IMPROVEMENTS IN MASTS FOR SHIPS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Cowper Phipps Coles, of Southsea, in the County of
Hants, Captain, Royal Navy, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MASTS FOR SHIPS."
Sealed the 3rd October 1862, and dated the 10th April 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Cowper Phipps Coles
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 10th April 1862.
1, COWPER PHIPPS COLES, of Southsea, in the County of Hants, Captain,
Royal Navy, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MASTS FOR SHIPS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in constructing masts of a central and two side tubes
of iron or steel. The tubes pass through and are keyed to the decks, the
central tube being carried in a direct line, while the two side tubes extend
from the central tube at their bases, and are carried up at an incline till they
unite with the central tube at or near the upper part. The central tube is
continued upwards to form the top mast, or a separate tube is fitted thereto.
The mast becomes as it were self-supporting, and shrouds and other supporting
rigging are dispensed with.
15 SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Cowper Phipps Coles in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
10th October 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, COWPER
'PHIPPS COLES, of Southsea, in the County of Hants, Captain, Royal Navy,
20 send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Cowper Phipps Coles, Her special licence that. I, the said Cowper
Phipps Coles, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Cowper Phipps Coles, 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 MASTS FOR SHIPS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Cowper Phipps Coles, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly 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 Cowper Phipps Coles, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, that is to say:-
My Invention consists in constructing masts of a central and two side tubes
of iron or steel. The tubes pass through and are keyed to the decks, the
central tube being carried in a direct line, while the two side tubes extend
from the central tube at their bases, and are carried up at an incline till they
unite with the central tube at or near the upper part. The central tube is
continued upwards to form the topmast, or a separate tube is fitted thereto.
The mast becomes as it were self-supporting, and shrouds and other supporting
rigging are dispensed with.
Figure 1 is a side elevation, and Figure 2 a back view of a mast constructed
according to my Invention. a is the central tube or mast proper, and b, b, are
the side tubes united to each other at their upper ends, and to the central
tube by means of bolts passed through flanges or otherwise; c, c, are strengthen-
ing plates. The central tube a is continued upwards to form the topmast.
The tubes are keyed to the deck d the central tube a is carried down to
and stepped to the "kelson," while the tubes b, b, are stepped in the "bilge
of the ship, as shown at e, e, or they may be cut short and secured to the
"

page_text: lower deck h; ff, f, are tie rods for uniting the tubes, and for supporting a
flooring, round which hammocks may be fixed, as shown at f. Figure 1, to
afford protection to riflemen stationed on the flooring; 9, 9, 9, are apertures in
the tubes a, and b, b, through which ropes or chains for working the sails,
which I prefer to be fitted with Cunningham's patent reefing apparatus, may
be carried to the lower deck h, in order that the men working the sails
need neither be sent aloft nor exposed on the upper deck d. Cross trees
may be fitted at the junction of the tubes, and a top for carrying a top-
mast may be added instead of the tube a, itself forming the topmast.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim the construction
of masts for ships of iron or steel tubes substantially in manner and for
the purposes herein-beforo described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Cowper Phipps Coles, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Tenth day of October One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-two.
COWPER P. COLES. (L.s.)