IM- PROVEMENTS IN ARRANGING AND REEFING THE SAILS OF SHIPS
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Webster Shibles, of Thomas Town, Maine,
in the United States of America, Mariner, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN ARRANGING AND REEFING THE SAILS OF SHIPS."
Sealed the 16th March 1858, and dated the 2nd October 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Webster Shibles
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 2nd October 1857.
I, GEORGE WEBSTER SHIBLES, of Thomas Town, Maine, in the United States
of America, Mariner, do hereby déclare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ARRANGING AND REEPING THE SAILS OF SHIPS," to be as
follows, that is to say :--
This Invention relates to the so arranging and working the sails of ships,
particularly topsails, that such sails may be conveniently set or bent, and
reefed from the deck without the necessity of the seaman's going aloft for
the purpose. In arranging a topsail in this way, the mast carries in addition
to the usual yard a rotatory spar set parallel with the yard, and fitted at each
end with a spirally or helically grooved barrel. There are two lifts passed up
the mast from the deck through eyes or guides in the top of the mast, the
other ends of this tackling being respectively passed through terminal eyes on
the yards, and thence wound round the grooved barrels on the spar. It is to
this barrelled spar that the upper edge of the sheet is attached, the whole
being so arranged that when the spar is turned round in one direction to
wind up the sail upon it, the two barrels wind up their tackle in the reverse

page_text: direction. Under this arrangement, when the halyards are worked from the
deck, the sheet is more or less reefed by the simple action of slacking off or
hauling up; for the rotatory barrel spar winds up or lets off more or less of
the sheet at the will of the seaman. This arrives from the fact that when a
hauling strain is put on by the halyards, the barrelled spar is turned upon its
axis by the tensional action of the ropes upon the barrel, thus unwinding a
corresponding amount of sail, whilst when the reverse turn occurs from the
slacking off, the reverse rotation of the spar takes up the sheet. The lifts
passing up to the top of the mast answer for taking up any slack which may
occur.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Webster Shibles in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 1st April 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
WEBSTER SHIBLES, of Thomas Town, Maine, in the United States of America,
Mariner, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said George Webster Shibles, Her special license that I, the said George
Webster Shibles, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said George Webster Shibles, my executors, administrators, or
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 Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ARRANGING AND REEFING THE SAILS OF SHIPS,"
upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George Webster Shibles, by
an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what mauner 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 inmediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Webster Shibles, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same

page_text: is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates to the so arranging and working the sails of ships,
particularly topsails, that such sails may be conveniently set or bent and reefed
from the deck without the necessity of the seamen's going aloft for the
purpose. In arranging a topsail in this way, the mast carries in addition to
the usual yard a rotatory spar set parallel with the yard, and fitted at each
end with a spirally or helically grooved barrel. There are two lifts passed up
the mast from the deck through eyes or guides in the top of the mast, the
other ends of this tackling being respectively passed through terminal eyes on
the yards, and thence wound round the grooved barrels on the spar. It is to
this barrelled spar that the upper edge of the sheet is attached, the whole
being so arranged that when the spar is turned round in one direction to
wind up the sail upon it, the two barrels wind up their tackle in the reverse
direction. Under this arrangement, when the halyards are worked from the
deck, the sheet is more or less reefed by the simple action of slacking off or
hauling up, for the rotatory barrel spar winds up or lets off more or less of
the sheet at the will of the seaman. This arises from the fact that when a
hauling strain is put on by the halyards, the barrelled spar is turned upon its
axis by the tensional action of the ropes upon the barrels, thus unwinding a
corresponding amount of sail, whilst when the reverse turn occurs from the
slacking off, the reverse rotation of the spar takes up the sheet; the lifts
passing up to the top of the mast answer for taking up any slack which may
occur.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I shall
now proceed to describe the several illustrative figures upon the explanatory
Sheet of Drawings, which I have hereunto appended for the purpose of
showing certain modifications under which my improvements may be
judiciously carried out in practice. Figure 1 is an elevation of the upper
portion of a ship's mast, showing the topmast and topsail, the top-gallant mast
and top-gallant sail in full elevation, as viewed from the after part of the
vessel. Figure 2 is a side view or elevation of the upper portion of a mast,
the topmast and a portion of the top-gallant mast drawn to a larger scale than
Figure 1, both Figures having my improvements in reefing sails applied"
thereto; Figure 3 is a half plan corresponding to Figure 2; Figure 4 is a
partial elevation or side view showing a modification of my improvements; and
Figure 5 is a plan corresponding thereto. In the arrangement shown in
Figure 1 of my Drawing, and in the enlarged views, Figures 2 and 3, no

