IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHIPS' BLOCKS
Year: 1849

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FREDERICK
CHAMIER, of Warwick Street, in the County of Middlesex, Commander in the
Royal Navy, send greeting.
.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-third day of
August, One thousand eight hundred and forty-nine, in the thirteenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Frederick Chamier, my exors, admors, and assigns, Her especial
licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Frederick
Chamier, my exors, adñors, and assigns, and such others as I, the said Frederick
Chamier, my exors, admors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times during the term of years
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, the Invention
of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHIPS' BLOCKS," communicated to
me from abroad; in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I,
the said Frederick Chamier, should cause a particular description of the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, to be inrolled'
in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters
Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully
and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Frederick Chamier, do hereby declare that the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully
described and ascertained-in and by the following statement thereof, reference
being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters
marked thereon, that is to say:
The improvements effected are of a double nature, one as regards durability,
the other as to construction. The chief object is to obtain a better block at a
cheaper rate. I have taken the blocks now in use as a specimen by which
mine are to be tested as to strength, size, economy, and efficiency.
The Drawings accompanying this Specification are all on the same scale, the
sheave being of a certain diameter.
The first Drawing presents the block actually in use, that is to say, a wooden
block with lignum vita sheave, bushed with copper or leather.
The Figures Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6, shew the block in its various points of
view, with different specimens, single and double. By placing Sheet 2 over
Sheet 1 the difference of size will be easily recognized, as the blocks in.
Sheet 2 have the same diameter of sheave and the same swallow as those of
Sheet 1.
Sheet 2 shews a new method of strapping blocks by means of any metallic
wire, protected against oxidation by tinning, galvanizing, or painting, or by the
nature of the wire itself.
The Drawing shews how the metallic strap, much less in size than rope
strapping, is effected. It must be remarked that the wire, laying buried as it
were in the score of the block, is protected from any rubbing or wear and tear,,
which is inevitable in rope strapping. The wire strapping will not stretch,"
neither can the block escape from the strap, whatever the weight or however
it may be turned.
The method of strapping with wire is done by a multiplicity of folds from a,
continuous wire; a simple transversal ligature between the block and the ring
is sufficient for security. By this system splicing is avoided, and the nice art of
strapping a block becomes adapted to the meanest capacity; hence a double
economy, one as regards durability, the other in the facility of execution.
The Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, in Sheet 2, shew-common-wooden-blocks, strapped-
with metallic wire, in various points of view.
Sheet 3 represents the block now in use, with the metallic strap differently
placed, with a view of making it support directly the weight which the sheave
and the pin support. The metallic strap in this plate is plainly demonstrated.
so as to shew its various folds of fastenings.

page_text: Figures 3 and 4 represent double-tailed blocks. The object of this mode of
strapping is to obviate the general tendency of blocks to split. In the mode
now in use of rope strapping, the strap passes round the arse of the block,
supporting the load by means of the sheaves, piu, and block. The compression of
the block against the pin easily accounts for its tendency to split, as the weight
bears always on the pin and the strap, each bearing towards each other, hence
the half circumference acts like two wedges, and ultimately splits the block.
The block wire strapped having, by my method, no weight to support, will
never split; by this means, also, the shell of the block may be considerably
reduced in size and weight, and the common wooden block become doubly
servicable.
Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, Sheet 3, shew the manner of strapping; and 3 and 4
shew how the counter strap is arranged so as to maintain an even strain on
all parts of the strap when coupling blocks together.
Sheet 4 represents metal blocks wire strapped.
Figures 1 and 2 represent single blocks; 3 and 4, double blocks.
I have before explained how a strap of metallic wire can be made to support
the weight so as almost entirely to relieve the pin, and completely to save the
cheeks of the blocks, which have now only to maintain the rope in its proper
position.
.
The metallic single block is composed of a piece of thin metal, any kind of
metal may be used-see M, Figure 2, Sheet 5-conveniently folded upon itself,
so as to form a protection or guide for the rope. To obviate this inconvenience
of sharp edges, I place on each side of this first plate a second plate of thin
metal (see C, C', Figure 1, Sheet 4), resembling a shell; these pieces fit into
each other by means of a rim round the outer surface, and may be made more
secure by soldering. To fill up the spaces left between the pieces, cement,
mastic, or resin, or any substance which becomes hard after being in a liquid
state, may be used.
The letter A, Figures 2 and 4, Sheet 4, shews the opening, the orifice being
closed by means of a stamp, indicating this Patent. The construction of blocks
upon this principle is conducive to great economy. The separate pieces may
be stamped or cut, and thus the cheeks of one block will fit the rim on all
blocks of the same size and swallow. Supposing, therefore, one cheek to be
damaged, smashed, or broken, the block still remains serviceable, and the cheek
can be replaced instantly. Thus a ship may carry to sea a great supply in a
narrow compass, and repair any damage to her blocks instantaneously.
The details of Sheet 5 shew how the different parts of the block are formed,
which, united, compose a metallic block with metallic strap.

