A NEW OR IMPROVED CONSTRUC- TION OF NET-HAULING MACHINE
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Horner Fitzgerald, of Saint Andrews, in the County
of Fife, North Britain, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED CONSTRUC-
TION OF NET-HAULING MACHINE."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Horner Fitzgerald at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th September 1879.
JOHN HORNER FITZGERALD, of Saint Andrews, in the County of Fife, North
Britain. "A NEW OR IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF NET-HAULING MACHINE."
This Invention relates to improvements in net hauling machines for use on board
of fishing boats, and has for its object to obviate the inconveniences or disadvan-
tages connected with net hauling machinery as hitherto constructed, namely, the
multiplicity of wheels, which are found heavy to. drive, and bring in the net so
slowly that the attendants have to wind so fast that they soon get exhausted, and
when the boat heaves it puts such a heavy strain on the gearing that the men are
unable to overcome it, and when the boat dips again it releases the strain so
suddenly that its tendency is to upset their equilibrium, and very frequently the
rope drops off the pulley, which causes great annoyance and loss of time in fitting
it on again, which annoyance is increased proportionately with violence of the
storm and lurching of the boat, while at the same time the wheel work being with-
out cover and unprotected, the men are in danger of being pitched against it, and
the net is frequently destroyed by becoming entangled amongst the wheels. And
the nature and novelty of this Invention, which is designed to remedy these defects,
consists in mounting three pulleys in the front cheek of a casing containing and
protecting a large fly wheel, the lower part of the casing with its contained arrange-
ment of fly wheel and pulleys being all bolted down by a swivelling or centre bolt
to the keelson, or the transoms, or cross timbers of the boat. The shaft of the two
outside pulleys, which are ranged at a little higher level than the centre pulley,
passes through the front cheek with the pulleys keyed upon them. These shafts
are supported by brackets spanning the wheels, and bolted to the inside of the front
cheek or side of the casing, leaving a space between them and the back cheek for
the fly wheel to revolve in. The shaft of the centre pulley is similarly mounted,
but is longer and passes through the back cheek of casing, a heavy fly wheel being

page_text: mounted or keyed upon it inside the casing; and upon the back end of the centre
pulley shaft, outside the casing, are keyed two ratchet wheels set to act in reverse
directions to each other, having pawls similarly placed in reverse positions so as to
counteract the strain of the net in either direction from turning the centre shaft
backwards, each pawl being mounted on or moving on a pivot bracket with a
handle attached, so that when one is thrown out of gear the other is thrown into
gear, according to the direction in which the pulleys are being turned. On the
extreme end of the centre pulley shaft a crank is keyed, the crank pin of which is
moveable in a slot to allow of the alteration of the length of stroke, and upon the
crank pin are fitted two connecting rods lying parallel to the centre of the machine,
on the outer ends of which rods are fitted cross handles which are made to radiate
in a nearly horizontal line with the centre of the shaft by hanging radial links or
bars at opposite sides, the lower end of each of which is attached to the connecting
rod close to the cross handles, the other end of each link being supported and
oscillating on a stud in an arm projecting out from the upper part and side of the
casing. To work the machine, the attendants take hold of the handles on one or
both sides and reciprocate them to and fro in a horizontal direction, the récipro-
cating action of the connecting rods giving circular motion to the crank and fly
wheel shaft, the fly wheel carrying the crank over the two dead centres on opposite
sides. It is preferred to weight the fly wheel so that the crank will always come
to rest between the centres, and the machine can at any time be started to revolve
in either direction by the man pulling the handles towards him or pushing them
from him, as the case may be, in a nearly parallel. line, as before stated. The use
of the fly wheel, already referred to, possesses the great advantage that when any
heavy strain comes upon the hauling apparatus it will assist the attendants through
it, and if the strain is suddenly released it will not give a sudden start forward but
will give a uniform and easy motion for the men to work, and enable them to bring
in the nets faster and steadier, the particular ratchet and ratchet wheel in action
preventing the possibility of the machine flying back in the opposite direction to
that in which it is hauling or winding for the time being, and the hauling grooved
pulleys being ranged vertically there will be little tendency of the rope falling or
slipping off when slacking on any sudden release of the strain. For thorough
safety and to prevent the net and the loose corks or their cords near the edge line
of the net from rubbing on or getting entangled between the grooved pulleys,
curved shaped guards are fitted round the outer lower part of the two upper and
outer pulleys, to near the upper rim where the edge rope of the net is led on and
off from the pulleys. Although this hauling machine has been described as driven
by a reciprocatory hand motion, it is to be understood that it may be driven by a
circular revolving motion, either by hand or by motive power, either direct by the
geared spindle of the pulleys or a first motion transmitting shaft geared to the said
spindle by an extra pair of spur wheels, and that to retain this machine and pulleys
in any desired angular or hauling direction to which it is turned on its centre pivot
at the base it is fitted with a holding catch and holes or notches to retain it in
position as stated.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Horner Fitzgerald in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st December 1879.