page_text: alteration whatever is made in the arrangement and rigging of the mast A,
the topmast B, the top-gallant mast C, and the lower yard D. The topsail
yard E is slung to the topmast B by a "parrel" or iron collar F, which is
made to slide freely up and down the topmast. The yard is suspended at the
central part of the chain or "tie" G, which is made fast to an eye on the parrel
ring, the chain is carried upwards and passed over a sheave fitted in the top-
masthead. The free end of the chain G terminates in a block H, which is
connected by the chain I to the block J, the tackle J' of which is carried
down on deck. The yard E has fitted to it, equidistant from its centre, two
encircling rings or brace bands K, which are made with curved duplex pro-
jecting arms L; the two lower arms serve as bearings to carry the journals of
two horizontal rollers M, arranged parallel to each other. The rollers M
support a supplementary yard N, which I term the "rolling spar" as it
rotates freely upon its supporting rollers. The upper or overhanging duplex
arms L carry a roller M', which serves as a guard to the rolling spar N,
and prevents it from shifting foreward. Each extremity of the rolling spar N
has fitted to it an iron cap O, from which a horizontal spindle P pro-
jects. The rolling spar is connected to the standing yard E by a pair of
brace bands Q, which are fitted to each extremity of the yard. These
brace bands are made with projecting arms, each of which terminates in
an eye, which forms a bearing for the journals of the spindles P; midway
between the brace bands Q a third band R is fitted to the yard E; this
band is made with a projecting arm, the free end of which is curved or
forked, and takes into or enters the helical groove of the screw barrel S.
The projecting arm of the central brace band R is fitted with a nut upon
its stem, by which it may be screwed out or in so that its length may be
altered to a certain extent, and in this manner the forked end may be
accurately adjusted to the helical groove of the screw barrel S. Each of
the screw barrels S is made to travel to and fro upon the spindle P, which is
made twice the length of the barrel S, or thereabouts. Upon the upper part
of the brace band R is fixed a block or bull's eye T, through which are passed
the chains or "lifts" U. One end of each of the chain lifts U is made fast to the
barrel S, passing over the fore part of the barrel and up abaft; the chain then
passes through the block T on the brace band R, is carried upwards and
passed through a block V suspended to the cap of the topmast. The lift at
the opposite extremity of the yard is rigged in like manner, both of the lifts
being carried downwards from the blocks V, and to the extremities is attached
a single block or gun tackle purchase W. Through this block W and another
block X, which is made fast to the "top," the tackle Y is rove, the end of which

page_text: is carried down upon deck and made fast to a cleat or belaying pin. When
the sail Z is "set" the screw barrels S are out at the extremities of the
spindles P, in the position shown in Figure 3 of my Drawing. In Figure 1
the sail is shown "set" or hoisted to its full height; when so arranged there is
as much of the chain lifts U wound upon the screw barrels S as is equivalent
to the hoist of the sail. When it is desired to reef the sail nothing more is
necessary than to let go the halyards J', which causes the weight of the yard
to be thrown upon the lifts U; the effect of this is to cause the screw barrels S
to turn round upon their axes and unwind the chain that is upon them. As
the weight of the yard drags upon the chains U they are unwound from the
barrels S, thereby causing the rolling spar N to rotate. The head of the sail
Z being secured to the rolling spar, it follows that as the spar rotates the sail is
rolled up on the spar and thereby reefed. The arm of the central brace band
R, which takes into the helical groove of each of the screw barrels S, being
stationary, it causes the barrel to move along the spindle P as the chain
unwinds, so that the barrel when unwound is at the inner end of the spindle.
When the sail is hoisted by hauling upon the halyards the unrolling of the
sail causes the rolling spar N to rotate in the opposite direction, and the lifts
U are thereby wound upon the screw barrels S. The stationary arm of the
brace band R, as it guides each of the barrels S outwards along the spindle
P, causes the chain U to be wound regularly upon its respective barrel within
the helical flange formed thereon. In fitting the screw barrels S to the rolling
spar, the barrel with the left-hand screw goes upon the "starboard' or right-
hand side of the yard, when it is in its proper place, and the right-hand screw
is fitted to the "port" or left-hand side of the yard. A down haul a is fitted
to the under side of the yard, in order to assist the descent of the yard, should
the parrel at any time stick by the way. In Figure 1 of my Drawing, the
topgallant sail 6 is shown reefed; the upper part of the sail being smoothly
rolled up on the rolling spar, the lower portion of the topsail is clewed up by
means of "clue lines c, as ordinarily practised.
"
"
In Figure 4 and 5 of my Drawing is shown a modification of the arrange-
ment herein-before described. In this modification the "parrel" d, by which
the yard is slung to the mast e, consists of three encircling bands, two of which
are fitted with conical pulleys f, which are curved to correspond to the peri-
phery of the mast. These bands are sunk into a wooden ring or collar, the
interior of which is turned so as to fit the mast easily; or the parrel may be
lined with a smooth metallic lining, so that with the pulleys it slides very
freely up and down the mast e, and without the slightest abrasion or injury
thereto. The yard g is attached to the parrel by the brace bands h, which are

