US404150A - Balsa or life-boat - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

D. AMMEN.

BALSA UR LIFE BOAT.

No. 404,150. Patented May 28, 1889.

N. FETERS. Fhalo-Lnlmgnphor. wa hingfion. a, c.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()F ICE.

DANIEL AMMEN, OF AMMENDALE, MARYLAND.

BALSA OR LIFE-BOAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 404,150, dated May 28, 1889. Application filed October 2, 1888. Serial No. 286,942. No model.)

To aZZ whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL AMMEN, rear admiral United States Navy, retired, residing at Ammendale, in the county of Prince Georges and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Balsas or Life-Boats, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to life-boats or balsas.

The invention consists in the improved construction of the floats constituting the balsa and the manner of connecting and bracing the same.

Figure 1 is a plan of the balsa, showing grated deck, one of the floats being shown partly broken away. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of same on reduced scale. Fig. 3 is a plan of one of the end sections of the float. Fig. tis a horizontal section near the top of body portion E of a float. Fig. 5 is a central crosssection of float.

The balsa consists of two floats, A A, connected by binders B B and provided with an open-work or slatted deck, (J.

The present improvement relates, mainly, to the floats. These floats consist of sections 1 2 3, preferably three in number; but a greater number may be provided. The sections are preferably made from papier-mach or compressed paper and molded to shape, (either as a whole or in parts but the sections may be metal. The section 2 (illustrated in Fig. 5) is composed of a body and a cover. The body E is about semicircular, tapering slightly toward the ends and having side flanges, F, turned out along its upper edge. It has also, by preference, an internal longitudinal rib or keelson, G, extending from end to end. This rib may be molded or struck up of the same material as the body, or it may be added after the body is shaped. A strip of tough wood may be inclosed in a groove to form the keelson of a paper body. The cover H is flatter than the body E, but corresponds thereto at the edges, and has flanges I, which flanges register with flanges F and may be bolted or riveted thereto, the joint being made Watertight with cement or packing.

The cover H of the float may be strengthened by ribs K, preferably of bent wood. These ribs extend down inside the bodyE far enough to afford a firm bracing. If desirable, upright braces may extend from the keelson to the ribs, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 5. The ends of the sections may have either inturned flanges, as indicated at m, or an entire partition, as at n. In the latter case these partitions will serve as bulk-heads to divide the float into water-tight compartments. The sections 1 2 3 are secured together lengthwise by bolts or rivets passing through the inturned flanges, as shown at the broken section, Fig. 1, and in Fig. 4. Where one section has a partition, n, the adjacent section only needs a flange, m, to form compartments when the two are joined. The end sections, 1 and 3, will be closed, as by heads P 1, riveted into place; or the heads may be integral. The sections 1 and 3 are duplicates. Each section will preferably have a man-hole, through which access can be had to the interior of the float, and it is intended that each balsa shall always carry a supply of provisions and water stored within the floats. The man-holes of the end sections will be within reach from the deck.

It is not essential that the central section shall taper toward the ends, as the sides may be parallel, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 4, and in such case each float may be composed of two tapering-end sections and as many intervening sections as desired. The balsa Will move much more easily through water, however, if the floats are built throughout on curved lines.

The side flanges of the floats, besides affording a convenient means of fastening, will give great stiffness to the floats. The flanges may also afford a means for attaching tie-rods to hold the floats together.

The balsa should be provided with life-preserving nets, lines, &c., and may have alight detachable mast and sail.

The two floats are held together by the crossbraces B, which maybe as numerous as found desirable, and attached to the floats directly or to ribs on the same. These braces preferably overhang the floats at the sides and serve as fenders.

The deck-strips C, preferably of light tough wood, are attached to the braces B by rivets or otherwise.

The balsa is of such form that it may be easily slid along the deck of a vessel, and when afloat it cannot be overturned by a heavy sea.

\Vhat I claim is 1. The life-raft or balsa consisting, essentially, of two molded floats, each float composed of sections held together and stifliened by longitudinal flanges, the floats being connected by binders which support the dock, all combined substantially as described.

2. A float for a raft or balsa, consisting of molded sections, said sections having longitudinal flanges by which the parts are joined and stiii'ened, the Whole forming a closed 011211111 ber impervious to Water, substantially as'described.

3. The float-section described,.consisting of a molded body portion having longitudinal. side flanges and the molded cover portion having eorrespondin side flanges, the flanges being secured together to make a tight joint,

and ribs Which extend transversely inside said cover, substantially as set forth.

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

V DANL. AMMEN. Vitnesses:

PHILIP MAURO, W. A. l'iARTLETT.

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