IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REEFING AND FURLING SHIPS' SQUARE SAILS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Colling and David Gullon Pinkney, both of
Seaham, in the County of Durham, Master Mariners, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REEFING AND FURLING SHIPS' SQUARE
SAILS."
Sealed the 1st March 1864, and dated the 19th November 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Colling and David
Gullon Pinkney at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 19th November 1868.
We, JOHN COLLING and DAVID GULLON PINKNEY, both of Seaham, in the
County of Durham, Master Mariners, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REEFING AND FURLING SHIPS'
SQUARE SAILS," to be as follows:-
Our Invention of improvements in apparatus for reefing and furling ships'
square sails relates to furling and reefing in which sails are wound up on
rollers fitted to the yards of ships, and consists, first, in the means of com-
municating the rotating motion to the roller for that purpose.
According to one arrangement we apply a shaft above the yard of a length
equal to the length of the roller, and like it fitted in bearings at either end;
we also fit this shaft in bearings near the middle of its length, and in the
middle fit a whelp wheel, around which we pass the tye that supports the yard,
the one end being fixed to the mast head and the other to the halyards by
which the yard is raised or lowered; lowering or raising the yard by this means

page_text: gives a motion of rotation to the shaft which is communicated to the sail
rollers by means of two endless chains or bands encircling small whelp wheels
or pullies on the ends of the shaft and sail roller, whereby the sail is reefed
and furled or spread. Instead of endless chains and wheels at the ends of the
shaft and sail roller spur gear may be employed to transmit the motion from
the shaft to the sail roller.
Another method of communicating the necessary motion to the sail roller
consists in fixing a whelp wheel on each end of the roller, and carrying
doubles of the reefing chains over them, each double of the chains being
conducted thereto over horizontal pullies fitted up above and below the ends of
the yard; from these points the reefing chains are led along the yard to the
middle, and then turn over sheaves, where they are united in pairs (one from
each end), the part from one pair being conducted over a block or pulley
above, and thence to a tackle below leading down to the deck, while the other
parts are conducted over a pulley, and connected with a tackle leading down
to the deck. Instead of leading these reefing chains along the yard, as
described, we carry them upwards and over pullies mounted on axes placed
above at right angles to the axis of the sail roller; these chains are thence led
upwards, and converge to a point at the mast head, where they turn over
pullies, and are connected in pairs, as before described, with tackles leading
down to the deck; the doubles of the reefing chains pass round the chain or
whelp wheels on the ends of the sail roller, as before described, and by the
traversing motion of the chains round such wheels cause the sail roller to
rotate.
Another method of communicating the rotating motion consists in con-
ducting the doubles of the reefing chains over whelp wheels mounted on axes
fixed to the ends of yard at right angles to the sail roller axis, a bevil wheel
is cast in a piece with or fixed to each of the whelp wheels, which bevilled
wheels gear Iwith bevil wheels or pinions fixed on the sail roller, while the
reefing chains are conducted and manoeuvred or actuated as before described.
Another improvement consists in forming the yard throughout the length
of the roller of only about half the usual diameter, whereby the sail roller may
be placed more snugly than heretofore. For this purpose I make the yard of
piece of T iron, placed longitudinally, and of the length of the yard. I fill
up the angles with wood, and make that side (the fore part) round, as usual,
while the flat si depermits the roller to be fitted snugger and closer to the mast
and general support of the yard. The flat side of the iron may even be formed
hollow, and still retain the strength of the yard, which will be principally in
the iron, and. so permit the close approach of the roller. The ends of the yard
a