JOHN HORNER FITZGERALD, of Saint Andrews, in the County of Fife, North
Britain. A NEW OR IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF NET-HAULING MACHINE."
"
My said Invention relates to improvements in net-hauling machines for use on
board of fishing boats, and has for its object to obviate the inconveniences or disad-
vantages connected with net-hauling machinery as hitherto constructed, namely, the
multiplicity of wheels, which are found heavy to drive, and bring the net so
slowly that the attendants have to wind so har or fast that they soon get
exhausted, and when the boat heaves it puts such a heavy strain on the gearing
that the men are hardly able to overcome it, and when the re-action comes by the
boat dipping the strain is released so suddenly that it tends to upset their equi-
librium, and very frequently the rope drops off the pulley, which causes great
annoyance and loss of time in getting it on again, which annoyance is increased
proportionately with the violence of the storm and lurching of the boat, while at
the same time, the wheel work being generally without a cover and unprotected,
the men are ever in danger of being pitched against it, and the net is frequently
destroyed by becoming entangled amongst the wheels.
And in order that the nature, novelty, and mode of peforming my said Invention
may be properly understood, I shall now proceed to describe the several Figures
on the Sheet of Drawings which I have hereunto appended for that purpose,
the same reference letters and numerals indicating the same or like parts in all the
Figures where shown.
Figures 1 and 2 represent respectively a back elevation and a corresponding plan
with the top casing C removed, to show the internal gearing of one modification
or general arrangement and combination of the parts of my new or improved net-
hauling machine complete, constructed in accordance with and illustrative of my
said Invention; and Figures 3 and 4 show respectively a front elevation and a
corresponding plan, with the top casing C₁ removed to show the internal working
parts of another modification or general arrangement and combination of the parts
of my new or improved net-hauling machine complete, constructed in accordance
with and illustrative of my said Invention.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the nature, novelty, and mode of performing my
said Invention, or new or improved construction of net hauling machine, designed
to remedy the said defects of former net hauling machines, consists under this
arrangement as follows:-In mounting three V grooved pulleys A, A', and B, each
on the overhanging ends of their respective shafts A1, A2, B¹, in front of one cheek
or side C of a casing C, C, C, containing and protecting a large fly-wheel D on the
shaft B, close up to the other cheek or side C¹. The lower parts of the casing or
cheeks C, C', are screwed together at a proper distance apart below by a strong
plate C, and a series of screw stay bolts C, as to carry the spindles A1, A2, with
their winding spur toothed wheels E, E¹, inside, clear of the fly-wheel D, all covered
in by the sheet-iron case C, screwed to snugs or flanges projecting inwards from
the circumference of the side cheeks C, C'. This casing C, C, C", so constructed is
erected as a vertical frame, carrying the whole working parts of the machine by its
basement plate C, preferably with a roughened or radial notched surface over and
on a corresponding notched plate F, firmly screwed down to strong transoms or
cross timbers z, or other equivalent, of the boat, all so as to swivel to any desired
angle on the strong central screw pin or bolt F¹ passed through the swivelling
centre of the two plates C and F, secured by regulating or tightning nuts F"
above. The shafts A", A², of the two outside pulleys A and A¹, which are ranged
at a higher level than the centre shaft B¹ and its pulley B, pass through the front
cheek C only, with the pulleys A, A¹, keyed on their outer ends; the inner ends of

page_text: these shafts A1, A2, being supported by brackets A spanning the wheels, and
bolted to the inside of the front cheek C, leaving a clear space between them and
the back face for the fly-wheel D to revolve in. The shaft B' of the centre pulley B
and spur wheel E" is similarly mounted, but is longer, and passes through journal
bearings B in both the front and back cheeks C, C, and has the fly-wheel D
mounted or keyed upon it close inside the cheek C'. Upon the back end of this
centre shaft B, close outside the casing or back cheek C¹ two ratchet wheels G, G¹, are
keyed and set to act or hold in reverse directions to each other, having spring pawls
9, g, correspondingly mounted on their joint or centre pins to act in the opposite
direction to each other, so as to counteract or keep the strain of the net when winding
in either direction off the person winding, and prevent this back strain from turning
the centre shaft and gearing backwards. Each spring pawl g, g', is so mounted on.
