IMPROVEMENTS IN FOLDING CENTRE-BOARDS FOR SAILING VESSELS
Year: 1885

page_text: I ARTHUR WILLIAM LOVELL REDDIE of the Office for Patents 6 Breams
Buildings Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex Patent Agent do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN FOLDING CENTRE-BOARDS
FOR SAILING VESSELS to be as follows:-
This invention relates to that class of centre-boards which are composed of a
number of sections pivotted together and arranged in such manner that they can be
spread. so as to present a large surface to the water when the board is in use, and
folded together so as to be housed in a very small space, either within the boat or
beneath its bottom when the board is not in-use.
It is the object of the invention to provide a board of this character which shall
be stronger and more effective and at the same time capable of more easy and
perfect manipulation and less liable to become fouled or get out of proper working
order than those heretofore in common use.
To this end the invention consists in various details of construction and combi-
nations of parts for attaining the desired results which will now be described.
The board consists of a number of independent sections pivotted at their forward.
ends to a rod supported between a pair of narrow plates secured to the bottom of
the boat or in a recess formed in the keel or keelson thereof. Each of the sections
except the bottom one is composed of two side plates secured to each other at their
upper edges by means of tie rods.
The rods by which the plates forming the several sections are united are of
different lengths so that the plates forming the different sections are held at
different distances from each other in such manner that when the sections are
folded together they will lie one within another and between a pair of housing
plates so as to form little or no projection below the bottom of the boat.
Each independent section should have a sufficient number of these tie rods to
insure the firm holding together of its side plates so as to make the board as stiff
and rigid as possible.
The rods which unite the plates forming the several sections are placed in such
position with relation to each other that when the board is completely folded these
rods will lie side by side in the same horizontal plane and the plates forming each
CD1021

page_text: section are provided with recesses which are of such length as to receive the tie
rods of all the sections above so that when the board is in its folded condition the
lower edges of all the sections will be upon the same line. These tie rods in
addition to giving strength and rigidity to each section of the board also serve as
a means for raising and holding the several sections in their raised position when
the board is not in use as will be hereinafter explained.
A centre-board thus constructed in addition to being easily folded into a small
compass when not in use offers no obstruction to its passage through the water and
is also of the same form upon both sides so that it will not obstruct the steering of
the boat. By making each section of the board of two plates as just described a
board is also provided which is equally strong upon either tack as no matter on
which tack the boat is sailing. the sections are all held together and supported by
each other.
To give greater strength and stiffness to the several sections of which the board
is composed and also to prevent grass or other matter from finding its way into the
space between the plates and affording an obstruction to the spreading and folding
of the board these plates are provided at their rear ends with cross plates securely
rivetted to the sections.
These crossplates are bent at their upper and lower ends to form flanges which
project in opposite directions so that when the sections of the board are spread
they will engage with each other so as to force and hold the several sections down-
ward in their distended condition and also entirely close the opening at the rear
end of the board.
The lowermost section of the board is provided at its upper edge with a projection
which engages with the flange of the cross plate on the next section above it while
the housing plates are provided at their rear ends with a cross plate having a
forwardly extending flange which engages with the flange of the crossplate of the
uppermost movable section.
The board thus constructed is spread and folded by means of a rod located
between the plates forming the several sections and secured to the lowermost
section. This rod is provided with a suitable handle inside the boat. Where the
rod passes through the bottom of the boat it is surrounded by a suitable stuffing
box which serves to form a water tight joint around the rod.
The rod is preferably provided with a joint at a suitable distance above its point
of attachment to the lower section of the board, which will permit the rod after
the board has been fully raised or folded to be turned down so as to lie entirely
out of the way along the bottom of the boat. When the rod is thus turned down
it will hold the board in its raised position.
As the lower end of the rod must necessarily move in the arc of a circle the
angle of the rod with relation to the bottom of the boat varies, in action. To
permit this without causing the rod to bind in the stuffing box a curved rod may
be used and an ordinary stationary stuffing box may be employed but in order to
secure the most free and perfect action of the rod it is preferable that the stuffing
box should be capable of a slight oscillation as the box will then be capable of
accommodating itself to the rod.
To effect this movement of the stuffing box it is mounted upon a plug arranged
in a shell similar in construction to the shell of an ordinary cock. The plug may
be hollow or cast solid with only an opening through it to permit the passage of
the rod and it will be provided with the usual nut and washer by which it can be
tightened in the shell so as to form a water tight joint The shell is provided at its
bottom with an opening of sufficient size to permit the rod to have the necessary
amount of oscillation and at its top with an opening of sufficient size to receive the
stuffing box and also to allow said box to have the necessary amount of oscillatory
movement.
The stuffing box is of substantially the usual construction, consisting of a cup
shaped body of sufficient size to receive the packing material around the rod, a