page_text: are continued round beyond the ends of the roller, to which end parts of the
bearings of the roller are fitted.
Another improvement consists in the application of swivel leading blocks for
the conduct of the sheets of the topgallant sail to the standards on the ends
of the yard (below the topsail), which lead the reefing chains on the ail
rollers, as described and represented in the Specification of Patent No. 974,
1862, granted to John Colling, and bearing date April 5th, instead of leading
such sheets or ropes through the ends of the yards, as usual, by which means
the chafing of those ropes against the reefing chains is prevented. Instead of
being attached to the standards above referred to, separate standards or
attachments may be used for that purpose.
A further improvement in the reefing apparatus as described in the Patent
of John Colling before referred to consists in the application of a crutch or
supporting stays to support and strengthen the standards on the ends of the
yards, which conduct the reefing chains on to the roller. We make this
crutch or support with a curved foot to fit down on the yard, or with a screw
foot to screw into a plate on the top of the yard, and at the top with means of
attachment to the head of the block standard. This support is more especially
necessary when the sheets of the sail above are conducted through blocks also
attached to same standards, as above described.
Another part of our Invention relates to the reefing and furling sails on
rollers by means of springs instead of by ropes or chains acting on the roller.
For this purpose we apply a coiled spring at each end of the yard, the one end
of which spring is affixed to the standards, and the other to the roller axis,
and such springs being placed in tension gives the roller a constant tendency
to wind up, reef, and furl the sail. On the contrary, the sail is spread by
simply hoisting up the yard, the sheets being held fast, insuring such spreading.
Instead of coiled or voluted springs at each end, helical springs may be
employed and inserted in the sail roller in manner similar to a spring roller
blind. Instead of springs or tackle to wind the sail on the roller, we some-
times employ weights, which we attach to the ends of the sail roller or
otherwise, for communicating motion thereto, the double or two parts of such
chains being led over pullies and down below the deck, where we suspend a
weight to it, which causes the roller to turn and coil up the sail when the yard
is lowered. Instead of the weight being carried below the deck, where iron
masts are used, the weight might traverse up and down in the hollow of
such masts.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Colling and David Gullon Pinkney in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 19th May 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
COLLING and DAVID GULLON PINKNEY, both of Seaham, in the County of
Durham, Master Mariners, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto us, the said John Colling and David Gullon Pinkney, Her special
licence that we, the said John Colling and David Gullon Pinkney, our
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said John
Colling and David Gullon Pinkney, our executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at
all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR RESPING AND FURLING SHIPS' SQUARE
SAILS," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said John Colling
and David Gullon Pinkney, our executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under our, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said John Colling and David Gullon
Pinkney, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the Sheet of
Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon
(that is to say)
Our Invention of improvements in apparatus for reefing and furling ships'
square sails relates to furling and reefing in which the sail is wound upon a
roller, and consists principally in the means of communicating the rotary
motion to the roller for that purpose.
According to one arrangement we apply a shaft above the yard of the length
equal to the roller, and, like it, fitted in bearings at either end. We also fit

page_text: this shaft in bearings near the middle of its length, and in the middle fix a
whelp wheel, around which we pass the tie that supports the yard, the one
end being fixed to the mast head and the other to the halyards, by which the
yard is raised or lowered. Lowering or raising the yard by this means gives
a motion of rotation to the shaft which is communicated to the sail roller by
means of two endless chains or bands encircling small whelp wheels or pullies
on the ends of the shaft and sail roller, whereby the sail is reefed and furled or
spread.
Another method (the second) of communicating the necessary motion to
the sail roller consists in fixing a whelp wheel on each end of the roller and
carrying doubles of the reefing chains over them, each double of the chains
being conducted thereto over horizontal pullies fitted above and below the
ends of the yard. From these points the reefing chains are led over pullies
having horizontal axes, and thence converge towards the mast head, where
they turn over pullies and descend towards the deck. They are united in
pairs (one from each end of the yard) with a tackle below leading down to
the deck while the other parts are connected with another tackle also leading
down to the deck.
Another method (the third) of communicating the rotary motion consists in
conducting the doubles of the reefing chains over whelp wheels mounted on
axes fixed to the ends of the yard at right angles to the sail roller axis. A
bevil wheel is cast in a piece with or fixed to each of the whelp wheels, which
bevilled wheels gear with bevil wheels or pinions fixed on the sail roller. The
reefing chains are conducted and manoeuvred or actuated as before described.
Another improvement in reefing apparatus (the fourth part of this Invention)
consists in forming the yard throughout the length of the roller of only about
half the usual diameter, whereby the sail roller may be placed more snugly
than heretofore. For this purpose we make the yard of a piece of Tiron
placed longitudinally and of the length of the yard. We fill up the angles
with wood, and make that side, (the fore part,) round as usual, while the flat
side permits the roller to be fitted snugger and closer to the mast and general
support of the yard. The flat side of the iron may even be formed hollow
and still retain the strength of the yard, which will be principally in the iron,
and so permit the closer approach of the roller. The ends of the yard are
continued round beyond the ends of the roller, to which end parts the bearings
of the rollers are fitted.
Another improvement (the fifth) consists in the application of swivel
leading blocks for the conduct of the sheets of the topgallant sail to the
standards on the ends of the yard below (the topsail yard), which lead the

