IMPROVEMENTS IN REEFING AND FURLING SAILS
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Duncan Preston Cunningham, of Bury, in
the County of Hants, Esquire, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
REEFING AND FURLING SAILS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Duncan Preston
Cunningham at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 12th December 1857.
I, HENRY DUNCAN PRESTON CUNNINGHAM, of Bury, in the County of Hants,
Esquire, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN REEFING AND FURLING SAILS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists of a plan for reefing and furling the square sails of
ships by rolling them upon a revolving yard, roller, spar, or jack-stay, having
an entire axial support in the centre and also axes at each end connecting it
to a stationary or non-revolving yard. The motive power being applied to
the ends of the revolving yard by wound-up ropes, bands, or chains, one end
of the rope, band, or chain is confined to the revolving yard and the other
leads over pulleys on the stationary yard. The action of the ropes, bands, or
chains is to rotate the revolving yard. In those yards such as the topsail,
topgallant, and royal yards, which hoist up and down the masts, the power
for turning the revolving yard is derived from the weight of the yard and
its attachments. The revolving spar may be placed at any position with
reference to the non-revolving yard that may be convenient; it may be placed
underneath, above, before, or otherwise. To enable the sail to roll up without

page_text: impediment from the centre axes, it is divided down the centre even to the
foot, if necessary, and the aperture so occasioned is closed by a valvular cloth,
which I stylo a "bonnet," which has been fully described in the Specification
of Letters Patent dated the 30th November 1850, 20th July 1855, and
28th February 1857.
My improvements also consist of a variety of modes or mechanical arrange-
ments for reefing or furling sails by. rolling them up on rotating yards or spars.
These arrangements for the sake of order may be divided into sections and
sub-sections.
First, the application of the power to the centre of the yard itself, and the
employment of only one yard.
Second, the application of the power to the centre of a revolving yard,
roller, or spar attached or connected to a second non-revolving yard or spar.
Third, the application of the power to the ends of a revolving yard, roller,
or spar attached or connected to or with a non-revolving yard, the revolving
yard, roller, or spar having a fixed and entire axial support in the centre or
towards the centre as well as at the ends (within which axes it may revolve),
and which axes connect it to a non-revolving yard.
Fourth, the application of the power to the ends of a revolving yard, roller,
or spar connected only at the ends with the stationary or non-revolving yard,
and without any entire axial support in the centre.
Fifth, the application of both these forms of applying the power to two
revolving yards.
I will now describe the mechanical details of the various arrangements
herein-before divided into sections, and which I now subdivide into sub-
SECTION
Sub-section 1.-The action of one wound-up band, rope or chain working
on one side of the sling, hoop, or collar connecting the yard to the mast.
Sub-section 2.-The action of two wound-up chains, ropes, or bands work-
ing on each side of the collar connecting the yard to the parrall.
Sub-section 3.-The action of two chains passing under the yard and laying
in indented grooves of a boss or bosses fixed to the yard, described in the
Specification of my Patent of the 30th November 1850, the connection of
the yard to the mast being by one or more collars working on the bosses.
Sub-section 4. The action of a chain laid over or against the indented
groove of the boss aforesaid, and not being carried entirely underneath the
yard.

page_text: Sub-section 5. The action of a chain or chains passed under the yard on
a cogged or toothed wheel or boss, or more than one, attached to the yard,
instead of the indented grooved boss herein-before alluded to, proper flanges
being provided for keeping the chain or chains in their places.
Sub-section 6. The action of a chain or chains laid over or against a
cogged wheel or wheels or boss, and not passing entirely under the yard.
Sub-section 7.-The action of a cogged wheel or boss upon the yard on a
ratchet fixed upon the mast.
Sub-section 8.-The action of a cogged wheel fixed on the axis of a
whelped or indented sheave or pulley within a block (which sheave or pulley
is rotated by the action of the chain passing under it) upon a cogged wheel or
boss fixed to the yard:
Sub-section 9.-The conveyance of rotation from the axis of a sheave, as
before described, by the employment of an endless chain passing over a
whelped or indented wheel or boss fixed to the axis of the sheave or pulley,
and a grooved indented boss fixed on the yard, the indentations of which boss
will correspond with those on the boss or wheel on the axis of the sheave;
or, instead of the boss or wheel aforesaid together with the boss on the yard
being indented to be cogged or toothed.
Sub-section 10. The action of a cogged wheel, as before described, but the
sheave or pulley of the block to be cogged or toothed instead of indented.
Sub-section 11. The action of a chain or two chains, ropes, or bands, or
singly wound contrary ways upon the yard, so that when one is pulled upon,
it turns the yard in a contrary manner to the other, and this being kept fast
a lifting action is obtained, and again, when the chain is slackened, the action
of the wound-up chain is to turn the yard.
As before stated this section includes those arrangements by which the
rotating power is applied to the ends of a revolving yard, roller, or spar

