IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MASTS FOR SHIPS AND VESSELS, AND IN APPLYING THE SHROUDS
Year: 1841

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MOSES POOLE,
of Lincoln's Inn, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Ninth day of December, in the fifth year of Her reign, did, for
Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Moses
Poole, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the
said Moses Poole, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Moses, my exors, adñiors, 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 expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,.
within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MASTS FOR SHIPS AND VESSELS, AND
IN APPLYING THE SHROUDS," communicated to me by a certain Foreigner residing
abroad; in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said
Moses Poole, shall cause a particular description of the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
inrolled.
in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months
next and immediately 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
Moses Poole, do hereby declare that the nature of the said Invention, and the

page_text: manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the
Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon
(that is to say) :-
This Invention relates, first, to a mode of constructing the masts of ships
by combining several pieces of wood together, in such manner as to present an
even surface, and to be as flexible and capable of greater resistance than masts
constructed of a single piece of timber. This Invention will be found parti-
cularly applicable to vessels of war, as in the event of any part of the mast
being injured by shot or otherwise, the injured part may be removed, and its
place supplied with another piece or pieces (from a stock which may always
be kept in the hold of the vessel out of the reach of gunshot), and the mast will
then present the same appearance as when originally constructed. But in order
that this part of the Invention may be more clearly understood, I will proceed
to describe the Drawing hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure A is an elevation of a mast constructed according to this part of the
Invention. Figure B is a plan of the same. Figure C is a section. Figure
D are the metal hoops which keep the different parts together. Figure E
shews the mode of joining two pieces together. The Drawing shews a mast
constructed of five pieces, but the number may be varied as required. The
piece marked 1 extends from one end of the mast to the other, and is com-
posed of two parts, which cross each other from G to B. The piece marked
2 goes from one end of the mast to the other; it is composed of two pieces,
which cross each other from C to H. The piece 3 goes from one end of the
mast to the other, crossing each other from K to F. The piece 5 is what I
call the key piece; it extends all along the mast as far as the ring L, this key
is in the form of a wedge. These pieces of wood are joined in such manner as
to give all the required flexibility throughout all the surface; they are only
placed in their different points of junction; the external parts of the pieces of
wood have notches or grooves cut therein at certain distances apart, into which
are placed metal hoops, which bind together and keep the different pieces in
their proper positions. These notches should not be of greater depth or width
than the thickness and width of the hoop. Before the pieces of which the
mast is composed are put together they are to be well greased; that being
done, they are put together by first placing the piece marked 2 within the
hoops, in such manner that the hoop will fit into the notched or grooved part
of the mast; then do the same with the parts marked 3, 1, and 4; and then the

page_text: key piece 5 is to be inserted and driven in, which will cause the hoops to press
sufficiently.tight upon the outer surfaces of the pieces of wood, so as to hold
them together in a permanent position.
. The second part of the Invention relates to a mode of attaching the shrouds
of vessels, in order to regulate the strain which is exercised upon them. The
ordinary plan of affixing the shrouds of vessels is, by attaching one end of them
to the sides of the vessel, and the other to the mast; the consequence of which
mode of fixing them is, that by the strain which is exercised upon them by the
sudden changes of the vessel's position, from sudden gusts of wind, they very
frequently break, and from other causes the ropes are subject to great strain.
Now the object of this part of the Invention is to regulate their tension in such
manner as at all times to keep up a constant uniformity. I apply an apparatus
afterwards described, which is placed between the shrouds and the sides of the
vessel, and is acted upon, when the strain takes place, by the different positions
of the vessel. The nature of the apparatus is clearly shown in the Drawing,
and consists of a cylindrical tube, at one end of which is attached to the
shrouds. In this tube is a screwed axis, at the upper end of which tube is
affixed a cap or cover. The axis passes through such cap, and has an enlarge-
'ment or projection pierced with two holes, situated in the same plane, and in
which a lever is placed when it is required to turn the screw. The screwed
part of the axis contained in the cylindrical tube passes another tube, which
surrounds a spiral spring in such manner that the spring is compressed between
the two parts of the two cylindrical tubes; one of the ends of the spring presses
upon the top of the outer tube, the other one is fixed to the inner tube; a move-
able screw is fixed in the axis; two parts of the screw are fixed by two cross
pieces placed in the outer tube, so as the screw cannot turn by the effect of the
axis. Under ordinary circumstances the screw is kept at a certain distance
from the upper part, against which it has a tendency to press, in consequence of
the expansive force of the spring. The tube which is placed between the axis
and the outer tube is graduated, in order that the different degrees of tension
which may be given to the ropes may be seen. The apparatus herein described
has been greatly attested and highly approved of by many experienced sailors,
and that elasticity which is so essential to the good working of the masts of
ships is the result. This apparatus has been so constructed that when any
great cause is applied to the vessel the spiral spring is only forced up to half its
course, so that the shrouds on the two sides remain almost uniformly stretched
or stiffened, for when the shroud on one side is acted upon by the wind, tho
spring acts upon the other and keeps the tension uniform. With this appa-
ratus the shrouds yield to all the motion of the vessel, and do not become so

