US1181009A - Life-boat. - Google Patents

Description

M. P. HOY.

LIFE BOAT.

APPLICATION nun DEC. 30. 19.13.

Patented Apr. 1316.

5 SHEETS-SHEET L M. P. HOY.

LIFE BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED mac. :0. 19 13.

Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

5 SHEETSS H EET 2.

witnesses attorneys M. P. HOY.

LILFE BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 30, 19,11.

Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

5 $HEETSSHEET 3- m'torneus M P. HOY.

UFE BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 30. 1913.

Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

5 SNEETS-SHEET 4.

Bnnentqr Wqr/l/ P Wa y.

witnesses attorneys M. P. HOY.

LIFE BOAT APPHCATION HLED DEC. 30. m3.

1 1 8 1 ,009 Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

' AHnrmgs UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARIUS P. HOY, OF TACOMA, WASHINGTON.

LIFE-BOAT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 30, 1913. Serial No. 809,567.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARIns P. Hor, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Tacoma, in the county of Pierce and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life-Boats; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to life boats, and the primary object of the invention is to provide a life boat having a substantially cylindrical body with auxiliary air-tight floating compartments so formed on the sides of the boat as to afford additional seats for occupants so that the boat may become a combined boat and raft for the use of a large number of persons.

A further object of the invention is to provide first a combined life boat and raft with a sliding keel weighted so as to keep the life boat normally in a balanced state whether the boat be used as a life boat to contain a few people or as a combined boat and raft to contain people inside and outside its hull.

A further objectof the invention is to provide compartments at both the bow and stern for the operators who will be sailors, leaving the passengers amidship in what might be called the hold, thereby giving the operators access to the anchor, the tiller, and the means for adjusting the keel without interruption from passengers who are usually in a state of high excitement. This feature of my invention involves the location of the rudder controlling mechanism within one compartment, the anchor controlling mechanism in the other compartment, and the keel controlling mechanism in one of said compartments; whereas the propeller driving mechanism may be located within the hold within reach of the passengers being saved.

Another object of the present invention is to employ a peculiar form of bilge pump capable of being attached to the propeller actuating mechanism, so that the driving of the latter will automatically remove water which may leak into the boat.

With these and other objects in view. the invention consists in certain constriuztio'ns, combinations and arrangements of parts as will he hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts: Figure'l is a top plan view of the complete boat; Fig. 2 is a rear end elevation of the boat seen in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevation; Fig. 4 is a central horizontal section looking down upon the floor of the vessel; Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a central vertical longitudinal sectlonal view of the boat; Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a detail showing a portion of the folding hatch; Fig. 9 is a vertical section through one half of the hatch showmg the method of operating the folding,

Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

hatch, the hatch being shown in folded position in dotted lines; Fig. 10 is a sectional view through a portion of the boat showing a water-proof cloth or other flexible sack to be tied around the waist or neck of an observer; Fig. 11 is a vertical central section through the upper end of one of the air shafts showing the improved vent chamber; Fig. 12 is a detail taken through the lower section of the boat showing the mechanism for driving the propeller; Fig. 13 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the lower portion of the vessel showing a means for operating the bilge pump; and Fig. 14 is a side elevation of the boat showing auxiliary means for driving the,- same.

The general aim of the present invbntion is to provide a life boat somewhat similar to those at presentin use, but having added thereto certain improvements which materially increase the usefulness of such boats, one means for improving the facilityof such boats being to addair-tight compartments for supportingadditional weight, and in making those compartments of such construction aslwill increase the seating capacity of the boat byplacing them on the sides of the boat.

In order that the center of gravity of the entire boat when used as a raft may not rise to a point dangerously near the water line, there is provided a weighted keel adapted to be r .ised and lowered so that the center of gravity of the boat 'niay be lowered when weight is added to the upper portion of the vessel when the latter is used as a raft.

Referring more particularly to the drawing it will be seen that the life boat forming the sul'iject-matter of the present invention, comprises certain structur'e known to be old, to-wit. a cylindrical shell or hull 1 having tapering ends 2 and 3. which carry front and rear bulkheads 4 and 5, respectively, there being an auxiliary bulkhead 6 formed in the end 2. The stern end 3 is provided with airtight wall and deck 7 which inclose an air compartment for assisting in floating the vessel through which passes a tube 8 inclosing the rudder shaft 9 controlled by an internal tiller 10 and an external tiller 10. Each end of the boat beyond the bulkheads '1 and 5 constitutes an operators compartment so that the outlook in the bow compartment and the helmsman in the stern compartment are free from the confusion arising from the crowding of passengers amidship or into the hold. In order that each operator may see outside of the hull of the boat, the deck of each compartment is provided with a port 11 for observational purposes designed to be closed by a cover 12.

Hinged tothe bulkheads 4 and 5 are platforms 13 and 14 respectively, which may be swung to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 6 to support an operator standing-- thereon, and it will be noted that the platforms are under their respective observational ports 11 in the operators compartments. 'hen not in use, these platforms may be swung out of place in a position readily understood.

