Improvements in or connected with Ships' Rigging.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Oct., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 1st Aug., 1893-Accepted. 30th Sept., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Ships' Rigging.
I, JOSEPH HARRY ARGYLE THORNTON, of 1 Moscow Drive, Stoneycroft, in
the City of Liverpool, Master Mariner, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to the rigging of ships, that is to the sails, spars, and
means of controlling and operating them, and has mainly for its object to render it
possible to work a ship with fewer hands than heretofore, and at the same time to
enable the sails and spars to be easily and readily controlled and operated.
I will describe the nature of my invention as applied to a mast of a ship, it being
understood that the description is referrible to a ship having either one or any
number of masts. On the mast, for instance the lower-mast, two trysails, an upper
and lower, are set, and two gaffs and one boom are employed, the upper trysail
being set between the two gaffs, and the lower trysail between the lower gaff and
the boom. The trysails are adapted to be taken in or set by running them horizon-
tally inwards towards the mast and outwards from same, suitable means being
provided to enable the sails to run freely outwards or inwards.
For this purpose of operating the sails, the head and foot ropes are provided
with hanks, which may have rollers on them, and which work in and out on the
gaffs or spars on suitable bars from rails secured to said gaffs or spars.
The gaffs may be stationary on the masts and the peaks supported by double
topping lifts or the like, one on each side of the gaff. By this means the peaks can
be lowered or raised as required to take in sail or set one, or as the case may be.
The taking in and setting of sails, that is moving outwards and inwards, may be
effected by brailing and other ropes suitably fastened to said sails and led to the
deck as required through suitable blocks or pulleys.
Above the lower sails, in some cases, a top sail is provided, which for bad
weather may be sharp headed, and for fine weather square headed. The foot
rope may have banks working in and out on the upper gaff, as in the case of the
trysails.
In some cases a mast may consist of a lowermast and topmast, or a single pole, or
in any number of picces or parts.
In some cases on a mast, or one or more of the masts, a stationary yard may be
provided on which suitable sails may be set for running before the wind, say in a
gale, and a three cornered or equivalent topsail may be set over it. When not
required the yard is cockbilled up and down the mast.
In some cases when running before the wind, a spinaker may be set in combina-
tion with the trysails, or trysail and topsails above described.
This invention in part or in whole may be applied to all classes of sailing
vessels having one, two, three or more masts, either together or singly, and also to
steamships.
The boom or booms of the trysails may be worked and controlled by a winch
with a suitable brake, so that it can be moved and regulated with ease and rapidity,
and the other spars and ropes may be either worked through winches and brakes or
in other ways.
By my invention the sails of a ship can be well and easily set or taken in in any
weather, and are less expensive than ordinary sails as regards wear and tear of
canvas, and they can be worked with far less men or hands than are usually carried
on ships of a given size. Further, it will enable ships to make quicker passages,
for one reason, that the canvas being better and more easily set, brings a larger
propelling force to bear upon the ship than is exerted in the case of ships rigged as

page_text: usual, and the chances of loosing a sail are reduced, and the sails can be carried
much longer in unsettled weather because they are enabled to be taken in safely
exactly as when required, and the ship can be tacked from side to side without
operating any rope beyond hauling over the head sheets.
Dated this 30th day of September 1892.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON, Fels. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Ships' Rigging.
I, JOSEPH HARRY ARGYLE THORNTON, of 1, Moscow Drive, Stoneycroft,
Liverpool, 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 :-
This invention has reference to the rigging of ships, that is to the sails,
spars, and means of controlling and operating them, and has mainly for its
object to render it possible to work a ship with fewer hands than heretofore, and at
the same time to enable the sails and spars to be easily and readily controlled and
operated.
