IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDLASSES
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edmund Walker, of London Street, in the City
of London, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
WINDLASSES."
Sealed the 3rd July 1866, and dated the 5th January 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edmund Walker at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th January 1866.
I, EDMUND WALKER, of London Street, in the City of London, Manufac-
turer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN WINDLASSES," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates, firstly, to means of connecting and disconnecting the
chain wheels of windlasses to and from the circular plates which are fixed on
the shaft of the chain wheels, one in close proximity to each chain wheel, so
that the wheels may revolve independently of the circular plates or with them,
as required. This part of my Invention consists in the employment on the rim
of the circular plate of a plate which extends over a portion of the adjoining
rim of the chain wheel, and in the employment of a pin or bolt or other
means for securing the last-named plate when required to the chain wheel.
When this plate is secured to the chain wheel the wheel and circular plate
revolve together, and when it is not so secured the wheel is free to revolve

page_text: independently of the circular plate. Instead of being permanently attached
to the circular plate the connecting plate may be permanently attached to the
chain wheel, and be connected to and disconnected from the circular plate as
required.
My Invention relates, secondly, to means of preventing, if desired, the chain
wheels revolving when disconnected from the circular plates. For this purpose
I form three or other convenient number of holes at suitable distances apart
in one side of the wheel, and a corresponding hole in one of the standards by
which the windlass shaft is supported, and when required to prevent the wheel
revolving I pass a pin through the hole in the standard into or through one of
the holes in the wheel, whereby the wheel is held.
7
The third part of my Invention relates to the means of imparting rotary
motion to the chain wheels and circular plates by ratchet wheels fixed on the
windlass shaft. This part of my Invention consists in fitting the pauls which
take into the ratchet wheels into quadrants; each quadrant contains the true
arc of a circle. The arcs are slotted or formed to receive chains or other
yielding connections which are attached to similar ares on a sector, to which
an oscillating or reciprocating movement is imparted by windlass bars in the
ordinary manner. I call this sector the main sector; it is formed on its upper
side with teeth to take into corresponding teeth on the under side of an upper
sector, which is also formed with holes to receive the windlass bars. In
addition to or instead of the upper sector I sometimes fit a lower sector below
the main sector and gearing into it; this lower sector is also formed with bar
holes. According to whether the windlass bars are inserted in the main or in
the upper or in the lower sector, so is the centre of motion altered, and so are
the speed and power varied. The sectors may be constructed with teeth on
their upper side, or on their lower side, or all round according to requirement.
The main sector may be formed with or without bar holes, and instead of
being connected to a windlass fitted in the manner before described it may be
connected to ordinary windlass purchases. To ensure the quadrant plates
falling alternately at the propèr times during the reciprocating movement
imparted by the windlass, bars, I attach one end of a chain or cord to one of
the quadrant plates, and carry the chain over or under one or more pulleys to
the other quadrant plate, to which I attach the other end; this chain ensures
the proper working of the quadrant plates, as when one plate is raised by the
action of the windlass bars this chain materially assists in drawing down the
other plate into position.
The next part of my Invention relates to means of preventing the ratchet
wheels revolving in the reverse direction. I employ a double bearing between

page_text: the ratchet wheels, and fit between the two parts of the bearing a paul wheel.
The two parts of the bearing are connected to one standard or support on the
fore side of the windlass, and one or more pauls are fitted to the connection.
As the paul wheel revolves with the shaft these pauls ride over and take into
the teeth, and prevent it turning in the reverse direction.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent. filed
by the said Edmund Walker in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th
July 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDMUND
WALKER, of London Street, in the City of London, Manufacturer, send
greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth 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 Edmund Walker, Her special licence that I, the said Edmund Walker, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edmund
Walker, 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
WINDLASSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Edmund
Walker, 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 Edmund Walker, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, 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 relates, firstly, to means of connecting and disconnecting the
chain wheels of windlasses to and from the circular plates which are fixed on

