US11644A - Abrangement for reefing and fueling- topsails fkom the deck of the - Google Patents

Description

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

WILLIAM H. FOSTER, OF PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

ARRANGEMENT FOR REEFING AND FURLING- TOISAILS FROM THE DECK OF THE VESSEL.

Specification of Letters Patent No.

To all 'wh-0m t may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM II. FOSTER, of Portsmouth, in the county of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire, have invented a new and useful Improvement for Reefing To-psails and other Sails of Vessels from the Deck and for Furling the Same Therefrom; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and opera tion of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of the specification, in which- Figure 1, represents the back view of a sail with reef bands, bolt ropes and reeling lines attached. It also represents the manner in which the main reef lines, running up through their respective sheaves, pass along through blocks or pulleys in the center on the upper side of the yard, and thence running aloft through blocks or pulleys come down on deck; and, in which Fig. 2, represents the front view of a sail with hatten attached along the front side of the yard, with sheaves or pulleys set therein through which the reef lines run. It also represents the manner in which the furling lines are fastened through the canvas to the reef bands, or bolt ropes which are attached to the sail on the back side, and the manner in which said furling lines thence pass up through their respective blocks or pulleys and are joined to the main reef lines, when not used independently thereof. It also shows the manner in which the dogs ears are taken in.

The nature of my invention consists in bending the sail to jack-stays, Fig. 2, A, made fast on hatten, B, while I attach to and along the fore side of the yard-or on the backside thereof, if preferred-and in providing one or more reef-bands, Fig. l, C, bolt (or other) ropes D, or both, if necessary, to extend horizontally on the back of the sail, at such distances below the yard as may be needed for each reef. My main reef lines, E, are then fastened into the ends of said reef bands, or bolt ropes, or both, at the place usually called the ear ring F and run directly up through their respective sheaves, or pulleys, Fig. 2, G, set in batten, or through corresponding blocks on the yard, then run along said hatten, or the yard, through a block, blocks or pulleys, H, situated on the upper side in or near the cent-er of the yard, then up aloft through a 11,644, dated September 5, 1854.

block, blocks or vpulleys I situated on the cross trees, or the mast, then independently, on being joined together, are brought down on deck and made fast. On the said reef bands, bolt ropes, or both, at such distances apart as may be required, I attach such a number of minor reef lines, Fig. l, K, as may be needed to secure the reef and sail, and pass said lines directly up through their respective sheaves or pulleys, Fig. 2, L set in said batten, or through corresponding blocks on the yard, and splice the same into the main reef lines, at M, Fig. 2, or let them run independently through blocks or pulleysy at H, and I and come down on deck in the same manner as my main reef lines.

For a second or third reef, my reef bands bolt ropes, (or both), main reef lines and minor reef lines are aliiXed and operate in like manner and principle as for the first reef. My furling lines, or spilling lines, Fig. 2, N, (such a number as may be needed to secure the furl) I fasten through the canvas on the front side as at, O, to the reefbands or bolt ropes which are attached to the back side of the sail, and then pass the said lines up through their respective blocks or pulleys, Fig. 2, P, and either join the same to the main reef lines as at Q, or let them pass jointly or independently through blocks or pulleys at H and I, in the same manner as the main reef lines and, bringing the same down on deck, make them fast.

To take in the dogs ears I fasten a line as at R Fig. 2, and running the same on the sail a little diagonally either join it to the main reef lines as at S, or make it fast to one of the furling lines as at T. I also design to use a down haul, Fig. l V, which may be fastened to the parrel V or yard, by the aid of which the yard may be readily brought down in any weather.

To take in the first reef Fig. 1, W, I have only to loosen the halyards X from the deck. To take in a second reef Y, I have only to loosen the halyards as before and the first main reef lines E1, and to take in a third, or close reef Z, I again loosen the halyards and the first and second main reef lines E1 and E2; in case the furling lines run independently to take in a second or third reef and furl, the furling lines N, corresponding with the main reef lines, must be loosened.

By this invention the yard is not only strengthened, but the sail also, and the reefY points as now in use may still be cona.linesyfnrling or spilling lines, the lines for tnned, in case of any necessity lto use the k ma.nelingering the dogsears, Withthe necessame. Y `s alysheaves and blocks, whereby the square The entire Work of reefing, and furlingI `sails. ofvga Vessel may be reefed and furled 15 5 any sail from the deck, is successfully acby the lowering of the yard, from the deck complished in a few minutes by the above Lof the y.essel; substantially as -herein set process. i zforth.

What I claim as of my invention and WILLIAM I-I. FOSTER. desire to secure by Letters Patent, isk Witnesses: 10 The arrangement of the jack-stay and. Y WILLIAM B. LOWD,

batten, With the main and minor reeng BRACKETT IIUrCHINYs.

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