its centre joint as to be turned by its back arm, and a bow or double armed. or
bracket lever g, gl, jointed on a central pin g over them, with a vertical hand
lever g, that when turned to the right or left side it takes the corresponding pawl g
or g', and its ratchet wheel G or G¹ out of action, and leaves the other in gear to
receive the back strain, according to the direction in which the pulleys A, A, B, are
being wound for the time being. On the extreme back end of the centre pulley
shaft Ba crank H is keyed, the crank pin h of which is made moveable or
adjustable, in a slot H' to allow of the alteration of the length of stroke or throw
of the crank. Two horizontal reciprocating connecting-rods I, I', are jointed at
their inner ends to the crank pin h, with cross handles 11, I, fitted at their outer
ends, jointed and carried on the lower ends of vertically oscillating links i, i, jointed
at their upper ends to the fixed joint pins in the upper and outer ends of two
brackets I screwed to the upper sides of the back cheek C¹, all so that the outer
ends and handles I' of the connecting rods I, I', oscillate or reciprocate in a nearly
horizontal line while the inner ends oscillate to and fro on the crank pin h revolving
to wind in either direction desired, in accordance with the particular_ratchet and
ratchet wheel left out of gear for that. purpose, as before stated. To work the
machine the attendants take hold of the handles I, on one or both sides, and
reciprocate these and their connecting-rods I, I', to and fro in a horizontal direction,
so as to give circular motion to the crank H and its shaft B', with fly-wheel D,
which carries the crank H over the two dead centres, on opposite sides in this case,
in a line with the motion of the two handles I", I". It is preferred to weight the
fly-wheel D so that the crank H will always come to rest on the up or down side
between these dead centres, to enable the machine to be started and turned in either
direction desired, by the man pulling the handles towards him, or pushing them
from him, as the case may be, in a nearly parallel line, as before stated. The whole
three grooved pulleys A, A, B, in this arrangement are driven, the latter, B, direct,
by its shaft B, and the two former through the wheels E, E', on their spindles
gearing into the wheel E on the driving shaft B'; and the edge rope of the net,
indicated by the dotted lines z, z, is passed over the two upper grooved pulleys A,
A', and under the middle one B, as shown, so as to wind the net in from either side
and in either direction, according as the crank H and its shaft B¹ are driven, as
before explained, the net and corks hanging and passing on freely over the front
edges and faces of the hauling and gripping grooved pulleys. The great use or
advantage of the fly-wheel D is that when any momentary heavy strain comes
upon the hauling apparatus and gearing it assists the attendants through it, as well
as over the said dead centres, and if the strain is suddenly released it will not give
so sudden a start forward, but maintain its nearly uniform motion, easing the men
at their work, and enable them to bring in the nets faster and steadier in conse-
quence. The particular ratchet and ratchet wheel in action prevents the possibility
of the winding gearing or wheels E, E', E, flying back to the opposite direction to
that in which they are hauling in or winding for the time being. And the hauling
grooved pulleys A, A, B, being ranged vertically in this machine, there is little
tendency of the rope falling or slipping off them by any slacking or sudden release
of the strain.