page_text: irregularly stretched as with the ordinary. mode of rigging, the consequence of
which is, that they will be found to last a considerably longer time than those
now in use. The advantage of this apparatus marking the degree of tension
of the shrouds being employed, enables me to regulate them as may be
required. This apparatus will also be found very useful on board ships where
iron rigging is employed. In order to prevent the action of the salt water, which
would produce oxidation upon the springs, there is a case of leather with fatty
matters which is placed in the external cover of the tube, which prevents it
entering into the inner part of the instrument, so that the breaking of the
spring cannot in any way paralyze the effects of the apparatus, for the parts of
the spring which might be broken would approach and work as before, but the
force of the spring would be diminished.
The Drawing shews a view of the apparatus and the various parts. Figure
A shews a view of the apparatus, shewing the mode of attaching it to the sides
of the vessel and also to the rigging; B is the screwed axis of the apparatus;
'C is the moveable screw; E is the clamp attachment; F is a hoop or band
which keeps the clamp upon the axis; G is a small lever which is used to
move the screw axis.
I will now describe the mode of attaching the apparatus to the sides of
vessels, although I do not confine myself thereto. Several methods have been
suggested to remedy the dreadful consequences of being obliged to cut away
the masts of ships when in a great storm, but without success. The great
object to be obtained is to have a means of attaching the shrouds which shall
be capable of resisting the violent shocks which, in bad weather, they are liable
to, and yet not break, even when the mast gives way; the construction of this
apparatus is very simple, very strong, and works with great facility. It may
be fixed to the sides of the vessel, or it may be fixed, as I apply the iron.ring
on the top to which the blocks are attached, and any description of ropes may
be used, and when the shroud is stretched it cannot in any case be broken
away from the point by which it is fixed. In the case where the mast breaks,
the shrouds either fall into the sea or on to the deck, they then become sepa-
rated (from the point where they are fixed) by their own weight, and are thus
secured on board. This instrument is in the form of a triangle, open at its
upper end, into which is placed a rod which serves to fix it to the rigging. The
two sides are enlarged to a determined length in order to leave a free passage
to the cross-bolt of the rod, which ought to descend in order to release it as far
'as the space of the open part, where it would go out by its own weight.
The Drawing shews these parts of the Invention, and the different parts in
separate views. Figure 1 shews the part which is joined to the part which is

page_text: attached to the mast; Figure 2 shews the opening in this piece by which the
rigging is attached; Figure 3 is a view of one of the pieces which may be
adapted to an ordinary cap; Figure 4 is a front view of the mode of fixing
the apparatus to the sides of the vessel; Figure 5 is a side view of the same;
Figure 6 shews the mode of affixing the apparatus.
Having thus described the nature of the Invention, and the mode of carrying
it out, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the precise
details, so long as the character of the Invention be retained. But what I
claim as, first, the mode of constructing the masts of vessels of a series of
pieces of wood as herein described. And, secondly, I claim the mode of
attaching and giving elasticity to the shrouds of vessels as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Moses Poole, have hereunto set my
hands and seal, this Fourth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-two.
MOSES (L.S.) POOLE.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Fourth day of June, in the year
of our Lord 1842, the aforesaid Moses Poole came before our said Lady
the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification aforesaid,
and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above written.
And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the
Inrolled the Ninth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and forty-two.