AN IMPROVEMENT IN SAILS, AND IN THE REEFING AND FURLING OF SAILS, AND SETTING AND TAKING IR OF SAILS
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Duncan Preston Cunningham, of Bury, in the
County of Hants, Esquire, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN
SAILS, AND IN THE REEFING AND FURLING OF SAILS, AND SETTING AND TAKING
IR OF SAILS."
Sealed the 21st August 1857, and dated the 28th February 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Duncan Preston
Cunningham at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with bis
Petition, on the 28th February 1857.
I, HENRY DUNCAN PRESTON CUNNINGHAM, of Bury, in the County of Hants,
Esquire, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVE-
MENT IN SAILS, AND IN THE REEFING AND FURLING OF SAILS, AND SETTING AND
TAKING IN OF SAILS," to be as follows:-
My improvement in sails refers to such as are caused to roll up, upon, and
off, from a yard or yards, and is intended to prevent the wear of the sail at
any part subjected or liable to friction or rubbing. My improvement consists
in introducing into the sail at such parts aforesaid a stout material, known as
gasket, sinnet, or sword matting, or other material of greater strength or
durability than sail cloth or canvas, or of material which will resist friction
better than canvas; or the aforesaid stronger material may be placed over or
upon the canvas.
And whereas one of the modifications of the application of my principle for
reefing and unreefing, or furling and unfurling sails, by rolling them up on a

page_text: revolving yard, or vice versa, as set forth in my Patents dated 30 Nov 1850,
and 20 July 1855, (but which particular modification was not specified or
described, but only alluded to in Patent dated 10 September 1856, under
head "there are many other arrangements for producing rotation,") consists in
having two yards, one a fixed one and the others fitted to turn round in or on
axes at its ends connecting it to the fixed yard, the rotating power being
applied at the ends of the said rotating yard, which arrangement admits of the
sail being entire, that is, not divided in the centre with a slit or slot; a yard,
however, so arrangod, being only supported at its ends, and being liable to
bend in the centre by the weight of the sail, &c. attached. Now my improve-
ment in reefing and furling sails consists of a novel method of supporting a
yard of this description in the centre without interfering with its revolving
action. To the yard, or to the head or upper part of the sail attached to the
yard, I fix the end or ends of a band or bands, or rope of suitable material,
and of sufficient length as to roll up on the yard to the extent to which it is
proposed to roll up the sail. These bands are supported above the revolving
yard by and over blocks, cleats, or other suitable supports, and the ends are
confined below the said supports in any convenient manner, and when the
revolving yard is turned round for the purpose of rolling up the sail, or vice
versâ, these bands roll up or unroll with the sail, and continue a suspensory
support or security to the yard where required. These bands too, when
hauled upon tightly, raise up the centre of the yard and press it against a
circular rest above it, thus adding additional security to the yard. These
bands or ropes can also be used as haulyards for hoisting a yard and
sail attached thereto. I apply my principle to the furling and unfurling, or
setting and taking in of thoso sails known by the name of studding or steering
sails, in connection with the principle before alluded to for reefing and furling
sails by rolling them up on a revolving yard, or vice versa, and employing the
gravitation of the said yard and attachments to the production of rotation by
wound-up ropes, chains, or other similar system.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Duncan Preston Cunningham in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 28th August 1857
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, 'HENRY
DUNCAN PRESTON CUNNINGHAM, of Bury; in the County of Hants, send
greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Iler most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Henry Duncan Preston Cunningham, Her special licence that
I, the said Henry Duncan Preston Cunningham, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry Duncan Preston Cunningham,
my executors, 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
expressed, 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 "AN IMPROVEMENT IN SAILS, AND IN THE
REEFING AND FURLING OF SAILS, AND SETTING AND TAKING IN OF SAILS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Henry Duncan Preston
Cunningham, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 I, the said Henry Duncan Preston Cunningham, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings here-
unto annexed, that is to say:-
My improvement in sails refers more especially to sails which are reefed or
unreefed, furled or unfurled, by being caused to roll up, upon, and off, from a
yard or yards, but is also applicable to all descriptions of sails, and is intended
to prevent the wear of the sails at parts subjected or liable to friction, rubbing,
or pressure. My improvement consists in introducing into the sail at such
parts aforesaid a stout material known on board of ships or nautically by the
name of gasket, sinnet, or sword matting, or other material of greater strength,
durability, or capability for resisting the effects of friction, rubbing, or pressure
than canvas, or the aforesaid material may be placed or fixed over or upon tho
canvas or sail cloth forming the sail.
The Drawings hereunto annexed shew the manner in which I carry iny
Invention into effect.
:
Figure 1, Sheet 1, represents the upper part of a topsail with a strip of
sword matting or other like strong material introduced into it, shewn at A, A.

