Improvements in or applicable to the Sails and Masts of Vessels.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Mar., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 24th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 5th May, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or applicable to the Sails and Masts of Vessels.
I, GIO BATTA VASSALLO, of No. 1, Via Galeazzo Alessi, Genoa, in the
Kingdom of Italy, Master Mariner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:
―:
My invention relates to the sails and masts of vessels, the object being to more
fully utilize the force of the wind than heretofore and thereby increase the swiftness
of the vessel.
For this purpose I make two apertures or holes in each square sail and one
aperture or hole in each lateen sail, such apertures or holes allowing the
accumulated air to pass off through the sail, so that the wind shall beat direct upon
the sails instead of upon such accumulated air which I have found tends to decrease
the useful effect of the wind.
The bolt-ropes of the square-sails are sewn on that side of the sail which is turned
towards the prow of the vessel, and the head of the sail must be sewn on the stern
of the aforesaid sail.
The bolt-ropes of the lateen sail may be sewn as usual.
The masts are inclined towards the stern at the same time calculating the centre
of effort or centre of the set of sails.
The diameters of the holes for the various sails of a sailing ship of one thousand
tons burthen and the distances of each hole from the corners of the sails upon a line
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or applicable to the Sails and Masts of Vessels.
I, GIO BATTA VASSALLO, of No. 1, Via Galeazzo Alessi, Genoa, in the
Kingdom of Italy, Master Mariner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to the sails and masts of vessels, the object being to more
fully utilize the force of the wind than heretofore and thereby increase the swiftness
of the vessel.
For this purpose I make two apertures or holes in each square sail and one
aperture or hole in each lateen sail, such apertures or holes allowing the
accumulated air to pass off through the sail, so that the wind shall beat direct upon
the sails instead of upon such accumulated air which I have found tends to decrease
the useful effect of the wind.
The bolt-ropes of the square-sails are sewn on that side of the sail which is turned
towards the prow of the vessel, and the head of the sail must be sewn on the stern
of the aforesaid sail.
The bolt-ropes of the lateen sail may be sewn as usual.
The masts are inclined towards the stern at the same time calculating the centre
of effort or centre of the set of sails.
The diameters of the holes for the various sails of a sailing ship of one thousand
tons burthen and the distances of each hole from the corners of the sails upon a line
Disecting the angles thereof are as follows :—
Main sails
Fore sail
Distance.
Diameter.
30 centimeters.
2 meters.
25
1.60
"
"
2 low top sails
20
1.50
"
"
2 main top sails
25
1.80
وو
"
2 top gallant sails
20
1.60
"
"
2 royals
15
1
وو
"
4 gibs
15
1
""
"
1st main stay sail
20
1.30
وو
"
2nd and 3rd ditto
1st mizen stay sail
2nd and 3rd ditto
15
1
"
"
-
20
1.20
"
"
-
15
1
"
"
Spanker
Mizen gaff top sail
-
20
1.50
"
"
-
15
1
"
"
From a trial of my invention made with a vessel on the Atlantic Ocean it was
found that the speed of such vessel was much higher than others of similar build,
dimensions and tonnage.
Dated this 5th day of March 1894.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
,"
Improvements in or applicable to the Sails and Masts of Vessels.
I, GIO BATTA VASSALLO, of No. 1, Via Galeazzo Alessi, Genoa, in the
Kingdom of Italy, Master Mariner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to the sails and masts of vessels, the object being to more
fully utilize the force of the wind than heretofore and thereby increase the swiftness
of the vessel.
For this purpose I make two apertures or holes in each square sail and one
aperture or hole in each lateen sail, such apertures or holes allowing the
accumulated air to pass off through the sail, so that the wind shall beat direct upon
the sails instead of upon such accumulated air which I have found tends to decrease
the useful effect of the wind.
The foot rope of each square-sail is sewn on that side of the sail which is turned
towards the prow of the vessel whilst the head rope is sewn on the side of the sail
which is turned towards the stern of the vessel.
The bolt-ropes of the lateen sails may be sewn as usual.
The masts are inclined or bent towards the stern, due regard being had to the
centre of effort or centre of the set of sails, such arrangement of the masts
contributing to the useful effect caused by the improvements in the sails.
In the accompanying drawing,—
Figure 1 is an elevation of a square sail; and,
Figure 2 is a similar view of a lateen sail provided with apertures or holes
according to my invention.
b, b. Figure 1, indicates the two holes with which I provide each square sail,
such holes being of a diameter suitable to the sail and at a calculated distance from
the corners a, a of the sail upon an imaginary line (which is dotted in the drawing)
bisecting the angles thereof.
c, Figure 2, is the hole with which I provide each lateen sail, the diameter of
such hole and its position on the dotted line being suitable to the particular sail in
which the hole is made.
The diameters of the holes for the various sails of a sailing ship of one thousand
tons burthen and the distances of each hole from the corners of the sails upon a line
bisecting the angles thereof are as follows:-

page_text: having a cargo of 1150 tons of coal, the said vessel with this cargo drawing
5.795 meters at the prow and 5.947 meters at the stern.
It will be readily seen that a vessel of these dimensions and draught was not
calculated to demonstrate my invention to its best advantage. Nevertheless the
result of the trial was very satisfactory as will be seen from the following
comparison :-
With ordinary sails the speed of this vessel was 4 miles per hour with a light
breeze; 7 miles per hour with a constant or settled wind; 8 miles per hour with a
strong wind.
miles per hour with a
With my improved sails the speed of the vessel was 5
light breeze; 8 miles per hour with a constant or settled wind; 9 to 10 miles
per hour with a strong wind.
The same vessel when carrying ordinary sails was outstripped by all other
vessels of equal conditions whereas it quickly passed ahead of them when provided
with my improved sails.
The reason of this is that the ordinary sails remain always bellied out and loaded
with wind whereas my sails do not but on the contrary are freed from the wind
which would otherwise accumulate thereon and the cloth of the sail consequently
receives the full force of the wind.
Moreover if a vessel provided with my sails be close hauled, the sails as already
explained not being loaded with wind, it will strike the waves very lightly and this
will greatly tend to make its course easier.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Providing the sails of vessels with apertures or holes of the dimensions and in
the positions set forth substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawing.
2. The herein described arrangement of the foot-ropes and head ropes of sails
provided with apertures or holes as set forth.
3. The herein described arrangement of the masts of vessels when provided with
sails having apertures or holes as set forth.
1
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.