I will describe the nature of my invention as applied to a mast of a ship, it being
understood that the description is referrible to a ship having either one or any
number of masts. On the mast, for instance the lower-mast, two trysails, an upper
and lower, are set, and two gaffs and one boom are employed, the upper trysail
being set between the two gaffs, and the lower trysail between the lower gaff and
the boom. The trysails are adapted to be taken in or set by running them horizon-
tally inwards towards the mast and outwards from same, suitable means being
provided to enable the sails to run freely outwards or inwards.
For this purpose of operating the sails, the head and foot ropes are provided with
hanks, which may have rollers on them, and which work in and out on the gaff's or
spars on suitable bars or rails secured to said gaffs or spars.
The gaffs may be stationary on the masts and the peaks supported by double
topping lifts or the like, one on each side of the gaff. By this means the peaks can
be lowered or raised as required to take in sail or set one, or as the case may be.
The taking in and setting of sails, that is moving outwards and inwards may be
effected by brailing and other ropes suitably fastered to said sails and led to the
deck as required through suitable blocks or pulleys.
Above the lower sails in some cases, a topsail is provided which for bad weather
may be sharp headed and for the fine weather square headed.
The foot rope
may have hanks working in and out on the upper gaff, as in the case of the
trysails.
In some cases a mast may consist of a lowermast and topmast, or a single pole, or
in any number of pieces or parts.
In some cases on a mast or one or more of the masts a stationary yard may be
provided on which suitable sails may be set for running before the wind, say in a
gale, and a three cornered or equivalent topsail or topsails may be set over it.
When not required the yard is cockbilled up and down the mast.
In some cases when running before the wind, a spinaker may be set in combination
with the trysails, or trysail and topsails above described.
This invention in part or in whole may be applied to all classes of sailing vessels
having one, two, or three or more masts, either together or singly, and also to
steam ships.
The boom or booms of the trysails may be worked and controlled by a winch
with a suitable brake, so that it can he moved and regulated with ease and rapidity,
and the other spars and ropes may be either worked through winches and brakes or
in other ways.

page_text: By my invention the sails of a ship can be well and easily set or taken in in any
weather, and are less expensive than ordinary sails as regards wear and tear of
canvas, and they can be worked with far less men or hands than are usually carried
on ships of a given size. Further, it will enable ships to make quicker passages,
for one reason, that the canvas being better and more easily set, brings a larger
propelling force to bear upon the ship than is exerted in the case of ships rigged as
usual, and the chances of losing a sail are reduced, and the sails can be carried much
longer in unsettled weather because they are enabled to be taken in safely exactly
when required, and the ship can be tacked from side to side without operating any
rope beyond hauling over the head sheets.
In the drawings wherein I illustrate my invention, Figure 1 shews my invention
in side elevation, two masts being shewn, one with the sails set thereon, and the other
taken in.
Figure 1 is a detail shewing the peak rigging.
Figure 2 is an elevation, and Figure 3 a cross section of a boom, gaff, or spar,
shewing means of securing the sail thereto.
Figure 4 is an elevation and Figure 5 is a cross section, illustrating a gaff or spar
in detail constructed to hold or have secured to it a sail both above and below;
whilst
Figures 6 and 7 are respectively elevation and cross section of the lowermost
boom.
Figure 8 is a cross section shewing a mode of moving and controlling the position,
of a boom of the lower trysails.
With reference in the first instance to Figure 1, a is the boom; is the lower
try sail; c is the lower gaff; d is the upper trysail; e is the upper gaff; and f' is the
gaff topsail. g is the mast, say the foremast, and h is the topmast thereof.
The same letters and figures of reference denote the same or similar parts, and
the sails and parts shewn on the mast abaft the mast just described are provided
with corresponding reference letters and figures.
The boom a, and gaffs c and e, are controlled by sheets i, j and k, the upper
sheets and k passing over blocks connected with the main mast, and blocks
connected to the peaks of the gaffs. The lower sheet is of course arranged as an
ordinary sheet; thus each gaff or boom is controlled by a separate sheet, the gaff
sheets being carried down to the deck and worked from thence.
