AN IMPROVED CAPSTAN TO BE USED ON BOARD SHIPS, IN CAPSTAN HOUSES, WHARFS, &C., OR WHERE ANY GREAT WEIGHT IS TO BE RAISED OR RESISTANCE OVERCOME
Year: 1798

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
BOLTON, Esquire, Commander in His Majesty's Navy; send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third did, by
His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date
at Westminster, the Tenth day of March, in the thirty-eighth year of His
reign, give and grant unto me, the said William Bolton, His especial licence
that 1, the said William Bolton, during the term of years therein mentioned,
should and lawfully might use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and
the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "AN IMPROVED CAPSTAN TO
BE USED ON BOARD SHIPS, IN CAPSTAN HOUSES, WHARFS, &C., OR WHERE ANY GREAT
WEIGHT IS TO BE RAISED OR RESISTANCE OVERCOME;" in which said Letters
Patent there is contained a proviso obliging me, the said William Bolton, by
an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, to cause a particular
description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court
of Chancery within one calendar month after the date of the said recited
Letters Patent, as in and by the same (relation being thereunto had) may
more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
William Bolton, do hereby declare that my said Invention of a Machine called
an Improved Capstan, to be used on board Ships, on Wharfs, or where great
Weight is to be Raised or Resistance Overcome, is described in the Plan drawn

page_text: above, and in the explanation or description herein-after mentioned or con-
tained (that is to say):-
Fig. 1st represents the sections of the different parts of the machine, ex-
pressed as follows:-a, the spindle of the capstan, made of iron; b, a wheel
fitted with teeth to the capstan on the lower deck; c, teeth, each bolted to the
wheel; d, boxes of friction rollers for the step and partners on the main
deck; e, cast iron plates secured to the spindle, and to which the great wheel
. and woodwork are respectively fastened; f, bolts; g, drumheads; h, whelps;
i, the interior of the capstan; k, stanchions for the support of the endless screw,
mounted on the side of the .capstan to the wheel b;. 1, center pieces for the
stanchions to turn on; m, endless screw and axis; n, axis of a pinion; o, cog
wheel fitted on the axis of the endless screw; p, a pinion fitted on n, adapted
to the wheel o; q, keyhole in the axis of the pinion; r, section of a chain to
be applied where great force is required; s, section of an iron pulley. for the
chain, and to be lashed on the cable or weight; t, side view of ditto.
Plan 2d represents a view of the machine, with all its powers, as prepared
to break a ship's cable. The general properties of this machine consists of
power and velocity,-velocity from diminised friction-power from the almost
immediate application of mechanical assistance, as will be best understood by
a description of it's use in weighing a ship's anchor. The machine itself con-
sists of a capstan, as in common, with an iron spindle, friction rollers, &c., and
a wheel fitted at a proper height for working on the spindle of the deck capstan.
On one side are fitted stanchions, which support an endless screw. These
stanchions move on centers, the upper ends of which go in groves cut in the
main deck beams, and kept to their work by the bolts a, Fig. 2. To detach
the screw from the teeth of the great wheel, take these bolts out, and the
whole is drawn back with ease, turning on the centers at b, Fig. 2d. To
detach or apply the pinion of the wheel O, on the arber of the endless screw,
it is only necessary to pull it backwards or forwards, as it may be, either from
or to it's working, putting a key through the hole g, Fig. 1st, to keep it to or
from it's work. The axis of both screw and pinion terminate in similar squares,
and are worked by handles or winches, as may be.
Method of using the capstan.-The screw is to be kept detached until the
application of it is necessary; supposing a great deal of cable is out, or little
resistance, the capstan is in all respects to be used as a common capstan. This
power being insufficient the endless screw is to be applied, and which is done
instantly, as before described. The winches are fixed, and may be carried as
far as may be necessary, as exhibited in Fig. 2d. Should this power be still
too little, the pinion is then to be applied and the wrinches to be applied to it's

page_text: axis, for which purpose the half stanchions d, Fig. 2d, are fitted with center holes
agreeably, and the winches are kept to their work by pins passing thro' them.
As the machine at this time possesses great power, it is to be supposed the
messenger has been slacked down, and the chain used in it's stead singly by
securing one end to the ring bolt e, Fig. 2d, in the capstan, and nippering it to
the cable. Should this strength and power be insufficient, it will then be
necessary to lash the iron block on as exhibited in the Plan No. 2, to the cable,
and double the chain by reeving, it, and securing the end to the main mast or
elsewhere. In this state it has all it's powers applied, and fewer men than is
ordinarily required for a common capstan will either weigh the anchor or break
the cable. In case velocity is at any time wanted, the powers are detached
almost instantly, and the capstan used simply as a common one. Whilst the
improved powers of the capstan are on, no palls are necessary; but in case of
using the machine as a common capstan, it pulls at every two inches by means
of a dropping pall, which, when not wanted, is kept clear of the teeth of the
wheel sunk into the deck, Fig. 2, by a pin put under it. As many of these palls
may be fitted as thought necessary, taking care to let them act in opposite
directions. It is proper to observe, that the strength of the machine must always
exceed the strength of the ship's cable. All the extra parts of this machine,
excepting the great wheel, may be put into the hold when the ship is at sea.
The advantages of this improved capstan will be an opportunity of weighing
a ship's anchor in all situations where it is possible, without any essential loss
of time. Power and velocity may be used discriminately. One man, at a
round calculation, will do as much as one hundred in the common way. All
the guns of a ship may be fought at the time of weighing, and all the decks
left clear for working. The chain, if applied to an anchor, will ride a ship on
rocky coasts in the heaviest gales, and weighed (if possible) with facility by
means of the iron block. And for this safety to ships I claim all the merit of
the Invention and adoption; but the essential part for which I claim my
right title to the Invention is the principle of applying and detaching the
mechanical powers, by which the properties of velocity and power are pre-
served in the same machine. Neither are the advantages of this machine
confined to weighing ships' anchors, as a bower cable may be applied to any
ship on shore, or to remove any obstacle; and used on careening wharfs, it
would much facilitate in the heaving down of ships.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Bolton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand seven hundred and ninety-eight.
WILLIAM BOLTON. (L.S.)

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the same Tenth day of April,
in the year above mentioned, the aforesaid William Bolton came before our
Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification afore-
said, and all and every thing therein contained, in form above written. And
also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the
Statute in that case made and provided.
Inrolled the same Tenth day of April, in the year above written.