US1390935A

US1390935A - Lifeboat or raft

Info

Publication number: US1390935A
Application number: US436972A
Authority: US
Inventors: Stewart William
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1921-01-13
Filing date: 1921-01-13
Publication date: 1921-09-13
Anticipated expiration: 1938-09-13

Description

W. STEWART.

LIEEBOAT 0R RAFT.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-13,1921.

Patented Sept. 13, 1921.,

2filiETS-SHEET l "WEI/10R MLLLAM JIJWARIS A TTOIINEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM STEWART, OI NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

LIIIBOA'I' 03 mm.

speclaoation of Letters P tent Patented Sept. 13, 1921.

Application mailman-v18, 1021. semi no. new.

fol owing is a full, clear, and exact description.

Thisinvention relates to boats and more particularlyto an improvement in life boats or rafts.

It is one of the principal obiects of the present invention to provide a ife boat or raft of identical construction on its upper and lower sides whereby the same will properly function irrespective of its launching thereby eliminating the newssity of employing expensive tack e for lowering the same into the water.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a boat ofthe character described which is provided with a novel floor construction eliminating the necessity of bailing and which functions to prevent the same being drawn down by the suction of a sinking. ship.

A further object'of the invention resides in the provision of a boat of the character described which includes a lurality of water tight compartments, rendering the same non-sinkable and providing storage space for provisions and water for the passengers and crew.

The invention further contemplates and aims to generally improve and strengthen the structure of a boat of the character described to eliminate the possibility of stoving in of the sides should the same be thrown against the hull of a vessel in a heav sea.

W1th the above recited and other objects in view, some of which will appear hereafter, reference is made to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawlngs forming a part of this application, in which;

Figure 1 is a plan view of a boat or raft constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view therethrough taken apfiroximately on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1. 7

Jersey, have invented a new and a fabricated structure.

independent water tight casion demands. edges of the body sections are provided with Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken approximately on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

ig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken ap roximately on the line H of Fig. 3.

eferring to the drawings by characters of reference, 10 designates a eripheral hollow buoyant hull or body de nin a central.

wall or space 11. Preferably t e hull is constructed of a plurality of metallic sections which are riveted or otherwise secured together at their meeting edges to constitute the relatively narrow side portions 12 and the lar r end portions 13 which are separated mm the former by the bulkheads 14. The side portions are further sub-dihorizontal stringer plates 16 which are interposed between the. confronting edges and secured in place by the rivets or other fastening means employed for securing the sections together. By this arrangement the side portions 12 are sub-divided into a plurality of up or and lower water tight compartments 17 -17. The end portions 13 of the bod are divided by means of a vertical longitu inally extending bulkhead 18 into compartments 19-19. A plurality of stringer plate; sections 20 are interposed between the outer confronting edges of the sections constituting the end portions. Each of the compartments 17 are provided with one or more manholes 21 normally closed by water tight covers 22 and each of the compartments 19 is provided with one or more manholes covered by suitable water tight covers 23, Whereb access may be had to said compartments or the purpose of filling or removing I the contents therefrom. The portions 13 are further provided with vertically disposed sleeves 24 extending therethrough which constitute and may be properly utilized as mast steps. The upper and lower surfaces of the hull are provided with a coaming 25 adjacent the center space or well and the opposite ends of the same are provided with hinged portions 26 which may be swung to an .0 en position when the ocreferably the confronting flanges 28 and a combination fender and The hull includes vided by the vertical bulkhead 15 and the and provide additional water tight compartments for augmenting the buoyancy of the boat. Super-posed decks or floors 31 are arranged horizontally at the vertical center of the well or space 11, the same being supported by transverse beams 32, said decks consisting of a lurality of spaced parallel slats supported y the transverse beams 32. The slats of said decks are preferably staggered to dispose the spaces therebetween of the several decks out of alinement whereby to minimize the amount of sea which will be shipped therethrough. Transverse and longitudinal seats 33 and 34: are suitably supported within the well in superposed relation to the decks or floors to provide means for seating the occupants of the raft or boat. Angle iron or any other suitable form of brace are properly riveted or otherwise secured to the elements of the structure for properly strengthening and bracing the same, their disposition being optional with the builder.

By the construction and arrangement of the parts described and illustrated, it will be seen that an exceptionally light and rugged structure is provided whichproduces a non-sinkable metalliclife boat or raft. The sub-division of the buoyant body or hull into independent water tight compartments renders the same practically unsinkable due to the fact that the. destruction of one or a number of said compartments will not affect the buoyancy of the boat.

The use of the stringer plates andstringer plate sections together with the fender and hand rail operate efieetively to prevent the stoving inof the hull and destruction of the water-tight compartments as the impact and strain of a blow will be taken up by the rail and stringer members.

While there has been illustrated and deseribeda single and preferred embodiment of the invention, no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details as it is to be understood that variations and modifications wlhich properly fall within the scope of the a pended claims may be resorted to when ound expedient.

I claim:

1. In a reversible life boat or raft, a pcripheral buoyant hull defining a central well extending therethrough, a plurality of bulkheads arranged in said hull to define independent water tight compartments, horizontal stringer plates extending through the side compartments for strengthening the structure and separating the same into upper and lower water tight chambers and stringer plate sections arranged in the end compartments for strengthening the structure.

2. In a reversible life boat or raft, peripheral buoyant hull defining a central well extending therethrough, a plurality of cylindrical water tight braces arranged transversely in said opening, superposed decks disposed adjacent the vertical center of said well between the braces, horizontal stringer plates extending through the side portions of the hull, for separating the same into upper and lower water tight chambers and similar stringer plate sections secured in the end portion of the hull, said stringer plates serving to strengthen the structure.

3. In a reversible life boat or raft, a peripheral buoyant hull defining a central opening, a plurality of cylindrical water tight'braces arranged transversely in said well at the vertical center thereof, superposed decks arranged horizontally in said well between the braces, said decks consisting of spaced parallel slats, and horizontal stringer plates arranged Within the wall for strengthening the structure against lateral strains.

4. In a reversible life boat or raft, the combination with a buoyant peripheral hull defining a central well extending therethrough and slatted superposed decks arranged horizontally in said well adjacent the vertical center thereof, of transverse water tight braces extending between and connecting the side portions of said hull, and horizontal transverse stringer plates arranged within said hull for strengthening the structure and resisting lateral shocks and strains imparted to the outer periphery of the hull.

5. In a life boat or raft construction, a peripheral buoyant hull comprising a pair of substantially semi-cylindrical sections adapted to be secured together, stringer plates interposed between the outer meeting 116 edges of the end portions of said hull for strengthening the structure, stringer plates adapted to be interposed between the meeting edges of the side portions of said hull sections and extending across the entire 120 width of the same for bracing and strengthening the hull laterally and for dividing the side portions of the same horizontally into upper and lower water tight compart ments.

6. In a life boat or raft construction, a buoyant peripheral hull defining a central well and a pair of super-posed decks each consisting of a pluralit of parallel spaced slats, the slats of one eck being staggered 130 with relation to the slats of the other deck, whereby to dispose the spaces therebetween out of vertical alinement, as and for the purpose s ecified.

7. A li e boat or raft comprising a hollow water tight hull defining a central space or well, super-posed decks arranged horizontally wlthin said well at the vertical center of the same, said decks consisting of a plurality of spaced parallel slats separat- 10 ing the space into cock pits of identical areas, either one of which will function to accommodate passengers, and a coaming projectin outwardly from the opposite surfaces of t e hull around said well.

WILLIAM STEWART.