IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CYLINDERS OR BARRELS OF CAPSTANS AND WIND- LASSES
Year: 1849

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1, FRANCIS
HOBLER, of Bucklersbury, in the City of London, Gentleman, 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 Eleventh day of
January, One thousand eight hundred and forty-nine, in the twelfth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Francis Hobler, my exors, admors, and assigns, Her especial license,
full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Francis Hobler, my
exors, admiors, and assigns, and such others as I, the said Francis Hobler, my
exors, admiors, 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, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CYLINDERS OR BARRELS OF CAPSTANS AND WIND-
LASSES;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso, that I, the said
Francis Hobler, should cause a particular description of the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 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: P
Figure 1 shews an elevation of a capstan barrel; Figure 2, a horizontal
section thereof; Figure 3 shows an elevation of so much of a windlass as will
enable me to describe my Invention, the barrel being constructed according to
my improvements; and Figure 4 is a section of the barrel. The Drawings
shew the cylinders or barrels as being of wood with iron (or it might be other
metal) forming portions of the surfaces, but the whole surface may be
metal if desired. a, a, are a series of curved grooves, which in width corre
spond with the size and figure of the links of a cable, which come within such
grooves, and the distances apart of the grooves correspond with the intervening
links; by this arrangement a capstan or windlass barrel will offer greater
holding powers than when made as heretofore. I would state that although
the barrel of a capstan or windlass be made correct for the links of the largest
cable to be used therewith, yet cables having somewhat smaller links may be
used. The numbers of curved grooves on the barrels shewn are those which I
have used, but the same may be varied, depending on the diameter of the
barrel and the size of links. I have not thought it necessary to shew complete
capstans or windlasses, the construction of the parts left out being well known,
I would however state that I prefer to use in addition to the ordinary parts,
Caldwell's patent self-fleeting apparatus and purchase and purchase wheel.
In place, however, of using such or other purchase and purchase wheel, holes
may be formed in the barrel of the windlass, as shewn by red lines, for the
insertion of landspikes. In using capstans and windlasses constructed with
my improvements the cable should be caused to take three turns round the
barrel.

page_text: Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, I would have it understood that what I claim is,
the construction of capstan and windlass cylinders or barrels with curved
grooves, as herein explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis Hobler, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-nine.