page_text: attached to a non-revolving yard, the revolving yard, roller, or spar having an
entire axial support in the centre as well as at the ends, which nxes connect
it to the non-revolving yard.
Sub-section 1.-The action of ropes, bands, or chains led down from nloft
through sheaves or pulleys at the extremities of the non-revolving yard, and
wound up or round the ends of the revolving yard, roller, or spar, the ends
being fixed thereto, the said roller or spar being placed with reference to the
non-revolving yard at any position, viz., below, above, before, or abaft the non-
revolving yard. These turning ropes, bands, or chains may also be led
through blocks or pulleys towards the centre of the non-revolving yard.
Sub-section 2.-The action of chains led from aloft over pulleys at the ends
of the non-revolving yard and under the whelped or indented bosses, or
cogged or toothed bosses fixed on the ends of the revolving yard, roller, or
spar, and again up through pulleys. This arrangement would exist in respect
of the revolving yard, roller, or spar being under the non-revolving yard, but
in the case of its being placed above or in any other position the chains would
be laid over the aforesaid ropes.
Sub-section 3.-The action of a chain passing under a whelped or indented
boss, or one with cogs or teeth fixed on a spindle or shaft working on axial
bearings or journals on the non-revolving yard, and upon the ends of which
shaft cogged wheels act on similarly cogged wheels fixed on the ends of the
revolving yard, or instead of these cog wheels the spindle to impart rotation
by cudless chains or wound-up ropes, chains, or bands, one end on reels or
drums on the ends of the spindle, and the other on the ends of the revolving
yard, roller, or spar.
SECTION 4.
As before stated, this section includes the mechanical arrangements for
conveying or applying the rotating power to the ends of a revolving yard,
roller, or spar not having an entire axis to support it in the centre. The
same means or arrangements for turning the rovolving, yard, roller, or spar
may be employed as have been herein-before described in Section 3.
SECTION 5.
This section refers to a combination of the arrangements herein-before
described, viz., employing two revolving yards, rollers, or spars, one of which
is to be rotated by the several arrangements herein-before described, and to
convey rotation to the other by suitable mechanical connections.
It will be seen that under sections 1, 2, and 3, from the revolving yard,
roller. or spar to which the sail is attached having entire axial supports in

