Improvements in Means and Appliances for Raising and Lowering the Masts of Small Sailing Vessels.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Jan., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 17th Aug., 1892-Accepted, 1st Oct., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means and Appliances for Raising and Lowering
the Masts of Small Sailing Vessels.
I, OSCAR WITTE, of Bahnhof Strasse, Bodenbach, in the Empire of Germany,
Merchant do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows :-
My invention relates to such vessels as are employed in river and canal navi-
gation, and small coasting vessels the masts of which are frequently lowered when
passing under bridges or through tunnels; and the object of the invention is to fit
such vessels with improved means and appliances for raising and lowering the
masts.
The mast is supported by an axle or trunnions, working in bearings a short
distance above the deck, or other equivalent part of the vessel. The bearings are
attached to and carried by two uprights, together forming a frame, between or in
which the lower end of the mast is held, when raised. The lower ends of the side
frames are stepped on the floor, and their upper ends pass through the deck or its
equivalent to a convenient distance. At or near the top of the frame a pair of
bevel wheels are fitted; the driving wheel being worked by a hand wheel or crank,
and the driven wheel actuating a vertical spindle, the lower end of which works in
a bearing near the floor, at or near the foot of the frame. The lower end of this
spindle is fitted with a worm, gearing into a worm wheel fitted to an axle upon
which one or more chain wheel or wheels or windlasses is or are fixed.
more chain or chains is or are coiled round the drums, cylinders, chain wheels or
their equivalents, the other end or ends being secured to the lower end or foot of
the mast. A double ended starting lever is fitted near the floor, consisting of a
bell crank lever fitted with a roller, on one side of the pivot or axle, and a weighted
arm on the other side.
One or
When the mast is hoisted, the bell crank lever presses against its foot, the
weight being raised. When the chain is slacked the bell crank lever starts the
mast, and moves it a small distance out of the vertical. The mast can then be
lowered by slacking away the chains, by means of the hand gear. By means of
the contrary movement: winding the chains on to the windlass, the mast is readily
hoisted or raised to a perpendicular position; the frame holding the same securely
while sailing.
Dated 9th January 1809
GEO.
DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
5 Improvements in Means and Appliances for Raising and Lowering
the Masts of Small Sailing Vessels.
I, OSCAR WITTE, of Bahnhof Strasse, Bodenbach, in the Empire of Germany,
Merchant, 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 :-
My invention relates to such vessels as are employed in river and canal navi-
gation, and small coasting vessels, the masts of which are frequently lowered when
passing under bridges or through tunnels; and the object of the invention is to
fit such vessels with improved means and appliances for raising and lowering the
masts.

page_text: The mast is supported by an axle or trunnions, working in bearings a short dis-
tance above the deck, or other equivalent part of the vessel. The bearings are
attached to and carried by two uprights, together forming a frame, between or in
which the lower end of the mast is held, when raised. The lower ends of the side
frames are stepped on the floor, and their upper ends pass through the deck or its
equivalent, to a convenient distance. At or near the top of the frame a pair of
bevel wheels are fitted; the 'driving wheel being worked by a hand wheel or crank,.
and the driven wheel actuating a vertical spindle, 'the lower end of which works in
a bearing near the floor, at or near the foot of the frame. The lower end of this
spindle is fitted with a worm, gearing into a worm wheel fitted to an axle upon
which one or more chain wheel or wheels or windlasses is or are fixed. One or
more chain or chains is or are coiled round the drums, cylinders, chain wheels or
their equivalents, the other end or ends being secured to the lower end or foot of
the mast. A double ended starting lever is fitted near the floor, consisting of a
bell crank lever fitted with a roller, on one side of the pivot or axle, and a weighted
arm on the other side.
When the mast is hoisted, the bell crank lever presses against its foot, the
weight being raised. When the chain is slacked the bell crank lever starts the
mast, and moves it a small distance out of the vertical. The mast can then be
lowered by slacking away the chains, by means of the hand gear. By means of
the contrary movement: winding the chains on to the windlass, the mast is readily
hoisted or raised to a perpendicular position; the frame holding the same securely
while sailing.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and
ascertained, reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which
similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is a thwart-ship elevation, showing the mast raised.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal elevation, with one side of the frame removed.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal elevation, showing the mast lowered.
Fig. 4 is a detail view of the starting appliance.
The frame which supports the mast is formed with two vertical sides, the
lower ends being firmly fixed to the floor of the vessel. The mast m is pivoted
to the upper part of the frame at a, as shown. e is a bevel wheel fast on the axle z.
b.is a handle, fast on the same axle, for driving the wheel e. e' is a bevel wheel,
fast on the vertical axle i, and in gear with the wheel e. The lower end' of the
axle is fitted with a worm s, in gear with the worm wheel d, fast on an axle w.
kk are two chain drums fast on the axle to and fitted with chains k¹ k'. One end
of each chain is fixed to the drums, and the other ends are fixed to, the lower end
of the mast m. h h¹ are the two ends of a lever, pivoted to, and loose upon, the
axle w. The lever h¹ is bent, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, and carries a small wheel r
to reduce friction. The lever h carries an adjustable weight t. The whole of the
mechanism is mounted in ordinary bearings, as shown.
When the mast m' is fully raised; as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the foot of the mast
impinges against the wheel r, whereby the lever h and weight t are raised, as shown
in Fig. 2; the chains k¹¹ retaining the mast in position.
When it becomes necessary to lower the mast, the chains are slacked by the
rotation of the bevel and screw gear. The pressure of the wheel r, arising from
the weight t, then moves the mast slightly out of the perpendicular, as shown in
Fig. 4. The chains are then allowed to unwind from the drums k, until the mast
assumes the position shown in Fig. 3. The reverse movement has the effect of
winding the chains on to the drums and raising the mast.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
I
ا.
1. In means and appliances for raising and lowering the masts of, small sailing
vessels, the combination of the frame 1, carrying the pivoted mast m, bevel gear.ccl.

page_text: axie, worm and worm wheel d, actuating a drum or drums k fitted with a
chain or chains, substantially as herein before described and illustrated by the
drawings.
2. The combination with the means and appliances last aforesaid, of a starting
lever hh, loose on the shaft w, fitted with an adjustable weight t, with or without
a wheel or roller r, substantially as herein before described and illustrated by the
drawings.
3. The general construction, arrangement and combination of the several and
respective parts, together forming my invention of improvements in means and
appliances for raising and lowering the masts of small sailing vessels, substantially
as herein before described and illustrated by the drawings.
Dated 16th August 1892.
GEO.
DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent.