US659883A - Life-saving apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

No, 659,383. Patented Oct. l6, I900. D. S. WEBSTER.

LIFE SAVING APPARATUS.

(APPHCEHOD filed Ant. 30. 1900.) 2 Sheets-Sheet a.

No. 659,883. Patented 00f. "5,1900.

D. S. WEBSTER.

LIFE SAVING. APPARATUS.

(Annlieation filed Apr. 30, 1900.) Modem 2 Sheets-Sheet z,

' view.

Unirnn DEAN S. \VEBSTER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LlFE-SAVlNG APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming; part of Letters Patent No. 659,883, dated October 16, 1900.

Application filed April 30, 1900.

To all whom it may concern.-

Ee itknown that I, DEAN SWEBSTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life-Saving Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following, to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will en able others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to lifesaving apparatus chiefly designed for use at sea when the ship or vessel is in a sinking condition. The appliance is constructed with a view to being stored in a com paratively-sm all space consistent with its capacity and adapted to be quickly set up for use and launched when required.

' For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and drawings hereto attached.

WVhile the essential and characteristic features of the invention are necessarily susceptible of modification, still the preferred embodim ent of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of a ship, showing the appliance in position to be lowered. Fig. 2 is a detail view in perspective of the device under sail. Fig. 3 is atop plan Fig. f is a longitudinal section on the line X X of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line Y Y of Fig. 3.

Correspondingand like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The appliance is in the nature of a raft and comprises a series of spaced floats 1, disposed in longitudinal parallel relation, sister keelsons 2, filling the upper portion of the spaces between adjacent floats, and bulwarks secured to the sister keelsons and consisting of a light but substantial framework constructed to fold inward, so as to admit of the size of the appliance being materially reduced when not required for immediate service.

The floats l are hollow bodies and their ends are made tapering and of such construction as to admit of their plowing the water Serial No. 14,991. (No model.)

with a minimum resistance. The number of the floats will depend upon the transverse extent of the appliance. The extremities of the tapering ends of the floats are reinforced by metal or wooden pieces 4, which are secured to the body of the floats in such a manner as to admit of their ready detachment when it is required to gain access to the interior of the floats for any purpose. In the preferable construction the floats are formed of a textile or flexible material, which will admit of their folding into a small compass when deflated. The float-s may be of any length and cross-sectionaloutline and are preferablyofcylindrical form and are collapsible, and when in condition for active service are inflated. The air may be pumped directlyinto the floats or into tubes or sacks 6, fitted within the floats,valvestems 10 being applied to the floats and adapted to have the inflating means applied thereto in the well-known manner.

It is contemplated to utilize a portion of the floats for storing water, coffee, or other desired liquid, and forthis purpose reservoirs 5 are located in one or more of the floats and are secured to the inner wall thereof. Access is had to the reservoirs 5 by means of plug-controlled openings 8, to which a tube 17, provided with a faucet, is adapted to be fitted to draw off the liquid contents of the reservoirs when required. As previously stated, the reservoirs 5 are flexible and collapsible, and when the floats are inflated the air confined under pressure exerts a force upon the flexible sides of the reservoirs which normally tends to collapse them. Hence when opening the faucet applied to the tube 17 the liquid is forcibly expelled therethrough by means of the pressure upon the sides of the reservoirs. WVhen one reservoir is emptied, the tube 17 can be disconnected there from and applied to any other reservoir for drawing off the liquid contents therefrom in the manner stated. In this connection it is to be understood that the air confined in the floats may exert a direct pressure against the sides of the reservoir, which will be the case when the inner tubes are dispensed with, or said air may act indirectly through the inner tubes when the latter are employed, as most clearly indicated in Fig. 4.

While it is preferable to construct the floats 1 of flexible material, so as to admit of their collapsing and foldingin asmall space, it is also deemed desirable and preferable to construct the sister keelsons 2 of metal, because of the strength and stability resulting to the general structure of the appliance. The sister keelsons brace and stiffen the appliance longitudinally and being hollow add to the buoyancy of the structure and serve to provide additional storage-chambers for containing food and sundry articles, which are obtainable'through openings 7, formed in the top side thereof. The sister keelsons are connected transversely by beams or plates 3, which are rigidly attached thereto. The parts 3 and 2 constitute, in effect, a rigid frame. The transverse beams 3 are connected at their ends by longitudinal beams 3, which likewise constitute an essential part of the framework. In transverse section the sister keelsons conform to the upper half of the space formed between adjacent floats, and their sides are hollow or concave and their top and bottom sides are flat and parallel. The floats are bonded in any substantial manner, as by bands 11, which encircle them and are secured thereto and to each other at points intermediate of the said floats.

To give additional strength and stiffness to the contrivance and prevent injury thereto, wales 18 are applied to the sides of the outermost or extre me floats and consist of wooden strips attached in any manner to the sides of said floats. Life-lines and floats 9 are provided at the sides of the device and are.

secured to the frame.

The appliance is steered by means of a rudder 14 and helm 15 in the usual manner and is adapted to be propelled through the water by means of oars orv sail. Oar-locks 19 are applied to the side beams of the frame to receive the oars when the latter are resorted to for impelling the appliance through the water. When sail is set, the mast A is secured in the step 16, applied to the frame, and is braced by stays in the Well-known manner. The bulwarks consist, essentially, of end and side frames 12 and canvas 13, secured to said frames, and the sides adapted to be laced at the corners when turned into an approximately-vertical position.

For the purpose of raising and lowering the contrivance on board ship it is provided at its ends with span painters B, which are adapted to be attached to the fall-blocks of the tackle applied to the ships davits, as most clearlyindicated in Fig. 1. The contrivance may be materially reduced in size, so as to be conveniently stored on board of a vessel, and can be housed between decks of man-of-war ships. When required for service, the floats can be quickly inflated and the bulwarks set up and the device attached to the lowering-tackle for launching at a moments notice.

The bands 11 consist of flexible strips passed around the floats in opposite directions and meeting in the spaces formed between adjacent floats on a line about midway between the top and bottom sides of said floats. These bands prevent outward displacement of the floats, inward movement being prevented by the interposed sister keelsons. By having the keelsons constructed of metal they are adapted to brace the structure longitudinally, and additional strength is obtained by providing the outermost keelsons with a longitudinal plate 0, which is flanged at its longitudinal edges and secured, respectively, to the top and bottom sides of the keelsons.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In life-saving apparatus of the character described, a connected series of hollow floats constituting storage-chambers, sister keelsons filling the upper portion of the spaces formed between adjacent floats and of hollow construction and adapted to provide additional storage-chambers, and beams connecting the sister keelsons and forming therewith a supporting-frame, substantially as set forth.

2. In life-saving apparatus, a hollow float adapted to be charged with air under pressure, and a collapsible storage-chamber located within the float and adapted to hate its liquid contents expelled by the expansive action of the compressed air, substantially as set forth.

3. In life-saving apparatus, a hollow float, an inner tube or inflatable device located within the float and adapted to be charged with air under pressure, and a collapsible reservoir for containing a liquid located in the float and normally under pressure by the action of the air confined in the aforesaid inflatable device, as and for the purpose set forth.

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

DEAN S. WEBSTER. [L. 8.]

Witnesses:

ALLAN P. MILLAR, SADIE AGNEW.

Images