CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN REEFING THE SAILS OF SHIPS OR VESSELS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Brouard and Joseph Hubert, of 39, Rue
.
de, l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire of France, and 4, South Street,
Fin sbur, London, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
REEFING THE SAILS OF SHIPS OR VESSELS."
Sealed the 3rd February 1857, and dated the 19th August 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Brouard and
Joseph Hubert at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 19th August 1856.
We, JOSEPH BROUARD and JOSEPH HUBERT, of 39, Rue de l'Echiquier,
Paris, in the Empire of France, and 4, South Street, Finsbury, London, do
hereby declare the nature of our Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
REEFING THE SAILS OF SHIPS OR VESSELS," to be as follows, that is to say:-
Our Invention relates to improvements in the methed of reefing the lower
sails, topsails, and topgallant sails of vessels, by the adoption of which im-
provements the use of reef lines, and the tablings at the edges, and bolt ropes,
are dispensed with, and the division of the sails in the middle rendered un-
necessary.
The improvements consist, first, of an iron ring, guide, or support fixed
to the upper yard and boom. In the lower ring the additional lower yard

page_text: (upon which the sail is reefed) rotates; secondly, of a new form of iron
bracket or support, furnished with a hook, for sustaining and strengthening the
lower rotating yard in the middle; thirdly, in the peculiar. arrangement of
pulley blocks and tackle for reefing the said sails thereby requiring fewer
hands to work them.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawing represents the ring support; and
Figure 2, a front view of a portion of a mast with a sail; Figure 3, a side view
of the same; Figure 4, detail of the supporting hook and bracket; Figures 5
and 6, front and end view of a modification of the same; Figure 7, front view
of another mast and sails, and Figure 8 a side view of a portion of the same.
In carrying out this Invention, a ring support, Figure 1, is formed of two
or three iron rings connected together. The ring E is firmly fixed at each
end of the upper yards G. In the lower ring E', the two ends of the lower
additional yard F are made-to rotate, and to the third ring support E at the
back is fixed the main boom Z. The ends of the yards are cased with iron to
protect them from wear. The lower yard is cylindrical, and is supported and
strengthened by a hook N, fixed to an iron hoop, bracket, or support B, one
end of which surrounds the mast; the other end supports the upper yard G.
From this end project two arms K, K'; to one is fixed a lever. L, and the other
is provided with a hard wood roller Q. To the long arm of the lever is attached
a tackle rope X, descending to the deck, and to the short arm of the lever is a
hook N, furnished with a joint or hinge, and an eye, to which is tied a haul
line Y, for putting the hook in and out of action This hook supports the
yard, and strengthens it when the sail receives the wind.
A modification of the above iron support consists of a hoop, Figures 5 and 6.
Firmly fixed to the upper yard to the hoop is attached a hook G, which in this
case is stationary. Two of these hooked supports are placed at a suitable
distance apart on the yard, and connected together at the top by an iron piece.
At the bottom a pin, upon which a roller of lignum vitæ works, may be placed
to the hooks of the upper masts. Between the two hooks, and secured to the
mast and top connecting piece of iron, is a moveable safety arm L, provided
with a joint or hinge, which is made to lift up when the lower rotating yard is
to be introduced. To lessen the friction of the yard, when in motion, three
small lignum vitæ pulleys H, H, H, are fixed at the bottom of each hook, and
two upon the safety arm. The reefing of the lower sails is effected by the lift
lines S, which pass round the lower rotating yard a sufficient number of times,
and thence over a pulley T', fixed at each end of the upper yard, and to pulleys
T fixed to the mast, from which the lines descend to the deck. For the top-
sails, a lift line passes over a pulley fixed to the crosstrees of the topmast,