page_text: Referring to Figures 3 and 4, this shows a modification or combination of the
parts of my new or improved net-hauling machines slightly different from that
shown in Figures 1 and 2. In this case the machine would be driven or turned in
either direction by the hands of the attendants working or turning the crank H, as
a winch handle E* upon a first motion central shaft D', with a smaller fly-wheel
D on it in this case, as it has greater power in consequence of driving the spur
wheels E and E¹ of the winding grooved pulleys A and A', by a spur pinion E
direct on this shaft D', or through an intermediate pinion E on a short spindle E³,
carried on a bracket c' on the inner back chcek C¹ clear of the fly-wheel D, in which
case the pinion E gearing with the wheels E and E', would be larger than the
pinion E on the first motion shaft D₁; when a faster speed is required, the winch
handle H could be "shipped" on to the spindle Es of this pinion E", gearing direct
into the wheels E and E, keyed on the shafts A" and A2, which work in journal
bearings A in both cheeks C, C', and drive their upper grooved pulleys A and A'
which alone haul in this arrangement, the edge rope of the net being passed
over these pulleys, and down under a smaller guide or reversing pulley B on a spindle
B, revolving loose on a bracket B11, secured to the outer cheek C clear of the fly-
wheel; or otherwise it might be passed under two such pulleys B1, B2, at their
sides, with their shafts B³ revolving loose in journal bearings in both cheeks under
the hauling pulleys A and A¹, so as to give the rope z a greater gripping hold round
these pulleys. In this arrangement the ratchet holding wheels G and G¹, and their
pawls g and g¹, are mounted in the inside of the case C, C¹, C₁, on and over the
shaft A or A, of one of the pulleys A or A¹, and their pawls g, gl, actuated by a
hand lever g² projecting out through the upper part of the closing-in sheathing C",
and which is so connected to the pawls by short chains gl, g, as to raise one pawl
out of action, and drop the other into gear with its wheel, when the hand lever g³
is pushed to one side or the other, all otherwise as described in reference to the
former arrangement, Figures and 2.
For the safe and thorough protection of the net, and the loose corks or their
cords near the edge rope from rubbing on, or getting entangled between tho
grooved pulleys, curved shaped guard plates are fitted round the outer lower part
of the two upper and outer pulleys A, A', screwed. to the outside of the cheek C
under them, and which guides the net and corks past the front face of the pulleys
without entangling where the rope is led on and off from the pulleys. Although
this hauling machine has been described as driven by a reciprocatory motion in
Figures 1 and 2, and a circular revolving motion by a winch handle in Figures 3
and 4, it is to be understood that it might be driven by motive power, either
direct through the geared spindle B₁ of the pulleys, or by a first motion trans-
mitting shaft D' geared to the said spindle by an extra pair of spur wheels E
and E, and that to retain this machine and pulleys in any desired angular or
hauling direction to which it is turned on its centre pivot F¹ at the base, it may be
held by the nut F", and notches on the bearing faces C and F, or be fitted with
an ordinary holding catch or pawl, and holes or notches to retain it in position, as
a capstan is held.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I have to state that I do not confine myself to the precise details
herein described or delineated, but what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The general construction or combination of the parts of a vertical net-
hauling machine, substantially as hereinbefore described in reference to and shown
in Figures 1 and 2, or Figures 3 and 4 respectively, or any mere modification
thereof.
Second. The construction of vertical net-hauling machine with a fly-wheel,
whether driven by reciprocatory rods or by a winch handle or revolving crank, by
hand or by motive power, substantially as herein described in reference to and

page_text: shown in Figures 1 and 2, or Figures 3 and 4 respectively, or any mere modification
thereof.
Third. The construction of vertical net hauling machines with double ratchet
wheels and pawls, and an actuating hand lever for the safe holding, in which ever
direction the machine may be hauling, all substantially as described in reference to
and shown in the accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
Fourth. The construction of vertical net-hauling machines with safety guard
plates in front of the hauling grooved pulleys for protecting the corks and nets
while passing round these pulleys, all substantially as herein described in reference
to and shown in the accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Horner Fitzgerald, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
J. H. FITZGERALD. (L.S.)