IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO BE APPLIED TO A SHROUD, STAY, OR OTHER PORTION OF THE RIGGING OF A NAVIGABLE VESSEL, IN ORDER TO ENABLE THE SETTING OR TIGHTENING THEREOF TO BE EFFECTED AND MAINTAINED
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ephraim Upham Thompson, of Bristol, of the
State of Maine, of the United States of America, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO BE APPLIED TO A SHROUD,
STAY, OR OTHER PORTION OF THE RIGGING OF A NAVIGABLE VESSEL, IN ORDER
TO ENABLE THE SETTING OR TIGHTENING THEREOF TO BE EFFECTED AND
MAINTAINED."
Sealed the 11th October 1860; and dated the 3rd August 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ephraim Upham Thompson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 3rd August 1860.
I, EPHRAIN UPHAN THOMPSON, of Bristol, of the State of Maine, of the
United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO BE APPLIED TO A SHROUD, STAY,
OR OTHER PORTION OF THE RIGGING OF A NAVIGABLE VESSEL, IN ORDER TO ENABLE
THE SETTING OR TIGHTENING THEREOF TO BE EFFECTED AND MAINTAINED," to be as
follows:-
This Invention has for its object machinery to be applied to a shroud, stay,
or other portion of the rigging of a navigable vessel, in order to enable the
setting or tightening thereof to be effected and maintained, as follows:-
For these purposes there is attached to the shroud chains of the vessel (or

page_text: other point to which rigging is to be fixed) by a pin passing through suitable
eyes, or otherwise, a metal bar which is forked at its further end. To the end
of shroud, stay, or other rope to be made fast, a metal thimble is fitted; this
thimble has two lugs formed on it externally, and, by suitable shackles these
lugs are connected to one end of a metal bar, which is made of a wedge form,
the thinner end of the bar being that which is shackled to the thimble above
mentioned. The shroud or rope is made fast by placing the wedge-shaped
bar between the prongs of the forked bar, and slipping retaining rings over
the said prongs, so as to close them upon the wedge-shaped bar.
In order to set up the shrouds or other portions of rigging, an apparatus is
employed, consisting of hook or claw suitably formed to embrace the end of
the forked bar, where it is connected with the shroud chain or other point;
into the stem of this hook or claw a screw enters, there being a hole or passage
formed in the stem of the hook or claw to receive the screw, and tapped with
an internal thread to correspond with the screw; a similar claw is also
employed to embrace and hold the end of the wedge-shaped bar which is
shackled to the shroud or rope, and this claw is pin-jointed to a bar, which
also at its other end receives a screw; this latter screw is made in one piece
with the screw before mentioned, but the thread is cut in the opposite direction.
It will be seen that by turning the screws above mentioned by. means of a
Je head formed on them, the two claws will be drawn closer together and
the rigging thus set up; it is afterwards made fast by driving the retaining
rings further down on the forked bar, as before mentioned. The bar to which
the upper hook or claw of the setting up apparatus is jointed, has several holes
formed in it, so that the hooks or claws may be set at different distances apart,
as may be required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Ephraim Upham Thompson in the Great; Seal, Patent
Office on the 1st February, 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EPHRAIM 3
UPHAM THOMPSON, of Bristol, of the State of Maine, of the United States of
America, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of August, A. D. 1860, in the twenty-fourth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant 3
unto me, the said Ephraim Upham, Thompson, Her special license that I, the