page_text: and at the mast head, and descends lower than the latter, the sails being at
the same time struck on the tenon without being rolled. The topsails are also
provided with double tackle U and sheaves; this tackle is fixed to the foot of
the mast or other suitable place by a pin. The double tackle at the end of the
runner must be placed at the height of the deck. The parallel position of the
tackles will determine the horizontal position of the yard. For the topgallant
sails, the simple tackle is placed at about four feet above the shrouds of the
mast. Upon the sail being bent to its lower yard and brought to the tenon, if
it is hoisted by means of the halyard, it will be necessary to weight on the lift
at the same time, in order to keep them always stretched. When the sail is
raised to its proper elevation, the halyard is turned, and the suspension tackle,
fixed by its tie X on the long arm of the lever P, is hauled taut; this causes
the hook N to take hold of the lower yard and support it in the middle. The
yard and the sail are then ready to receive the wind.
When it is necessary to reef the sail, the lifts S are pulled taut and turned,
the halyard and tackle V of the sail are veered out, and the haul line X is
pulled to separate the supporting hook from the yard. The weight of the
yards which are held by the lifts compels the lower yard to turn promptly,
and that rotatory motion coils the sail, which is then reefed. If the sail is
not sufficiently stretched it is necessary to weight over the ties to stretch
it. For the lower sails, the yards must be disposed as those of the topsails,
and supported in the same manner. As some time is necessary to pay out
more ties to the lifts, ties are added, a piece of chain of the required
length, for the reefing of the sail, about four feet above the clamps: The
end of the chain is fixed to the lower sail. For the other sails, they are
reefed by means of reef tackle. Two pulley blocks C are fixed to the main:
and fore tackle pendants of the lower yard, and are level with it. A
length of rope B, Figure 7 and 8, is then taken, according to the dimen-
sions of the sail, and having twice the length of the yard; in the middle
a pulley block D is stropped. In each pulley of the pendant of the yard
one end of the rope is passed, going to the larboard, and the other to the
starboard, prolonging at the same time the lower yard up to the cleat R,
Figure 8, into which each end of the rope will pass, and afterwards coil the
lower yard as much as is necessary to reef the lower sail, and to which these
ends are fastened, as before described. By this arrangement, the pulley D,
fixed in the middle of that rope which becomes a reef tackle tie, is suspended
under the lower yard against the lower mast. The end of a rope E is passed
through the above pulley and descends on deck. At the end of the rope,
against another pulley F, two pulley blocks are stropped, to make a tackle

page_text: which will also reach the deck. In working that tackle, the two ends of the
reef tackle ties are stretched at the same time. This action alone determines
the turning of the lower yard, and consequently the reefing of the sail as
much as is required. By this operation the original lifts of the lower yard
are used as before. It is therefore not necessary to send a man at each end
of the yard to pass a wedge through the large eyes of the chain lifts, and
their suppression leaves only one more operation to perform.
For reefing the topsails, the lifts S are united to the top of the block of the
lower mast. A single pulley T is fixed to this point, in which one end of the
rope is introduced, which forms a rest in the crosstrees, and the other end is
fixed to the two pulley blocks, which form a tackle with a single pulley on deck.
By this means a tackle block is suppressed. The two lifts united work more
regularly, and the working is rendered more simple and prompt by employing
fewer hands on deck.
For the reefing of the topgallant sails, the lifts are united to the top of the
crosstrees of the mast. A single pulley X is fixed at this joint; one end of the
rope Y is passed through the pulley, and forms a rest in the crosstrees of
the mainmast; the other end descends on deck, and being arranged accord-
ingly, suffices for the reefing of the sail.
In this new mode of reefing the sails, to obviate the inconvenience of the
flapping of the sail in the inside, the pulley Z and tackle are furnished. When
the topsails descends to the height of the lower reefs, the sides remain constantly
stretched, and the wind cannot enter inside. The ends of the tackle O are
fixed in the ordinary way; they afterwards pass in a mortice I at the end
of the yard, to about the middle of which they pass in a small pulley fixed on
the same yards; from there they pass in a small pulley J fixed under the
crosstrees, and descend to belay the beam of the sail.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph Brouard and Joseph Hubert in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 13th February 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOSEPH
BROUARD and JOSEPH HUBERT, of 39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire
of France, and 4, South Street, Finsbury, London, send greeting.
3
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord 8

page_text: One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said
Joseph Brouard and Joseph Hubert, Her special license that we, the said
Joseph Brouard and Joseph Hubert, our executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as we, the said Joseph Brouard and Joseph Hubert, our execu-
tors, 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 ex-
pressed, 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 REEPING THE SAILS OF SHIPS OR
VESSELS," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Joseph
Brouard and Joseph Hubert, by an instrument in writing under our hands
and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us, 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 we, the said Joseph Brouard and Joseph Hubert,
do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement theref, reference being had to the Drawing
hereto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to
say:
Our Invention relates to improvements in the method of reefing and furling
the lower sails, topsails, and topgallant sails of vessels, by the adoption of
which improvements the use of reef points, tablings, and bolt ropes are dis-
pensed with, and the cutting or slotting of the sails in the middle rendered
unnecessary.
The improvements consist, first, in constructing a boom iron with an addi-
tional hoop, in which the lower yard (upon which the sail is reefed) rotates;
secondly, of a new form of hoop, furnished with a hook, for sustaining and
strengthening the lower rotating yard in the middle; thirdly, in the peculiar
arrangement of pulley blocks and tackle for reefing the said sails, thereby
requiring fewer hands to work them. The same letters in the accompanying
Drawings represent the same parts.
Figure 1 on Sheet 1 is a side view of a mast with the improved tackle, truss
hoop, and hook attached; Figure 2 is a side view of the same, showing the
sail unfurled; Figure 3 is a front view of the sail reefed; Figure 4 is a side
view of the saine; Figures 5 and 6, front view and plan of the topsail yard,

