IMPROVEMENTS IN REEFING FORE AND AFT SAILS OF VESSELS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Griffith Brewer, of Chancery Lane, London, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REEFING FORE AND AFT SAILS OF
VESSELS." A communication from abroad by Parker Charles Marsh, of
Northampton, in the State of Massachusetts, United States of America,
Sealed the 11th July 1876, and dated the 13th January 1876.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Edward Griffith Brewer at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, on the 13th January 1876.
EDWARD GRIFFITH BREWER, of Chancery Lane, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
REEFING FORE AND AFT SAILS OF VESSELS." Communicated to me from abroad by
Parker Charles Marsh, of Northampton, in the State of Massachusetts, United States
of America.
The object of the Invention is a convenient, safe, and simple device, for reefing
fore and aft sails of vessels of all sizes, from the smallest pleasure yacht to vessels
carrying the largest mainsails, whereby fore and aft sails can be reefed in a few
minutes without changing the vessel's course, making lee way, or shivering the sail
in the wind.
The Invention relates to the reefing of fore and aft sails of vessels by the
revolving of the boom winding the sail around it, and the means employed for
revolving the boom and securing the sail, and the easy and proper working of the
same. The boom may revolve either way inside of a loose boom iron, and the sail
lowered from the top and rolled on the boom at the same time, until the throat of
the gaff is lowered down to the boom if desired. A sliding apron is used where a
sail is made to run over the stern of a vessel so far that the boom iron cannot be
carried outside of it and get a good lead for the sheets from the taftrail.
Fig. 1 is a full side view of a small yacht.
Fig. 2 is a section of a boom and collar.
Fig. 3 is a detailed view of the apparatus for rolling the boom.
Fig. 4 is a view of worm gear.
Fig. 5 is a top view of fair leaders.

page_text: line V or rope attached to each hoop to keep them in their respective places. The
fair leaders H, Fig. 5, are preferably mado of malleable cast iron galvanized to
avoid rusting the sail, they are attached to each hoop G and nearly encircle the
bolt rope of the sail, leaving just sufficient space for the canvas itself to pass
through, so that on rolling down the sail when the first hoop lands the sail draws
through easily till the next hoop lands, and so on, until the sail is all rolled up on
the boom.
When making more sail by unrolling and hoisting it, each hoop will find its
proper place at any time night or day without any assistance, and preserve its
proper distance froin its adjacent hoop by means of the small line V referred to.
It will be observed that the boom iron I revolves on an iron collar a, having a
shoulder on the inner edge surrounding the boom and fastened thereto, three
friction rollers c, c, c, Fig. 6, are affixed therein to lessen the friction of the boon
iron upon it when the boom is revolving. The boom iron I surrounds the boom
and collar a and plays loosely, it has two projections b, b, one on either side to
receive the bale fto which the top lift X is attached for supporting the boom.
The lower part of the boom iron I contains a traveller g, to which is hooked a
sheet block for securing the sail. As the ring I is at a great distance from the mast
head and suspended from it by the top lift X, there would naturally be a great
deal of friction on the collar a; this is easily obviated by the friction rollers c set at
equal distances apart, as above referred to, which readily allows the boom iron ring
to revolve easily in its bearings. The worm gear and jaws are made of iron of
sufficient strength for the purpose intended, the larger the boom the heavier will be
the iron parts thereto. J is the worm gear with collar M and side straps M', which
run alongside of the boom one on each side a short distance, the length of which are
proportionate to the size of the gear, and are bolted or screwed into the boom
at N, N. In the centre of the jaws L at the rear end is a wrought-iron or steel
arbor, axle, or wrist pin Q, and which runs through an opening in the centre of the
worm gear J and into the centre of the boom, and is keyed by a pin R let into it
through a hole in the boom, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The boom D is thus firmly
attached to the jaws, but the hole in the worm gear is sufficiently large to enable
the boom to revolve easily. The gear is rather wider in diameter than the boom, so
that the accumulation of the sail and bolt rope will not rise above or come in
contact with the teeth on its edge; each of the hoops G may be provided with a
small friction roller K, if desired, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3, to facilitate the
movement of the hoops up and down the mast while hoisting and lowering the sail,
most frequently the latter. As there is only about two inches of bearing of any
hoop on the inast these rollers will be about that length, being smaller in the
middle which gives it a corresponding circle with the mast. The said rollers will
be constructed of wood with steel axle set in iron bearings, so that instead of masts
being scraped or greased for the hoops to glide freely they may be painted, which
will look much better.
By reference to Fig. 4, it will be seen how the boom is revolved. The worm gear
which is attached to the boom is acted upon by the endless screw J¹ turned by the
handle O, the said endless screw being supported in its place by a shaft T in the
journal bearings S. The leverage power of the screw and gear thus obtained easily
revolves the boom; the opposite end of the said shaft T can also have a handle
attached similar to the one shown, so that the labor of reefing a very large sail will
be reduced.
The sail will be fastened to the boom as follows:-An iron or wood jack stay i,
Fig. 3, will be passed through eyes o screwed into the upper side of the boom, and
the sail fastened to the said jack stay by small pieces of rope jor foot stops; wood
jack stays may also be used." A small drum jl may be attached at each end of the
screw shaft T for a turn of the peak or throat halliards for the purpose of assisting
to hoist the sail aloft, and at the same time, unrolling it from the boom, it serves to
steady the sail in either case. An adjustable saddle Y composed of a chafing
band; a shaft n and brackets pis bolted to the mast in the most convenient

page_text: position for the jaws of the boom to rest upon; it is made in two sections one on
cach side, so that no matter at what angle the boom rests against the mast it will
always be supported. The dotted lines in Fig. 1 show a yacht with a longer boom
and the sail running some distance over the stern; in this case instead of placing
the boom iron at the end of the sail as in Fig. 1, I place it a convenient distance
from the end of the sail, and use a sliding apron F in the sail similar to that known
as Cunningham's patent square top sail, to which no claim is made.
I claim,
First. In combination with the boom 1 of a fore and aft sail, the application and
arrangement of worm gear J and endless screw J with handle O for revolving the
boom D for reefing fore and aft sails, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Second. In combination with the jaws Land boom D, the axle or wrist pin Q
fastened by pin R for connecting the said parts, as specified.
Third. In connection with the boom D the shouldered collar a provided with
friction rollers c, c, c, for the boom iron to revolve upon, as and for the purpose
specified.
Fourth. In combination with the boom D and collar a the boom iron I with
projections b, b, bale f, and circular traveller g, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
Fifth. In combination with a fore and aft sail, the application of a sliding
apron F, as and for the purpose specified.
Sixth. In combination with the mast hoops G and fore and aft sails, the
arrangement of the fair leaders H attached to said hoops and sail for sliding on the
bolt rope and holding the sail, as specified.
Seventh. In combination with the hoops G, the arrangement of the rollers K
attached thereto, as and for the purpose specified.
Eighth. In combination with the boom D and worm gear, the arrangement, of the
saddle Y with chafing band m, shaft n, and brackets p, bolted to the mast,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, 1, the said Edward Griffith Brewer, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
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