Improvements in and connected with Sails and Rigging of Ships, Steamers, and other Vessels.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Sept., 1892-Accepted, 8th Oct., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
Improvements in and connected with Sails and Rigging of Ships,
Steamers, and other Vessels.
I, HENRIC CHRISTIAN VOGT of No. 31 Holsteinsgade, Copenhagen in the
Kingdom of Denmark Civil Engineer and Naval Architect do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
According to my invention which relates to vessels of fore and aft rig I con-
struct sails spars and rigging of such ships steamers and other vessels so that the
sail abaft the mast is firmly attached to the same which latter thus forms the rigid
fore edge of the sail whereas the sail itself can be hauled very flat by being hauled
out towards the ends of gaffs or sprits of which a sufficient number are mounted
at right angles to the mast more or less. The improvements further consist in
doing away with the necessity for hoisting and lowering the sail and the consequent
labour involved therein as the said sail is brailed up and reefed alongside the mast
which latter is preferably made of steel in one piece and supported by only a few
strong stays in order not to catch the wind too much. By these improvements a
great saving is further effected in the amount of labour required to set, stow or
reef the sails.
As the speed of the wind increases from the water level and upwards the said sail
surface acts under similar conditions as a propeller blade or the wing of a bird which
also meets the water or air respectively under increasing speeds from the boss or
body towards the tips. The wing of an albatross is perhaps the best model for a
sail for sailing close-hauled the mast representing the rigid fore-edge of the bird's
wing while the sail itself represents the flexible part of the bird's wing.
The circumstances under which steamers are superior to sailing ships are in
head winds and calms but when a ship is correctly rigged even the energy in
contrary gales should be made useful when a ship is able to sail within four points
of the wind. A square rigged vessel is however generally unable to beat up
against a gale of wind and its stranding follows when on a lee shore. The efficient
use of a sail when close hauled increases in about the same proportion as the angle
of incidence of the wind on the sail decreases, arrangements by means of the said
gaffs are therefore so made as to keep the sail flat to such an extent that the wind
may be utilized to the best advantage. The sheets are preferably made to give to
any abnormal strain as for instance when the sail is struck by a puff of wind and I
attain this by using springs in or on the said sheets so that under varying pressures
a smaller or larger angle of incidence is obtained. As further the pressure on a
close hauled sail mainly results from the attenuation or rarefaction of the air on
the lee side of the sail near to the mast, it should be as impermeable to the air as
possible, and on no account should there be any opening between the mast and the
Sail; when a sail is intended for being hoisted and lowered a close fit between mast
and sail is impossible and the mast cannot form the rigid leading edge.
Figure 1 of the accompanying sheet of drawings is an elevation showing two
masts of part of a vessel, on one mast the sail is set, while the sail is brailed up
alongside the other.
Figure 2 is a detail view on a larger scale.
Figure 3 is a plan section thereof.
Figure 4 is a plan section to a still larger scale and Fig. 5 an elevation thereof
showing one mode of lacing the sail to the mast and other details.
Figs. 6, 7 and 8 show different types of ships or vessels rigged in accordance
with my invention also showing the distance which ought to exist between the sails
to prevent the one sail interfering with the next sail.

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Referring to Fig. 1 where two masts A of part of a vessel are shown with their
sails set and brailed up respectively the sails are supposed to be fastened to the
masts similarly as a sail is ordinarily fastened to a yard; the sails also are brailet
up and reefed alongside the masts approximately as a sail is reefed and brailed up
alongside the yard of a square rigged vessel. The mast is however in a vertical
position while the yard is horizontal, otherwise it is worked in a similar manner
the men taking position when reefing and brailing up, in the rope ladders L between
.bifurcated gaffs G-see Figures 2 to 5 alongside the mast. The sail is set between
the lifurcated gaff's G and the sail is stretched out towards the ends thereof: con-
sequently it is possible to avoid bagging which bagging is not prevented with the
ordinary square sails.
The luff of the sail C may also for instance as shown to a larger scale on
Figures 4 and 5 be laced to the mast by means of two angular slips of canvas S
fastened to the mast longitudinally in such manner that the mast and sail together
form as it were one piece with the mast as the leading edge. The bifurcated
gaffs G are as shown in Figures 2 and 3 so made that the sail hangs in between
their parts or forks and topping lifts T support the said gaffs. The sail can con-
sequently be hauled in towards the mast and out against the after ends of these
gaffs and supported between them when reefing in such an effective manner that
even during a storm the sail remains flat enough to admit of sailing very close
hauled. When a steamer is sailing close hauled the sheets of its sails have to be
sheeted further home than is the case with a sailing ship owing to the speed
already given her by her propeller consequently steamers can be fitted with these
sails when it is impossible to use others of a different construction with advantage.
The weight of the sail is partly taken by the mast and partly by the gaffs G and
in order further not to strain the after leech and outhauls too much, cross pieces O,
which are sewn and supported close to the after leech, rest upon the bifurcated
gaffs and consequently carry their part of the weight of the sail. In order to
allow of going aloft, rope or other ladders L are arranged between the forks of
the bifurcated gaffs and close to the mast as shown more especially with reference
to Figures 1 to 5; half-hoops or stirrups B allow the men when aloft to get round
the mast from one side of the sail to the other.
The dotted lines R represent reef points from which it is seen that the sail area
may be reduced without spoiling the shape of the sail inasmuch as the width
principally is reduced. The stowing of the sail must be made capable of taking
place from the deck, without going aloft, for which reason reef pennants or clew-
lines I together with inhauls only are utilized. The sheets are connected to the
lower boom and vangs are when desired made fast from the end or ends of one or
more of the gaffs aloft either in-board or to the next mast or to bumkins rigged
outboard in order to make the sails set better when the wind is aft. Outhauls and
inhauls are arranged in any convenient manner. From the after leech for instance
opposite the block or sheave K in the gaff end is the outhaul which is led over the
said sheeve K and back again to the mast and from thence to the deck.
Foot ropes F may be used for allowing of going out along the gaffs. In a
squall the sheets and outhauls are let go and the sail may further be brailed
up to the mast. If the sail stretches it may be let down alongside the mast and
be again laced to same. The efficiency of the sails herein described is greatly
increased by the use of the elastic sheets or springs inserted in or on the ends of the
sheets so as to make the sheets elastic as aforedescribed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what 1
claim is:-
First. The construction of gaff or sprit sails for ships steamers and other vessels
in which the sail is laced close to or otherwise secured to the mast so as to make
the mast itself form the leading rigid fore edge of the sail making mast and sail
like one piece similar to a bird's wing.

page_text: Second. In combination with the sails as firstly claimed the application of bifur-
cated gaffs or sprits between which the sail hangs of such a number that the sail
can be hauled sufficiently flat for efficient use when sailing close-hauled, substan-
tially as described and shown.
Third. The construction of gaff or sprit sail provided with elastic sheets or not.
which sail is laced or otherwise secured to the mast and so made as to allow of.
reefing or stowing the sail along the mast substantially as set forth.
Fourth. The construction of standing rigging as set forth.
Dated this 5th day of September 1892.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.