Improvements in and relating to Windlasses or Capstans.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Oct., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 3rd July, 1893-Accepted, 2nd Sept., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Windlasses or Capstans.
We, THOMAS MAXWELL GRANT, and ALEXANDER KELLY, both of the Firm
of Napier Brothers, Limited, Engineers, 100 Hydepark Street, Glasgow, Lanark-
shire, do hereby declare the nature of our invention to he as follows:-
This invention has reference to and comprises certain new constructions or
arrangement and combination of the parts of windlasses or capstans of the vertical class
as used on board ship for hauling in or lifting the anchor chains, or for other like
purposes on board ship or on land, and has special reference to clutch mechanism
for locking the chain or actuating barrels, and the brake gear of these machines;
and which improvements will make such machines more efficient and easily controlled
than theretofore.
The arrangement and combination of the parts of these new or improved windlasses
or capstans consist in having a strong vertical shaft driven by the motive machinery
below, and projecting up above its neck bearing in a hollow foundation or box sole
plate at the deck of the ship, so as to carry a large driving disc clutch boss or
crosshead keyed on its upper end rotating in a clutch box formed on or secured to
the upper end of the vertical chain or winding barrel, mounted to rotate loose on
the said shaft above the sole plate and neck bearing with a bushed eye carried on
a strong supporting collar on the shaft and with recess at the top for the eye of the
clutch boss and oiling vessel. One improvement consists in fitting and mounting
within the said fixed driving disc or boss of the shaft one, two, or more parallel
sliding radial bolts, so as to take into the corresponding shaped recesses formed on
the inner periphery of the clutch box on the chain or hauling barrel, and thus
couple the loose chain barrel to the fixed boss. These sliding coupling bolts would
be formed with lateral hand projections working up through slots in the top of the
disc for putting them in or taking them out of action and have jointed covers fitted
over these projections to retain the holts in their outward coupled or inward
uncoupled positions. A good arrangement would be to have an even number of
notches, as four, six or eight, in the loose rotating wheel, and so have two radial
reciprocating bolts opposite to each other, to take into the two nearest opposite
notches suitable for the time being in the clutch box. Instead of making these
radial locking bars slide parallelly in their slots they may be made to oscillate on
fulcrum joints at their inner ends, so as to be turned or oscillated outwards
over and into the notches of the coupling made open for that purpose for hauling,
or be folded radially inwards when not in action, and the chain or hauling wheel
was desired to be loose as for taking in the slack chain before the hauling commences;
and in this case instead of the outer rim having square notches on the inside it may
be made in the form of an internal ratchet toothed wheel and the oscillating bolt be
made in the form of an oscillating ratchet pawl to take into any of the teeth, and
made to oscillate either on a horizontal or a vertical fulcrum centre. Instead of
using a radial locking coupling bolt or pawl as described, a corresponding number
of round vertical holes may be bored in the outer rim of the loose clutch box of the
barrel, and have one, two, or more holes bored in the fixed driving disc, with
short loose locking pins for shipping into or out of these holes when the loose barrel
was to be locked to the fixed or coupling boss or disc, and these pins might be
secured by short chains to this, so that when removed from the locking holes they
could be shipped into deeper retaining holes in the fixed boss ready for use, clear of
the boss of the coupling box.
The improvements in the brake gear consist in forming or fitting a broad friction
turned brake wheel or drum on the lower end or dise Hange of the chain barrel

page_text: made to work within and down below the flush of the foundation box frame, and
have fitted round this brake drum three or more friction brake links, having the
ends of the two links nearest the brake actuating mechanism coupled by two short
drawing links to the opposite sides of a segmental rocking toothed wheel or lever
fulcrumed on two vertical studs fitted at a short distance apart in a segmental
friction block placed nearly central between the said two pulling links, these said
fulcrum or central studs being each connected by an upper and lower short double
link oscillating at their outer ends in fixed segmental bearings or stud centres, the
drawing links preferably passing through between these double links approximately
at right angles to and on opposite sides of the central segmental brake block. The
said lever would be formed with a segmental set of teeth on its outer upper extremity,
the lower surface working on a planed surface or antifriction roller; and these teeth
would gear into a bevelled pinion fitted on the inner end of a short actuating shaft
or spindle passing through a long journal bearing in the one end of the foundation
box, the outer end of this spindle having secured on it, a socket lever for the
insertion of the stem end of a long weighted actuating hand lever, secured to it by
a chained pin or otherwise, when the brake motion was required to be used, and which
locking pin might also be used to retain the lever in its central or free position.
The action of putting on the brake is effected by this weighted hand lever in either
direction according to the direction in which the chain barrel is turned for winding
or hauling, so that the friction of the brake drum on the segmental friction links
assists the bringing on of the brake action through the said differential acting double
fulcrum links of the toothed segment lever, and makes the mechanism self-acting
when the hand lever is turned to the one side or the other. The whole of this
brake mechanism is covered in by floor plates screwed on the top of the hollow
basement box secured to the deck where the cable, chain, or other hauling is effected.