page_text: follower which fits around the rod and presses downward upon the packing
material and an annular nut which screws onto the body and holds the follower in
place..
The rod is preferably pivotally secured to the lower section.
To prevent the rod when pivotally connected to the lower section from doubling
is lower end is bifurcated and is arranged to embrace a lug or projection extending
upward from the lower section and is provided with a large flat pin which passes
through an opening formed in said projection. Thus after the pin has turned a
certain distance in the opening it will be arrested by the shoulders formed upon the
sides of said opening and prevent the rod from moving further in that direction
making the rod practically rigid for the purpose of forcing the sections of the board
downward while allowing said rod to have sufficient movement to prevent undue
friction in the stuffing box.
Though a rod of curved form is preferred it may be straight and the stuffing box
be made capable of sufficient oscillation to prevent the rod from binding.

page_text: I ARTHUR WILLIAM LOVELL REDDIE of the Office for Patents 6 Bream's
Buildings Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby
declare the nature of the invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FOLDING CENTRE
BOARDS FOR SAILING VESSELS and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
31
This Invention relates to that class of centre boards which are composed of a
number of sections pivotted together and arranged in such manner that they can
be spread so as to present a large surface to the water when the board is in use,
and folded together so as to be housed in a very small space either within the
boat or beneath its bottom when the board is not in use.
It is the object of the Invention to provide a board of this character which
shall be stronger and more effective, and at the same time capable of more easy
and perfect manipulation, and less liable to become fouled or get out of proper
working order than those heretofore in common use.
To this end the Invention consists in various details of construction and
combinations of parts for attaining the desired results, all of which will be
hereinafter fully explained and particularly pointed out in connection with the
accompanying drawings, in which,
:
Fig 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a centre-board constructed according
to the present invention, the sections composing the board being shewn distended,
or in the position that they will occupy when the board is in use.
Fig 2 is a similar view shewing a different form of rod for spreading and
folding the sections.
Fig 3 is a similar view shewing the sections folded together, or in the position
they will occupy when the board is not in use.
Fig: 4 is a rear elevation of the distended board.
Fig 5 is a cross section taken upon the line x x of Figures 1 and 2.
Fig 6 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the stuffing box through which the
rod for spreading and folding the sections of the board, passes.
Fig 7 is a similar view taken upon the line x. x. of Fig: 6.
Fig: 8 is a horizontal section taken upon the line x. x. of Fig: 7.
Figures 9. 10. 11. 12 and 13 are views upon an enlarged scale shewing details
which will be hereinafter referred to.
:
Fig 14 illustrates another form of stuffing-box which may be used with the
rod shewn in Fig: 1.
Referring to said figures it will be seen that the board consists of a number of
independent sections A which are pivotted at their forward ends to a rod B
supported between a pair of narrow plates C secured to the bottom of the boat or
in a recess formed in the keel or keelson D. Each of the sections A except the
bottom one is composed of two plates a. which are secured to each other at their
upper edges by means of short tie rods, 2, of the form shewn in Fig: 11, which
are securely rivetted to the plates.

