IMPROVEMENTS IN FORE-AND-AFT SAILS, AND CERTAIN PARTS CONNECTED THEREWITH, SO AS TO RAPIDLY CONVERT THEM INTO TRIANGULAR QATTO
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Servulo Alvares da Silva, of Lisbon, Portugal, at
present residing at 153, Minories, in the City of London, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FORE-AND-AFT SAILS, AND CERTAIN PARTS
CONNECTED THEREWITH, SO AS TO RAPIDLY CONVERT THEM INTO TRIANGULAR
QATTO"
Sealed the 14th September 1875, and dated the 13th July 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Servulo Alvares
da Silva at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
his Petition, on the 13th July 1875.
I, SERVULO ALVARES DA SILVA, of Lisbon, Portugal, at present
residing at 153, Minories, in the City of London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FORE-AND-AFT SAILS,
AND CERTAIN PARTS CONNECTED THEREWITH, SO AS TO RAPIDLY CONVERT THEM INTO
TRIANGULAR SAILS," to be as follows:―
During the period of 23 years in which I have followed the maritime
life, having sailed as mate and captain of mercantile marine vessels,

page_text: I have met with repeated opportunities of practically observing the
great inconveniences in the means hitherto adopted for reefing fore-
and-aft sails (see Fig. 1). In order to avoid such great disadvantages a
new mode of reefing said sails was invented, rolling the sail on the boom
by a very simple process. Shortly after that system was abandoned
insomuch as it cut and washed the canvas. Later on the Americans
began using a triangle sail with gaff-topsail which sheeted to the boom
end, but this system also failed in its adoption owing to great
difficulty in furling said gaff-topsail. Some time afterwards two triangle
sails were invented, with eyelet holes to be laced with the lacings
through the centre of the sail, for the purpose of taking off the upper
triangle and the gaff during heavy weather, and laying-to merely with
the triangle; this system did not meet with general approbation, inso-
much as it gave as much or more trouble than the old one. Under such
circumstances, all the disadvantages of the old system being still in use,
the great necessity of improving the fore-and-aft sails till now in use was
felt. Having concentrated all my attention on this point, and by dint
of great study and labour and experiments, I have attained the end I so
long aimed at by inventing a new system, by which during any weather
the fore-and-aft sails can be converted rapidly and with great advantage
into triangular ones.
This my Invention consists of an apparatus on the mast to which the
gaff is connected, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to make it lower until on a
line with the mast, which apparatus consists of a wooden hoop with iron
plates, commonly called parall or panella, as seen in Fig. 3. The
plate, which by the centre embraces said ring, should be strengthened
according to the ship's tonnage, and has a projection of 30 centimetres
where the necessary rings are placed, and on the extremity is formed a
pintle, on which fixes a piece of iron with two forks, as per Fig. 4.
The shortest fork fits on the pintle on the extremity of the plate of the
panella, as is crossed by a screw plug so as to facilitate the fall of the
gaff, and the larger fork is where the spar fits, and which is fastened by
two bolts, as seen in Fig. 5. This apparatus so formed facilitates the
fall or lowering of the gaff, which lays even with the mast, as soon as
the peak, whereby the sail remains of a triangular shape, as seen in
Figs. 6 and 7. In order however that the fore-and-aft sails may take
this shape it should be cut in two triangles, and sewn in such a way|
that the two pieces do not bag. They should be sewn by the two

page_text: hypotenuses, and so form the full shape of the fore-and-aft sails, and
in the place where the two hypotenuses are sewn there are two bands
on each side, so as to accompany the projection of the hypotenuse.
They should be sewn with binding stitch, leaving on each side sufficient
canvas to be able to marl the two leeches with which the sail is
encircled, as seen in Fig. 2. Everything being in this manner com-
pleted, that is, the gaff apparatus and sail, as above described, the peak
can be lowered in any weather, and hauling on the brail to lay the gaff
along the mast the sail is reduced to a triangle, as shown in Figs. 6
and 7. The advantages of this system are evident; the sails will last
double the time of the old ones, and when necessary they can be con-
verted into triangle sails, remaining folded and secured by two lecches
and foot ropes, whereby the triangles remain of double strength, and
suited either for running or laying-to; besides which, the manouvro
being very easy, it can be executed at any moment by one man, who
lowers the peak and hawls in the brail.
It often happens that the vessel has to wear to clear herself from
another which suddenly appears by a lee wind on the bow in thick
weather, or from any other danger. In such circumstances the main-
sail becomes very dangerous, not only from its preventing the vessels to
bear rapidly away, but by its jibbing, which may cause much damage,
viz., dismasting the ships. In my system however there are none of
these risks, as it is sufficient to lower the peak and the sail immediately
takes a triangular shape, the ship rapidly answers her helm, and when
the triangle fills it cannot cause any damage. Besides which commerce
in general, as well as shipowners and sailors, will find in this my system
immense advantages-commerce and shipowners because voyages will
be made quicker, as sails have often to be reefed owing to squalls and
the wind and sea moderate soon after, but to guard from further
squalls, and the difficulty of the operation, much time is wasted
(especially at night) with the sails reefed, whereby the ship does not sail
as well as she otherwise might. In my system however these dis-
advantages do not appear, converting with the greatest facility said sails
into triangular ones. As soon as the squall is passed the sail is again
set, hoisting out the triangle, which becomes covered by the other.
Furthermore this my system is economical, inasmuch as two sailors in
each vessel can be saved, this being alone a considerable advantage.

