Improvements in and connected with Keels of Sailing Vessels.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 28th May, 1896-Accepted, 4th July, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Keels of Sailing Vessels.
I, CHRISTIAN ALBERT JENSEN of No. 77 Chancery Lane in the County of
Middlesex Chartered Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this
invention (a communication to me from abroad by Conrad Stangeby of Sarpsborg
in the Kingdom of Norway, Master Mariner) and in what manner the same is
to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention refers to improvements in and connected with keels of sailing
vessels, particularly boats and vessels of small tonnage, whereby the vessels are
made capable of sailing "closer" (more closely) to the wind than has been hitherto
the case with those constructed up to the present time.
According to this invention the keel is pivotted to the bottom of the vessel in
such manner as to be capable of moving in a horizontal plane, so that it be
may
set at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the vessel the result being that when
"beating" the water acting on the said keel will tend to cause the vessel to move
in the direction in which it points instead of making so much lee-way as is usually
the case. Another part of the invention consists in providing the vessel with two
or more keels instead of one, so that at least one is effective when the vessel heels.
over considerably.
Figure 1 of accompanying sheet of drawings represents a vessel in inverted
plan.
Figure 2 is a transverse section of a vessel.
Figure 3 is a transverse section of a keel and parts connected therewith to an
enlarged scale and
Figure 4 is an inverted plan thereof.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, this vessel is shown provided with three keels K,
one being in the middle and one on each side. The three keels are each capable
of turning on a central pivot X and each is a one end connected with a device
whereby each keel may be set at various angles to the longitudinal axis of the
vessel, as shown for instance, by the dotted lines. The device for altering the
angle of a keel may conveniently consist of a disc S, Figures 3 and 4, mounted so
as to be capable of revolving in a recessed plate L bolted or otherwise fixed to the
bottom of the vessel. The disc S is provided with an eccentric pin T which takes
into the keel and the latter is shown as being made of sheet iron bent into a
U section. The spindle V, to which is fixed the disc S, is mounted in a bearing in
one with the recessed plate L and is provided with a handle H by means of which
the keel can be moved. The handles H may be connected together so as to be
operated simultaneously and from any convenient place in the vessel.
bearings of spindles V are also made water-tight by providing them with stuffing
boxes or by extending them to a level above that of the vessels water line or in
any other convenient manner. It is evident that the construction of the apparatus
inay be modified to suit special circumstances.
The
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. A keel for a sailing vessel made to pivot at or near the centre and in or about
the horizontal plane under the bottom of the vessel and means for causing the

page_text: movement of the keel angularly to the longitudinal axis of the vessel as desired
from the interior thereof substantially as set forth.
2. In a sailing vessel the employment of two or more movable keels each
pivotted at or near its centre in or about in the horizontal plane under the
bottom of the vessel and means for causing the movement of such keels angularly
to the longitudinal axis of the vessel as desired from the interior thereof sub-
stantially as described and shown.
Dated this 28th dow of Mar 1806
JENSEN & SON,
77 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.