IMPROVE- MENTS IN WINDLASSES WORKED BY CAPSTANS, ALSO IN THE MEANS OF STOPPING OR CHECKING THE CHAINS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH
Year: 1861

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Moore at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 25th April
1861.
I, THOMAS MOORE, of No. 33, Regent Circus, Piccadilly, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN WINDLASSES WORKED BY CAPSTANS, ALSO IN THE MEANS OF STOPPING OR
CHECKING THE CHAINS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH," to be as follows:-
The first part of my Invention relates to certain mechanism for the working
of windlasses on board ship, or wherever such windlasses can be used in com-
bination with a capstan for lifting or hoisting purposes.
The second part of my Invention relates more particularly to a method or
apparatus for stopping or checking the progress of cable or other chains, and
can be used either separately or in combination with the windlasses before
mentioned.
My Invention will be more clearly understood by referring to the accom-
panying Drawings, where Fig. 1 is a side view of the capstan windlass; Fig. 2
front view; Fig. 3 edge view of worm wheel, and Figs. 4 and 5 side and
plan views of chain stopper or check.
At Fig. 1a is a spur wheel attached to the lower part of the capstan shaft
and below the deck, on each side of which are other but smaller spur wheels
b, b, fixed on the upper end of the vertical shafts c, c, having worms or threads
formed thereon, thus producing (when in action) endless screws; these screws

page_text: work into teeth on the periphery of the wheel d, which at Fig. 2 it will be
seen is placed between two barrels e, e, thus as motion is imparted from the
wheel a to the smaller ones b, b, the screwed shafts c, c, are caused to revolve,
and' thus again is motion imparted to the centre wheel d and barrels e, e, the
screw shafts c, c, being kept in position by bearings or supports secured to a
framing between decks, or let into bearings on the under side of upper deck,
and dropped into shoes or steps on the lower deck, as shewn. Instead of a
toothed wheel d, and for the purpose of gaining strength, the wheel d may be
cut with a deep female screw, as shewn at Fig. 3, so that the screw shafts c, c,
may work within it the depth of nearly half their diameters, thus dispensing
with the ordinary pall and ratchet wheel.
The chain stopper or check is formed somewhat in the shape of a double
railway chair, as at Figs. 4 and 5; the opening into which the rail is placed
is in this instance provided with a hinged nipper having spaces formed on its
inner surface to fit the chain, so that when this nipper is tilted across into the
opening it fits and presses upon the chain, and is there held by a suitable
lever. This stopper is placed in a line with the chain in its passage to the
hawse hole, and is elevated to any height or inclination according to the lead
of the chain.
Another mode of checking the chain when it is passing from the windlass
to the locker, is by fixing a hinged nipper in the form of a horse-shoe to an
upright or extension of the combings of the locker hole actuated by a horizontal
lever. And in paying in the cable, to dispense with hands, the chain may
pass over a roller near the combing, said roller being actuated by an endless
strap or band passing from the barrel to the roller.
What I claim as my Invention of improvements in windlasses is, the par-
ticular arrangement of the several parts shewn, obtaining a greater and more
certain power in working the same.
Also the quick and effectual method of stopping or checking the chain in
running out, as shewn and described.