page_text: the shaft of the chain wheels, one in close proximity to each chain wheel, so
that the wheels may revolve independently of the circular plates or with them
as required. This part of my Invention consists in the employment on tho
rim of the circular plate of a plate which extends over a portion of the adjoin-
ing rim of the chain wheel, and in the employment of a pin or.bolt or other.
means for securing the last-named plate when required to the chain wheel.
When this plate is secured to the chain wheel the wheel and the circular
plate revolve together, and when it is not so secured the wheel is free to
revolve independently of the circular plate. Instead of being permanently
attached to the circular plate, the connecting plate may be permanently
.attached to the chain wheel, and be connected to and disconnected from the
: circular plate as required.
L
My Invention relates, secondly, to means of preventing, if desired, the chain
wheels revolving when disconnected from the circular plates. For this pur-
pose I form three or other convenient number of holes at suitable distances
apart in one side of the. wheel, and a corresponding hole in the adjoining
standard by which the windlass shaft is supported, and when required to
prevent the wheel revolving I pass a pin through the hole in the standard
into or through one of the holes in the wheel whereby the wheel is held.
The third part of my Invention relates to the means of imparting rotary
motion to the chain wheels and circular plates by ratchet wheels fixed on tho
windlass shaft. This part of my Invention consists in fitting the pauls which
take into the ratchet wheels to quadrants; each quadrant contains the true
are of a circle, and works as upon the windlass shaft as a centre. The arcs
are slotted or formed to receive chains or other yielding connections which
are attached to similar arcs on a sector to which an oscillating or reciprocating
movement is imparted by windlass bars in the ordinary manner. I call this
sector the main sector; it is formed on its upper side with teeth to tako into
corresponding teeth on the under side of an upper sector, which is also formed
with holes to receive the windlass bars. In addition to or instead of the
upper sector I sometimes fit a lower sector below the main sector and gearing
into it; this lower sector is also formed with bar holes. According to whether
the windlass bars are inserted in the main, or in the upper or in the lower
sector, so is the centre of motion altered, and so are the speed and power
varied. The sectors may be constructed with teeth on their upper side, or ou
their lower side, or all round, according to requirement. The main sector
may be formed with or without bar holes, and instead of being connected to a
windlass fitted in the manner before described it may be connected to ordinary
windlass purchases. To ensure the quadrant plates falling alternately at the

page_text: proper times during the reciprocating movement imparted by the windlass
bars, I attach one end of a chain or cord to one of the quadrant plates, and
carry the chain over or under one or more pulleys to the other quadrant plate,
to which I attach the other end; this chain ensures the proper working of
the quadrant plates, as when one plate is raised by the action of the windlass
bars this chain ensures the drawing down of the other plate into position.
The next part of my Invention relates to means of preventing the ratchet
wheels revolving in the reverse direction. I employ a double bearing between
the ratchet wheels, and fit between the two parts of the bearing a paul
wheel. The two parts of the bearing are connected to one standard or support
on the fore side of the windlass, and one or more pauls are fitted to the con-
nection. As the paul wheel revolves with the shaft these pauls ride over and
take into the teeth and prevent it turning in the reverse direction.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is an elevation of the after side,
and Figure 2 an end elevation of a windlass constructed according to my im.
provements; Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through the line x, x, of Figure 2.
A, A, are two standards one at each end of the windlass, they are formed
with bearings to receive the ends of the windlass shaft B; C, C, are two
chain wheels on the shaft B, and D, D, are two circular plates also on the
shaft B, one being adjacent to each chain wheel; E, E, are two ratchet
wheels likewise on the shaft B; F, F, are straps which surround the ratchet
wheels for the purpose of keeping the pauls H, hereafter referred to, to their
work. These straps serve to protect the teeth of the wheels from wet and
dirt. Each circular plate D is formed in a piece with or firmly bolted to the
ratchet wheel E which adjoins it, so that they revolve together.
In order that the chain wheels C may revolve with the circular plates D,
or independently of them, as required, I connect and disconnect them by
means of plates G, one fitted to the rim of each circular plate D by means of
a pin a, on which it is free to turn. The end of each plate G opposite the
pin a is formed with a hole to receive a pin 6 to connect it to the adjoining
chain wheel C, which is formed with a corresponding pin hole. The chain
wheel to the left of Figure 1 is shewn connected to the adjoining circular
plate D, so as to revolve with it, while the chain wheel to the right of the
Figuro is shown disconnected from the adjoining circular plate, so that it can
revolve independently. When the connecting plate G is in the position seen
at the right of the Figure the pin 6 passes through the plate G into a pin
hole in the circular plate D. As before mentioned the connecting plates G
may be fitted to the chain wheels C instead of to the circular plates D. To
prevent the chain wheels C revolving when disconnected from the circular
b

