Ships Yards, Spars, and the like.
Year: 1888

page_text: Ships Yards, Spars, and the like.
We, JOHN CAMPBELL, Joiner and ALEXANDER CAMPBELL, Engineer both of
No. 108 Neptune Road, Wallsend on Tyne, 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:-
Our Invention has for its object to provide novel means for disconnecting the
upper parts of the masts of ships, and thus relieving them of top weight, when, in
stormy weather or a high sea, the cargo having shifted, and the vessel on her beam,
there exist serious fears of the vessel foundering, with the consequent loss of life,
vessel and cargo; and by means of our invention we are enabled to supersede and
render unnecessary the well known practice in cases of emergency which has hitherto
obtained, of cutting away the masts, to relieve the vessel from the top weight, hamper
or strain, which operation not only has the disadvantage of occupying considerable
time, but is attended with great danger to those employed in the work.
In order that our invention may be the better understood we have appended the
accompanying 2 sheets of drawings in which Figure 1 represents a divided mast, the
two parts of which are joined together by a screw sleeve or jacket hereinafter to be
more fully described; and, Figure 2 is an elevation of the screw sleeve. Figure 3
shows a divided mast joined by a sleeve secured by means of cottars; and Figures 4,
5 and 6 are details of the same. Figure 7 is a sectional elevation of a divided mast
prepared for receiving the sleeve, Figure 8 is a hinged sleeve, which is secured by nuts
and bolts, and Figure 9 is a plan of same, Figure 8 shows the sleeve open and
Figure 9 closed. Figures 10, 11, 114, 11³ are respectively plan and elevational views

page_text: of a guide employed in combination with the different arrangements herein described,
being applicable to either metal or wood masts. Figure 12 is an elevational view of a
divided mast, joined by a sleeve secured by bevelled sliding clamps, and Figures 13,
and 14, are details of same.
Referring to Figure 1 the mast K which may be of either metal or wood, is divided
at any convenient point above the deck as at E. At the lower end of the upper part
of the mast K is fitted a short length of metal tube C, leaving a small portion of the
end of the mast uncovered, which latter uncovered end takes into a recess or socket
formed by a thicker metal tube D attached to, and extending beyond the upper end of
the lower part of said mast K. Embracing the tube C, and rigidly fixed thereto and
to the mast, is a sleeve A having a male screw thread formed theron, upon which
latter takes a female screw thread formed upon a sleeve or jacket B, moving freely
upon the lower part of the mast K. The mode of actuating the sleeve or jacket B is
as follows. A vertical spindle F to which motion is imparted by the main or donkey
engine by means of the mitre bevelled toothed wheels N actuated by the shaft O,
working in a suitable stuffing box J, passes through a bracket attached to the belaying
pin hoop G, which latter works freely in a groove formed upon the sleeve or jacket B.
Upon said spindle. F rides freely a pinion H. provided with an internal pin or projec-
tion taking into a longitudinal groove cut in said spindle F, and which pinion H gears
with a toothed wheel H₁ formed upon, and near the base of the sleeve or jacket B
aforesaid. A collar L with tap bolt is provided beneath the stuffing box J to keep the
spindle F in position. On the transmission of motion to the spindle F, the sleeve B is
moved gradually upon the screw A until the whole of the latter is within said sleeve B,
thus ensuring a perfectly rigid and secure joint, which assumes the position shown in
Figure 2. As an alternative method to the foregoing for actuating the sleeve B, we
may dispense with the spindle F, pinion H and toothed wheel H¹, and substitute
therefor a chain or equivalent working in a grooved pulley I formed upon the sleeve B,
and to which motion would be transmitted by a winch or other convenient source of
motive power.
A lower step M is provided for facilitating the raising of a temporary jury mast,
until the weather has moderated sufficiently to allow of the erection of a new mast.
At Figure (sheet 1) is illustrated another method of forming the joint,
according to which, the sleeve or jacket, B is made in two parts, which latter on
being placed upon the mast, are secured together by means of cottars inserted in gibs
formed in the strengthening bands shown in Figures 4 and 6. This being a simpler
method than that last above described, much less time and labor would be required to
connect and disconnect the device.
Another modification of the method of joining a divided mast according to our
invention is shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9 sheet 2 in which the sleeve, as in the case of
the last preceding method, is made in two parts, said two parts being, according to
this modification hinged together on one side and secured over the divided mast by
means of bolts and nuts or equivalents as shown.
A further alternative method is illustrated in Figures 12, 13 and 14 (sheet 2) in
which it will be seen that the sleeve B is in this instance formed in two halves, having
bevelled flanges on the sides thereof, which, when the two halves are placed over the
joint take into a double bevelled slide or clamp holding the two halves of the sleeve B
rigidly and firmly together.
In the last two modifications above described, the belaying pins would be secured
in any suitable position upon the exterior of the sleeves.
In order to prevent the possibility of the upper part of the mast from turning in
its socket we provide in the socket formed by the tube D aforesaid, a projection P,
Figures 10, 11, 11ª and 11³ serving as a guide, which takes into a recess Q formed
in the heel of the upper part of the mast K, thus ensuring it against rotary
movement.

page_text: The improvements above described may also be applied with advantage for con-
necting and disconnecting, ships yards, spars and the like.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is :-
The mode of and means employed for connecting and disconnecting, ships masts,
yards, spars and the like substantially as herein set forth and shown.
·OOOK HAIRY
JAMES STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers,
20, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agent for Applicants.