Dated the 4th October 1892.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Windlasses or Capstans.
We, THOMAS MAXWELL GRANT, and ALEXANDER KELLY, both of the Firm of
Napier Brothers, Limited, Engineers, 100 Hydepark Street, Glasgow, Lanark-
shire, do hereby declare the nature of our invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement in writing, that is to say :-
This invention has reference to and comprises certain new constructions or
arrangements and combinations of the parts of windlass or capstans of the vertical
class as used on board ship for hauling in or lifting the anchor chains, or for other
like purposes on board ship or on land, and has special reference to clutch
mechanism for locking the chain or actuating barrels, and the brake gear of these
machines; and which improvements will make such machines more efficient and
easily controlled than heretofore.
And in order that our said invention and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into effect or practice may be properly understood, we have hereunto
appended two explanatory sheets of drawings, in which the same reference letters
are used to indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown.
.
Figures 1 and 2 on Sheet 1 are a sectional side elevation and sectional end view,
and Figure 3 a plan view corresponding to Figure 1 of a windlass as constructed
in accordance with and illustrative of one arrangement of our improvements.
Figure 4 is a plan view, Figure 5 a partial side elevation, and Figure 6 a partial
end elevation of a windlass as constructed in accordance with another arrangement
of our improvements.

page_text: Figures 7 and 8, 9 and 10, and 11 and 12 respectively on Sheet 12 show
elevations partly in section and plan views repectively of windlasses or capstans
showing three different modifications of the improved top locking and disengaging
mechanism in accordance with our invention.
Referring to the modification shown in Figures 1 to 3 on Sheet 1. The arrange-
ment and combination of the parts of these new or improved windlasses or capstans
consist in having a strong vertical shaft A driven by the motive machinery below,
and projecting up above its neck bearing A' and stuffing box a in a hollow
foundation or box sole plate A at the deck of the ship, so as to carry a large
driving disc clutch boss or crosshead B keyed on its upper end rotating in a
clutch box C, formed on or secured to the upper end of the vertical chain winding
barrel D, mounted to rotate loose on the said shaft A above the sole plate A' and
neck bearing A' with a bushed eye D' carried on a strong supporting collar a' on
the shaft A working in an oil cup a at the top of the journal bush A¹, on the
shaft A, and with recess C¹ at the top for the eye B¹ of the clutch boss B which
forms an oil vessel for the bush D' of the winding barrel D. One improvement
consists in fitting and mounting within the said fixed driving disc or boss B of the
shaft A one, two or more parallel sliding radial bolts within their guide
recesses so as to take into the corresponding shaped recesses c formed on the inner
periphery of the clutch box C on the chain or hauling barrel D, and thus couple
this loose chain barrel D to the fixed boss B. These sliding coupling bolts 6 are
formed with lateral hand projections 6" working up through slots in the top of the
disc B for putting them in or taking them out of action, and have hinged or
jointed covers 6 fitted over these projections b¹ to retain the bolts b in their
outward coupled or inward uncoupled positions shown as in the latter in Figure 1.
A good arrangement would be to have an even number of notches c, as four, six,
or eight in the loose rotating wheel or clutch box C, and so have two radial
reciprocating bolts 6 opposite to each other, to take into the two nearest opposite
notches c suitably situated for the time being in the clutch box C. This clutch
mechanism is preferably covered in by a domed cap B' secured by screws or
otherwise at B on the top end of the shaft A.