page_text: By reference to Fig: 5 it will be seen that the rods 2. by which the plates a.
forming the several sections are united are of different lengths so that the plates
forming the different sections are held at different distances from each other, in
such manner that when the sections are folded together as shewn in fig: 3 they
will lie one within another and between the plates C so as to form little or no
projection below the bottom of the boat.
The number of rods, 2, by which the plates forming each section of the board
are united, may be varied according to circumstances, but each section should always
have a sufficient number of these tie rods to ensure the firm holling together of
the plates so as to make the board as stiff and rigid as possible.
.
By reference to Figures 1 and 2 it will be seen that the rods 2 which unite the
plates forming the several sections are placed in such position with relation to
each other that when the board is folded to the position shown in Fig: 3, these
rods will lie side by side in the same horizontal plane, and it will also be observed
that the plates forming each section are provided with recesses which are of such
length as to receive the tie-rods of all the sections above, so that when the board
is in its folded condition the lower edges of all the sections will be upon the same
line. These tie rods, in addition to giving strength and rigidity to each section of.
the board, also serve as a means for raising and holding the several sections
in their raised position when the board is not in use, as will be hereinafter
explained.
It will readily be seen that a centre board thus constructed, in addition to its
capability of being readily folded into a small compass when not in use, possesses
the advantage of being perfectly smooth and uniform upon its outside when
spread into form for use, so as to afford no obstruction to its passage through the
water, and is also of the same form upon both sides, so that it will not in the
least affect the steering of the boat. By making each section of the board of two
plates as just described a board is also provided which is equally strong upon
either tack as no matter on which tak the boat is sailing the sections are all held
together and supported by each other..
In order to give still greater strength and stiffness to the several sections of
which the board is composed, and also to prevent grass or other matter from
finding its way into the space between the plates composing the sections and thus
affording an obstruction to the spreading and folding of the board, the plates
forming each section are provided at their rear ends with cross-plates, 4, which are
securely rivetted to the sections by means of the projecting lugs 5. These plates, 4,
are bent at their upper and lower ends, as best shewn in Figures 9 and 10, so as to
form flanges 6-7 which project in opposite directions and are in such position
that when the sections of the board are spread, as shewn in Figures 1 and 2, they
will engage with each other so as to force and hold the several sections downward
in their distended condition, and also entirely close the opening at the rear end of
the board.
The lowermost section of the board, which as before stated consists of a single
plate and is consequently not provided with one of the cross plates 4, is provided
at its upper edge with a projection 8 which engages with the flange 7 of the cross-
plate 4 on the next section above it, while the housing plates C are provided at
their rear ends with a cross plate, 24, having a forwardly extending flange which
engages with the flange 6 of the cross-plate of the uppermost movable section, all
as shewn in Figures 1 and 2.
The board thus constructed is spread and folded or lowered into and raised from
its operative position by means of a rod, 9, which is located between the plates
forming the several sections and is secured to the lowermost section at a point
somewhat in the rear of the middle of its length and extends upward, terminating
with a suitable handle inside the boat. Where the road 9 passes through the
bottom of the boat it is surrounded by a suitable stuffing-box which serves to
form a water-tight joint around the rod.

page_text: The rod 9 will preferably be provided with a joint, as 11, located a suitable
distance above its point of attachment to the lower section of the board which
will permit the rod after the board has been raised to the position shewn in
Figure 3, to be turned down, either to the front or rear so as to lie entirely out of
the way along the bottom of the boat. When the rod is thus turned down, the
portion just above the joint will lie across the top of the stuffing box, as also
shewn in Fig: 3 so as to hold the board in its raised position. The rod 9 may be
provided with a number of holes located at different points along its length
through which a pin can be inserted so as to hold the board in a partially unfolded
condition, when it is desired to expose only a part of the board to the water, or
when the use of a board of full size is not necessary. When the board is applied
to boats of large size so that it will be necessary or desirable to employ tackle to
raise the board, the joint, 11, may be dispensed with as in such case the rod will
usually extend upward along the side of the mast, and there will be consequently
no objection to its remaining in an upright position.
It will be seen that in the act of folding and unfolding the board, the lower end
of the rod 9 being secured to the lower section of the board must necessarily move
in the arc of a circle so that the angle of the rod with relation to the bottom of
the boat is constantly changed. To permit this constant change in the position of
its lower end without causing it to bind in the stuffing-box, the rod is made of the
curved form shown in Figures 1 and 14. When the rod is made of this form an
ordinary stationary stuffing box may be employed as shewn in Fig: 14, but in
order to secure the most free and perfect action of the rod it is preferable that
the stuffing-box should be capable of a slight oscillation, as shewn in Fig: 1 as the
box will then be capable of accommodating itself to the rod, so as to prevent the
latter from binding in case it should be imperfectly curved or should become
sprung or bent in using.
To effect this movement of the stuffing-box it is mounted upon a plug 12 (see
Figures 6. 7 and 8) which is arranged in a shell 13 similar in construction to the
shell of an ordinary cock. The plug 12 may be hollow as shewn in the present
case, or it may be cast solid with only an opening through it to permit the
passage of the rod 9, and it will be provided with the usual nut 14, and washer 15
by which it can be tightened in the shell so as to form a water tight joint. The
shell 13 is provided at its bottom with an opening, 16, of sufficient size to permit
the rod 9 to have the necessary amount of oscillation and at its top with an
opening, 17, of sufficient size to receive the stuffing-box and also to allow said box
to have the necessary amount of oscillatory movement.
The stuffing box is of substantially the usual construction, consisting of a cup-
shaped body, 10, of sufficient size to receive the packing material around the rod,
a follower, 18, which fits around the rod and presses downward upon the packing
material and an annular nut 19 which screws onto the body and holds the follower
in place.
The rod 9 may be of any desired form in cross section, but will preferably be
of rectangular form and of considerably greater width than thickness, as by making
it of this form a very stiff and strong rod is secured within dimensions that will
permit of its being readily introduced between the plates which form the next-to-
the lower section of the board. When the rod is made of this form the opening in
the nut 19 must of course, be of a diameter equal to, or somewhat greater than the
greatest diameter of the rod.
When a stuffing box of this character is employed the rod 9 may be rigidly
secured to the lowermost section of the board as shewn in Fig: 1, but to secure the
greatest ease and freedom of action the rod will preferably be pivotally secured to
the lower section, as shewn in Fig: 14.
When the rod is connected to the lower section in this manner and is also
provided with a joint, at 11, to permit of its being folded down so as to lie along
the bottom of the boat when the board is raised, it has been found in practice that

