IMPROVEMENTS IN MASTS, SCAFFOLD POLES FLAG STAFFS AND THE LIKE
Year: 1885

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I ROWLAND BATEMAN of No. 15 Chain Walk Lozells Birmingham in the County
of Warwick Billiard Table Maker do hereby declare the nature of the said invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MASTS, SCAFFOLD POLES FLAG STAFFS AND THE LIKE
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement that is to say :--
This Invention has for its object improvements in masts by which protection is
afforded against the rapid rotting of the same and also in the case of masts
breaking off from that or other causes protection is afforded against the mast
falling overboard and thus being lost. There is also less liability of the bulwarks
being destroyed which is often the case when masts go overboard. Besides this my
invention refers to the more economical construction of masts which have a greater
total strength.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and more easily carried
into practice I have appended hereunto a sheet of Drawings shewing two appli-
cations of my invention.
Figure, 1. is a part section and part elevation of a mast made from one piece of
timber.
Figure. 2. is a part section and part elevation of a mast made from several pieces
of timber,
Now according to my invention I take a piece of timber A and remove the pith
or centre of the timber as shown by the dotted lines b b. I then place down the
centre of the said timber a wire rope C which may be mounted at each end into
tubes D which is one with the bottom plate E and screw F. The bottom plate E
may have projections, e' and e³ to prevent it from twining when the nut H is
screwed up, and is fully shewn in Figs. 1 and 3. The wire rope may be secured to
the tube or F by means of cross pins m and m¹ passing through the tubes and
between the wire strands and in addition to this or alone a suitable metal may be
run around the wire rope in the tube to secure the one to the other and to make
a suitable and substantial finish to the ends. I do not of course confine myself to
this particular junction or finish as many modes may be adapted such for instance
as an eye on the bottom plate and an eye pin at the top with a corresponding loop
made with the wire.
Now it is often most difficult to obtain a suitable mast in one piece besides the
stowing on the deck of a long mast is always open to objection.

page_text: To obviate this I make masts as shown by Figure. 2. in say six lengths K. K¹ K¹
K³ K' and K and these several lengths are secrewed together as shown at K² either
by a screw cut upon the timber. or by suitable metal plates or ferrules screwed in
a similar manner and by this means the mast may be stowed below deck as ballast.
There is the further advantage that when a mast breaks through a rotten part or
through a cross grained or knotty part it may be renewed in shorter pieces in
conjunction with a new part the whole being secured by the wire rope and if
necessary inner tubes may be placed outside the ropes a part of or all the way
down. The holes N. N. are bored into each separate length of such a size that the
hand spikes kept for general use on board ship may be suitable for placing therein
to screw up the various lengths. To make this still easier a short plate may be
kept on board with friction rollers upon which the mast would rest so as to turn
easily by the aid of hand spikes. These holes may also be utilized for the studs to
which the ropes are fastened to which the rigging rings are secured.
To keep the various lengths from turning I place a key P at each joint and this
key may be swelled at the centre both ways or only one way or it may be
a straight key. In unscrewing a length the key would be first taken out and the
joint would unscrew. The wire rope may be secured against rust by any suitable
means such as galvanizing or by filling it round with pitch and oil or other suitable
preserving composition. The lengtlis of the several parts K may be made to suit
the requirements of the ships rigging.
It will thus be seen that if such a mast failed under strain the part falling over
could be at once hauled in by the central wire rope and rejointed and thus much
expense and trouble will be saved. It will be obvious that this invention is
applicable to scaffold poles, flag-staff's and other such like purposes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
.
1st The improvements in masts of a solid timber with the pith taken out and
replaced by a wire rope secured at the ends substantially as and for the purpose
herein set forth.
2nd The improvements in masts made up of the sectional parts K. K' K² K³ K¹
and K³ and secured together substantially as herein set forth.