page_text: the centre, it is necessary to divide the sail to permit it to roll up clear of the
centre axis. In the Specifications of my previous Patents I describe a modo
for closing up this aperture by the employment of a valvular cloth which I
term a "bonnet," but I now claim the privilege of using all or any of the
aforesaid plans with or without the aforesaid "bonnet," and to close the
aperture by a lacing or any other suitable means.
And furthermore, I consider that a combination of my Inventions for
reefing and furling sails by rolling them up on revolving yards, rollers, or spars
may be made with the ordinary method of reefing sails, viz., by the aid and
employment of reef tackles, reef earrings, or points, and all and every of the
modes otherwise used for recfing sails, and I therefore claim the combined
use of my said Inventions with the ordinary means for reefing.
And furthermore, I consider that I have made an improvement in the
mode of reefing sails without rolling them up on a revolving yard, roller, or
spar. My improvement consists in attaching to the sail at that part of it to
which it is to be reefed a flap of canvas or other suitable material, baving its
edges curved to a point in the centre or at other points, and edged with rope.
At the corners of the flap, which I call a "reef-band flap," I attach reef
tackles also to the apex or apexes formed by the curves before mentioned;
these reef tackles being hauled taut the sail will be suspended by the reef-band
flap. I consider that this arrangement will be of advantage in reefing under
any circumstances, and I consider the Invention to apply to every description
of reefing, but in the event of a combined mode of reefing I consider it will
be most advantageous.
It is to be understood that in those yards which work up and down the
masts, such as the topsail, topgallant, and royal yard, the motive power
employed for turning the yards by the action of the chains, ropes, bands, &c:
is the weight of the yards, as described and claimed in the Specification of
my Patent of the 30th November 1850. In those yards which are stationary
the power will be applied from below.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Duncan Preston Cunningham in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 12th June 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Henry Duncan Preston Cunningham, Her special licence that I, the snid
Henry Duncan Preston Cunningham, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry Duncan Preston Cunningham, 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, exercise, and vend, within
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and
Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN REEFING AND FURLING SAILS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Henry Duncan Preston
Cunningham, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Duncan Preston Cunningham,
do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, that is to say :-
My Invention consists in certain modes of imparting rotation to a revolving
yard, spar, or roller used for reefing or unreefing the square sails of ships
by rolling or unrolling the sail attached to the said yard, spar, or roller.
Figure 1 represents a side view of a mast and a section of a yard fitted
according to one of these modes. A is the section of the yard; E is an
indented grooved boss fixed thereon, which was described in the Specification S
of my Patent of the Thirtieth November, One thousand eight hundred and
fifty. M is one of two collars which are connected together by cross pillars,
and within which the boss turns freely. These collars connect the yard to the
mast P by the parral N. G, G, are rollers on axes between the collars.
D is a chain which passing under the upper rollers lies in the indented groove S
of the boss (the indented cavities of which correspond to the links of the
chain), and is carried over the lower roller. The upper end of this chain
leads above and the lower end leads below. C is the topsail tye suspending
the yard. When the topsail tye is slackened the action of the chain D on

page_text: the indented boss is to turn the yard round, and so roll up the sail attached
to it, and vice versa. The application of this mode is here described with
reference only to the yard itself or one yard, but the same application can be
made to the rolling spar or roller described in the Specification of my Patent
of the Twentieth July, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
Figure 2 is another method of imparting rotation to a yard, spar, or roller
by employing a pin wheel or a toothed or cogged wheel fixed to the yard, and
a suitably prepared chain by which to rotate the yard, on the same principle
as described in the Specification of my Patent of the Thirtieth November,
One thousand eight hundred and fifty, with reference to the indented grooved
boss therein named.
Figure 3 is a method for imparting a reciprocating rotatory motion to a
yard, spar, or roller for reefing and unreefing a sail by rolling it up or unrolling
it. A is a yard fitted to turn round on its connecting axes; D, D', are ropes,
chains, or bands, one of which is wound round the yard to a suitable distance,
and has its end secured to it, and the other only with its end attached to the
yard. It will be seen that when the part D is slackened the action of the
part D' is to turn the yard round, and vice versa. This method is to be under-
stood as applicable to an auxiliary yard, roller, or spar, as well as to the yard
itself or one yard.
Figure 4 is another method of imparting rotation to a yard, spar, or roller.
A is the section of a revolving yard; B is a toothed wheel fixed upon it;
M is one of two collars within which the toothed wheel and yard work freely;
P is the parrall hoop connecting the yard to the mast F; D is a ratchet bar
against which the wheel B works; C is the suspending chain or tye. When
this chain is slackened the action of the ratchet D on the wheel B is to turn
the yard round according to the alternate slackening or hoisting upon of the
chain C. By this mode the sail is reefed by being rolled up on the aft side
of the yard.
My improvements also consist of a very simple and cheap method of
constructing the reefing gear or working parts used according to my principle
of reefing sails before described in my several Specifications of Patents, and
which simple and cheap plan I consider of great importance with reference
to the class of vessels wherein economy is important, and which may be
induced to avail themselves of the great benefits of my Inventions when
otherwise expense would deter them. Hitherto the various axial fittings of
the yard, spar, or roller used in carrying out the principles of my Inventions
for reefing sails have been constructed entirely of metal; now, from the result
of laborious experiment, I find that these fittings or parts can be constructed.