page_text: Figure 3 shows a raised friction or rubbing piece, which I term a canvas
protector, placed or fixed over or upon and to the canvas or sail cloth. It may
consist of a toggle of wood, india-rubber, or gutta percha, or other suitable
material, and may be fixed to the sail by "seezings" through "eyelet holes,"
or in
any other suitable manner.
This description of defence to the sail will be found peculiarly applicable
to those parts over which the buntlines or leechlines lay, and which are
subjected to much injury from wear. Figure 4 is a sectional view of the
raised rubbing piece or canvas protector. A, A, is the canvas of the sail,
and B the buntline or leechline lying over the raised defense, and which keeps
the rope from touching the canvas; Figure 2 represents a topsail with the
raised rubbing pieces arranged in the line of the buntlines.
One of the numerous modifications claimed in my Patent, dated 30th
November 1850, for reefing sails by rolling them upon revolving yards, and
employing the weight of the yards and their attachment as power to the pro-
duction of the rotation of the yards, in fact, constituting it a self-acting procoss,
(but in which Specification all and every of these numerous modifications or
modes were not described,) consists in employing two yards, one fixed and the
other fitted to turn round upon journals at its extremities, these journals con-
necting it with the fixed yard, the power which rotates it being applied at the
ends of the revolving yard. This arrangement admits of the sail being entire,
that is, not divided in the centre by a slit or slot; a yard, however, so arranged,
being only supported at its ends, is liable to bend in the centre by the weight
of the yard and pressure of the wind. Now my improvements in reefing and
furling sails consist, firstly, in a novel method of supporting a yard of the
aforesaid description in the centre, and which method may be used with or
without any other means of support, and in the application of the action of
this method to the reefing and furling of sails, and the use of it as haul-
yards for hoisting and lowering sails.
Secondly, in improvements upon means which have been already used for
supporting a revolving yard of the aforesaid descripton, so as to lessen
the risk or tendency of the sails to receive injury from friction, rubbing, or
pressure.
Thirdly, in an improvement for increasing the loverage of that portion of
the yard where the rope acts when power is employed to rotate a yard, for tho
purpose of reefing a sail by rolling it up thereon, and vice versa, and also in
adjusting the diameters of the rolling yard at those parts round which the sail
is wound, so as to make the sail roll up evenly upon the yard.
As to the first head of this part of my Invention, I fix to the revolving yard,

page_text: or to the head or upper part of the sail which is attached to the revolving
yard, the ends of ropes or bands (or either singly) of suitable material and of
sufficient length to roll up with the sail on the revolving yard to such extent
as it is required or proposed to roll up the sail. These bands or ropes are
carried over or supported above the revolving yard by and over blocks, cleats,
or other suitable supports, and the ends confined below the said support in
any convenient manner, and when the revolving yard is turned round for the
purpose of rolling up the sail, or vice versa, these bands or ropes roll up and
unroll with the sail, and continue a suspensory support to the central part of
the yard. These ropes or bands, too, when hauled upon tightly from below,
raise up the central part of the yard, and causing it to press against a rest
above, thereby give great security to the yard. These bands or ropes also if
led over or through blocks or pullies aloft can serve as haulyards or auxiliary
haulyards for hoisting or lowering a yard and sail.
Figure 1, Sheet 2, represents an arrangement of a revolving yard, supporte:l
on journals at the ends D, D, and without fixed bearing or support in the
centre. J, J, is the sail attached to the yard, here represented rolled up to a
close reef; C, C, C', C', aro turning ropes or reef tackles, the ends of which
are wound round the ends of the revolving yard, and secured to the yard
at X, X. These reef tackles lead over and through pullies in the fixed yard
B, B, and then over and through other pullies aloft, the ends being furnished
with tackles leading to the deck. When the haulyards N which support the
fixed yard are slacked (the reef tackles C, C, C, C, being secured) tho
weight of the yard A, A, and its attachments are received on the reef tackles,
the action of which in unrolling produces the rotation of the revolving yard
A, A, and thereby rolling up or reefing the sail J, J, which is attached to it.
The said process being that described and claimed in the Specification of
my Patent, dated 30th November 1850. E, E¹, shews a rope and band, one
end of which is fixed to the yard A, A. The rope and band are carried over
supports on the fixed yard at F, F, and the other end is furnished with a
tackle or purchase M, M, the standing or permanent part of which is fixed
to any suitable place below, and the end of the tackle led down to the
deck..
Figure 2 is a side view of this arrangement, the same letters referring to
similar parts to those shown in Figure 1. It will be seen that when the
haulyards N are lowered or slackened, and, the yard A is turned round in the
direction of the arrow, the rope E by being secured to the yard A at P turns
round with it, and rolls up with the sail J, the support F at the same time
descending, and thus giving out the rope E to be rolled up. A continued