As the compartments are small, the advantage of folding up the platform when not in use will be obvious. hen either operator is using the observational port, he will turn down the platform and stand upon it so that his body above the waist projects above the hull. At this time he may use the outside tiller 10, whereas in bad weather or when he is housed within the compartment he may use the inside tiller 10.

One of the features of the present invention is to add to the structure already described, auxiliary floating air-tight compartments 15 secured along the outside of the hull of the boat 1 and carried around its ends 2 and 3, respectively, these compartments 15 as seen in Figs. 2, 5 and 7, being so formed as to provide substantially horizontal tops 16 which may be used as seats for the convenience of those who cannot find seating space inside the boat. In order to secure the occupants of such seats in place, there is provided a rail 17 on each side of the boat, supported in any suitable way, and 60 h aving secured at appropriate intervals thereto, straps 18 which may be suflicient to hold the occupants in place when the boat rocks, due to the action of the waves. Thus it will be seen that the addition of extra floating compartments is accompanied by the presentation of additional seating capacity without very materially adding to the size of the boat or disturbing in any material manner, the shape of the same.

Aside from the seats afforded by the tops of the compartments 15, there are benches arranged. on the interior of the boat amidships or between the operators compartments, such benches being shown as having tops 19 and sides 20, said tops and sides being of considerable length so as to afiord suitable room for storing food and such other accessories as may be desired in a lifeboat, the covers 19 being made removable to make more readily accessible the stored food, etc. It will be noted that these interior seats are comparatively low in the boat, much more so than the exterior seats formed by the compartments 15, and the obvious result of this would be to throw the greater weight of the boat near the bottom of the same. .1 However, when persons are seated on the tops of the compartments 1!), the tendency will be to raise the center of the load, and in order to offset this, there is provided a weighted keel 21 pivoted as at .22, to the bottom of the boat and having secured at one end thereof a chain 23 which passes upwardly through a chain tube 24. and is trained around a Windlass 25 in the stern operators compartment.

Pivoted to the bottom of the boat, are guides 26 and 27 having pins 28 which work in slots 29 formed in the keel. These guides serve to support the weight of the keel when the latteris in lowermost position, and will fold in a manner readily understood when the keel is raised by means of the chain 23. Thus. means is provided for keeping the center of weight of the boat at a point sufficiently below the water line to remove all possibility of danger. The keel 21- may also be made of sufficient width to become a centerboard which will offer resistance to the water so as to prevent'undue rocking of they boat, and it will be. understood that by means of the chain and pulley it will be possible to adjust the position of the keel. In connection with the weighted keel 21 it may be mentioned here that the anchor for the boat shown generally at 30, has the stem 31 thereof received by a vertical tube and the latter also ineloses the anchor chain 33 which leads upward to a windlass 34 within the bow operator's compartn'ient.

As illustrative of one convenient means of propelling the boat from a point within the hold and by passengers sitting on the seats at either side, there is shown in Figs. (3 and 7, a grip bar the ends of which are secured in rocking supports 36 pivoted at 37 in the bottom of the boat. The rear support is provided with a slot 38 which receives one end of a link 39 the other end of said link 39 being received by a slot 40 formed in a rocker arm 41, pivoted as at 42 to the boat at a point substantially the same as shown in Fig. 7. The lower end of the rocker arm 41 has pivotally connected thereto as at 43 a pitman 44 connected to a crank pin 46 on a fly wheel 45 mounted in the hottom of the boat. By referring to Fig. 12. it

adjustment: Of course I do not wish to he.

limited to this particular driving mechanism, as it will be entirely possible to use in this invention the form of driving mechanism shown in my former Patent No. 663,172 issued December l. 1900. I prefer to locate it in the hold or amidships between the operators compartments so as to give the lookout and hehnsman freedom for their work.

As in the patent just referred to. there are provided in the bulkheads defining the eX treme ends of the boat, doors 51 and which close suitable openings formed in the bulkheads, which openings afford conven ient passageways between the central'compartment and the end compartments.

In Figs. 1, 9 and 9 the hatchways are shown as comprising a folding hatch 53 at the ends of which are provided sliding hatches comprising doors or plates 54 sliding in ways 56 conforming to the shape of the boat. 'hen these doors are movedaside it will be readily understood that the person being picked up or a person waiting to pass from the. exterior of the vessel to the interior may enter the boat without opening the hatches. Referring particularly to Fig. 9, it will be. seen that the folding hatch, one half of which is shown in said figure. comprises a frame 57 provided with a groove 58. within which mo\ es one endxof a rod ifil. It is to be understood from Fig. 1, that there is provided one of these grooved frames 57 at each end of the folding hatchway. The folding leaves of the hatch are shown at 60, and 61. formed of any suitable material, such as heavy canvas. sheet metal or other suitable material. The outer edge of the leaf 61 carries a shaft (32. the ends of which are journaled in the end frames 57. For the purpose of folding the hatch there is provided at each end a turn rod (33 mounted in journals 64 secured to the top of the boat. theseturn rods 63 being actuated by means of handles 65.