page_text: of wood and metal combined, with great advantage to the simplicity and
cheapness of the construction.
Figure 5 is a yard, roller, or spar, and sail, on the principle of my Invention,
patented the Twentieth July, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five (viz.
a double yard), fitted on this improved method. A is the fixed or unrevolving
yard; B is the revolving yard, spar, or roller having the sail attached to it,
and partly rolled up; C, C, C, are blocks of wood bound with iron having
holes in them of suitable size to receive the ends of the yard A and the ends
of the yard, spar, or roller B, also the centre parts of the same. The blocks
are tightly fitted and secured on the yard A so as not to turn round, but the
spar B, B, is fitted to turn round freely in the holes through which it is
inserted. In this Figure one centre support only is shown, with one turning
band D on one side of it; the blocks are also shown bound solidly, that is,
without joint; but two centre blocks may be used with the turning band, rope,
or chain between them, as seen in Figure 6, C, C, being two centre blocks
connecting the rolling spar B to the unrevolving yard A; the turning band D
is between the two blocks. The T-piece M supports the upper part of the
bonnet or valvular cloth F, fully described in the Specifications of my previous
Patents, for fitting up the aperture caused in the sail, to allow it to roll up
clear of the centre fittings. This suspensor may be also constructed similar to
Figure 7. The blocks may be also bound in such manner that they can be
locked or clamped on the unrevolving yard instead of the yard having to bo
inserted into them. Figure 8 is a side view of a centre block so constructed.
C is the wood; D, the metal band, having a joint at O, and connecting flanges
and screw bolt at P; or the bands may be made in two parts divided verti-
cally, and the upper and lower ends connected by screw bolts or other suitable
securities. M in this Figure is a side view of the suspending iron. Metal
bushes may be fitted to the holes in which the rolling spar works, which may
also be armed with metal to prevent wear. In completion of this arrange-
ment I also propose to flatten the underneath part of the unrevolving yard, as
in Figure 9, which admits of the rolling spar being taken higher up, and the
whole made thereby more compact. I also propose, if required, to hollow tho
underneath part of the upper or unrevolving yard, for the purpose of carrying
out this object of compactness.
Figure 9 represents a section of an unrevolving yard thus flattened under-
neath, the dotted line C, C, also shows the hollowing out of it. So much
additional strength is imparted to the unrevolving yard by tho spar underneath
that it might be found desirable to flatten the unrevolving yard above as well
as underneath, or any other part of it.

page_text: My improvements furthermore consist in increasing the number of the
turning bands, ropes, or chains. I propose to employ two or three turning
bands, &c.
Figure 10 represents an arrangement patented on the Twentieth July,
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, having the rolling spar connected
to the unrevolving yard A by the blocks before described, and in which three
turning bands, ropes, or chains are applied, one at each end of the spar B
and one in the centre, or the two at the ends may be used without the one in
the centre.
In the Specification of my Patent of the Twenty-eighth February, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, I described certain means proposed by
me for securing the even rolling of the sail round a yard, roller, or spar, which
consisted in the application of battens so as to increase the size of the yard,
roller, or spar at those parts where the sail might require taking up. I now
propose to use padded mats, or mats otherwise suitably prepared to impart an
amount of bulk or thickness at those parts where they may be required. I
propose to affix them either to the sail or to the yard, roller, or spar, or in any
other suitable and convenient manner.
And furthermore, I consider that a combination of my Invention for reefing
sails by rolling them up on revolving yards, spars, or rollers may be made with
the ordinary method of recfing sails by the aid and employment of reef tackles,
reef earrings, points, or other provisions.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First, the method of rotating the yards, rollers, or spars, and for reefing sails
by rolling them up, or vice versa, as herein-before described and illustrated in
Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the Drawings hereunto annexed.
Second, the simple and cheap method of constructing the reefing gear,
working parts, or fittings, as herein-before described, that is, by effecting a
combination of wood and iron or other metal instead of metal alone.
Third, the employment and application of several turning bands, ropes, or
chains, as herein-before described with reference to Figure 10.
Fourth, the flattening or hollowing of the unrevolving yard, as herein-
before described, for the purpose of obtaining a compactness in the arrangement
of the double yard.
Fifth, the employment of the combined incthods of reefing, videlicet, that of
the ordinary mode by means of reef points, earrings, &c., and that of rolling
the sail on a revolving yard, spar, or roller.

page_text: Sixth, the application or use of pads or mats suitably prepared, for the
purpose of effecting the even rolling up of the sail on a yard, roller, or spar.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Duncan Preston Cunningham,
havo hereunto set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of June, Ono
thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
H. D. P. CUNNINGHAM. (L.S.)