page_text: suspensory support, with a little adjustment of the tackle M, is thus applied.
to the centre of the yard A. By hauling on the tackle M the centre of the
yard is raised until it presses or comes against the rest G, which may be fitted
with or without a friction roller, and by this means great security is given to
the centre part of the yard A. Or, instead of the support F being upon the
fixed yard B it can be taken aloft, as seen in Figure 3; in this case when the
yard is lowered the tacklo M must also be slackened, and vice versa. By this
arrangement the rope E can be used. as a haulyard or auxiliary haulyard in
hoisting or lowering the yard.
.
.In connection with the aforesaid suspensory bands, preventer bars or appa-
ratus for affording additional security may be used of the description repre-
sented in Figures 4, 5, and 6. B (Figures 4 and 5) is a section of. the fixed
yard, and A is a section of the revolving yard; C is a curved or bent lever,
which has its fulcrum on a piu in a bracket or, joint stud, which is fitted to
the yard B; H is a line attached to it for lifting or lowering it.. When it
is required to use this lever the line EI is lowered, and the end J allowed to
penetrate the sail through one of the slots seen at A', A, A, A¹, Figure 2,
Sheet 1, a rope D is then passed through the eye at, J, and, secured to the
fixed yard.
'
Figure 5 represents the bar elevated or disconnected; Figure 6 is a side
view of the additional securities represented at J, J, Figure 1 being catches
or stops to prevent the yard A, A, from returning and unrolling the sail in
the event of the ropes C, C, C², C', breaking or otherwise. C, C, Figure 6,
is a cog or ratchet wheel, fixed on the end of the yard A; B' is a catch or
stop, centred on a pin in a bracket or joint stud which is fitted on to the
yard B; E is a line, attached to the stop or catch for the purpose of lowering
it into or lifting it out of action with the wheel C. When the stop is down
as represented in the Figure, the yard A cannot turn round in the direction of
the arrow..
Figure 7 represents a method of giving increased security to the revolving
yard; also to give facility for connecting and disconnecting it from the fixed
yard, and further to enable the revolving yard to be brought up or elevated abovo
or at other positions with reference to the fixed yard, the whole or any part
represented in the Figure being used. B is a section of the fixed yard at the
yard arm; A is an end view of revolving yard; C is the yard arm iron, forming
the connecting bar or link which joins the yard A to the yard B, the same
being effected by the crutch seen on the fore part at E, which forms a bearing
for the journal of the revolving yard A to turn in. The process of connecting
the yard A to the yard B consists in lowering the journals or bearings at the

