IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LIPTING AND FOR FACILI TATING THE WORKING OR STEERING OF SHIPS OR VESSELS
Year: 1850

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SAMUEL
BAXTER, of Wapping, in the County of Middlesex, Shipwright, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Twelfth day of December, in the fourteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Samuel Baxter, Her especial license, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said Samuel Baxter, my exors, adññors, and assigns, and such others
as I, the said Samuel Baxter, my exors, adññors, or assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during the term
of years therein mentioned, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed,
my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LIPTING AND FOR FACILI
TATING THE WORKING OR STEERING OF SHIPS OR VESSELS;" in which said Letters
Patent is contained a proviso obliging me, the said Samuel Baxter, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, particularly to describe and
ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, and to cause the same to be inrolled in Her Majesty's High
Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately

page_text: after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the
same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Samuel Baxter, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference being had to
the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon,
(that is to say) :-
My Invention of "Improvements in- Apparatus for Lifting and for Facili-
tating the Working or Steering of Ships or Vessels" relates to an improved
mode or modes of constructing and working windlasses or winches for use on
board ship, whereby the labour required to use them is much reduced, and
they are rendered more generally useful in working ships or vessels than the
ordinary stationary ships' winches, inasmuch as the improved winches can be
made portable, and may be easily attached to or detached from any part of the
ship or vessel, so that they may be moved from one part of the vessel to another,
wherever and whenever they may be required. I have shewn in the accom-
panying Drawings several views of various modifications of my improved winch.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of the simplest form of winch
adapted to the side of a vessel' for the purpose of assisting in working the sails,
such as hauling home the main tack; or gallant sheets; or for other purposes
for which the apparatus may be applicable. Fig. 2 is an end view of the
same. The barrel a, a, of the winch is provided inside with a hollow shaft c, c,
whereby, it is mounted on the stud or spindle b; b, so that it may turn freely
thereon; one end of the spindle is made square, and' is inserted in a hole made
for that purpose in one of the side timbers of the ship or vessel: On the
inner side of the barrel a, a, and nearer the outer end thereof, there is a
toothed rack d, d, into which gears the pinion e. On the outer end of the
axle of this pinion is fixed the crank or winch bandle f, whereby motion is
communicated to the apparatus. The pinion e 'is mounted' in stationary
bearings, which are fixed on the hexagonal end of the spindle b; b, as seen in
the Figures. The end of the barrel a, a, nearest the ship's side; is' furnished
with a ratchet wheel or rack g, and a click or stop piece h is adapted' thereto
for the purpose of holding the winch in any particular position. The operation
of the apparatus is as follows::-Supposing it be required to haul a sheet taut,
the rope of the sheet is first wound two or three times round the barrel a; a,
and then one man, by merely turning the winch handle, can with ease haul
the sheet home in much less time and with considerably less' labour than
several men can do it without the assistance of the apparatus:

page_text: I would here observe, that although in some situations it may be found
convenient to make a winch of this construction a permanent fixture, yet I do
not propose in general to do so, as many occasions may arise when it may be
found very convenient to be able to remove the apparatus to another part of
the ship where it may not generally or frequently be required. For this reason.
I construct the apparatus in such a manner that it will only be necessary to
withdraw the spindle b, b, from the square hole made in the ship's timbers, as.
shewn in the Drawing, and remove it to another place where there is a similar.
hole, into which the spindle b, b, is inserted. In order to meet cases of emer-.
gency, I make holes or sockets for the reception of the spindle-b, b, in various
parts of the ship, so that in case of need it will only be necessary to remove
the apparatus from one hole and adapt it to another.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section, and Fig. 4 an end view, of a
modification of the winch shewn in Figures 1 and 2, the object of the-
arrangement- shewn in Figures 3 and 4 merely being to increase the power.
The barrel is shewn at a, a, and is mounted on the spindle b, b, as in the former.
instance. The winch handle fis mounted on the end of the spindle of an
endless screw i, which gears, into and drives a screw wheel j. The axle of.
this wheel is mounted in bearings fixed on the end of the spindle b, and
carries at one end a bevel pinion e, which gears, into a bevel, wheel or rack d
secured to the inner side of the barrel a, a. The operation and mode of using
this winch is precisely the same as that shewn in Figures 1 and 2, and, there-
fore, does not require any further explanation.
Fig. 5 is a longitudinal elevation, and Fig: 6 a transverse vertical section, of
a winch for heaving up chain cables from lockers. In this instance the winch
is made a fixture, but my improved mode of working the same is adapted
thereto. a, a, is the barrel, inside which are adapted two toothed racks d, d,
one at each end of the barrel, and on the outside of the barrel, and at each
end thereof, there is a ratchet wheel 9, 9, and clicks or stops h, h; are attached
to the sides of the framing. Several sets of studs or projecting pieces k, k, are
adapted to the barrel a at or near its central part, for the purpose of gripping
or holding the chain cable, the studs k, k, being so arranged that the links
of the chain may lie snugly between them, as shewn in the Figures. The
axle of the pinion e carries the winch handle or crank, as in Fig. 1, and the
apparatus is actuated by turning the handles f,f, of which there are two in
this instance. Upon examining the Drawings, it will be seen that in this, as
well as in the former Figures, the clicks or stop pieces h, h, may be turned
over, as shewn by dots in Figures 2 and 6, so as to allow the winch to be
worked in either direction. If required, the whole apparatus shown. in.

