Improvements in Centre Boards for Yachts.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 5th July, 1897-Accepted, 28th Aug.,
1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Centre Boards for Yachts.
We, JOSEPH NORTHUP (Yacht Builder) residing at 213 Java Street, ANGEVINE
NORTHUP (Machinist) residing at 213 Java Street, and HENRY EDWARD NORTHUP
(Carpenter) residing at 29 Diamond Street, all of Brooklyn, in the County of
Kings, and State of New York, United States of America, 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:-
This invention relates to centre boards for yachts, and other sailing vessels,
and the object thereof, is to provide an improved device of this class which is
simple in construction and operation, and which is adapted to be operated by
means of a cord, rope or chain connected therewith, the centre board being com-
posed of two parts which are pivotally connected and which are also pivotally
supported at their ends in a longitudinal slot formed in the bottom or the keel
of the yacht or vessel.
The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the
accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate parts of my improve.
ment are designated by the same numerals of reference in each of the views, and
in which:
Fig. 1, is a central longitudinal section of the hull of a yacht provided with
my improved centre board;
Fig. 2, a central, vertical transverse section thereof;
Fig. 3, a plan view of the centre board detached; and,
Fig. 4, a side view thereof.
In the drawing forming part of this specification, I have shown at 5, the hull
of a yacht which is provided with a bottom 6, and with a metal keel 7, which
is secured to the bottom centrally and longitudinally thereof, in the usual or any
preferred manner; but said metal keel 7, as shown in the drawing, is counter-
sunk in the bottom 6, of the yacht.
The metal keel 7, is provided with a central longitudinal slot S, which opens
downwardly, and at each end thereof, said slot is provided with an upwardly
directed extension 9, which passes into the bottom 6, of the yacht, and the said
slot 8, centrally thereof, is also extended upwardly through the metal keel and
partially through the bottom 6, of the yacht so as to form a triangular space 10,
and at the apex or highest point of this space is an opening 11, through the
bottom of the yacht, and mounted thereover, is a tube 12, which passes upwardly
through the cabin.
The centre board consists of two separate parts 13, and 14, each of which is
provided at its outer end with an upwardly directed extension 16, and the separate
parts 13, and 14, are wider at their inner ends than at their outer ends, and one
of said parts is provided with jaws 17, between which the end of the other part
is pivoted as shown at 18, and passing through the jaws 17, is another opening 19,
with which a metal rod 20, is connected, and the rod 20, extends upwardly into
the tube 12, and connected with the upper end thereof, is a rope, cord or chain 21.
The rope, cord or chain 21, passes upwardly through the upper portion of the

page_text: tube 12, and may be carried by means of pulleys or other devices to any desired
part of the yacht.
The outer ends of the separate parts of the centre board are provided with
slots 23, and through these slots, and through the metal keel 7, are. passed, pivot
pins 24, and the upwardly directed extensions-16, at the outer ends of the separate
parts of the centre board project upwardly into the cavities or recesses formed
in the bottom of the yacht by the upwardly directed extensions 9, of the ends
of the slot 8, in which said centre board is mounted.
By means of the rope, cord. or chain 21, the centre board may be raised into
the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, or lowered into the position shown in
dotted lines in said figure, and when raised into the position shown in full lines
in Fig. 1, said.centre board will be entirely concealed in the longitudinal slot 8,
formed in the bottom of the metal keel 7.
In the 'section shown in Fig. 2, the jaws 17, of the part 14, of the centre board
are shown but the end of the part 13, is not shown, and when the centre board is
raised into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, the bottom thereof, con-
forms to the shape of the bottom of the metal keel 7.
The upwardly directed projections 16, at the ends of the separate parts of the
centre board strike the inner walls of the cavities or recesses 9, when the said
centre board is lowered and help to support the same in the lowered position.
The centre board may be composed of any desired material, and it will thus be
seen that I accomplish the object of my invention by means of a device which is
simple in construction and operation, and comparatively inexpensive.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. A yacht provided with a keel, in the bottom of which is a longitudinal slot
which opens downwardly, and a centre board mounted in said slot, said centre
board being composed of two parts which are pivotally connected at their inner
ends, and the outer ends of which are pivotally mounted in the ends of said slot,
and devices connected with the central portion of the centre board for raising
and lowering the same, substantially as shown and described.
2. A yacht provided with a keel in which is formed a longitudinal slot which
opens downwardly, and a centre board mounted in said slot, said centre board
being composed of two parts which are pivotally connected, and the outer ends of
which are provided with slots through which are passed pivot pins, and one of said
parts being provided at its inner end with projecting jaws or side pieces between
which the inner end of the other part passes, substantially as shown and described.
3. A yacht provided with a keel in which is formed a longitudinal slot which
opens downwardly, and a centre board mounted in said slot, said centre board
being composed of two parts which are pivotally connected, and the outer ends
of which are provided with slots through which are passed pivot pins, and one
of said parts being provided at its inner end with projecting jaws or side pieces
between which the inner end of the other part passes, and said centre board being
provided with means for raising and lowering the same, substantially as shown
and described.
4. A yacht provided with a keel in the bottom of which is a longitudinal slot
which opens downwardly, said slot being extended upwardly at the centre, and
at both ends, and a centre board composed of two parts which are pivotally con-
"nected at their inner ends, and the outer ends of which are provided with upwardly
directed extensions, said outer ends being provided with slots through which are
passed pivot pins, substantially as shown and described.
5. A yacht provided with a keel in the bottom of which is a longitudinal slot
which opens downwardly, said slot being extended upwardly at the middle
thereof, and at each end so as to form upwardly directed cavities or recesses, and
a centre board composed of two parts which are pivotally 'connected at their inner

page_text: ends one of said parts being provided with projecting jaws or side pieces at its
inner end, between which the inner end of the other part passes, said separate parts
being provided at their outer ends with upwardly directed extensions, and with
slots through which are passed pivot pins, and a rod pivotally connected, with
the jaws or side pieces of one of said parts, a tube mounted centrally of the yacht
and extended upwardly therethrough into which said rod passes, and a rope
connected with the upper end of said rod by which said centre board may be
raised or lowered, substantially as shown and described.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.