page_text: ends of the yard A into the crutches E, and securing them down by pins or
bolts, or by arms or other suitable means.
.
cyes
*The yard arm iron C.is. furnished with two eyes at 2, 2; and from these two
I lead two ropes or brace pendants D, D', to a link or point of moeting
M, to which is attached the brace. This arrangement of brace pendants will
My method of elevating or moving the
give greater security to the yard A.
yard A to different positions consists in fitting the yard arm irons C to turn
round on the yard B. The dotted line F represents the yard A raised to an
elevated position by this arrangement.
With reference to the use or employment of the suspensory bands or ropes
as baulyards or auxiliary haulyards for hoisting or lowering. I apply them to
the furling and unfurling, reefing and unreefing, taking in and setting of those
sails known by the name of studding or steering sails, and to every other
description of sail, at the same time taking advantage of the main feature of
my Invention secured to me under my said Patent of the 30th November,
1850, consisting in the employment of the weight of the yard, sail, and
attachments to the production of the rotation of the yard.
Figure 1 and 2, Sheet 3, represent a topmast studding sail fitted in the
aforesaid manner. M, M, is the studding sail yard, to which the sail A is
attached; D, D, are two ropes, which are wound round the ends of the
studding-sail yard M, M, as seen in the Drawings, tho ends being fixed to
the yard, and the other ends either attached to the topsail yard and top-
gallant studding-sail boom E, or they may be led through blocks at those
points, so as to be adjusted from the deck; B, B, B, is the studding-sail haul-
yard passing up and through the blocks C, C, and attached to the yard M, M,
which it. suspends.. It will be seen that when the haulyard B, B, B, is
slackened the weight of the yard and sail. is received on the ropes D, D, the
action of which is to turn round the yard as it descends, rolling up the sail
and with it the haulyards B, B, B, as soen in Figure 2. And again, when
the baulyard B, B, B, is pulled upon or hoisted the action of it in con-
nection with the ropes D, D, is to raise the yard and unroll the sail until it
is set..
My improvements under the second head refer to those arrangements
which have been already used or adopted for giving support to the centre of
a yard of the description herein-before described. These arrangements have
consisted of hooks or claws, within which the yard revolved, having a space
for the sail to pass through. These hooks or claws have been fitted' with
friction rollers. Now, my improvements consist in making or constructing
rollers einployed for the aforesaid or like purpose in such a manner that the

page_text: part coming in contact with the sail shall be of some softer and more yielding
material than wood or other hard substance.
A, Figure 5, Sheet 1, is the section of a metal roller having its peripherie
surface grooved out. In this groove I place a soft substance B, B, such as
india-rubber, layers of rope yarns, cotton, or any other like material, the
surface of which is to be raised above the metal, as seen in Figure 6, and
against this ruised soft surface-only the sail is intended to come in contact, or
the roller may be formed of solid gutta percha or other material softer than
wood. With the view also to diminish as much as possible damage to the
sail, I propose that a yard of the aforesaid description should be made of
stouter proportions than have been hitherto employed, so that the yard shall
assumė more the proportions of an ordinary yard, and so be stiffer and less
liable to bend.
My improvement under the third head consists in increasing the diameter
of the revolving yard at that part round which the turning ropes, bands, or
chains are wound, either by attaching battens or applying a raised lining of
wood or iron, or fixing over the end of the yard a metal boss.
Figure 3, Sheet 3, represents the end of a yard A; increased in its diameter
at B, round which the rope C is wound. The increased diameters of the yard
at this part will give greater leverage to the part on which the rope C acts
when turning or rotating the yard A. My improvement for rolling up the
snil evenly upon the yard (the sailcloth part of the sail being thinner than the
part which consists of rope) consists in applying battens to the yard at that
part where the sail cloth only rolls up, and in filling up between the battens at
such parts, when the yard may revolve within supports, so as to complete the
circle thereat. D, D; Figure 3, represent battens applied as aforesaid; and
D, D, D, D, Figure 4, represent a section of them; the parts E, E, E, E,
show the filling in to complete the circle at that part of the yard which may
revolve within a support or rest.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what &
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I.claim,—
First, the introducing into sails of a protecting material or substance, in the
manner and for the purposes herein-before described.
Second, the means herein-before described, all or any of them, for sup-
porting yards to which rotation is to be imparted in the centre, whether
employed with or without any other means of support.
Third, the employment of the supporting bands of ropes hercin-beforo
described, as haulyards for hoisting, lowering, reefing, furling, setting, and
taking in of sails.

page_text: Fourth, the employment in apparatuses or holders for receiving within them
a yard, upon and from which a sail is to be rolled and unrolled, of frictions
rollers, the outer surfaces of which are formed of some material softer than
wood, as hercin-before described.
Fifth, the means herein-before described for increasing the leverage or
effect of the rotating power employed for rotating yards for the purpose of
reefing and unreefing sails.
And, sixth, the means herein-before described for causing sails to roll up
evenly upon yards while being rolled thereon.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Duncan Preston Cunningham,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of August,
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
H. D. P. CUNNINGHAM. (L.B.)