page_text: shewing the mode of attaching it to the mast; Figure 10, end view of the
main and rotating yard with tackle; Figure 11, plan of a portion of the main
yard; Figure 12, front view of the same and the lower reefing yard, together
with an end view of the same in the truss hoop and hook.
Figure 7, on Sheet 2, is a detail view, representing the main yard, lower
rotating yard, and boom attached to the boom iron, also the lever and tackle
for putting the book in and out of gear; Figure 8, a side view of the same;
Figure 9, side view of the boom iron with the additional hoop; Figure 13
represents a side view of a foremast, foretop mast, and fore-topgallant mast,
with the improved tackle, pulley blocks, and truss hoops together. Figure 14
is a front view of the same, shewing the foresail, fore-topsail, and fore-top-
gallant sails spread and bent to their respective yards; Figures 15, 16, and 17,
front and side views of modifications of the truss hoop with the supporting
hook.
In carrying out this Invention, the boom iron, Figure 9, is formed with an
extra hoop. The hoop E is firmly fixed about twenty inches from each end of
the upper yards G, Figure 12. In the lower hoops E¹ the two ends of the
lower reefing yards F are made to rotate, and to the third hoop E" is fixed the
boom Z, Figure 7; the latter hoop is placed at the back of the yards to pre-
serve the sail from rubbing against the shrouds when the ship is close hauled.
The width of the sail is regulated by the length of the cylindrical part of the
lower reefing yard, which at the ends H are made conical, and cased with iron
to protect them from wear. The lower yard F is supported, strengthened, and
kept in a horizontal position by a hook N on the truss hoop J fixed to the
"parral" which surrounds the mast. The truss hoop J supports the upper
yard G.
From this hoop project two arms K, K¹; to one is fixed a jointed
lever P, Figure.7, and the other K' is provided with a hard wood roller Q,
Figure 12. To the long arm of the lever is attached a tackle rope X, descending
to the deck, and to the short arm M of the lever, Figure 7, is a hook N,
furnished with a joint or hinge, and an eye O, to which is fastened a line Y for
putting the hook in and out of action. This hook supports the yard and
strengthens it when the sail receives the wind. The inside of the hook is made
flat and smooth; it is one-third the size of the yard with the sail reefed, and its
strength is in proportion to the same.
The modifications of the above truss iron hoop consist of a hoop, Figures 15,
16, and 17, Sheet 2, firmly fixed to the upper yard. To the hoop is attached
a hook G, which in this case is stationary. Two of these booked trusses are
placed at a suitable distance apart on the yard, and are connected together at
the top, Figures 15 and 16, by an iron piece M, M At the bottom a pin I

page_text: upon which a roller of lignum vitæ or other hard substance works, may be fixed
to the hooks of the upper masts. Between the two hooks, and secured to the
mast and top connecting piece of iron is a moveable safety arm L, provided
with a joint or hinge, which is made to lift up when the lower rotating yard
is to be introduced. To lessen the friction of this yard when in motion, three
small lignum vitæ pullies H, H, H, are fixed at the bottom of each hook, and
two upon the safety arm. The rotation of the lower yard is effected by means
of the lifts S, Figures 2, 3, 7, 10, and 12, which pass round the lower reefing
yard at the part I a sufficient number of times.
To ascertain the number of revolutions of the lifts on the yard, divide the
length of the sail to be reefed by the circumference of the yard, the quotient
will shew the number, to which is added one and half revolutions to have the
lifts rather rolled and tangented to the yard.
For the reefing and furling of the topsails, a lift passes through two pulley
blocks T, Figures 2, 3, 7, fixed to the under part of the cap of the topmast,
and at the mast head, and descends to the deck; the sails being at the same
time struck on the tenon without being furled. The topsails are also provided
with double tackle U, Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4; this tackle is fixed by an eye
bolt in the deck. The double tackle at the end of the runner must be placed
nt the height of the deck. The parallel position of the tackles will determine
the horizontal position of the yard. For the topgallant sails the simple tackle
is placed at about four feet above the shrouds of the mast. Upon the sail
being bent to its lower yard and brought to the tenon, if it is hoisted by means of
the haulyard it will be necessary to weigh on the lift at the same time in order
to keep them always stretched. When the sail is raised to its proper elevation
the haulyard is turned, and the suspension tackle, fixed by its tie X on the
long arm of the lever P, Figure 7, is hauled taut; this causes the hook N to
take hold of the lower yard and support it in the middle. The yard and the
sail are then ready to receive the wind.
When it is necessary to reef the topsail, the lifts S, Figures 1, 2, and 7, are
pulled taut and turned, the haulyard and tackle V of the sail are veered out,
and the haul line X is pulled to separate the supporting hook from the yard.
The weight of the yards, which are held by the lifts, compels the lower yard to
turn promptly, and that rotatory motion coils the sail, which is then reefed.
If the sail is not sufficiently stretched it is necessary to weigh over the ties to.
stretch it. For the lower sails, the yards must be disposed as those of the top-
sails, and supported in the same manner. As it is necessary sometimes to pay
out more ties to the lifts, tics are added about four feet above the clamps, and
a piece of chain of the required length for the reefing of the sail. The end of