The improvements in the brake gear consist in forming or fitting a broad friction
turned brake wheel or drum E on the lower end or disc flange of the chain
barrel D made to work within and down below the flush of the foundation box
frame A' and have fitted round this' brake drum three or more friction or strap
brake links F, F1, F', jointed to each other at F1, and having the ends of the two
links F, F, nearest the brake actuating mechanism coupled by two short drawing
links F, F, and joint pins F to the opposite sides of a segmental rocking toothed
wheel or lever G fulcrumed to oscillate on either of two vertical studs G¹, G",
fitted at a short distance apart in a segmental friction block F placed nearly
central between the said two pulling links F, F, these said fulcrum or central
studs G, G", being each connected by upper and lower short double links G³, G³,
oscillating at their outer ends in fixed segmental bearings or stud centres at G³ on
the insides of the bed frame A', the draw links F, F, preferably passing through
between these double links G, G' approximately at right angles to and on
opposite sides of the central segmental brake block F. The said lever G is
formed with a segmental set of teeth g¹g on its outer upper extremity, the lower
surface working on a planed surface at g or it might be antifriction roller on the
bed plate A'; and these teeth g¹, g, gear into a bevelled pinion g' fitted on the
inner end of a short actuating shaft or spindle g³ passing through a long journal
bearing g', in the one end of the foundation box A', the outer end of this spindle g*
having secured on it, a socket lever f' from the insertion of the stem end of a long
weighted actuating hand lever f secured to it by a chained pin " passed through
the lever and the central standard f* secured over the bearing of the spindle 9,
when the brake motion was required to be used, and which locking pin "might
also be used to retain the lever in its central or free position of the brake. The
action of putting on the brake is effected by this weighted hand lever f oscillated

page_text: in either direction according to the direction in which the chain barrel is turned
for winding or hauling, so that the friction of the brake drum E on the segmental
friction links F, to F2, assists the bringing on of the brake action through said
differential acting double fulcrum links F3, F4, of the toothed segment lever G, and
makes the mechanism selfacting when the hand lever is turned to the one side or
the other. The whole of this brake mechanism is covered in by floor plates A³
screwed on the top of the hollow basement box A' secured to the deck where the
cable, chain, or other hauling is effected, the chain passing down or being removed
through the rounded iron ring plate A' on the deck at the back of the capstan
frame A. Referring to the modification of the brake mechanism of capstans
shown in Figures 4 to 6, it will be seen that there are only two friction or strap
links F, F, jointed to each other at F", and having their two links F³, F', jointed
to the short and long arm of the powerful lever G in this case fulcrumed to one
joint pin G in the large friction block F and one set of double fulcrum
links G2, G3, the lever G, in this case being simply actuated by a crank pin g
instead of the gearing wheel g of the former arrangement, and an adjustable screw
connecting rod g jointed at g' to the long arm of the lever G. This arrangement
only brakes the friction druin E of the capstan when the lever f is oscillated in
the direction of the arrow in Figures 6 and relieves the brake when oscillated in
the opposite direction otherwise this arrangement is substantially the same as that
described in reference to Figures 1 to 3 and lettered to correspond.
Instead of making the radial locking bars b of the clutch mechanism at the top
of the capstan slide parallelly into their locking slots c, as shown in Figures 1 to 3
they may as shown in Figures 7 and 8 on Sheet 2 be made to oscillate on horizontal
fulcrum joint pins at their inner ends, within their recesses so as to be turned
or oscillated outwards over and into the notches c of the coupling clutch C of the
chain barrel D, made open for that purpose for hauling, as shown in this locked
position in Figures 7 and 8, or be folded radially inwards into the inner part of
their recesses 6' when not in action, and the chain or hauling wheel D was desired
to he loose as for taking in the slack chain before the hauling commences.
C
By another modification, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, instead of the outer rim
clutch wheel C having square notches on the inside it may be made in the form of
an internal ratchet toothed wheel c¹ and the oscillating bolt be made in the form
of an oscillating ratchet pawl to take into any of the recessed teeth and made to
oscillate preferably on a vertical fulcrum centre 6, but it might be on a horizontal
centre, as in Figures 7 and 3. This arrangement however would only be suitable
for driving in one direction, as indicated by the arrow in Figure 12.
By another arrangement, as shown in Figures 11 and 12 instead of using
radial locking coupling bolt or pawl b, and notches c, c¹, as described, a corre-
sponding number of round vertical holes c2 may be bored vertically in the outer
rim C of the loose clutch box of the barrel D, and have one, two or more holes c
preferably two in radial line opposite each other bored in the fixed driving disc or
boss B, with short loose locking pins 6x for shipping into or out of, the holes c, c,
when the loose barrel C, D, was to be locked to the fixed or coupling boss or
disc B, and these pins might be secured by short chains to this boss, so that when
removed from these locking holes c, c, they could be shipped into deeper
retaining holes c* in the fixed boss B ready for use, clear of the boss C of the
coupling box.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
First. The construction or arrangement and combination of the parts of wind-
lasses or capstans fitted with the improved clutch mechanism for locking and
unlocking the chain barrels, and for actuating the brake gear, substantially as
herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Second. In windlasses or capstans, the fitting and use of sliding radial bolts on

page_text: the fixed boss of the shaft to take into recesses on the periphery of the clutch box
on the chain barrel for the coupling and uncoupling of these parts, substantially as
herein described in reference to and shown on Sheet 1 of the accompanying
drawings.
Third. In windlasses or capstans, the alternative ways of coupling and uncoupling
the clutch box, consisting of oscillating or hinged bolts, or of portable pins in the
fixed boss and a series of notches in the outer loose clutch box, substantially as
herein described in reference to and shown on Sheet 2 of the accompanying
drawings.
Fourth. In windlasses or capstans, the fitting and use of friction brake links or
blocks and gear, substantially as herein described in reference to and shown in
Figures 1 to 3, or the equivalents of these as shown in Figures 4 to 6 of the
accompanying drawings.
1000
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.