page_text: Figures 5 and 6 may be constructed in such a manner as to admit of its
being removed with facility from one part of the vessel to another. When
this is desirable, I secure the apparatus to the deck by means of eyes
1*, 1*,
which being fixed to the deck are made to pass through holes made in the
feet of the standards, and are secured therein by passing horizontal pins"
through the eyes. It will be evident that the arrangement of gearing for
gaining power, as shewn in Figures 3 and 4, is applicable to the chain-
cable winch just described, and may with advantage. be adopted in some
cases.
In Figures 7 and 8 I have shewn two of my improved winches (such as,
that represented in Figures 1 and 2), as applied to a large stationary ship's
winch. In this instance the barrels are not made portable, but form part of
the stationary apparatus; with this exception their construction and operation
is precisely similar to that shewn in Figures 1 and 2. In Figs. 7 and 8 I.
have also shewn an improved construction of purchase as applied to a stationary
ship's winch, and which may, if required, be also adapted to a windlass. The
internal construction and operation of this improved purchase will be best under-
stood by reference to the sectional detached views, Figures 9 and 10. The pur-
chase is furnished with a double rack, or two sets of ratchet teeth 1 and 2, Fig. 9,
which are formed on the periphery of a wheel 1, 1, the two sets of teeth or racks
being seperated from each other by a T-shaped central division, which runs all
round the wheel. The racks are further enclosed by circular side plates m, m,
thereby causing them to form the bottom of an annular space, as shewn in
Figures 9 and 10. The wheel is connected to a hollow shaft n, which is
mounted on the axle B of the winch in such a manner as to admit of its
being slidden laterally on the same when required. The hollow shaft n is
furnished with two prongs o, o, which, when the purchase is moved laterally
on the shaft B, are made to enter between the arms p, p, of the winch barrel,
and act as a clutch, and thus carry the same round with the purchase when
required. The purchase is made to rotate by the action of the grip levers q, q,
the ends of which are inserted in the annular spaces which contain the ratchet
racks 1 and 2; the opposite ends of these grip levers q, q, are connected by
means of the rods r, r, to the ends of a double armed levers, which is mounted
on the horizontal rocking shaft t. At each end of this shaft t a pair of
handles u, u, is mounted, for the purpose of working the purchase, which
is effected by alternately raising and depressing the handles u, u, and bythus
making the shaft t to rock on its axis, the double arm lever s, s, will be
caused to vibrate, and thereby move the grip levers 7, 9, up and down.
It will be seen, upon referring to Fig. 10, and the small detached view

