IMPROVEMENTS IN TOP SAIL SHEET BITS OR BOLTS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Ponsonby, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Provision Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
TOP SAIL SHEET BITS OR BOLTS."
Sealed the 19th September 1862, and dated the 23rd June 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Ponsonby at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 23rd
June 1862.
I, HENRY PONSONBY, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Provision
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN TOP SAIL SHEET BITS OR BOLTS," to be as follows:-
The top sail sheets of ships and other vessels are usually made fast to
stationary bits or bolts fastened in or to the deck or lower mast. And it has
been found and is well known that lower yards do not act so freely as is
necessary, and that in working vessels at sea greater strain is sometimes
tbrown on one sheet than on the other.
Now the object of my Invention is to remove the objections just-named,
and I accomplish this by using an apparatus made of iron or other suitable
material, with pins, studs, eyelets, or other projections to which the respective
sheets are made fast at either side, and which apparatus by having its ends
rested or. stepped in bushes is free to make a partial revolution with the lower
yard under the slings of which I prefer placing it in a vertical line. The

page_text: said apparatus can most advantageously be formed by forging in iron and the
main shaft or trunk of the same, from which the pins, studs, eyelets, or other
projections branch off is placed vertically and has both ends resting in or
secured by bushes or steps fastened to the lower mast or to the deck. All the
pins, studs, eyelets, or other projections to which the top sail sheets are made
fast branch laterally from a space occupying longitudinally about one-third of
the circumference of the vertical main shaft or trunk above named, and thus
leave sufficient space to allow the apparatus if placed close to the lower mast
to travel freely with the yards for the purpose herein-before stated.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Ponsonby in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd December 1862:
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
PONSONBY, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Provision Merchant,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Henry Ponsonby, Her special licence that I, the said Henry Ponsonby, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry
Ponsonby, my 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
TOP SAIL SHEET BITS' OR BOLTS'," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Henry Ponsonby, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly 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 I, the said Henry Ponsonby, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the saine is to be performed,

page_text: ment (that is to say):-
The top sail sheets of ships and other vessels are usually made fast to
stationary bits or bolts fastened in or to the deck or to the lower mast. And
it has been found and is well known, that lower yards do not act so freely as
is necessary, and that in working vessels at sea greater strain is sometimes
thrown on one sheet than on the other.
All
Now the object of my Invention is to remove the objections just named
and I accomplish this by using an apparatus made of iron or other suitable
material, with pins, studs, eyelets, or other projections to which the respective
sheets are made fast at either side, and which apparatus by having its ends
rested or stepped in bushes, is free to make a partial revolution with the lower
yard, under the slings of which I prefer placing it in a vertical line. The said
apparatus can most advantageously be formed by forging in iron and the main
shaft or trunk of the same, from which the pins, studs, eyelets, or other
projections branch off, is placed vertically and has both ends resting in or
secured by bushes or steps fastened to the lower mast or to the deck.
the pins, studs, eyelets, or other projections to which the top sail sheets are
made fast branch laterally from a space occupying longitudinally about one-
third of the circumference of the vertical main shaft or trunk above named,
and thus leave sufficient space to allow the apparatus, if placed close to the
lower mast, to travel freely with the yards for the purpose herein-before
stated. That the modification of my Invention described in the paragraph
immediately preceding this, and that that form of apparatus which I prefer,
as herein-before stated, and which serves as a delineation of the principle of
construction may be particularly ascertained, I have hereunto attached a Sheet
of explanatory Drawings. Fig. 1 shews a side view of part of a lower mast,
top mast, top sail sheets, and my improved "bit" or "bolt" in elevation, and
of a lower yard in section; Fig. 2 a front elevation of the same parts; and
Fig. 3 a sectional plan of the same at A, B. In all the views like letters of
reference denote the same parts.
a represents the lower mast; b, the top mast; c, the lower yard; d, the top
sail sheets carried down through the usual blocks; e, f, the bands secured to
or around the lower mast, with spaces, sockets, or steps g, formed therein for
the ends of the shaft or trunk of the "bit "or "bolt"; h, i, the arms branching
from the said trunk or shaft. The top sail sheets are carried from the blocks e
and passed through the eyelets ; on the ends of the arms i thence they are
carried and belayed to the upper arms or branches respectively one to either
side.
"Bits" or "bolts" of a similar or somewhat similar form may have
.

page_text: the main shaft or trunk, or its equivalent, placed horizontally on or near to
the deck to which the bearings would be fastened by through bolts or otherwise,
or such "bits" or "bolts" may be secured to both the deck and the lower
mast.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and particularized
means of carrying the same into use or effect, I would have it understood, that
I do not confine myself to the form or proportion of parts herein mentioned
and laid down in the Drawings, nor do I confine myself to any particular form
or shape of apparatus, but what I claim as my Invention is,-Top sail sheet
"bits" or "bolts" constructed and arranged to move freely with the yard
and to equalize the strain on the said top sail sheets.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Ponsonby, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
In the presence of
JOHN THOMSON KING,
Patent Agent,
Liverpool.
HENRY PONSONBY. (L.S.)