page_text: reefing chain on the sail roller, as described and represented in the Specifi-
cation of a Patent, No. 974, granted to John Colling, and bearing date
April 5th, 1862, instead of leading such sheets or ropes through the ends of
the yards as usual, by which means the chafing of those ropes against the
reefing chains is prevented. Instead of being attached to the standards
above referred to, separate standards or attachments may be used for that
purpose.
A further improvement (the sixth part of our Invention) in the reefing
apparatus, as described in the Patent of John Colling before referred to,
consists in the application of a crutch or supporting stays to support
and strengthen the standards on the ends of the yards which conduct the
reefing chains on to the roller. We make this crutch or support with a
curved foot to fit down on the yard, and at the top with means of attachment
to the head of the block standard. The support is more especially necessary
when the sheets of the sail above are conducted through blocks also attached
to same standards, as above described.
Another part of our Invention relates to reefing and furling sails on rollers
by means of springs instead of ropes or chains acting on the roller. For this
purpose we apply a coil spring at each end of the yard, the one end of which is
affixed to the standard and the other to the roller axis, and such springs being
placed in tension gives the roller a constant tendency to wind up and reef the
sail; on the contrary the sail is spread by simply hoisting up the yard, the sheets
being held fast insuring such spreading. Instead of coiled or volute springs at
each end on helical springs may be employed and inserted in the sail roller,
made hollow to receive them, in manner similar to a spring roller blind.
Instead of springs or tackle to wind the sail on the roller we sometimes employ
dead weights, which are attached to the ends of the reefing chains, led on to
the ends of the sail roller or otherwise, for communicating motion thereto,
the double or two parts of such chains being led over pullies and down below
the deck, where we suspend a weight to it which causes the roller to turn and
coil up the sail when the yard is lowered. Instead of the weight being carried
below the deck, where iron masts are used, the weight might traverse up and
down within the hollow of such masts.

page_text: a, a, is the yard, and b, b, the sail roller fitted in bearings in the arms c
fixed to the yard a; the ring d fixing the arm c to the yard is also furnished
with a standard e supporting bearings f,f, carrying the shaft g, mounted over
the yard. This shaft has also a strong central bearing from the yard and is
furnished with a chain pulley h placed in close proximity thereto. i is the
chain tye for raising and lowering the yard passing round the pulley, the yard
consequently is supported from the shaft g by a central bearing, and in being
raised or lowered by the tye i to spread or reef the sail, causes the shaft g to
rotate; on the ends of shaft g are fixed chain pulleys 1, 2, opposite to chain
pullies fixed on the sail roller b; these pullies carry endless chains k, k,
whereby the rotary motion of shaft g is transmitted to roller b, and so reef or
spread the sail, as will be readily understood.
Fig. 5 represents a front view of a ship's mast, having the yard fitted and
furnished according to another part of our Invention; Fig. 6 is a like view on
an enlarged scale; Fig. 7, a plan, and Fig. 8 an end view of the same. In
this case the yard is raised and lowered by the chain halyard in the ordinary
manner. The sail roller is rotated by means of the double part of chains
passing round chain pullies on each end of the roller; from thence the parts
of the chains m, m, are led over turning pullies n, n, on vertical and others
on horizontal axes, passing thence up to the mast head, where they pass
through blocks o, o, down towards the deck, but are united in pairs (one from
either end of the yard), each pair being connected by one chain p and p¹, to
the halyards, by which they are actuated from the deck, as seen in the front
view, Fig. 5. By heaving on the one part p and slacking off the other part p¹
the roller will be rotated in the one direction, while the reverse action, that is,
slacking off p and heaving-on part p¹, the roller will be rotated in the other
direction; the yard being raised or lowered at same time by the chain g, as
may be required for reefing or spreading the sail, it will be reefed or bent
according.
Figs. 9 & 10 represent a modification of the foregoing, Fig. 9 showing a
front view of part of a yard so fitted; Fig. 10 being an end view of the same.
In this case the double of the chain instead of passing over a chain pulley on
the sail roller passes round the chain pulley, on which pulley r a bevil pinion
is fixed or cast in one piece, this bevil pinion gears into another bevil pinion
fixed on the said roller, and so transmits the motion of the chain pulley r,
which is actuated and manoeuvred by the chains m, m, they being led and
connected to the halyards as last herein-before described. Instead of the
chains being led as before directly up to the mast head they may be carried
along the yard, as indicated in dotted lines at t, t, in the front view of a mast

