IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND WORKING OF SHIPS WINDLASSES AND CAPSTANS, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE FOR STEERING SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Browne, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Master Mariner, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION AND WORKING OF SHIPS WINDLASSES AND CAPSTANS, PART
OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE FOR STEERING SHIPS AND
OTHER VESSELS."
Sealed the 28th April 1857, and dated the 1st November 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Browne at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 1st
November 1856.
I, JOSEPH BROWNE, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Master
Mariner, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN. THE CONSTRUCTION AND WORKING OF SHIPS' WINDLASSES AND CAPSTANS,
PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO, APPLICABLE. FOR STEERING SHIPS AND
OTHER: VESSELS, to be as follows:-
My Invention consists of a method of obtaining power for working wind-
lasses and capstans:instead of the ordinary levers used to obtain the purchase,
and commonly known as Tysack and Dobinson's "compound lover windlass."
I make the spindle of the capstan sufficiently long so as to pass through the
topgallant forecastle deck, the lower end resting in a footstep of metal, and L
fix securely on this spindle a grooved tapet, formed by a cylindrical boss or
piece of iron cut diagonally across its axis; I then securely fix these on the

page_text: spindle a sufficient distance apart to allow the ends of a bar or lever to work
in the groove so formed. These being properly arranged, it will be found that
upon turning round the capstan the boss of iron referred to will represent two
inclined planes, which, acting alternately upon the levers, raise or depress
them with perfect regularity, and as the pressure is exerted both upon the
upper and lower parts of the shaft it prevents any straining or loss of power.
The capstan is also differently constructed to those now in use; it is made of
iron in two parts, one representing the upper part and drum head and the
other the lower part. On the bottom of the lower part of the capstan is
secured or cast an internal wheel, which communicates motion to a number
of pinions fixed in an iron frame, which is securely bolted to the deck, and
which forms an additional steadiment to the body of the capstan; the pinions
carry the motion to a spur wheel on the spindle of the capstan, which is
arranged so as to be easily thrown in or out of gear.
The two parts of the capstan are constructed so that they may be secured
to each other by means of four or more bolts fitting easily in their places.
The drumhead is also secured at pleasure to a disk of iron that is fastened to
the top of the spindle, and which has, two holes, corresponding to two other.
holes in the drum head of the capstan, and through which bolts are fitted to
drop in when required. By this arrangement the capstan is either a single or
double purchase, and by unshipping the bolts on the capstan head a double
speed is also given to the spindle, and the cylinder that works the windlass
purchase for use when the power required is not very great. The advantages
of this plan are several. First, that the motion is continuous, and can be
applied to ships of the largest size, while from the great length of the old
windlass levers their use is always attended with great loss of power; from the
fatiguing nature of the motion, as well as from the difficulty of the men
working together, it generally happens that not more than one half of the
hands employed are profitably expending their force. In my improved
capstan, on the contrary, the men always work to advantage, and it is im-
possible for them to work against each other. The machinery employed does
not of necessity displace the old purchase, and is of so very simple and strong
a construction that it would be very difficult to disarrange it. By substituting
the capstan for the ship's steering wheel, and the shaft and tappets for the
rudder head, a very easy method is obtained of steering ships, which is
economical in its construction, very strong, and not liable to get out of
order

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph Browne in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th April 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEгП
BROWNE, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Master Mariner, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Royal
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Joseph Browne, Her special licence that I, the said Joseph Browne, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Joseph
Browne, 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, exerciso,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION AND WORKING OF SHIPS' WINDLASSES AND CAPSTANS, PART OF WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE FOR STEERING SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Joseph Browne, by an
instrument in writing given 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 Royal Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Joseph Browne, do hereby declaro the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say):-
My Invention consists of improvements in the construction and arrangement
of ships' windlasses and capstans, and an improved method of working the same.
My plan possesses several advantages over the windlasses worked by levers,
and commonly known as "Tysack and Dobinson's compound lever windlass.
First, the motion is rotatory and continuous, while the great length and
reciprocating action of the levers in the old method is always attended with
great loss of power; from the fatiguing nature of the motion, as well as from
the difficulty of the men working together, it often happens that a number of
those employed are not profitably expending their force.

page_text: Secondly, as a motive power for steering ships, I dispense with all chains,
pullies, and fastenings as usually employed, and use the same description of
cams or tappets on the shaft of the ordinary steering wheel as for the windlass.
-These advantages, and the peculiar construction of my improved capstan and
method of steering ships, will be clearly understood by reference to the accom-
panying Sheet of Drawings, in which similar letters and figures are used to
represent similar parts where different views or diagrams are shewn.
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of my improved capstan, shewing also the
improved movement for working the windlass; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the
improved windlass and method of working; Fig. 3 shews the arrange-
ment of gearing used to obtain a single or more powerful purchase; and
Fig. 4 shews my arrangements for steering ships, and Fig. 5, the application.
of the same.
In Fig. 1, representing my improved capstan, and also the movement
for working the windlass the capstan is divided into two portions a and b,
which can be released from each other by removing the pins c. When
together, as shewn in the Drawing, the purchase wheels d are in opera-
tion, but when apart a single purchase only is in action. A plan of the
movement for working the windlass is also shewn in Fig. 2. To the main
shafte of the capstan I attach two circular cams f, which in their revolution
give an up-and-down motion to the lever g, vibrating on the fulcrum h. To
the lever g I attach a chain i, either by means of a chain wheel or otherwise,
the chain being attached to the rod k, which is connected to the broad lever l,
having a rod m, to which are connected the palls or catches n, which work in
the ratchet wheels attached to the windlass p, which has thus a powerful
continued motion without the jerks and loss of power inherent to the levers
at present in use.
In Fig. 4, representing my improved arrangement for steering ships, as
before stated, I employ cams similar to those for the windlass. The
wheel is shewn at 9 giving motion to the shaft r and pinion s, which work
in the toothed wheels t fixed to the shaft u. Either connected to the
wheels or the shaft are the circular cams v, made at the desired angle, which
as they revolve give a vibrating motion to the rod or shaft w, to which the
rudder a is attached. Thus, all pullies, chains, and fastenings are dispensed
with, and a simplicity of arrangement procured, which has a tendency to
prevent accidents by lessening the number of parts, and also as there is no
back last the rudder is tight to its work.
Having thus fully described the nature and particulars of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be

page_text: distinctly understood that I do not confine myself to the exact details herein
set forth; but I claim the improved construction and arrangement of ships"
windlasses and capstans, the method of working the same, and also the mode
of steering ships, as herein described, and illustrated in the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Browne, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
JOSEPH BROWNE. (L.B.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
within-named Joseph Browne, in
the presence of
GEORGE SMITHI, Patent Agent,
Liverpool.