A NEW OR IMPROVED SELF-ADJUSTING WINDLASS OR MACHINE FOR HAULING IN NETS, HOISTING MASTS, OR FOR OTHER HAULING AND LIFTING PURPOSES ON BOARD FISHING BOATS OR OTHER VESSELS
Year: 1877

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Robert Donaldson and James Taylor
at the Office of the Cominissioners of Patents on the 15th May 1877.
ROBERT DONALDSON and JAMES TAYLOR, both of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Engineers. "A NEW OR IMPROVED SELF-ADJUSTING
WINDLASS OR MACHINE FOR HAULING IN NETS, HOISTING MASTS, OR FOR OTHER
HAULING AND LIFTING PURPOSES ON BOARD FISHING BOATS OR OTHER VESSELS."
This Invention has reference to a new or improved general construction or arrange-
ment of the parts of a portable windlass for hauling in nets or ropes, shipping the
masts, and lifting or heaving weights on board of fishing boats or other vessels,
which windlass is self-swivelling or adjustable in the direction of the pulling or
winding action, and is more efficient in its operation than such machines have been
hitherto, and capable of being reversed or worked in either direction, and specially
suitable in stormy weather for preventing the loss of fishing nets or lines.
This new or improved machine consists of a basement plate with a strong stud
projecting up from the centre, secured to the top of a strong transverse or longi-
tudinal beam, preferably near the level of the gunwale of the boat near the stern.
The main frame carrying the gearing swivels loose by a deep socket or eye at its
lower centre mounted on the centre stud, with a strong screw nut above, and friction
washer, the frame having the front or main vertical side cheek cast or formed in one
with the swivelling eye, and a correspondingly shaped light cheek bolted thereto
behind the other by a flange at the base or lateral studs, so as to carry the journal
bearings of five short horizontal spindles of the gearing or spur wheels between
the frames, and the winding V grooved pulleys overhung on the two lower side
spindles, and a larger one on the upper centre spindle above the two side ones, all
in the form of a sinall low set windlass, which draws the edge rope of the net under
and up the inside of the two lower side pulleys over the top of the said central
pulley. A casing of thin sheet metal is passed and fixed all round the sides, and
over the top edges of or between the side frames, so as to cover in the toothed wheels
and prevent them catching or injuring the tackle, or causing accident to the men
working the machine.
The whole frame and gearing swivel on the said vertical stud, having the large
upper main V grooved winding pulley keyed on the overhanging front end of the
main central spindle, actuated by its large spur wheel through either a sinall or

page_text: large pinion gearing into it on the driving spindles on each side of it (over the
pinions of the small griping and guiding pulleys) with projecting squares behind
for winch handles to work the machine with single, double, or triple power, according
to the size of the pinions. On each side of and considerably below the large
V grooved pulley, a small grooved pulley is carried on the front end of two side
spindles, driven by wheels on them, gearing into the wheel of the large grooved
pulley above them, all so that the edge line of the net or other rope to be hauled in
is passed under the first of these small pulleys, and up to and round the greater
part of the large pulley, thence down and under the second small pulley, so as to be
delivered or coiled within the boat.
The winch or winding handle is either shipped on to the square of the spindle of
the small pinion, which is preferred to be one-third of that of the wheel on the
upper large grooved pulley which it drives, or on to that of the larger pinion which
may be as 2 to 3, according to the power desired to be worked for the time being,
and turned or wound in either direction as desired.
The spindle of the upper winding grooved pulley is carried through the back
frame, and has a square notched ratchet wheel mounted on its overhanging end,
with a swivelling holding pawl mounted on a stud over it, so as to hold the wheel
and winding mechanisin in any desired position with the strain on it, and in which-
ever direction the machine is winding for the time being.
The whole winding mechanism swivels and adjusts itself on the stud on the boss
at the base, but is fitted with a pinching screw and segmental pressing or griping
cod to fix it thereto at any time and in any position desired.
In some cases, as for the heavier class of windlasses. one or more rollers or other
equivalent might be carried on the under side of the frame, and roll on the upper
surface of a ring on the foundation plate to carry the weight and lessen the friction
in turning on the centre stud.