AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE RIGGING OF SAILING Vesses
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Vincent Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughts-
man, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE RIGGING OF SAILING
Vesses "A communication.
Sealed the 5th December 1854, and dated the 28th September 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Vincent Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
28th September 1854.
I, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE RIGGING OF
SAILING VESSELS" to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the application of an extra yard to any topsail,
which yard is.supported upon the cap of the lower mast-head by a truss and
crane, so that the upper topsail yard may be lowered down in close proximity
to the said extra yard. By this improvement the topsail is divided into two
parts, and may be reefed or taken in by one-third the number of men required
to secure the same result according to the old plan. By the old plan, the
yards are supported by a chain attached to the topmast above such yard. The
upper topsail yard, therefore, cannot be lowered below the point of attachment
of such chain to the topmast, and of course the sail will be "bellied out" by
the wind, and require considerable tackle and a large number of men to take
it in; but by the present improvement, the upper yard may be lowered down

page_text: to the new yard, and the upper half of the topsail drops behind the lower half
of the sail. After the upper half is taken in or furled, the lower half is clued
in from the deck by the usual tackle and in the ordinary way.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alfred Vincent Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 28th March 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Alfred Vincent Newton, Her special license that 1, the said Alfred Vincent
Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Alfred Vincent Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 THE RIGGING OP SAILING VESSELS," being a communication from abroad,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 Alfred Vincent Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed. to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
This Invention, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, relates
to a mode of applying and supporting a second or extra topsail yard to the
cap of the lower mast-head, and also a crane or brace to the heel of the
topmast-top or trussle trees to the lower mast, the object being to lower down

page_text: the upper topsail yard into close proximity with the second or extra yard.
According to this Invention the topsail is divided into two parts, and may be
reefed or taken in with one-third the number of men necessary to secure the
same result on the old plan. By the old plan the yards are supported by a
chain attached to the topmast above such yard; the upper topsail yard, there-
fore, cannot be lowered below the point of attachment of such chain to the
topmast, and of course the sail will be "bellied out" by the wind, and require
considerable tackle and a large number of men to take it in; but by the
present improvements the upper yard may be lowered down to the new yard,
and the upper half of the topsail, as divided, drops behind the lower half of the
sail. After it is taken in or furled, the lower half is clued in from the deck
by the usual tackle, and in the ordinary way.
The mode of applying and sustaining the new or extra yard is shewn
in elevation and in detail in the accompanying Drawing, wherein Fig. 1
represents the topsail set, and the yards and masts in connection there-
with; Fig. 2 is an edge or side view of the same; Fig. 3 is a view, shewing
the upper half of the yard lowered down to the new yard; and Fig. 4 is
a detached view of the truss and crane for supporting the extra yard. This
yard is constructed in any of the known forms, supported by a truss marked A
(Fig. 4), attached to the cap marked B, connected to the after part of the
yard by iron bands C, C, on the forward part by a brace or crank marked D.
The upper end is connected to the band marked E, by a swivel head. The
lower end of the brace or crane is attached to the band marked F, by
a pintle.
What I claim as the Invention secured to nie by Letters Patent is, the
application of an extra yard, supported by a truss, crane, or brace, as herein
described, or any other means substantially the same, and which will produce
the like effect.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of March, in the of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
year
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
A. V. NEWTON. (Ls.)