Year: 1888

page_text: I ANNIE MATILDA WOOD of 13 Delahay Street Westminster in the County of
Middlesex, Gentlewoman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
My invention relates to an improved method of constructing life and other boats
with suitable mechanical contrivances for propelling the same by machinery worked
by hand or otherwise.
To any ordinary or specially constructed life or other boat I attach my mechanical
arrangement presently to be described for propelling the same by manual labour &c.
I prefer to construct the boat with one or more buoyancy cylinders, in centre,
placed under the thwarts or other convenient position made either of metal, wood,
woodite or other suitable material hollow or solid.
"
In the floor or bottom of the boat I place one or more removable gratings so
arranged that any water shipped will at once escape thereby and can be opened should
any one be underneath the boat to admit them through the opening.
For the purpose of propelling the boat I attach, with suitable mechanical arrange-
ments to the lower or other part of the boat oars, sculls, wheels, paddles of iron or
These are journalled and
otherwise to form oars or floats for propelling the boat.
geared to one or more shafts in the middle or sides or other convenient part of the
boat worked by one or more driving wheels so that a suitable and powerful motion
will be given to the oars which, when not in use may be arranged so as to draw up
flush with the sides.
The driving shaft or crank is actuated by one or more driving wheels worked by
handles similar to a windlass, on turning these wheels the oars on both sides are so
actuated as to give them a motion precisely similar to rowing, or when paddles or floats
are used a rotary motion is given. In both cases the movements of the oars, &c.
will be synchronous.
Sometimes I use an ordinary screw propellor which can be driven in the same
way by the driving wheel or wheels.

page_text: By my arrangement I claim that six men can do the work of twelve or more men
rowing or that greater or more uniform power can be obtained.
The boats can be made according to my Patent No. 14,542 of 1885 and No. 1172
of 1886 and may be protected with bolsters or fenders of "Woodite" or other
material at the bows and sides of the boats or other parts.
When it is required to beach the boat, the oars are so constructed that they can
be drawn up against the sides perfectly flush, so as to offer no obstruction, and
when in use will materially add to the stability of the boat and render it practically
uncapsizable while the centre and side buoyancy cylinders will so add to the displace-
ment and flotation of the boat as to render it unsinkable and being made in
watertight compartments all or any can be used for the storage of food, stores,
gear &c.
The hooded ends can be made to open and form cabins when required and when
closed will form buoyant watertight chambers and a storage for electric light can be
carried and used on the ends of the boat so as a signal &c. and give light at night
which would greatly assist the crew.
The boat can also be made so that it can be sailed or rowed like an ordinary
boat for which purpose oars and sails will be provided on board or as an auxiliary
thereto it can also be made non-inflammable.
The rudders can be made of steel, wood, or iron with three blades each so that two
may lay one on either side of the ship, and in case of accident can be at once utilized
for steering the boat. A floating cable can also be carried and stored in hooded
ends which would buoy up a hundred people if required to do so, and be very little
weight to carry.
When the boat is to be propelled by 2-4-6 or more paddle wheels attached to
the sides of the boat in place of oars &c. I use the same mechanical arrangement for
obtaining the propelling power and gear the paddle wheels on to the driving shaft.
Dated this 29th day of March 1888.

page_text: I ANNIE MATILDA WOOD of 13 Delahay Street, Westminster, in the County of
Middlesex and 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
My invention relates to an improved method of constructing life and other boats
with suitable mechanical contrivances for propelling the same by machinery worked
by band or otherwise.
To any ordinary or specially constructed life or other boat I attach my mechanical
arrangement presently to be described for propelling the same by manual labour &c.
I prefer to construct the boat with one or more buoyancy cylinders in centre placed
under the thwarts or other convenient position made either of metal, wood," woodite
or other suitable material hollow or solid or be filled with or containing such compound
as is set forth in my Patent No. 16071 of 1887.
"
In the floor or bottom of the boat I may also place one or more removable gratings,
so arranged that any water shipped will at once escape thereby and can be opened
should any one be underneath the boat to admit them through the opening. For the
purpose of propelling the boat, I attach with suitable mechanical arrangements to the
lower or other part of the boat, oars, sculls, wheels, paddles of iron or otherwise to
form oars or floats for propelling the boat. These are journalled or geared to one
or more shafts in the middle or sides or other convenient part of the boat worked by
one or more driving wheels so that a suitable and powerful motion will be given to
the oars which when not in use may be arranged to draw up flush with the sides.
The driving shaft or crank is actuated by one or more driving wheels worked by
handles similar to a windlass, on turning these wheels the oars on both sides are so
actuated as to give them a motion precisely similar to rowing, or when paddles or
floats are used a rotary motion is given. In both cases, the movements of the oars, &c.
will be synchronous.
Sometimes I use an ordinary screw propeller which can be driven in the same
way by the driving wheel or wheels.
By my arrangement I claim that six men can do the work of twelve or more men
rowing or that greater or more uniform power can be obtained.
32
The boats can be made according to my Patent No. 14542 of 1885 and No. 1172
of 1886 and may be protected with bolsters or fenders of "Woodite
or other
material at the bows and sides of the boat or other parts or may be filled with
compound set forth in my Patent No. 16071 of 1887.
When it is required to beach the boat, the oars are so constructed that they can
be drawn up against the sides perfectly flush so as to offer no obstruction, and
when in use will materially add to the stability of the boat and render it practically
uncapsizable while the centre and side buoyancy cylinders will so add to the

page_text: displacement and flotation of the boat as to render it unsinkable, and being made
in watertight compartments all or any can be used for the storage of food stores
gear &c.
The hooded ends can be made to open and form cabins when required and when
closed will form buoyant watertight chambers and a storage for electric light can be
carried and used on the ends of the boat so as to signal &c. and give light at night
which would greatly assist the crew, or may be filled with my compound as set forth
in my patent No. 16071 of 1887.
The boat can also be made so that it can be sailed or rowed like an ordinary boat
for which purpose oars and sails will be provided on board or as an auxiliary thereto
it can be made non-inflammable.
The rudders can be made of steel, wood or iron with three blades each so that
two may lay one on either side of the ship and in case of accident can be at once
utilized for steering the boat. A floating cable can also be carried and stored in the
hooded ends which would buoy up a hundred people if required to do so and be very
little weight to carry.
When the boat is to be propelled by 2-4 6 or more paddle wheels attached to the
sides of the boat in place of oars &c. I use the same mechanical arrangements for
obtaining the propelling power and gear the paddle wheels on to the driving shaft.
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 combination with the boat of the mechanical arrangements for propelling
the same substantially as hereindescribed.
2. The combination with the boat of cylinders in centre and sides of same
substantially as set forth.
001
1
1000
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C.,
Agents to Applicant.