Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Aug., 1887
Complete Left, 19th Apr., 1888
Complete Accepted, 25th May, 1888
1, ROBERT JAMES RAE of 85 Gracechurch Street London Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of the chain wheels or
cable holders of ships windlasses and capstans, and the means of operating or
controlling the same when hauling in or paying out, the chain cable, and is carried
out in the following manner.
The chain wheel or cable holder of the windlass, is provided as usual with a groove
corresponding in form with the links of the cable, and in addition thereto, one or
more grooves of suitable size are made in or upon the periphery of the barrel or
body of the wheel, which when out of gear is free to revolve on the driving axle of
the windlass.
In order to obtain a more perfect grip, the chain cable after making as nearly as
practicable one whole turn round the chain wheel or cable holder, is made to take one
or more like turns in the extra grooves provided on the barrel thereof for this
purpose, suitable guides being fitted so as to lead the cable from one groove to the
other. In this manner the grip is considerably increased, while the risk of damage
to the windlass, through surging or sudden strains on the cable is greatly diminished.
The chain wheel barrel is connected or geared to the winding gear or axle, by
means of what may be termed male and female friction clutches or brakes, which it
is preferred to construct as follows. In each end of the chain wheel barrel a coned
recess is formed, constituting the female portion of the clutch or brake, the male
portion to correspond with the recess in the outer end of the chain wheel barrel,
consisting of a suitably shaped rim or projection formed upon the inner end of the
warping barrel of the windlass, while the male part of the clutch at the other end of
the chain wheel barrel, may be formed upon the windlass axle, or upon a disc properly
secured thereto.
These Friction Clutches or brakes are thrown in and out of gear by the warping
barrel which is secured on the windlass axle by feathers or keys in such a manner,
that it can be moved to and fro laterally; by means of a nut working along a screw

page_text: formed on the end of the axle, or by other suitable mecanism, so that the clutches or
brakes are held under perfect control during the operation of hauling in or paying
out the cable.
In some cases a seperate strap brake worked by a lover or otherwise is fitted to the
chain wheel barrel of the Windlass in order to keep it under control when the Friction
Clutches or brakes are out of gear.
The Invention may be applied to a capstan by constructing the chain wheel barrel
of same, with grooves and guides as in the case of a windlass, so as to allow the cable
to make more than one turn round the barrel, which is actuated or controlled when
hauling in or paying out cable, by means of a Friction Clutch or brake such as used
for the purpose of the Windlass, and made partly on the upper end of the chain wheel
barrel, and partly on the lower end of the warping barrel, the latter being fitted to
the vertical spindle of the capstan with feathers or keys allowing it to move up or
down when operated by a nut or cap working on a screw formed on the upper end of
the spindle, or by any other suitable mecanism.
Dated this 92nd dox of Aust 1887

page_text: I, ROBERT JAMES RAE of 85 Gracechurch Street London, Engineer 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:-
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of the chain wheels or
cable holders of ships Windlasses and Capstans, and the means of operating or
controlling the same when hauling in or paying out the chain cable, and is carried
out in the following manner.
The chain wheel or cable holder of the Windlass is provided as usual with a groove
corresponding in form with the links of the cable, and in addition thereto one or
more grooves of suitable size are made in or upon the periphery of the barrel or body
of the wheel which when out of gear is free to revolve on the driving axle of the
windlass.
In order to obtain a more perfect grip, the chain cable after making as near as
practicable one whole turn round the chain wheel or cable holder is made to take one
or more like turns in the extra grooves provided on the barrel thereof for this
purpose, suitable guides being fitted so as to lead the cable from one groove to the
other. In this manner the grip is considerably increased, while the risk of damage
to the Windlass through surging or sudden strains on the cable is greatly diminished.
The chain wheel barrel is connected or geared to the winding gear or axle by
means of what may be termed male and female friction clutches or brakes, which it is
preferred to construct as follows. In each end of the chain wheel barrel a coned
recess is formed constituting the female portion of the clutch or brake, the male
portion to correspond with the recess in the outer end of the chain wheel barrel
consisting of a suitably shaped rim or projection formed upon the inner end of the
warping barrel of the Windlass, while the male part of the clutch at the other end of
the chain wheel barrel may be formed upon the Windlass axle or upon a disc properly
secured thereto.
These friction clutches or brakes are thrown in and out of gear by the warping
barrel which is secured on the Windlass axle by feathers or keys in such a manner
that it can be moved to and fro laterally by means of nut working along a screw
formed on the end of the axle or by other suitable mecanism, so that the clutches or
brakes are held under perfect control during the operation of hauling in or paying
out the cable.
In some cases a seperate strap brake worked by a lever or otherwise, is fitted to
the chain wheel barrel of the Windlass in order to keep it under control when the
friction clutches or brakes are out of gear.
The Invention may be applied to a Capstan by constructing the chain wheel barrel
of same with grooves and guides as in the case of a Windlass, so as to allow the cablo
to make more than one turn round the barrel, which is actuated or controlled when
hauling in or paying out cable by means of a friction clutch or brake such as used