page_text: Fig. 11 over turning pullies u, u, and up to the blocks or pullies o, o, then
down to the halyards as before, each pair being united in one part of chain,
as previously described.
Figs. 6, 7, represent a modification in which the chains m pass directly
from the chain pulley on sail roller to the mast head, passing over turning
pullies t¹, t¹, carried by arms u', u', raised from the roller bearing c. Figs.
6**, 7**, represent a further modification of the arrangement Figs. 6 & 7,
the bights of the chains m, m, in this case instead of leading on-and-off chain
pullies on the sail roller take on to stud chain pullies on the yard communi-
cating the motion to the sail roller by spur gear 8, 3.
The fourth improvement relates to the formation and construction of the
yards of ships, in which sail rollers are employed to reef and furl the sails; this
is represented in Figs. 12, 13, 14, 15, & 16, Fig. 12 being a front view and
Fig. 13 a plan of the yard formed, constructed, and fitted with a sail roller
according to our Invention, while Fig. 14 shows a transverse section of the
same. I form this yard of a tapered piece of T or double angle iron v, as
seen in the cross section Fig. 14, and fill up the angles with pieces of wood
w, w, so as to form it half round on one side. The ends we form round and
taper them off, as seen, forming the round of wood and fixing two brackets x, x,
to the angle iron to carry the axis of sail roller b; by this means the yard and
sail roller are kept more snugly together than is the case with the ordinary
round yards. This sail roller may be rotated by the means before described
or by other suitable means which it is unnecessary to describe here. y, y,
are crutch supports to steady the roller between its bearings, which are also
represented in the previous Figures of the Drawings, the same as described in
the Specification of the previous Patent 974 already referred to.
Figs. 15 and 16 represent modifications of the foregoing, the only difference
being that in Fig. 15 the head of the T iron is curved, as seen in that cross
section, somewhat to approximate to the curve of the sail roller and sail when
wound up to its largest diameter, while Fig. 16 is of a tripod or three-legged
form of iron in cross section.
The fifth part of our Invention relates to the application of swivel blocks
or pullies to the standards conducting the roller reefing chains, such swivel
blocks being to conduct the sheets of the sail immediately above. This is
represented in Fig. 17, being a front view of the end of a yard so furnished ;
z is the swivel block, and A the standard carrying the block or sheave conduct-
ing the reefing chain according to the Invention described in Specification of
Patent 974 before referred to; the sheet 9 of the sail immediately above is led
through and conducted by this swivel block z as seen, which has the effect of

