US375566A

US375566A - Life-boat

Info

Publication number: US375566A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1887-12-27
Anticipated expiration: 1904-12-27

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

, W. W. PARKER.

LIFE BOAT. Y No. 375,566. I Patented Dec. 27, 1887.

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(N0 Mo dl.) 2 Sheets-$heet 2. W. W. PARKER.

LIFE BOAT.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIcs.

WILLIAM W. PARKER, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

LIFE-BOAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 375,566, dated December 27, 1887.

Application filed April 4, 1887.

T on whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W PARKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Life-Boats, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a life-boat which is both water and air tight, is proof against swamping, and has facilities for navigating the same either by sail or cars, or both combined.

The invention consists, essentially, in a flexible cover made of india rubber or waterproof canvas,which extends from bow to stern and gunwale to gunwale, and is supported upon arched stays attached to the boat. This flexible cover is detac-hably secured around the sides and ends of the boat by means of a strong elastic band inserted into the lower edge of the cover and encircling the gunwales of the boat. An opening or man-hole of a special form is made in the cover for the entrance of persons and provisions, and other water-tight openings are provided for the passage of sail-controlling ropes and cars and tiller. A sail at the bow of the boat is capa' ble of being raised and lowered and set at different angles from the inside of the boat, and this sail is supported or mounted in position in a special manner.

The invention, briefly outlined in the following statement, will be" hereinafter more fully described,and then set forth in the claims. In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side view of a life-boat embodying my invention with its sail set and a rudder in position for steering. Fig. 2 is a 1ongitudinal section through the boat. Fig. 3 is a detail view of part of the water-tight cover, showing its spiral passage and the cap for closing the latter. Fig. 4 is a transverse section through the bow portion of the boat, showing the manner of supporting and operating the sail. Fig. 5 is a front view of the sail, showing its hinged frame.

The reference-numeral 1 designates a flexible cover, which is made of india-rubber, water-proof canvas, or other appropriate material. This cover extends from bow to stern Serial No. 233,652. (No model.)

and from gunwale to gunwale, and is some what of the order of a wagon-top cover, since it is supported by means of arched ribs 2,which extend across the boat and are secured to the sides thereof. This India-rubber or other water-proof cover is to be applied to the boat just below the gunwales, and in order to secure it at such points it has a groove, 3, in its lower margin for the reception of a strong india-rubber band, 4. The latter encircles the boat in its entire length, so as to make the junction between the cover and wood-work of the boat both water and air tight. It is obvious that the size and strength of the elastic retaining-band must be in proportion to the size of the boat, and that by means of said band the flexible cover can be attached to any open boat without resorting to other fastening devices.

At or near the bow of the boat is arranged a vertical tube, 5, which-passes through an opening in the front portion of the flexible cover, that lies flat upon the gunwales of the boat at this point. The tube 5 is encircled by concentric sheets of india-rubber,6,forming a water-tight sleeve for a rope, 7 ,passing through the same from the inside of the boat. Another opening in rear of the one for the passage of the tube 5 serves for the downward passage of .a cylindrical stem or shank, 8, which has its bearing in a transverse bridge-piece, 9, forming part of the frame of the boat. The lower end of the stem 8 is made square, and is entered in a corresponding socket, 10, in a horizontal bar, 11, arranged beneath the bridgepiece 9. A pin, 12, is passed through the socket 10 and the stem 8, and serves to lock these parts together and prevent the vertical displacement of the stem 8 while still permitting it to rotate. Upon the top of the stem 8, outside the flexible cover, is mounted a plat form or strong disk, 13, which has eyes or hooks 13 for receiving a series of rods, 14., that can turn in either direction upon the eyes or hooks in the manner of an umbrella-frame. The upper ends of these pivoted rods are connected by a cross-bar, 15, and they have eyes or other means for securing thereto a sheet of canvas constituting a sail. Thelower endof the latter is connected with a transverse boom, I00

16, which passes through a ring or keeper, 17, on the platform 13, and is made of such a length as is necessary to hold the sail properly distended.