page_text: plates, I form three or other convenient number of holes cat' suitable
distances apart in the side of each wheel.C, and a corresponding hole d in the
standard A. I pass a pin through the hole d into or through one of the holes c
when it is required to prevent the wheel revolving. To regulate the speed of
the chain wheels I employ metal straps C, which act as breaks; one end of
each strap is pinned to the inside of the adjoining standard A, and tlie other
end is pivoted to an arm al projecting from one end of a horizontal spindle b¹,
which passes through the standard A, and has a lever C connected to its
other end; by lowering and pressing upon the lever the strap is caused to
embrace the rim of the chain wheel tightly,' and thus retard its rotation. For
the purpose of imparting rotary motion to the chain wheels C and circular
plates D by means of the ratchet wheels E,.I fit the pauls. H (see the detached
sectional view, Figure 4) which: take into the ratchet wheels to quadrants I;
the quadrants form portions of boxes in which the pauls are enclosed; the
boxes are firmly held to the ratchet wheels by the straps; F. Each quadrant I
contains the true arc of: a circle, and works as, upon the windlass shaft B as a
centre.
The arcs are slottel, as seen in. Figure. 4, to receive chains J or other
yielding connections which are attached to similar ares on a sector K, to which
an oscillating or reciprocating movement is imparted by windlass bars inserted
into-bar holes in the ordinary manner. I call this sector K the main sector;
it is held in an upright frame or standard L at the fore side of the windlass,
and is formed on its upper side with teeth, as shewn, to take into corresponding
teeth on the under side of an upper sector M, which is also held in the
frame L, and is likewise formed with holes to receive the windlass bars. The
windlass, bars N are represented as inserted into the holes in this upper sector.
In addition to or instead of the upper sector M, I sometimes fit a lower sector
as represented at O, Figure 5, gearing into the main sector, and also formed
with bar holes. According as the bars N are inserted in the main sector K,
the upper sector M, on the lower sector O, so is the centre of motion altered,
and so are the speed and power varied. To ensure the quadrant plates I
falling alternately at the proper times during the reciprocating movement
imparted by the bars N, I attach one end of a chain or cord P to one of the
quadrant plates, as seen in Figure 6, which is an elevation of a portion of the
fore side of the windlass. I carry this chain under two pulleys at the foot
of the frame L, and up to the other quadrant plate, to which I attach the other
end, as before mentioned; this chain P ensures the proper working of the
quadrant plates, as when one plate is raised by the action of the windlass
bars N this chain ensures the drawing down of the other plate into position.

page_text: I do not limit myself to the employment of two pulleys Q, as one may be
sufficient, and the pulley or pulleys may be fitted in such position that the
chain P passes over instead of under them. To prevent the ratchet wheels E
revolving in the reverse direction, I employ a double bearing R, R, between
these wheels, and I mount on the shaft B between the two parts of the
bearing R a paul wheel S. The two parts of the bearing R are connected by
pieces T to the frame or standard L at the fore side of the windlass, and I
pivot to the connecting pieces T one or more pauls. As the paul wheel S
revolves with the shaft B the paul or pauls ride over and take into the teeth
of the wheel, and prevent it turning in the reverse direction.
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 as my "Improve-
ments in Windlasses,"
First, the employment of a connecting plate on the rim of the circular plate
adjoining each chain wheel, or on the rim of the chain wheel itself, and the
employment of a pin bolt or similar appliance, by means of which and of the
connecting plate the chain wheel can be connected to and disconnected from
the circular plate according to requirement, substantially as herein-before
described and represented in the accompanying Drawings.
Second, forming holes in the side of the chain wheels and a corresponding.
hole in the adjoining standard to receive a piu, for the purpose of preventing,
when desired, the chain wheel revolving when disconnected from the circular
plate, substantially as herein-before described and represented in the accom-
panying Drawings.
Third, the arrangement or arrangements of quadrants, chains, and sectors,
substantially as herein-before described and represented in the accompanying
Drawings, for imparting rotary motion to the chain wheels and circular
plates by pauls and ratchet wheels, and for varying the speed and power as
required.
Fourth, the employment of a chain or cord connected at each end to one of
the quadrants or quadrant plates, and carried over or under one or more
pulleys, to ensure the quadrant plates falling alternately at the proper times
during the reciprocating movement imparted by the windlass bars, sub-
stantially as herein-before described and represented in the accompanying
Drawings.
Fifth, mounting a paul wheel on the windlass shaft in a double bearing, and
fitting at the fore side of this wheel one or more pauls, which as the paul
wheel revolves with the shaft ride over and take into the paul teeth, and

page_text: prevent the wheel turning in the reverse direction, substantially as herein-
before described and represented in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edmund. Walker, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifth day of July, One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-six.
EDMP WALKER. (L.S.)