page_text: in pushing the rod downward to spread the sections it will, if the sections fail to
turn freely upon their pivot, sometimes double upon the joint 11 so as to fail to
spread the board to its full extent. To prevent this doubling of the rod the joint
or pivot by which it is attached to the lower section of the board is constructed as
follows. The lower end of the rod is bifurcated, and is arranged to embrace a lug
or projection, 20, extending upward from the lower section, and is provided with a
large flat pin 21, which passes through an opening 22, formed in said projection as
shewn in Figures 12 and 13. By reference to Fig: 12 it will be seen that after the
pin 21 has turned a certain distance in the opening 22, it will be arrested by the
shoulders formed upon the sides of said opening, thus preventing the rod from
moving further in that direction, and making the rod practically rigid for the
purpose of forcing the sections of the board downward, while allowing said rod to
have sufficient movement to prevent undue friction in the stuffing box.
When an oscillating stuffing-box is used, it is not absolutely necessary that the.
rod 9 should be of the curved form shewn in Figures 1 and 14, though such form
is preferable. It may be straight as shewn in Figures 2 and 3, the stuffing box
being made capable of sufficient oscillation to prevent the rod from binding.
A centre-board thus constructed and arranged will be operated as follows.
When it is desired to use the board the rod 9 (if jointed) will be turned up from
the bottom of the boat and pushed downward through the stuffing-box, the plug 12
upon which the box is mounted (if the stuffing box is an oscillating one) rocking
sufficiently during this operation to allow the rod to assume different angles with
relation to the bottom of the boat as its lower end is carried through the arc of a
circle by the lower section of the board. If any of the sections should stick.
between the housing plates C, or fail to turn freely upon the rod B, the flanges 6-7
and the projection 8 engaging with each other as shewn in Figures 1 and 2 will
cause all of the sections to be forced downward to the proper position.
When it is desired to raise the board the rod 9 will be drawn upward through
the stuffing-box thereby raising the lower section against the tie-rods 2 of the
section next above, so as to raise said section, which in turn will be brought against
the tie-rods 2 of the section next-above, and so on until all the sections have been
drawn up one within another and between the housing plates C as shewn in
Fig: 3-By then turning the rod downward onto the bottom of the boat all of the
sections will be held in their raised position. If instead of entirely raising the
board it should be desired to only reduce its area it may be raised as far as desired,
and a pin then inserted through one of the openings with which the rod 9 may be
provided so as to hold the board in that position.
The plates constituting the several sections of the board may be made of any of
the materials usually employed for such purposes, but galvanized_sheet iron or
sheet brass will usually be found best adapted for the purpose. In some cases
however where great strength is required it may be desirable to form these plates.
of steel.
The number of sections of the board and their width will depend upon the size
of the board required, and the character of the boat to which it is to be applied.
It will usually of course be found most desirable to make the sections comparatively
narrow, so that when they are folded together they will occupy but little space.
A board constructed in the manner described can be secured to the boat so as to
lie entirely beneath the bottom, or it can be placed in a recess formed in the keel
or keelson. In the former case the board when folded will project only the width
of the plates C below the bottom of the boat, and this projection will be so slight
as to be unobjectionable in many cases. In the latter case it may be located so
that when folded it will form no projection below the bottom of the boat, and when
located in a recess in the keel or keelson the sides of the recess will form a suitable
housing for the sections so that the plates C may be dispensed with. If the board
is so located that when raised the lower edges of the sections will not project below
the bottom of the boat, a very small closed well may in some cases be necessary but

