IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO THE. HOISTING OR LIFTING TACKLE FOR RECOVERING SUNKEN WHALES OR OTHER SUBMERGED BODIES."
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Welcome Roys, of the City of New York,
in the United States of America, but at present residing at 44, Castle
Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Master Mariner, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO THE. HOISTING OR LIFTING
TACKLE FOR RECOVERING SUNKEN WHALES OR OTHER SUBMERGED BODIES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Welcome Roys
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
8th January 1866.
I, THOMAS WELCOME ROYS, of the City of New York, in the United States
of America, but at present residing at 44, Castle Street, Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, Master Mariner, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO THE HOISTING OR LIFTING
TACKLE FOR RECOVERING SUNKEN WHALES OR OTHER SUBMERGED BODIES," to be
as follows (that is to say):
In recovering sunken whales and other submerged bodies from the sea it
bas been found by experience that they may readily be drawn up from
considerable depth so long as the rope connected to the whale or other
submerged body is of considerable length, but as the whale or other body is
raised the rope shortening has not sufficient elasticity to counteract the rolling
or upheaving of the ship or boat in consequence of the undulation or up-
heaving of the sea, which causes in many cases the harpoon or other fastening
instrument to part from its hold.

page_text: Now this Invention is to obviate the drawbacks arising from the upheaving
and rolling of the ship, and consists in applying a spring or springs, or their
mechanical equivalent, to the fall tackle in such a way that the same will
elongate on any undue strain being applied to the same, thus counteracting
the upheaving and rolling of the ship or vessel on board which the tackle is
worked, and insures the whale or other submerged body being drawn to the
surface without fear of drawing the harpoon or other fastening tackle from
its hold. Any suitable spring or springs, or their mechanical equivalents, say
a weight, may be used, to which the upper block of the fall is connected, but
the description of elastic tackle or spring which it is preferred to use consists
of a horizontal axle or beam, on which is fitted a plain or grooved roller, or,
by preference, with any required number of grooved pulleys, which it is
preferred should be free to turn on their axes to save chafing on the india-
rubber bands or rings. This beam or axle, with its plain or grooved roller,
or several grooved pulleys, is suspended to the mast of the ship or other
convenient situation by suspender braces, rods, or shackles, and is fitted with
a number of stout vulcanised india-rubber rings or endless bands, which pass
over the top of the grooved pulleys, and under a second set of grooved pulleys,
or plain or fluted rollers mounted upon a second axle or beam, the same as
the first herein-before described, and which is also fitted with suspender braces
or their mechanical equivalents, to which the upper block of the fall tackle is
attached.
If preferred, the improved spring or springs herein-before described may be
attached to the deck, or inade fast in the hold of the vessel, and a stout line
being attached thereto may be carried over grooved pulleys to any position
that it may be required to place the fall tackle to. The suspender braces
are so arranged that the same may be removed for adding or taking off any
number of the india-rubber rings or endless bands for regulating the power
of the spring or springs.
The principle of this improvement consists in its power of elongation when
undue strain is placed upon the fall tackle consequent on the upheaving and
rolling of the vessel where the same is used counteracting the resistance of
the water against the body in the act of being drawn up on the upheaving of
the vessel, thus overcoming the motion of the upheaving and rolling of the
ship. It is preferred to connect the upper and lower axles or beamis by
means of a rope or chain, which is of sufficient length to allow the springs to
expand to the utmost point that they can be stretched to with safety; which
rope or chain will prevent the parting of the two beams in the event of the
india-rubber rings or endless bands breaking, and prevents their receiving an

page_text: undue strain. In lieu of the springs a heavy weight may be used, which works
up and down between guides, and to which is attached a rope or chain; or it
may be a fall tackle, the outer end of which is carried over a grooved pulley
placed in the position immediately above the hoisting fall tackle, and the
upper block of which is attached to the outer end of the said rope or chain.
In this arrangement the weight should be provided with an elastic bed, so
that the same on falling down will do so harmlessly.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Welcome Roys in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 6th July 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
WELCOME ROYS, of the City of New York, in the United States of America,
but at present residing at 44, Castle Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Master Mariner, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Thomas Welcome Roys, Her spécial licence that I, the said
Thomas Welcome Roys, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Thomas Welcome Roys, 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 Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO THE HOISTING OR LIFTING TACKLE FOR
RECOVERING SUNKEN WHALES, OR OTHER SUBMERGED BODIES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Thomas Welcome Roys, my executors or ad-
ministrators, 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 Pateut Office within six, calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Welcome Roys, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be