page_text: On the other hand the sailors are free from the dangers which accompany
the act of reefing, thereby giving no cause for the loss of so many lives
from this circumstance.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Servulo Alvares da Silva in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 13th January 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SERVULO
ALVARES DA SILVA, of Lisbon, Portugal, at present residing at 153,
Minories, in the City of London, send grecting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Ier heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Servulo Alvares da Silva, Her
special licence that I, the said Servulo Alvares da Silva, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Servulo
Alvares da Silva, 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 law-
fully 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 FORE-AND-AFT SAILS, AND CERTAIN PARTS
CONNECTED THEREWITH, SO AS TO RAPIDLY CONVERT THEM INTO TRIANGULAR
SAILS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Servulo
Alvares da Silva, 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 samo to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.

page_text: the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
During the period of 23 years in which I have followed the maritime
life, having sailed as mate and as captain of mercantile marine vessels,
I have met with repeated opportunities of practically observing the
great inconveniences in the means hitherto adopted for reefing fore-and-
aft sails, see Fig. 1. In order to avoid such great disadvantages a new
mode of reefing said sails was invented, rolling the sail on the boom
by a very simple process. Shortly after that system was abandoned,
inasmuch as it cut and injured the canvas. Later on the Americans began
using a triangle sail with gaff-topsail which sheeted to the boom end,
but this system also failed in its adoption owing to great difficulty in
furling said gaff-topsail. Some time afterwards two triangle sails were
invented with eyelet holes to be laced with the lacings through the
centre of the sail for the purpose of taking off the upper triangle and
the gaff during heavy weather, and laying-to merely with the triangle;
this system did not meet with general approbation, inasmuch as it gave
as much or more trouble than the old one. Under such circumstances
all the disadvantges of the old system being still in use, the great
necessity of improving the fore-and-aft sails till now in use was felt.
Having concentrated all my attention on this point I have by dint of
great study and labour and experiments attained the end I so long
aimed at by inventing a new system, by which during any weather the
fore-and-aft sails can be converted rapidly and with great advantage into
triangular ones.
This my Invention consists of an apparatus on the mast to which
the gaff is connected, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to make it lower until
on a line with the mast, which apparatus consists of a wooden hoop
with iron plates commonly called parall or panella, as seen in Fig. 3.
The plate, which by the centre embraces said ring, should be
strengthened according to the ship's tonnage, and has a projection of
30 centimetros where the necessary rings are placed, and on the
extremity is formed a pintle on which is fixed a piece of iron with two
forks, as shewn in Fig. 4; the shortest fork fits on the pintle on the
extremity of the plate of the panella, and is crossed by a screw plug so
as to facilitate the fall of the gaff, and the larger fork is where the spar
fits, and which is fastened by two bolts, as seen in Fig. 5. This
apparatus so formed facilitates the fall or lowering of the gaff, the whole

page_text: length of which lays even with the mast, whereby the sail remains of a
triangular shape, as seen in Figs. 6 and 7. In order however that the
fore-and-aft sails may take this shape they should be cut in two
triangles, and sewn in such a way that the two pieces do not bag. They
should be sewn by the two hypotenuses, and so form the full shape of
the fore-and-aft sail, and in the place where the two hypotenuses are
sewn there are two bands on each side so as to accompany the projection
of the hypotenuse. They should be sewn with binding stitch, leaving
on each sido sufficient canvas to be able to marl the two leeches with
which the sail is encircled, as seen in Fig. 2. Everything being in this
manner completed, that is, the gaff apparatus and sail as above described,
the peak can be lowered in any weather, and by hauling on the brail to
lay the gaff along the mast the sail is reduced to a triangle, as shewn in
Figs. 6 and 7. The advantages of this system are evident. The sails
will last double the time of the old ones, and when necessary they can
be converted into triangle sails, remaining folded and secured by two
leeches and foot ropes whereby the triangles remain of double strength
and suited either for running or laying-to, besides which the manoeuvro
being very easy it can be executed at any moment by one man, who
lowers the peak and hauls in the brail.
It often happens that the vessel has to wear to clear herself from
another which suddenly appears by a lee wind on the bow in thick
weather, or from any other danger. In such circumstances the main
sail becomes very dangerous, not only from its preventing the vessels to
bear rapidly away, but by its jibbing which may cause much damage,
viz., dismasting the ship. In my system however there are none of
these risks, as it is sufficient to lower the peak, and the sail immediately
takes a triangular shape, the ship rapidly answers her helm, and when
the triangle fills it cannot cause any damage; besides which commerce
in general as well as shipowners and sailors will find in this my system
immense advantages-commerce and shipowners, because voyages will
be made quicker as sails have often to bo reefed owing to squalls, and
the wind and sea moderate soon after, but to guard from further squalls
and the difficulty of the operation much time is wasted (especially at
night) with the sails reefed, whereby the ship does not sail as well as
she otherwise might. In my system however these disadvantages do
not appear, converting with the greatest facility said sails into triangular
ones, and as soon as the squall is passed the sail is again set by hoisting
out the upper triangle.

page_text: Furthermore, this my system is economical, inasmuch as two sailors
in each vessel can be saved, this being alone a considerable advantage.
On the other hand the sailors are free from the dangers which accompany
the act of reefing, thereby giving no cause for the loss of so many lives
from this circumstance.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is to be performed or carried
into effect, I declare that what I claim and desire to be secured to me
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The apparatus on the mast in connection with the gaff to enable
the gaff to be lowered until it lays flat with the mast, substantially as
before described and illustrated on the accompanying Drawings, or any
mere modification thereof.
Second. The mode of cutting or making fore-and-aft sails in two
triangles, and sewing the same together by the two hypotenuses, sub-
stantially as before described and shewn on accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Servulo Alvares da Silva, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of
December, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-five.
SERVULO ALVARES DA SILVA. (L.S.)