page_text: owing to the farrowness of the sections this well will not project above the floor of
the boat and consequently will not be objectionable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to
me by my Foreign Correspondents, I declare that what I claim is
1. The combination with a centre board composed of a number of sections
pivotted at one end in a recess formed in the keel or keelson of the boat, of a rod
attached to one of said sections and extending upward through the bottom of the
boat for folding and spreading said sections, and a stuffing box for forming a water-
tight joint around said rod substantially as described.
2. The combination with a centre board composed of a number of sections
pivotted at one end in a recess in the keel or keelson of the boat, each of said
sections except the lower one consisting of two plates as a, of a rod attached to the
lower one of said sections and extending upward between the plates of the other
sections and through the bottom of the boat for folding and spreading said sections,
and a stuffing box for forming a water-tight joint around said rod, substantially as
described.
3. A centre board composed of a number of pivotted sections, as A, each of which
sections except the lower one is composed of two plates as a, which are united at
their rear ends by cross plates which serve to enclose the space within the board
substantially as described.
4. A centre board composed of a number of pivotted sections, as A, each of which
sections except the lower one is composed of two plates as a, which are united at
their rear ends by the cross plates 4, having the flanges 6-7 substantially as
described.
5. A centre board composed of a number of pivotted sections, as A, each of which
sections except the lower one is composed of two plates, as a, which are rigidly
united to each other at their upper edges by one or more tie-rods, as 2, and each of
which sections except the upper one is provided with a recess or recesses for
receiving said tie rods when the sections are folded together, substantially as
described.
6. A centre board composed of a number of pivotted sections, as A, each of
which sections except the lower one is composed of two plates as a. which are
rigidly united to each other at their upper edges by one or more tie-rods as 2, and
at their ends by cross-plates as 4 having flanges 6-7, substantially as described.
7. The combination with a centre board composed of a number of pivotted
sections, as A, each of which sections except the lower one is composed of two
plates as a. united at their rear ends by cross plates as 4, of a rod as 9, secured to
the lower one of said sections and extending upward inside the other sections and
through the bottom of the boat, and a stuffing-box for forming a water-tight joint
around said rod, substantially as described.
8. The combination with a centre board composed of a number of pivotted
sections as A, each of which sections except the lower one, is composed of two
plates as a. united at their rear ends by cross plates as 4, of a rod as 9, secured to
the lower one of said sections and extending upward inside the other sections and
through the bottom of the boat, and having a joint, as 11, by which it can be
folded down onto the bottom of the boat and a stuffing box for forming a.
water-tight joint around said rod substantially as described.
9. The combination with a centre board composed of a number of pivotted
sections, of a curved rod as 9, secured to one of said sections and extending upward
through the bottom of the boat, and a stuffing-box for forming a watertight joint
around said rod, substantially as described.
10. The combination with a centre board composed of a number of pivotted
sections of a rod, as 9, secured to one of said sections and extending upward
through the bottom of the boat, and an oscillating stuffing box for forming a.
watertight joint around said rod, substantially as described.

page_text: 11. The combination with a centre board composed of a number of pivotted
sections, of a curved rod secured to one of said sections and extending upward
through the bottom of the boat, and an oscillating stuffing box for forming a
water-tight joint around said rod, substantially as described.
12. The combination with a centre board composed of a number of pivotted
sections each of which sections except the lower one is composed of two plates as a
which are rigidly united to each other, of the curved rod 9 secured to one of said
sections and extending upward between the others and through the bottom of the
boat and a stuffing-box for forming a water-tight joint around said rod substantially
as described.
13. The combination with a centre board composed of a number of pivotted
sections, of a jointed rod, as 9, passing through the bottom of the boat for raising
and lowering said sections, a stufling box for forining a water-tight joint around
said round, and the pivotal connection, as 21-22, between said rod and the lower
section of the board, whereby said rod is permitted to oscillate for a limited distance
but no further, substantially as described.