page_text: preventing the sheets chafing against the reefing chains, causing them to run
freer than when carried over sheaves in the ends of the yard as usual, and
also prevents the wear consequent on the chafing before-mentioned. Instead
of attaching these swivel blocks z, z, to the standards aforesaid separate
standards may be mounted on the yard to carry them with like effect.
The sixth improvement is also represented in Fig. 17. and in Fig. 18
(a cross section of the yard and roller); it consists in the application of the
crutch supports or stays j,j, to strengthen the standards A, A, which lead the
reefing chains; according to the Invention of John Colling, described in the
Specification of Patent 974 before referred to, it is fixed on the yard and
forms a rest for the standard A near that point where it has the greatest
piece ; may be formed in one
strain. Instead of being a crutch rest this
piece with the standard A. In the Drawing the curved foot is shown fixed
down on the yard arm and the U rest for the standard has a cotter 1 passed
through above the standard arm, thereby fixing it securely.
The seventh part of our Invention is represented in Figs. 19 & 20; Fig.
19 represents the end of a yard and sail roller in plan fitted so as to reef the
sail without any reefing chains or ropes, it being simply necessary to lower
the upper yard, when the springs applied to the roller will cause it to be
wound up and reefed as desired. a is the yard and 6 the roller, as before
described; 2 is a metal box or barrel which is fixed to the yard a, this box
contains a volute coiled spring 3, as in the cross section Fig. 20, it is of con-
siderable strength; the one end of this spring 3 is fixed to the box 2, while the
other end is fixed to the spindle of the roller b; the centre of the box has a
projecting boss 4, which forms a bearing to carry the sail roller b. This spring
barrel is fitted and acts precisely in the manner of a spring barrel of a clock.
It is so disposed and arranged that it has a constant tendency to wind the sail
on to the roller, and even when all wound up (furled) it is still in a state of
considerable tension. The hoisting of the upper yard and the unfurling of the
sail has the effect of increasing the tension of the spring until it is fully set.
There is a duplicate spring at the other end of the yard and roller, so that the
action of two springs are constantly exerted on the roller to roll the sail up and
so reef or furl it. These springs should have sufficient power to keep the sail
wound on the roller when reefed, that is to say, in other words, the power of the
wind should be be insufficient to overcome the tension of the springs, as, if such
were the case it would cause the sail to unroll when reefed. It will be evident
that a sail roller so fitted will reef or furl a sail rapidly and immediately on
the lowering of the yard. The tension of the springs might further be so

page_text: regulated as to give way a little when the wind blows in heavy gusts, which
would ease the sail and prevent its damage by the extreme force of the wind.
It will be readily understood that, the sail being held below by the
sheets, when the yard and roller are raised the sail will be unrolled and
spread, causing the roller 6 to rotate as the one end of the spring is fixed to
its axis while the other is stationary and fixed to the barrel 2, the effect
of the roller's rotation will be to coil up the spring and increase its tension
the more the sail is spread, which tension remains at all times available
for the purpose of reefing and furling the sail. Instead of volute springs, as
described, the roller may be constructed in the manner of a spring roller blind,
that is to say, hollow and containing helical springs to operate the sail roller,
as above described. In this case the roller rotates in a fixed axis or pin at
each end secured to a bracket on the yard arm; the one end of the helical
spring is fixed to the fixed axis; whilst the other is secured to the interior of
the roller. As this is well understood in its application to roller blinds it will
be unnecessary to further describe it or to illustrate it by Drawings. The yard
is to be raised and lowered in the ordinary manner when furling and reefing
with these spring appliances. Drawings are also unnecessary to illustrate reefing
and furling by the application of dead weights according to the last part of this
Invention, as it is simply the application of a sufficient dead weight to the
reefing chains applied according to the description given in the Specification of
Patent 974 herein-before referred to, or other similar methods of reefing instead
of the reefing halyards there described. This may be a dead weight applied to
each reefing chain separately, or they may be united, and a pulley suspended
from the double aud a single weight applied to act on both simultaneously.
This may be suspended by a chain and carried low down in the hold of the
ship, and should be provided with suitable guides to keep it steady. Instead
of the dead weight being applied direct to the reefing chains or pulley above
mentioned, a lesser weight may be arranged to act with equal effect through
the medium of blocks and tackle.
Having described the nature of our Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as our Invention, to be protected by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the several arrangements of apparatus for reefing and furling ships'
square sails herein-before described and represented in the Drawings.
We also claim the application of springs or mere dead weights for the
purposes of rolling the sail up on the roller and so reefing and furling it in
the manner and as herein-before described. -

page_text: Secondly, we claim the combination of yard combined with the sail roller
for the purposes herein-before described and as represented in the Figures 12,
13, 14, 15, and 16.
Thirdly, we claim the application of the crutch rest or stay ; to the standard
A in manner and for the purpose herein-before described.
Fourthly, we claim attaching the leading swivel blocks of the sheets of an
upper sail to the standards A leading the reefing chains of the sail imme-
diately below, as and for the purposes herein-before described, as also the
application of a separate standard for such purposes.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Colling and David Gullon
Pinkney, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Nineteenth day of
May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
four.
JOHN COLLING. (L.8.)
D. G. PINKNEY. (L.S.)
JOHN COLLING. (L.B.)
D. G. PINKNEY. (L.S.)