page_text: for the purpose of the windlass, and made partly on the upper end of the chain wheel
barrel, and partly on the lower end of the warping barrel, the latter being fitted to
the vertical spindle of the Capstan with feathers or keys allowing it to move up or
down, when operated by a nut or cap, working on a screw formed on the upper end
of the spindle, or by any other suitable mecanism.
As the Invention may be carried out with various modifications in the form of the
clutches and other portions of the Windlass or Capstan, it follows that such details
need not necessarily be constructed as herein shewn and described.
The annexed drawing illustrates the method of applying the Invention.
Fig. 1. is a half plan of Windlass with cable rove on, the cross guide for leading
the cable from one groove to another being omitted and shewn apart in Figs 7, 8 & 9.
Fig. 2. is a longitudinal vertical section of Fig. 1, B B is a nut worked by hand
for throwing the driving clutch C in and out of gear. E. E. is vertical shaft and
gearing used when operating the driving wheel J. J. from the upper deck, F. F. is a
collar for keeping the cable holder D in proper position when paying cable out, K is
the strap of hand friction brake, L is the pawl rim.
Fig. 3. is half elevation and section of cable holder constructed with friction clutch.
G. G. is a cap for operating the clutch.
Figs. 4 & 5. are respectively end and side views of the clutch C. Fig. 2, showing
hand friction brake K operated by the lever A. A. for controlling cable holder when
paying out.
Fig. 6. is an end view of Fig. 2 shewing gear for working Windlass from upper
deck, H. is a pawl.
Fig. 7. is a transverse section of cable holder at A. B. Fig. 2, shewing cross
guide C. C. for leading the cable from one groove to another at P.
Fig. 8. is an elevation of Fig. 7 and cross guide C. C.
Fig. 9. is a plan of cable holder shewing section of cross guide C. C. at P.
Fig. 10. is a side elevation of Capstan with cable rove on, the cross guide being
omitted and shewn elsewhere in Figs. 11, 13 & 14, H. H. are pawls, K is the strap of
hand brake.
C. C. is the cross guide for
Fig. 11. is a sectional plan of Fig. 10 at N. O.
leading the cable from one groove to another, H is a pawl.
Fig. 12. is a vertical section of Fig. 10, B. B is a nut secured to capstan cover,
so that the latter when operated throws the clutch C. in and out of gear, F. is a
collar for keeping cable holder in proper position when paying out, H is a pawl,
K is the strap of hand brake.
ሰ
Figs. 13 & 14 are part side elevations of capstan showing section and back view of
cross guide C. C.
Fig. 15. is a plan of capstan cover partly in section to shew the keys securing
it to the nut B. B in Fig. 12.
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
I claim is
The construction of ships Windlasses and Capstans, the chain wheels or cable
holders thereof being provided with two or more grooves in order that the chain
cable may by means of guides be able to take more than one turn round the said
chain wheels or cable holders as herein substantially described and shewn on the
accompanying drawing.
Dated this 19th day of April 1888.