By referring to Fig. 9. it will he seen that there is parallel to each of the turn rods (33 a lifting rod (36 secured to and moving with the turn rods 63 by means of the end rods (37 which connect the parallel rods. It will be understood that when the handle 65 is thrown upwardly and outwardly from the position shown in Fig. 1. the hatch will move from he position shown in full lines to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 9, the ends of the rod 59 sliding in the grooves 58 of the frames 57. while the leaves 60 and ()1 fold around the lifting: rod (36. For convenience each of the turn rods 33 is providcd with a haiidle (35. Thus it will be seen that by the simple turningof the. handle 65. the top of the boat may be either thrown open or closed for the passage of occupants or for their protection.

The vent pipes in Fig. 11 areshown as single tubes at (38, extend downwardly an appropriate distance into the top of the boat. and have secured in the upper ends thereof collars 9 to which are secured funnels 70. livotally mounted between opposite sides of the collar (39, is a pin 71 surrounded by a coil spring 72. As shown in Fig. 11, there is extending upon each side of the pin 71, a damper 73 which has secured thereto a plate 74 extending to the otherside of the pin 71. and having secured thereto the pull cord 75, so that when said cord 75 is pulled downwardly, the ha f of the damper on the other side. of the pin 71 frtm the cord 75 will be thrown upwardly to the dotted position shown in Fig. 11. Two cords 75 have been shown as connected to a common cord 76, which passes downwardly through each of the vent tubes, and may be secured in any desired manner so as to adjust the inflow of air.

As seen in Fig. 4 and 6, removable sections 77 cover compartments 78 formed in the bottom of the boat'for the reception of drinking water, etc. The compartments 79 formed at the lower portion of each end of the boat may be used for storing purposes, or may be used as additional floating compartments.

The means for driving the bilge pump is shown in Fig. 13 Where the pump cylinder 80 has the piston rod 81 thereof connected by means of link 82 to a rocker arm 83, the up per end of which is provided with a handle '84- of suitable length. The rocker arm 83 may be actuated by means of its own handle;

I or if desired, the handle may be in the form of a grip rod 84 extended to enter an opening 85 formed in one ofthe rocking supports 36 of the upper propeller mechanism as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 13.

In order to protect the interior of the operators compartments from water when the covers 19 are removed from the ports 11 for observational purposes, there is provided a bag S5 formed of impervious flexible material, and ha ving the lower end closed in any suitable manner about either the waist or the neck of the observer. The upper end of the bag 85 may be secured in any suitable manner, as by rivets 86 to the walls of the port 11 as seen in Fig. 10.

Rubber or rope may be provided on the wooden fenders 87 on the sides of the boat along the auxiliary compartments 15 for the usual purpose of reducing shocks, I

As shown in Fig. ii, there is provided a pair of masts 88 and 89 which receive sails 90 and 91, respectively.

Vhat I claim is:

1. A life. boat and raft comprising a hull, internal and relatively low seats along the sides of the hull, external and relatively high air compartments also along said sides and having fiat tops forming seats for persons outside the hull, and a vertically movable and weighted keel, the whole for use substantially as described.

2. A life boat and raft comprising a hull, relatively low internal seats, relatively high external air compartments having fiat tops forming seats, transverse bulkheads producing operators compartments at the how and stern, the decks having observational openings for said operators, a vertically movable weighted keel, anchor-controlling mechanism leading into one of said compartments, and rudder and keel. controlling mechanisms both leading into the other compartment.

3. A life boat having a hull, seats along the sides of the same, the propeller driving mechanism, rocking supports for actuating said mechanism, and a grip bar connecting said supports and standing between said seats; conibined with a pump, a rocker arm for actuating the same, a. handle on said arm, and means for connecting the handle with said grip bar.

4. A life boat having a hull, transverse bulkheads forming operators compartments at its ends and a passengers compartment amidships, seats along the sides of the lastnamed compartment, the propeller driving mechanism, rocking supports for actuating said mechanism, and a grip bar connecting said supports and standing between said seats: combined with a pump, a rocker arm for actuating the same, a handle on said arm, and means for connecting the handle with said grip bar.

5. In a life boat having a hull, the combination with a transverse bulkhead producing a helmsmans compartment near one end, the deck of said compartment having a port, a cover removably closing said port, and a platform hinged to said bulkhead and adapted to he raised out of the way against it or to be lowered into serviceable position beneath said port, of the steering mechanism including the rudder shaft, and tillers thereon inside said compartment and outside the hull. and both Within reach of the helmsman.

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

MARIUS P. HOY \Vitnesses JOHN BIEHN, M. KENNEDY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressinz the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

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