page_text: performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say) :-
In recovering sunken whales and other submerged bodies from the sea it
has been found by experience that they may readily be drawn up from con-
siderable depth, so long as the rope connected to the whale or other sub-
merged body is of considerable length, but as the whale or other body is raised
the rope shortening has not sufficient elasticity to counteract the rolling or
upheaving of the ship or boat, in consequence of the undulation or upheaving
of the sea, which causes in many cases the harpoon or other fastening instru-
ment to part from its hold.
Now this my said Invention is to obviate the drawbacks arising from the
upheaving and rolling of the ship, and consists in applying a spring or springs,
or their mechanical equivalent, to the fall tackle in such a way that the same
will elongate on any undue strain being applied to the same, thus counter-
acting the upheaving and rolling of the ship or vessel on board which the
tackle is worked, and insures the whale or other submerged body being drawn
to the surface without fear of drawing the harpoon or other fastening tackle
from its hold. Any suitable spring or springs, or their mechanical equivalents,
say, a weight, may be used, to which the upper block of the fall is connected,
but the description of elastic tackle or spring, which it is preferred to use
consists of a horizontal axle or beam, on which is fitted a plain or grooved
roller, or, by preference, with any required number of grooved pulleys, which
it is preferred should be free to turn on their axes to save chafing on the india-
rubber bands or rings. This beam or axle, with its plain or grooved roller,
or several grooved pulleys, I suspend to the mast of the ship or other con-
venient situation by suspender braces, rods, or shackles, and I fit it with a
number of stout vulcanized india-rubber rings or endless bands, which pass
over the top of the grooved pulleys, and under a second set of grooved pulleys,
or plain or fluted rollers mounted upon a second axle or beam, the same as
the first herein-before described, and which is also fitted with suspender braces
or their mechanical equivalents, to which the upper block of the fall tackle is
attached.
If preferred, the improved spring or springs herein-before described may be
attached to the deck or made fast in the hold of the vessel, and a stout line
being attached thereto may be carried over grooved pulleys to any position.
that it may be required to place the fall tackle to. The suspender braces are
so arranged that the same may be removed for adding or taking off any
number of the india-rubber rings or endless bands for regulating the power of
the spring or springs.

page_text: The principle of this improvement consists in its power of elongation when
undue strain is placed upon the fall tackle consequent on the upheaving and
rolling of the vessel where the same is used, counteracting the resistance of
the water against the body in the act of being drawn up on the upheaving of
the vessel, thus overcoming the motion of the upheaving and rolling of the
ship. It is preferred to connect the upper and lower axles or beams by means
of a rope or chain, which is of sufficient length to allow the springs to expand
to the utmost point that they can be stretched to with safety; which rope or
chain will prevent the parting of the two beams, in the event of the india-
rubber rings or endless bands breaking, and prevents their receiving an undue
strain. In lieu of the springs a heavy weight may be used, which works up
and down between guides, and to which is attached a rope or chain, or it may
be a fall tackle, the outer. end of which is carried over a grooved pulley placed
in the position immediately above the hoisting fall tackle, and the upper block
of which is attached to the outer end of the said rope or chain. In this
arrangement the weight should be provided with an elastic bed, so that the
same on falling down will do so harmlessly.
That this my said Invention may be the more readily seen and understood,
I will now proceed to describe one modification, showing, the practical appli-
cation of the same by the aid of the accompanying Drawings; like letters
and figures marked thereon being used to denote similar parts.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of what I believe the best spring instrument
for carrying out the objects of this my said Invention, and Figure 2 is a side
elevation or edge view of the same.
A is a point of suspension; B and B¹ are two parallel axles or beams, on
which are mounted C, a series of grooved pulleys, around which pass D, india-
rubber rings or endless bands; E, suspender braces, the upper one of which
is used to suspend the apparatus, and to the lower one of which is hooked F
the fall tackle; G, the point of suspension of the weight to be lifted; H,
the end of the fall to which the lifting power is applied, which may be
carried to a winch, windlass, or capstan, shown in the Drawing broken off; J,
a chain to prevent the parallel axles or beams being drawn too far apart.
Figure 3 is a plan, and Figure 4 is a side elevation of a weight formed with
K grooves in the side to receive vertical guide rods. Figure 5 is a sectional
elevation, and Figure 6 is a plan, of a cylindrical box made of iron with a rod
passing through the centre of the bottom, and provided at the top with an eye
for the purpose of attaching the chain or rope for suspending the same. This
box will be found a convenient substitute for the weight shown in Figures 3
and 4, as the same may be loaded with the chain cable or any other weighty

page_text: substance, thus avoiding the necessity of the ship having to carry extra weight
for that purpose. It will be observed that there are eight india-rubber rings
shown in this modification; but the axles may be made sufficiently long to
receive any number of grooved pulleys, or any length of grooved or plain
rollers, for receiving any number of additional endless bands or rings that may
be required.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of this my said
Invention, and the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the same
into practical effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise details, relative proportions, or dimensions herein-before
described and set forth, as it will be readily seen the same may be con-
siderably varied without departing from the Invention; but what I claim as
new and my Invention is,-
First, the application and use of a spring or springs applied to the tackle
lines or chains for recovering sunken whales and other submerged bodies,
substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein-before mentioned and
set forth.
Secondly, the use of a weight working within guides in combination with
the said spring or springs, or above, substantially in the manner herein-before
described and for the purposes set forth.
Lastly, the combination and use of the two horizontal bars or axles B and B¹
with the grooved pulleys, plain or fluted rollers C, and india-rubber rings or
endless bands D, and suspender braces E, substantially in the manner and for
the purposes herein-before described and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Welcome Roys, have hereunto
set my hand and affixed my seal, this Fifth day of July, in the year of
our Lord 1866.
Witness,
WILLIAM WALKER,
of 44, Castle Street,
Liverpool.
THOMAS WELCOME (L.s.) ROYS.