page_text: Fig. 11, that the foot of the grip levers is made with a shoulder, so that as the
lever is raised up by the action of the lever s above the back of the foot will
bear against the inner side of the flanges of the T-plate and the side plates
m, m, and will thrust the toe of the grip lever against the teeth of the ratchet
rack, and by that means pull round the purchase, and the winch barrel also, if
the latter is connected with it, by means of the clutch. It will be seen that
the grip levers act alternately, that is, when one is rising and pulling round
the barrel the other lever is descending in order to take a fresh purchase. It
has been already said that the purchase is mounted loosely on the shaft or
axle B, so as to admit of its being slidden laterally thereon, as will be the case
when it is required to bring it in gear with the winch barrel. This lateral
motion of the purchase on the shaft 6 is effected by means of the horizontal
lever v (Fig. 8), whereby it may be moved in or out of gear with facility:
When it is required to let a rope run off the winch barrel the purchase is
moved out of gear by means of the lever v, and à break lever x is applied to a
break wheel y on the end of the barrel, in order to prevent it from running
round too fast.
Figures 12 and 18, Sheet II., represent a modification of the purchase just
described, the principal difference between that the grip levers q, q, are con-
nected by means of the rods r, r, to cranks 8, s, on the horizontal shaft t:
The handles u, u, of Figures 7 and 8 are dispensed with, and in place thereof
a toothed wheel w is mounted on each end of this shaft, and is driven by
pinion on the end of the barrel of the small winch above, and which is
constructed according to my improvements. By this arrangement a greatly
increased power is obtained, and in order to work this purchase it will only be
necessary to turn the handle f of the winch above, and motion will be commu
nicated by means of the pinion z and wheel u to the shaft t, and a similar
rising and falling motion will be imparted to the grip levers q, q, as in the
former instance. Either of the improved purchases above described may be
adapted to a ship's windlass, as well as to a common ship's winch, but I have
not thought it necessary to give any detailed Drawings of the mode of applying
the same, as any person conversant with these articles will readily understand
from the foregoing description how my improvements should be applied:
Either of the improved winches shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, and above
described, may be employed for working the rudder for steering ships or
vessels, for which purpose it will only be necessary to mount the ordinary
steering wheel on the axle or spindle of the pinion in place of the handle f
shewn in the Drawings. And I would here observe, before dismissing my

page_text: improved winch, that in order to protect the gearing, inside the, barrel a from
injury by water or other causes, I adapt.a water-tight cap piece to the outer
end of the spindle .b, so as to cover up the end of the barrel and exclude
water therefrom. This cap piece being secured to the spindle is of course
stationary, and the spindle of the winch handle f passes through it.
In Figures 14 and 15 of Sheet I. I have shewn an improved kind of whelp
which I intend to apply to windlasses and capstans. Fig. 14 is a side
elevation of a ship's windlass, with my improved whelp-adapted thereto, and
Fig. 15 is a transverse vertical section of the same. I have purposely made
the windlass as near the old form as possible, in order that the mode of
applying my improvements may be better understood. Upon referring to
Fig. 14 it will be seen that the sides of the whelp, as seen from above, are as near
as possible parallel, but in the edge.view it will be seen that the surface. of the
whelp, for about one third. of. its length. (that is, from 1 to 2 in the Figure),
is nearly parallel with the surface of the barrel of the windlass, while from
2.to 3 it is rounded and hollowed out, this part of the windlass being made
round or circular instead of octagonal. From the point 3 to 4 of the whelp
there is an incline with concave sides, for the purpose of allowing the chain
or cable to fleet easily and without jerks, as the hollow or concave side of the
inclined part will have a tendency to hold the cable and prevent it from
surging.
...
Having now described my improvements, and the best means with which
I am acquainted for carrying the same into effect, I would observe, in con-
clusion, that although, in order that my Invention may be more clearly under-
stood, I have found it necessary to shew and describe certain mechanical parts
which may have been heretofore used for similar purposes, yet I do not mean
or intend to claim such parts as of my Invention, neither do I intend to
confine myself rigidly to the precise arrangement or construction of parts
herein shewn and described, as they may perhaps be varied without departing
from the nature and object of my Invention; but that which I consider to be
new and useful in the present improvements, and, therefore, wish to claim as
the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent, is,
First, the construction and use of ships' winches in which motion is com-
municated to the barrel by means of a pinion or wheel gearing into a rack
made on the inner side of the barrel.
Second, I claim the improved construction of lever purchases shewn and
described, and particularly the employment of purchases which admit of being

page_text: moved laterally, so as to be thrown in and out of gear with the barrel of a
winch or windlass. I also claim the mode of working or operating purchases
as shewn in Fig. 12 and 13, Sheet II., or any mere modification thereof.
Third, I claim the improved form of whelp shewn and described in
reference to Figures 14 and 15, or any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Baxter, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-one.
Enrolled the Twelfth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-one.