Improvements in the Method of and in Apparatus for Reefing the Sails of Yachts and other Sailing Vessels.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 1st May, 1894-Accepted, 23rd June 1894
Improvements in the Method of and in Apparatus for Reefing the
Sails of Yachts and other Sailing Vessels.
I HENRY SMYTH GOULD CLARKE, of Barnstaple, in the County of Devon,
Sea Captain, 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 :-
My invention relates to Improvements in the Method of, and in Apparatus for,
Reefing the Sails of Yachts and other Sailing Vessels, and has for its object to
provide means for rolling up the sails of yachts or similar sailing craft, from the
bottom, which operation is known by the term "reefing," in a quicker, readier,
and more effective manner than heretofore, and at a very considerable, saving of
labour.
And in order that the said invention may be the more readily understood, I have
sbewn same upon the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings wherein :-
Fig. 1 is a side elevation shewing the invention applied to the boom of a main-
sail of a yacht.
Fig. 2 being an end view of same looking from the mast.
Referring to the drawings in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding
parts throughout the figures, a is a vertical shaft, working in, and held by, collars b
secured to the mast c by the large bands or collars b³.
The upper extremity of the shaft a is extended in the form of a horizontal
arm a', the end a' of which, is designed to enter a socket formed longitudinally in
the boom d and to constitute a spindle for the said boom to revolve upon.
Upon the end of the boom d which is nearest the mast, is mounted a toothed-
wheel e and also a ratchet f, hereinafter referred to. The horizontal arm a' of the
shaft a is provided with a vertical stanchion or support a' having a horizontal
arm a, to which is fulcrummed a lever g having a handle 9' at one end, and a
forked rod g pivoted to the other extremity. The lower forked extremity of this
rod 9 is pivotally connected to one end of a box h, the other end of which is open
and formed with inwardly-turned flanges h', which are adapted to fit within grooved
paths i provided for the purpose one on each side of the toothed-wheel e, herein-
before referred to.
The said toothed-wheel e and the ratchet fare fixed to the one end of the boom d
preferably by means of the iron jaws j, or by any other suitable arrangement.
In operation the handle g' is raised, thereby depressing the other end of the
lever g and with it the forked-rod g³, which being pivotally connected to the box h,
slides same downwardly along the grooved toothed-wheel e until the handle g' has
been raised to its full extent. When the said handle has been thus raised, it is next
depressed, thereby raising the other end of the lever g and with it the forked
connecting-rod g³, the latter in its movement exerting an upward tendency to the
box h which caused the pawl h pivoted between the sides of same, to press
upwardly against the teeth of the wheele (the said box providing the necessary
purchase) and to revolve such toothed-wheel, and with it the boom d, which as it
revolves, causes the sail d' secured thereto in any non-slipping manner, to be wound
upon same, as will be readily understood.
The boom d is prevented from revolving back on unwinding, by the pawl k
pivoted to the vertical stanchion a' and which engages with the teeth of the
ratchet fas shown.
When the sail d' is to be again hoisted, this pawl k is thrown back out of engage-
ment with the ratchet f and the sail d' then raised in the ordinary manner by means
of blocks and running wear (not shown)

page_text: Above the boom and the apparatus for causing same to revolve the sail
held in proximity to the mast, in the usual manner, by means of hooks / preferably
flexibly attached to rings encircling the mast, which hooks engage suitable eyes / in
the sail. Though in the foregoing Specification the invention has only been
described with reference to main or aft sails, the invention is equally applicable to
the generality of fore-sails.
If found desirable the lever g can be worked from below in lieu of above, as
described:
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 :-
:-
1. The method of, and apparatus for, reefing sails, consisting in constructing the
boom so as to be capable of revolving, by providing one end with a socket designed
to receive a spindle projecting from a vertical shaft secured to the mast in such a
manner as to be capable of freely revolving, substantially as described and
illustrated.
2. The improved method of, and apparatus for reefing sails, consisting in
constructing the boom so as to be capable of revolving upon a spindle projecting
from a vertical shaft capable of a revolving movement, such boom being revolved
by a lever fulcrummed to the arm of a vertical support and having pivoted at one
end a connecting-rod, pivotally connected to a box sliding in grooved paths upon a
toothed-wheel mounted upon end of the said boom, such toothed-wheel being
actuated by the upward movement of a pawl pivoted in the said box, the apparatus
being prevented from turning in a reverse direction, or unwinding, by means of a
pawl pivoted to the arm of the vertical support, and a ratchet fixed to the end of
the boom, substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated.
3. The improved method of, and apparatus for reefing sails, substantially as and
for the purpose described, and illustrated by the drawings.
HUGHES, SON & Co.,
38, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.