IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF MAKING AND SETTING THE SQUARE SAILS OF SHIPS OR VESSELS OF ANY SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Norman, of Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Shipowner, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MODE OF MAKING AND SETTING THE SQUARE SAILS OF SHIPS OR
VESSELS OF ANY SIZE AND DESCRIPTION."
Sealed the 6th June 1853, and dated the 6th December 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Norman at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 6th December 1852.
I, JOHN NORMAN, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Ship Owner, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF MAKING AND SETTING THE SQUARE SAILS
OF SHIPS OR VESSELS OF ANY SIZE AND DESCRIPTION" to be as follows:
The improvements have reference to a simple arrangement for
connecting all square sails of vessels to their respective yards, in
such a manner that the sails, when unfurled and set, shall stand
-

page_text: much flatter than those now in use, for the purpose of presenting
to the wind a true or flush surface, or as nearly so as is practicable,
in order to enable the vessel to sail nearer the wind, and at the
same time receive (through the pressure of the wind on all points
of the sail simultaneously) a greater amount of propelling force
than what can be obtained from sails of the ordinary curved shape
or form. These objects are obtained by applying additional sheets
to the foot ropes of ordinary square sails. These sheets have
affixed to them foot ropes, and contain two additional rope or chain
sheets, running through blocks or thimbles placed on each side of
the centre of the yard down to the deck of the vessel, and fastened
to bitts in the usual manner; and by those means the sheets are
drawn tight towards the yard at intermediate points between its
extremities, so that the strain arising from the force of the wind on
the sail will be more equally distributed throughout, and the yard
much less strained, than when the sails are inerely connected at the
ends of their yards.
When the vessel is sailing near the wind, the whole of the surface
of the sail is acted on by the wind at the same time, while under
similar circumstances only part of the ordinary curved sail can be
rendered available.
The advantages proposed to be derived from this form of sail
are,-
First, that through the whole of the surface of the sails being
equally beneficial (through the sails being nearly flat), the ship 2
will be enabled to sail nearer to the wind, and at the same time
receive a greater amount of propelling force.
Secondly, that as the sides of the sails will retain no useless or
injurious weight of wind, the ship will stand up much better to her
canvass, and the mast be relieved of much unnecessary weight; the 3
yards will also be much relieved, as the strain will be brought
nearer to the centre of the sails, and borne by the additional
sheets.
The claim is for the mode of rendering square sails of vessels

page_text: More Choice by sheets, or other means of a similar arrangement to
the one above described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
Patent, filed by the said John Norman in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 6th June 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JOHN NORMAN, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Shipowner,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in
the fifteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said John Norman, Her special
licence that I, the said John Norman, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Norman, ny
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 THE MODE OF MAKING AND SETTING THE SQUARE SAILS
OF SHIPS OR VESSELS OF ANY SINE AND DESCRIPTION" upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said John Norman, by an instrument
in writing 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 Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Norman, 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 (that is to say):
This Invention has reference to a simple arrangement for con-
necting all square sails of vessels to their yards, in such a manner

page_text: that the sails, when set, shall stand much flatter than those now in
use, for the purpose of presenting to the wind a true or flush
surface, or as nearly so as is practicable, in order to enable the
vessel to sail near the wind, and at the same time receive, through
the great pressure of the wind upon all part of the sail simul-
taneously, a greater amount of propelling force than can be obtained
from sails of the ordinary curved shape or form. This is accom-
plished by the use of additional rope or chain "sheets," attached to
the lower "bolt foot rope" of the sail, and brought down and passed
through suitable "thimbles" or blocks attached to the yard, from
whence they are lead down to the deck of the vessel in the ordinary
or any other convenient manner, and fastened to "bits" in the
usual mode. As the strain of the additional sheets on the canvas
might be injurious thereto (not having the support, as at the outer
ends, by a portion of the strain of the sheet acting on the bolt rope,
which is on the outer edges of the sail), I propose to add to the
foot or lower edge of the sails now in use additional canvas, to
extend below the "bolt foot-rope," which I so shape that a number
of arches are formed by it's lower edge, to which is fixed an
additional "bolt foot-rope." At the lower points (or limbs of the
arches) I attach the additional sheets, by which the sail is drawn
down to the yard.
This Invention will be readily understood by reference to the
annexed Drawings.
Figure 1, is a front elevation of a square sail, shewing two
additional sheet, and extra canvas applied thereto.
Figure 2, is a plan of the same, shewing the outline of the deck
of a vessel. The red lines shew the advantage of the flat sail over
curved or bellied sail. Like letters refer to similar parts.
A, mast of a vesscl. B, a square sail, with two additional sheets
applied, and canvas added at foot; also an extra bolt rope at the
bottom edge. C, foot rope, as in an ordinary square sail. D, upper
yard. D2, lower yard. E, E, the additional canvas attached to
the lower edge of the sail. F, F, F, additional foot rope of the

page_text: sail B. e, e, the points at which the additional sheets are attached to
the sail. G, G, two additional chain sheets, running through iron
thimbles H, H, placed in the yard leading down to the deck of the
vessel, and fastened to bits in the usual manner; and by those
means the sails are drawn tight towards the yard D², at intermediate
points between the extremities, so that the strain arising from the
force of the wind on the sails will be more equally distributed
throughout than when the sails are merely connected at the ends of
the yards.
When the wind is blowing in the direction of the arrows and
digonal parallel lines (see Figure 2), the whole of the surface of
the sail B, is acted upon by the wind at the same time, while under
similar circumstances only part of the ordinary curve sail can be
rendered effective; as shown (in Figure 2) by the angular lines,
drawn on the front of the sail.
The advantages to be derived from this form of sail are,—
First, that through the whole of the surface of the sails being
equally beneficial (through the sails being nearly flat), the ship
will be enabled to sail nearer to the wind, and at the same time
receive a greater amount of propelling force.
Secondly, that as the sides of the sails will retain no useless or
injurious weight of wind, the ship will stand up much better to her
canvas, and the mast be relieved of much unnecessary weight; the
yards will also be much relieved, as the strain will be brought
nearer to the centre of the sails, and borne by the additional
sheets.
.The main object of this Invention may be accomplished by the
use of "craw feet;" that is to say, a number of small lines, one end
of which is attached to the "bolt foot rope," and the other ends
brought to a given point, and fixed to the additional chain or rope
"sheets."
In conclusion, I wish to be understood, that I do not strictly
confine myself in working out the details of my Invention as de-
scribed above; but what I claim is, the mode of rendering square
sails of vessels more efficient by the use of additional "sheets,"

page_text: or other means of a similar arrangement, substantially in the
manner herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Norman, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Fourth day of June, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty- 5
three.
Witness,
WILLIAM WALKER,
Of Edge Hill, near Liverpool.
JOHN (L.B.) NORMAN.