The gaffs are supported to the masts by suitable hinged or movable joints, such
for instance as hinged goose-necks shewn in Figures 4 and 6; and they are
elevated and lowered by the topping lifts 1, one of which is provided on each
side of the sails and masts, these lifts passing over suitable blocks as shewn. The
boom of the lower trysail is also provided with a topping lift in a similar
manner.
In front of the foremast g I provide a yard m which is pivotted to the mast at m¹.
In the position shewn in the drawing this yard is cockbilled against the mast; in
which position it is stowed when not being used.
The square-sail on the yard m is set beneath same; whilst above same a triangular
top-sail or triangular top-sails may be set. This top-sail or topsails may be taken
in, or brailed, and run out in the same manner as the top-sail f.
As regards the means of connecting or attaching the sails to the gaffs and booms,
this consists of the hanks n, which comprise a horned frame with wheels n
mounted on the ends of the horns, and an eye n³, or other provision, for attaching
the sail to. The rollers n' of this device run on the rail o connected at the centre
to the booms or gaffs in any suitable way. These rails on the gaffs are mounted on
the under and upper sides thereof, whilst in the booms they are provided on the
upper side only.
The booms a are controlled through the endless guy which passes over pulley
blocks and a winch having a brake, such winch being of any known suitable
construction, and adapted to haul in and pay out the guy, control its movement,
and hold it when desired, at will.

page_text: The booms and gaffs are supported to the masts by goose-necks p with a hinge
at p³, the goose-necks fitting into eyes or sockets 9 on the masts; they thus are free
to move up and down and also to swing about their points of support.
The sails are run in and out upon the rails by suitable halyards or lines. To
assist in taking in and brailing the canvas, lines or halyards are provided on the
edges of the sails at both sides, said lines passing over pulley-blocks on the masts
to the deck, where they are worked.
which
The sails are run out on the gaffs and booms by the halyards or lines
pass through the blocks on the peaks of the gaffs and booms (see Figure 1A);
whilst the top-sails are also similarly run up to the mast-bead.
The sails are held to the masts in any known suitable way. The top-sails are
also suitably held to the mast and are so arranged that they can be lowered as far
as the cap g', as shewn on the main-mast in Figure 1.
The means of securing the topsails to the top-mast may consist of railways and
hanks n, similar to that illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.
The gaffs are set and held in position and when desired, lowered or lifted as may
be required (when the sails are brailed) by the topping lifts 1, and their swing
outwards is controlled and held by the sheets j and k.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a ships rigging, the employment in connection with a mast, of a lower
trysail with a gaff or spar, and an upper trysail with a gaff above same, said trysails
being adapted to be run out on said gaffs and be taken in and brailed against the
mast substantially as described.
2. In a ships rigging, the employment in connection with a mast, of a lower
trysail with a gaff or spar, and an upper trysail with a gaff above same, said trysails
being adapted to be run out on said gaffs and be taken in and brailed against the
mast; and topping lifts, and sheets for working and holding same, arranged and
operating substantially as described.
3. In a ships rigging, lower and upper masts (or a mast) having in connection
with them lower and upper trysails; gaffs in connection with same; and a topsail,
all arranged or adapted to be stowed and run out and worked; substantially as set
forth with reference to the drawings.
4. In a ships rigging, the employment in conjunction with try-sails, or try-sails
and top-sails of the kind herein referred to, of a fore-yard connected with the mast
and adapted to have a square sail, and a triangular top-sail or top-sails set in
connection with same; substantially as described with reference to the drawings
hereto annexed.
5. The ships rigging comprising the combination as a whole, of the sails, masts,
spars and rope gear, arranged and adapted to operate as set forth with reference to
Figure 1.
6. The use in connection with ships rigging, of spars with a rail or rails thereon
in combination with hanks with rollers thereon; substantially as set forth more
particularly with reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings."
T1
1000
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON, Fels. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.