page_text: the chain is fixed to the lower sail. The lower sails are reefed by means of
reef tackle, Figure 13, Sheet 2. Two pulley blocks C are fixed to the main
and fore tackle pendants of the lower yard, and are level with it; a length of
rope B, Figures 13 and 14, is then taken, according to the dimensions of the
sail, and having twice the length of the yard; in the middle a pulley block D
is stropped. In each pulley of the pendant of the yard one end of the rope is
passed going to the larboard, and the other to the starboard, prolonging it at
the same time on the lower yard up to the cleat R, Figure 14, into which each
end of the rope will pass, and afterwards coil the lower yard as much as is
necessary to reef the lower sail, and to which these ends are fastened, as before
described. By this arrangement, the pulley D, Figure 1, fixed in the middle
of that rope, which becomes a reef tackle tic, is suspended under the lower
yard against the lower mast. The end of the rope E, Figure 18, is passed
through the above pulley and descends on deck. At the end of the rope
against another pulley F two pulley blocks are stropped to make a tackle,
which will also reach the deck. In working that tackle the two ends of the
reef tackle ties are stretched at the same time. This action alone determines
the turning of the lower yard, and consequently the reefing of the sail as much
as is required. By this operation the original lifts of the lower yard are
used as before. It is therefore unnecessary to send a man at each end of the
yard to pass a bolt through the large meshes of the chain lifts, and their sup
pression leaves only one more operation to perform.
For reefing and furling the topsails the lifts S are united to the top of the
block of the lower mast. A single pulley T, Figure 13, is fixed to this point,
in which one end of the rope is introduced, which forms a rest in the cross
trees U, Figures 13, 14, and the other end is fixed to the two pulley blocks V,
Figure 13, which form a tackle with a singlo pulley on deck. By this means
a tackle block is suppressed. The two lifts united work more regularly, and
the working is rendered more simple and prompt, by employing fewer bands
on deck.
For the reefing of the topgallant sails the lifts are united to the top of the
crosstrees X, Figures 13 and 14, of the mast. A single pulley is fixed at
this point, one end of the rope Y is passed through the pulley block and forms
a rest in the crosstrees of the topgallant mast, the other ond descends on deck,
and being arranged accordingly, suffices for the reefing of the sail.
In this new mode of reefing the sails, to obviate the inconvenience of the
flapping of the sail in the inside, the pulleys Z, Figure 14, Sheet 2, are em-
ployed. When the topsail descends to the height of the lower reefs the sides
remain constantly stretched, and the wind cannot enter inside. The ends of

page_text: the tackle O, Figure 14, Sheet 2, are fixed in the ordinary way; they afterwards
pass in a sheave hole I at the end of the yard, and through a small pulley
block J, Figure 14, fixed on the same yard; from there they pass through a
small pulley K, Figure 14, fixed under the crosstrees, and descend to belay
the beam of the sail, see Figure 14, Sheet 2.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner in
which it may be carried out, we would have it understood that we do not confine
ourselves to the precise details herein laid down, as many variations may be
made without deviating from the general principle; but what we claim, and
wish to be secured by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,
First, the general arrangement of apparatus or means for reefing and furling
the sails of ships and other vessels, so as to dispense with the use of reef points,
tablings, and bolt ropes; also to render the cutting of the sails in the middle
unnecessary, as before described, and represented in the accompanying
Drawing.
Secondly, the construction of the boom iron and truss hoop and hook, for
the purposes herein-before described, and represented in the annexed
Drawing.
Thirdly, the peculiar arrangement of tackle and pulley blocks, as herein-
before described, and shewn in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said Joseph Brouard and Joseph Hubert,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Sixth day of February, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
JOSEPH BROWARD