IMPROVEMENTS IN CAPSTANS, WINCHES, AND WINDLASSES
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jean Barthélemy Gillet, of Agde (Hérault), in the
Empire of France, and of 16, Castle Street, Holborn (City), London, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CAPSTANS, WINCHES, AND WINDLASSES."
Sealed the 12th January 1855, and dated the 20th July 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jean Barthélemy Gillet
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
20th July 1854.
I, JEAN BARTHELEMY GILLET, of Agde (Hérault), Empire of France, and
of 16, Castle Street, Holborn (City), London, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CAPSTANS, WINCHES, AND WINDLASSES,"
to be as follows:-
My improvements consist in a pair of winillasses or capstans which are
moved by spur gear from a central shaft, this central shaft having different
drivers keyed on it, so as to impart different speeds to the capstans; this central
shaft and the drums run between any suitable framing. The Figure on the
annexed Drawing is intended to shew one of the ways in which my improve-
ments may be put into practice. A is the capstan head; B, B', the rope or
chain barrels; C, D, & C', E, the differential spur gear, above mentioned.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Jean Barthélemy Gillet in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 19th January 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JEAN
BARTHELEMY GILLET, of Agde (Hérault), in the Empire of France, and of
16, Castle Street, Holborn (City), London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of July, 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
Jean Barthelemy Gillet, Her special licence that I, the said Jean Barthelemy
Gillet, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Jean Barthelemy Gillet, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter 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 of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CAPSTANS, WINCHES, AND WINDLASSES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Jean Barthelemy Gillet, 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 Jean Barthelemy Gillet, 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:-
My improvements consist in a pair of windlasses or capstans which are
moved by a spur gear from a central shaft, on which drivers of different dia-
meters are keyed, moveable, so that by shifting said drivers different speeds
may be imparted to the capstan, and a greater or less power may be obtained.
In order that my improvements may be fully understood, I have on the
annexed Sheet of Drawings represented different views of said improved
capstan, and shall refer to these views in the following description:-
:―
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal elevation of the capstan; Fig. 2 is an end view of
the same. The other Figures are intended to represent details of the pawl or
click. The same letters of reference stand for like parts in all these Figures.
A is the capstan head, which is encircled in iron hoops, and has eight or any

page_text: suitable number of eyes or sockets for receiving the handspikes; A¹ is the
central axle or capstan shaft, which has holes at various distances for fixing
the driving wheels D & E, by means of studs B, B', are the capstan drums,
having ratchet gear on the top, into which drops the click H, which is fixed at
the top of the frame in the casing K, with which it is represented in plan and
in section at Figs. 3 and 4. The drum B has two grooves b, b, whilst the
opposite drum has three grooves b', 6', for allowing the rope or cable to pass.
The grooves on the two cylinders are not opposite each other, but placed in
such manner that the two grooves b, b, are half way between the grooves b¹, b', b¹.
Besides these grooves, each drum has at the lower part a broad gorge c, for the
purpose of winding a separate chain on each of the two barrels; the gorge
having for that purpose cavities d, that allow the links of the chain entering,
and prevent said chain from slipping. C, C, are two equal wheels keyed at
the top ends of the capstan drums B, B. The wheel D, which is keyed on the
central shaft A', gears with these wheels C, C, as shewn at Fig. 1. At the
lower ends of the barrels are another couple of wheels C', C', which are larger
than the wheels C, C, and, when great power is required, are intended to be
driven by the pinion E on the central shaft, on which it is shewn at half height
at Fig. 1; and which may be shipped down whenever required, and thus thrown
into gear with the wheels C', C', taking care at the same time to throw the
wheel D out of gear with C, C. A proper framing, composed of the foundation
I, uprights 1', trusses I", and platform beams I", contains the whole capstan,
the drums and shaft A' turning in proper steps and collars fixed in said framing.
This capstan acts in the following way-The cable from the anchor or
other obstacle to be moved is passed over the drum B' in the groove 1, then
rising to the drum 13 on the groove marked 2; the cable then coils back again
to the drum B¹ on the groove 3, and so on, to groove 5, on drum B'. The.
rope is then passed round the cheeks L, and coiled further on as the winding
or hauling proceeds. The capstan being in motion, it will be seen that the
pulley will both together act in the same manner as a White's pulley; the
adhesion or static friction of the rope in the grooves 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, preventing it
from slipping, and causing the pulleys to act in such manner as to duplicate the
power. Hence, if it is desired to increase the drawing power of the drums,
several more grooves or gorges may be added to those shewn on the Drawing.
It may here be stated, that although I prefer the nick-shaped grooves shewn,
they may have any other suitable form given to them. One pawl H, as
described, is sufficient for preventing the drums from turning backwards; but
for greater safety, I prefer adapting several of them round the circumference of
the ratchet wheels.

page_text: I wish it also to be understood, that although I have shewn the drums to be
slightly tapering towards the top, this is by no means necessary, as they may
be quite cylindrical, or of any other shape. The wheel gear at the top and
bottom may also be made equal, if it is desired to impart particular strength
to the gearing, by the throwing the strain equally on both. The lower grooves,
as described above, may be used occasionally for winding one or two anchor or
other chains whilst the capstan is being worked for hauling the cable, as
above described.
.
:
The principal object and advantage of the above arrangements is to avoid
the jerk which is experienced in common capstans when the rope begins to coil
on the bigger part of the barrel towards its extremities, when, in consequence
thereof, it is necessary. to cause the cable to slip on the middle or thinner part
for going on with the work.. This, as is well known to mariners, &c., is effected
by slackening the cable, which often causes the same to snap, and is a source
of frequent accidents, besides, the interruption.in the work. The double pur-
chase capstan, above described, may be worked without once stopping during the
operation, and the rope will never be subject to any extraordinary strain owing
to this continuous, working; also, the shifting drivers on the driving shaft and
different sized followers afford the means of applying any, power required, so as
to suit circumstances.
Having thus described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I wish it distinctly to be understood that what I consider as the
principle of my Invention, and therefore claim as secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,--
First a double-barrelled capstan or winch, the, two barrels bearing grooves
placed, opposite or obliquely to each other, so as to act in the manner
described.
Second, moveable, driyers, on a central driving shaft between the two barrels
gearing into differently sized followers on the barrels for obtaining a greater or
less power....
< CP7
In witness whereof, I, the said Jean Barthelemy Gillet, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of January in the year of
our Lord 1855.
i
J. B. GILLET. (L.S.)