page_text: secured to the diverging arms of the parrel by bolts and nuts. In this arrange-
ment the rolling spar i is attached to the yard by bands or belts j, formed of
lengths or pieces of rope laid side by side and strongly plaited or bound
together, or other flexible material may be used for the purpose. One
extremity of each of these flat bands ; is made fast to the rolling spar, the
band is then carried over the pulleys k which are fitted upon the upper part
of the yard. The free extremity of each of the bands j is carried down to the
lower yard or "top and there made fast. These belts or bands j are so
arranged that when the sail is closely reefed there is a sufficient amount or
length of the belts coiled upon the rolling spar to allow for hoisting; the
coiling of the belts being in the same direction as that in which the sail is to
be rolled upon the spar i. When the halyards are let go the screw barrels
upon the ends of the rolling spar are brought into action, and the lower
extremities of the belts j being fast they are wound up with the sail upon the
rolling spar. On the contrary, when the sail is hoisted the drag upon the sail
as it is unrolled by the lifting of the yard causes the belts ; to be unwound in
corresponding proportion. The flexible belts or bands of rope serve to support
the rolling spar h in lieu of the brace bands K, arms L, and rollers M, as
shown in Figures 1 to 3 of my Drawing. This arrangement of supporting
the rolling spars upon or by means of hempen bands admits of the bands
being renewed or repaired when the vessel is at sea, which is not readily
accomplished when iron fittings are injured. Instead of using the screw
barrels, herein-before described, the stud of the central brace band on the yard
may be fitted with a pulley and bevil wheel. This wheel is made to gear with
another carried by a stud projecting from the end of the rolling spar. The
periphery of each pulley on the yard is curved to a concave form, so as to grip
the links of the lifts which pass round these pulleys, and are carried through
blocks made fast to the fore part of the topmast and thence attached to a
block, the tackle of which is secured to the " top," the other end or "fall"
being carried down on deck. When the yard is lowered the "lifts" cause the
pulleys to turn and actuate the bevil wheels, which motion gives a rotatory
movement to the rolling spar, and the topsail is thereby rolled upon it. When
the yard is hoisted the bevil wheels are thereby caused to rotate in the opposite
direction and the sail is unfurled. In this manner the topsails of ships may
be readily set or reefed from the deck of the vessel without sending men
aloft, thereby simplifying the operation, reducing the number of hands required
to work the sails, and preventing accidents to seamen which frequently occur
during the performance of duty aloft in stormy weather.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of said

page_text: Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I may observe in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict myself
to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to describe
or refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without deviating from
the principles or main features of my Invention; but what I consider to be
novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First, the general arrangement and construction of the yards of ships or
vessels, whereby the topsails can be reefed or set from the deck, as herein-
before described.
Second, the system or mode of setting and reefing ships' topsails from the
deck of the vessel, as herein-before described.
Third, the system or mode of reefing topsails by rolling them up on a self-
acting supplementary or rolling spar, as herein-before described.
Fourth, the use and application of screw or helically-formed barrels in and
to the purpose of setting and reefing sails, as herein-before described.
Fifth, the system or mode of setting and reefing topsails from the ship's
deck, in which the supplementary or rolling spar is supported upon rollers, or
by means of belts or bands, or any mere equivalent therefor, as herein-before
described.
Sixth, the system or mode of actuating or imparting a rotatory movement
to the rolling spars of ships' topsails by means of bevil wheels or other similar
mechanical arrangement, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Webster Shibles, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
GEORGE W. SHIBLES. (L.s.)