page_text: •
said Ephraim Upham Thompson, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Ephraim Upham Thompson, 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 of new and useful "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS TO BE APPLIED TO A SHROUD, STAY, OR OTHER PORTION OF THE
RIGGING OF A NAVIGABLE VESSEL, IN ORDER TO ENABLE THE SETTING OR TIGHTENING
THEREOF TO BE EFFECTED AND MAINTAINED," upon the condition (amongst others)
that T, the said Ephraim Upham Thompson, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, 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 Ephraim Upham Thompson, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in which the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the follow-
ing Specification and the accompanying Drawings; of which, Figure 1 denotes
a front view; Figure 2, a side elevation, and Figuro 3, a longitudinal section
part of my Invention which I term the "shroud retainer,"such Figures
also exhibiting the manner in which it is to be applied to a shroud.
of that
Figures 4 and 5 are side and front views of the "contractor," or part used
for tightening the shroud.
Figure 6 represents the retainer and contractor as applied together and to
a shroud, and the "chain" connection pin preparatory to and during the
process of setting up or tightening such shroud.
The nature of my Invention consists, first, of a "shroud retainer" composed
of wedged and jawed parts, and one or more embracing collars, all being con-
structed and applied together substantially as herein-after specified.
Second, of a contractor, or a peculiar mechanism for setting up or tightening
a shroud or rope, such contractor being used in connection with the said
retainer, in manner as herein-after explained.
The difficulties and ordinary modes of setting up or tightening rigging
after it may have become loose or slack from any cause, are generally well
known to mariners and riggers. With my Invention the tightening of a
shroud or rope, and maintaining or securing such in a. tightened state, can
easily be accomplished, and, generally speaking, with a great saving of labor

page_text: and time in comparison to what are usually expended by the modes, or apparatus,
beretofore in use for such purposes.
In the Drawings A denotes a rope or shroud as connected to that part of
my Invention which I term the retainer, and which is, shown at B. In the
construction of the retainer I form it, of three, principal parts a, b, c. The first,
of these, viz., a is a wedged or tapering. bar, having its, lesser end suitably.
connected to one end of the shroud. The next part, or that marked b, consists
of two, springs or jaws k, k, which embrace opposite tapering-sides of the bar a,.
and are connected together at their lower ends, their connection d being
suitably formed for being attached by a pin C to the head or upper end of one.
of the shroud chains of a vessel. Instead of being. so fastened or secured to
the, vessel, the part 6 may be otherwise affixed thereto. The part c, of which
there may be one or more (two being shown in the Drawings), consists of a
collar or ring going around the two parts a, b, and fitting closely to them.
The upper or wedged part, a is exhibited as connected to, a metallic thimble
or head D, properly affixed to the shroud or rope, the connection being by
means of two, links, f, f, and, a bolt or pin 9 going through them and the
upper end or part of the said bar, a. The links are respectively suspended
from two, eyes h, h, arranged on, opposite sides of the thimble. The slider or
part c serves, to clamp the jaws k, k, against the tapered sides, of the part a.
b
The "contractor" consists, first, of two reversed male screws l, m, projected
in opposite directions from, a capstan head n; second, of a foot claw o fur-
nished with a female screw at one end to receive one of the said male screws;
third, of a bar 2, not only formed at one end with a female screw to receive
the other male screw, but with a series of holes r,,,, made. transversely
through it, and at various distances, apart, as shown in the, Drawings; fourth,
of an adjustable claw or hooks, made with a forked end so as; to, embrace the
bar
P, and to be connected to it by, a pint extended, through the claw, and, one
of the holes r, r, r, above named.
In the, use or performance of my Invention the. "contractor" is, to, be
applied alongside of the retainer, and, so that the claws o, s, may hook as
shown in Figure 6 respectively upon the two, outer ends of the parts, a, b.
This having been done, if a lever be inserted. in, the capstan, head. n,, and; the
latter be turned in a proper direction by such lever, the, two screws, l, m, will
be made to revolve, and cause the two claws, to approach, one, another, so, as to
produce a contraction in a longitudinal, direction of the retainer, the, same
serving at the same time to tighten or take up the slack of the shroud. On
sufficient contraction of it having been made, the collar or collars.c should be
driven. downward, toward the larger end of the part a, and so as to contract

page_text: the two spring jaws k, k, upon and cause them to firmly grasp the bar a, such
jaws and the taper of the bar serving to maintain the tightness produced in
the shroud by the action of the contractor.
I claim as of my Invention the shroud retainer as constructed and made to
operate substantially in manner and for the purpose as described.
I also claim as of my Invention, and for the specific application and use as
set forth, the contractor, the same cousisting of the adjustable claw, its curved
bar, the reversed screws, and the foot claw arranged and applied together as
specified.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 14th day
of September 1860.
EPHRAIM UPHAM THOMPSON. (L.S.)