page_text: The Figures 1 and 2 shew a single block; the cheeks or overlapping shells
are removed to shew the metallic strap.
The Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, explain the composition of double or treble blocks.
Figure 3, Letter A, shews how the wire strapping is introduced between
the plates for sustaining the pin; it also shews B, the half sides, which join and
form the intermediate plates in double or treble blocks. The strap is never
subdivided in more than two divisions, although intended to strap a double or
a treble block. In the double block the two extremities of the second division
or bundle of wires, represented by itself, Figure 3, are united together. In
the treble block each of the ends of the second division or bundle of wires is
inserted between the protecting plates, as in Figure 5.
Another advantage in the substitution of metal for wooden blocks, is not less
than that of metallic strappings in regard to rope strapping: the state of the
atmosphere has no influence on the metal. The metal can always be procured
and easily fashioned; whilst wood, however ingeniously worked, is subject to
many drawbacks. The low price of the small quantity of metal in sheets
employed in the composition of metal blocks can be advantageously placed against
the huge pieces of wood from which blocks are cut; in one the fragments are
useless, in the other they can be made available. With this view to economy
I have substituted a metal sheave for that in lignum vitæ.
Sheet 6 shews a comparison between the wooden and the metal sheave,
with all necessary description for the formation and security of the latter.
"The Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, represent the wooden sheave, metallic or leather
bouched.
'
The Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, shew the new metallic sheave, as indicated by
Figure 5, which is a section. It is composed of three rounds of thin metal,
two of which are cut out and raised, the third having a polygonal hole in the
centre.
The Figures 9 and 9¹ shew how the bouch is formed. This bouch passes
through the metal plate, round which the other two plates are placed; the
three now form one, and are rivetted, as shewn in Figure 6, c, c¹¹, cl, c
These rivets are soldered, so that the whole sheave bears an equal proportion of
the weight imposed upon it.
Figures 10 and 10' shew how the pin is formed, so as to prevent its turning
in eyes of the wire strap.
The collar A of the pin presents a section of the bead.
What I claim is,-***
Firstly, for the strapping of wooden blocks, by means of metallic wire
preserved from oxidation by any means.

page_text: Secondly, for a metallic strap, so contrived and placed as to hinder the
splitting of the block.
Thirdly, for improvements in the making of blocks, by substituting metal in
sheets (of any metal) preserved from oxidation, for wood.
Fourthly, for the manufacture of sheaves made of any metal, in sheets, and
rivetted, having a polygonal bouch in either metal or leather.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Chamier, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifth day of Febrnary, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty.
FREDERICK (L.S.) CHAMIER.
Taken and acknowledged by Fre-
derick Chamier (party hereto), at
Paris, in the Republic of France,
the Fifth day of February, 1850,
This is the Specification referred to in the Affidavit of Samuel Carpmael,
sworn this 18th day of February, 1850, before me,
J. JEFFERSON.
Samuel Carpmael, of Lincoln's Inn, in the County of Middlesex, maketh
oath and saith, that he is acquainted with the manner and character of the
handwriting of Thomas Pickford, Her Britannic Majesty's Consul at Paris, in
the Republic of France. And this Deponent further saith, that the signa-
ture, "Thomas Pickford," set, subscribed, or written in the margin of the
Specification hereunto annexed, marked A, and dated the Fifth day of this
instant month of February, and purporting to be executed by Frederick
Chamier, Commander in the Royal Navy, whereby it is stated that the said
Specification was acknowledged by him; the said Frederick Chamier, before
the said Thomas Pickford, on the said Fifth day of February, at Paris afore-
said, is of the proper handwriting of the said Thomas Pickford.
Sworn at the Chancery Affidavit
Office, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, this 18th day of Fe-
S. CARPMAEL.

page_text: -AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that, on the oath of Samuel Carpmacl, the
Specification aforesaid was enrolled, word for word, as above written. And
also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the
Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Eighteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord One 5
thousand eight hundred and fifty.