Improved Reefing Spritsail.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 24th June, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 21st Mar., 1896-Accepted, 24th June, 1896
Improved Reefing Spritsail.
GODFREY TURNER RICHARDS 16 Roebuck Road, Rochester, Kent, Harbour-
Master, Medway Conservancy, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
A design for reefing the spritsail of a barge in a breeze of wind, to prevent the
present system of partly brailing in the sail so detrimental to owners interests by
the wear & tear on the ropes & sails brought about by this practice.
About 7 ft. of the sprite end is fitted with an iron traveller on one side, on this
runs an iron hank which is shackled on to the head cringle of the sail which will.
allow of this head sliding up and down, which at the present time is a fixture. By
lowering 5 feet will allow of over 5 ft. to be taken in on the luff and from 3 to 5 ft..
ou the foot.
The reef-band on the luff is fitted with iron thimbles, through which light wires.
are rove, then through leads on the mast & by proper adjustment made fast to an
up & down chain at the fore part of the mast. The deck end of this chain is
taken to the winch & in a few turns with the equal strain on the wires the sail is.
snug into the mast, the foot is reef'd in the usual way. The canvass now reduced,.
& the barge relieved, so under these conditions with a well-set sail she can.
proceed on her passage, while at the present time being unable to reduce the sail
satisfactorily she is compell'd to come to an anchor to await a change in the-
weather, which means loss of time.
This bond 1 of
T100%
GODFREY TURNER RICHARDS Harbour Master Medway Conservancy Office.
Rochester, 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 :-
The suggested improvement in the method of reefing a barge's spritsail, is to try
and supply a long felt want. The spritsail Fig. 1. is of the usual shape, having a
reef band up and down the luff (A B), with another also on the foot (CD). At
the upper end of the sprit is a sheave with an iron traveller or tub (E) to slide as
required up & down the spar. This allows of the head cringle (F) to be shackled
on to a lug in an iron band fitted around the tub (E). Wire ropes or haulyards.
are rove through the sheave, shackled on to cringle (F) then led down the sprit &
fitted with a purchase (or tackle) at the deck end (G).
The reef band on the luff is fitted with thimbles having fine wires or light chains
rove through them, then into leads on each side of the mast & with proper adjustment
they are afterwards connected to an up & down light chain (H) on the fore part.
The top reefing wires will be seen connect on to a heavy cringle (I).
As a help on the usual yard tackle (J) for holding the sprit.
of the mast.
in the head rope.
LD

page_text: while reefing a wire rope is carried across from the mast head to end of sprit as
shown at (K).
To reef the sail, Fig. 2 slack away the haulyards (G), & heave away on the
reefing chain (H), by this movement the luff (AB) is brought snug into the mast,
the reef on the foot (CD) is then made fast by the reef points in the usual way.
Set tight on the haulyards (G) with the result that the sail is well set & the
present scale is worked out to bring the head (F) down the sprit about 5 feet,
reducing the luff (AB) over 5 feet & from 3 to 5 feet on the foot (CD), the
principle can be adopted for any size reef, which depends on the requirements of
the barge, & the wish of the owner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, & in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is―
The sail being now greatly reduced, the loss of 5 feet leverage at the sprit end,
& the barge considerably relieved, she could now if pressed for time, face the
weather with a well set sail, which under the present conditions of shortening sail
as shown in (Fig. 3) she is unable to do, and compelled to come to an anchor to
await a change, hence a loss of time.
Dated this 20th day of March 1896.
G. T. RICHARDS.