the
cylinder arranged in the centre of the boat. Fig. 7 is a section showing an
arrangement of lateral bolster pieces, the same being utilized for air chambers.
By reason of the method of construction, the improved boat shown in Figs 1, 2
and 4 consists in effect of two boats joined together and each provided with an
inverted V or U shaped ridge formed by the central cylinder A. This cylinder
may have any required shape in cross section. In the drawing an oval form is
shown, but a circular or angular cross section will answer the purpose. The
cylinder A is formed of wood, steel, or other metal and covered or not as desired
with cork, wood, rubber or other yielding and buoyant material. If a motor is
required to propel the boat the same may be placed inside the said cylinder A. In
the drawing a cylinder B for compressed air is shown for working the motor C but
it is obvious that steam or any other motive power may be used. Means should
be employed for controlling the motor from outside the cylinder A so that the
latter may be air tight; shifting ballast may if desired be also placed in the
cylinder.
The bulk-heads E E divide the cylinder into chambers for the sake of better
security in the event of damage and to give lateral strength to the cylinder. The
latter is also connected to the side of the boat by means of the angle irons M.
To these are fixed angle irons or beams N for supporting the flooring or decks.
The space between the angle irons M and the side of the boat may be made air
tight and serve as an air chamber to give greater floating power to the boat.
The skin of the boat may be of ordinary construction but is preferably formed
of a trellis or lattice work of metal bands filled up with rubber blocks. For this
purpose the construction shown in Fig. 5 will be found light and strong. The
+3
J

page_text: blocks may be formed of rubber cork or wood or of cork or wood faced or enclosed
in rubber, or of or containing metallic springs with a facing of wood or rubber, or
in effect of any combination of elastic materials which shall answer the purpose
of a yielding buffer surface. These blocks may be fixed to the skin of the boat as
shown in Fig. 3 or set into trellis work so as to form a yielding structure. The
seats of the boat are made detachable and should be covered with cork or
rubber, so as to form convenient life buoys. In the floor of the boat should be
arranged gratings as G or valves to enable the boat to discharge any water that
may be shipped and also, in the event of the boat overturning to release the air,
which would otherwise be confined underneath-At each end of the boat are
arranged the air tight compartments D. In the modification shown in Fig. 7 hollow
bolsters are arranged round the boat the same being utilized as air chambers.
The rudder R shown in the drawing is that most preferred, since it acts equally
in either position of the boat. It can however be modified by being made shorter
and enabled to slide upon an iron shaft or otherwise so as to drop into the lowest
position by its own weight.
The construction used for the sides of the boat may be adapted for use on any
buffer surface, the said blocks of woodite (by which term I designate the com-
pressible blocks of rubber, cork or separate or combined elastic substance used in
this construction) being placed at a right angle to the said surface and fitted into
the panels of a metallic trellis or net work, which forms the skeleton frame of the
buffer surface, or vulcanized on steel plates, or screwed to same or placed between
steel or wood. The blocks may be rectangular, hexagonal, round or otherwise
shaped in cross section, they are preferably tapered from the "outer" towards the
"inner" end. The inner ends of the blocks should be held in the panels of the
trellis work and abut against a thick metal plate or other solid base, strong enough
to resist the pressure transmitted through the blocks, after the said pressure has
been reduced by the work expended in the compression of the blocks or as
aforesaid.
The blocks when attached to a metal plate or otherwise may be affixed to the
outer or inner skin of a ship and so protect it from injury through leaks caused by
shot, shell, collision or accident-the object being that when a projectile has passed
through the block the india-rubber or "Woodite" will close after it, and so prevent
any leak, and contribute in arresting any fragments of missles, rivets, nuts, bolts,
or pieces of broken plates, caused by shot, shell, explosion torpedoes or mines.
The inner and outer net or trellis work are connected with each other so as to
form cells, similar to those of a bee-hive.
This connection may either be rigid or made compressible by the interposition
of springs (or by a combination of pivoted links crossing each other like
lazy tongs).
Each block is preferably guided between a front and back plate, or enclosed in
a compressible tube or casing, or in telescopic tubes. Or a block may be composed
of several springs and plates or tubes. Each block may also be surrounded with one
or more bands or collars of rubber, wood metal or other suitable material, or
enclosed in a casing made solid or of wire work or netting. The woodite, rubber,
cork, or other block or the casings may be made to interlock with the contiguous
blocks or casings by means of collars, projections or keys. The contiguous casing
containing the blocks, may be connected with each other by springs or elastic bands
and the interstices filled with Woodite cork or other suitable material.
The metallic casing with or without elastic connection may be used in addition
'to, or as a substitute for, the metallic trellis or net-work.
The boats may also be constructed to allow the interstices between or in front
of or behind the blocks to be fitted with spongy rubber, cork or other floating
material.
Lifeboats constructed as described may also be constructed to carry sails should
they be required, or steam, electricity, compressed air or other motive power.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. The double lifeboat, formed of two corresponding parts and the central
cylinder A substantially as described and illustrated.
2. The double lifeboat formed of two corresponding parts, a central cylinder A,
air chambers D and a covering for the sides and other parts composed of compres-
sible and elastic blocks fixed in a suitable framework.
3. In double lifeboats the elastic side bolsters-forming also air chambers
substantially as described and illustrated.