From the side of the sail-frame facing the stern of the boat extends a rope, 19, which passes through an opening, 20, in the flexible cover to the interior of theboat. Ropes 21, connected with the horizontal bar ll,serve for turning the platform and the sail mounted thereon, so as to turn it to the right or left or present it differently to the wind within a ra dius of ninety degrees, and by means of the rope 19 the sail-frame can be drawn backward and laid upon the flexible cover, while the other rope, 7 serves as a means for inclining the sail toward the bow of the boat.

It is obvious that by the arrangement of parts described the sail can be manipulated from the inside of the boat with perfect ease and dispatch.

At some point near the stern the flexible cover is provided with a large spirally-shaped opening, 25, which is formed by attaching a tubeshaped fabric to the cover and twisting it so as to give a spiral interior, a metal hoop around the top serving to hold it distended. This opening is large enough for the passage of persons, provisions, &c., and it projects a proper distance above the cover-say one or two feet. This spiral opening 25 has fitted to it a strong cap, 26, having bulls-eyes in the front and rear, and retained in position by bands and hooks. A valve may also be arranged in the top of this cap for the purpose of admitting air. The cap 26 is twisted spirally like the opening 25, and it is capable of being pulled down over the latter, when, by expanding the base of said opening, the parts will be rendered water-tight. At the stern portion of the cover is arranged a bulls-eye, 29, for obtaining light, and the same may serve also for ventilation. An opening, 30, is made in the stern for the passage of an ear when needed to steer with, and this opening is surrounded by an elastic sleeve, 31, which closely hugs the ear and prevents the entrance of water. A rubber stopper is inserted when the our is withdrawn. Two small openings, 32, are also provided for the tiller when the rudder is used. It is to be understood that the various openings made in the flexible cover for the passage of the tiller-ropes and ear are provided with water-tight sleeves, made preferably of concentric strips of india-rubber, which, when not distended by the objects passing through the same, close, and are proof against the entrance of water.

In addition to the sail at the bow of the boat, I contemplate the use of another sail, which is detachable and is carried in the boat, and can be put in position by a person standing in the large spiral opening.

It is understood that a flexible water-proof cover of the character employed by me can be applied to any open boat to convert it into a life-boat that cannot be swamped, the arched shape of the cover serving to make a structure that will always be self -righting. It is intended that the cover remain upon the boat ready for use at a moments notice, but obviously so as not to impair the elasticity of the retaining-band by constant stretching. The band can be lifted off the stern of the boat when the same is not in use. A further advantage possessed by a boat having a cover of the type proposed by me is that in winter the passengers are protected from the cold. In good weather the cover can be easily lifted from the stern and replaced when necessary.

The cover is preferably made of some whitematerial, so as to give as much light as possible.

Instead of the cap for closing the spiral opening in the cover, I propose that the captain or sailing-master be clothed in a waterproof suit with a cape, and that he seat himself in the opening, leaving his arms free, however. The body of the person thus stationed will control the size of the opening, so as to make a water-tight joint around the body. Furthermore, it would not be necessary, except for a short time, to fear water entering this opening if left uncovered, because it is so far from the bow of the boat that the shipped seas would not reach it. It will be understood that the various ropes for controlling the sails pass around tackle-blocks on the interior of the boat, and that fastening devices are provided for said ropes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. The combination, with a boat having a gunwale and arched supporting-stays, of a flexible Water-proof cover supported by the stays and having its lower edge extending entirely around the gunwale, and a continuous elastic band encircling the gunwale andpressing the lower edge of the cover thereupon, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a boat having a gunwale and arched supporting-stays, of a flexible water-proof cover supported by the stays and having its lower edge provided with the surrounding groove 3 and extending entirely around the gunwale, and the continuous elastic band 4, engaging said groove and encircling the gunwale to press the grooved edge of the cover thereupon, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the flexible waterproof cover, having the spirally-shaped opening or man-hole suitably located therein, with the boat having means for supporting said cover, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of the flexible waterproof cover having the spirally-shaped opening or man-hole, and the spirally-shaped flexible cap fitted to said opening, with the boat having means for supporting the cover, substantially as herein set forth.

' 5. The combination of the bridge-piece 9,

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in 10 presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM W. PARKER.

Witnesses:

W. P. KNOWLES, A. R. WOODSON.