Life-buoy.
（
Nautical.) A buoy or float which is thrown overboard to sustain a person until assistance arrives.
It has various forms: —
In one, each of the stools in the cabin has an airtight tin case fastened beneath the seat.
2. An india-rubber belt capable of inflation.
3. A painted canvas case, of an annular shape, 31 inches in diameter, 6 inches wide, and 4 inches thick.
It contains 12 pounds of cork, in thin layers.
Lieutenant Cook of the
English navy invented a life-buoy which is provided on board all the vessels of that service.
It consists of two hollow copper vessels connected by a horizontal bar, through the
[
1302]
middle of which is fixed vertically a strong staff formed of a metallic tube, the upper extremity of which supports the fuse.
The lower part of the staff has a balance-weight which drops out when the buoy falls, and maintains the staff upright in the water.
The apparatus is kept suspended at the quarter, is detached by a trigger, and the act of releasing it drops a gun-lock hammer and ignites the fuse, which blazes for a considerable time and attracts the man overboard while it directs the crew of the boat to the assistance of the person.
It will support two persons.
The life-buoy (
Fig. 2926) is of similar character.
The fuse composition is not extinguished by water.
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Life-buoy. |
