IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED AS SHROUD-BLOCKS FOR SHIPB' RIGGING, AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED AS SHROUD-BLOCKS FOR SHIPB'
RIGGING, AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by
Oscar E. Huss, of Washington, District of Columbia, United States of
America
Sealed the 16th April 1880, and dated the 25th October 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th October 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED AS
SHROUD-BLOCKS FOR SHIPS' RIGGING, AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES." [A communi-
cation from abroad. by Oscar E. Huss, of Washington, District of Columbia, United
States of America.]
This Invention relates to an improved shroud-block or device adapted to be
employed in shrouding the masts of vessels, and in numerous other instances in
which ropes are to be drawn taut.
The said Invention comprises a book having its shank arranged to slide within
a two-part casing. This casing is so formed that the hook may be partially
retracted within it, and it is provided with a spring which forces the hook out
until checked by a nut, which is fitted upon the shank and adapted to strike
against the casing.
The shank end of the hook is screwed into the said nut so that the said hook
may be adjusted and extended more or less from the casing, according to the
diameter of the rope which is to be gripped between the casing and the hook.
There are two pairs of metal straps or bars which are pivoted at their upper ends
in the casing, and two blocks or frames which are pivoted between the lower
expanded ends of the straps. One of these blocks is formed with extended sides,
while the remaining block is formed with short sides, and an extended bar inter-
mediate of the same; the said bars are made with slots which constitute the
bearings for an axle rod upon which the pulley wheels are loosely mounted.
:

page_text: .
Secured to the aforesaid nut are two laterally projecting pivots, and upon these
are pivoted four metal straps or bars. The straps of the inner pair are expanded at
their pivotal ends to embrace the nut, and are separated from the outer straps by
suitable washers. Upon the outer ends of the pivots are nuts or heads for main-
taining the straps thereon. The inner straps are also pivoted to the bar or arm of
one of the blocks, while the outer straps are pivoted to the sides or arms of the
remaining block or frame.
I provide a clevis which is secured upon the ends of the axle, and also provide a
ring or staple to which the rope is secured.
In order to effectively apply the power requisite to operate the above mechanism
I provide a block and tackle, which may consist of a pulley block, pulley wheels,
and a rope, the said block being in use connected with a hook, or staple, or other
device in a convenient position.
In some instances I form the hook with a curved spring bolt, so that when a
rope is gripped between the hook and casing, the bolt may be projected to guard
against any lateral displacement of the rope from between the two. When desired
the said bolt may be retracted within the casing and secured by a suitably arranged
catch.
The hook may also be made single.
The above apparatus may be emyloyed for numerous purposes, among which may
be mentioned the lowering of boats from the davits of a ship, tightening the shrouds
of a vessel, and the drawing taut of ropes wherever desired.
The aforesaid casing may be continued down to take the place of the straps, the
same result being attained in both instances.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th
April 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED AS
SHROUD-BLOCKS FOR SHIPS' RIGGING, AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES." A communi-*
cation from abroad by Oscar E. Huss, of Washington, District of Columbia, United
States of America.
This Invention consists in an improved "shroud block" or device adapted to be
employed in shrouding the masts of vessels, and in numerous other instances in
which ropes are to be drawn taut.
In the accompanying Drawing,
Figure 1 is a front, view of my improved apparatus with parts of the same
broken away, and
Figure 2 is an end view of the same.
Figure 3 shews a modified form of the said apparatus hereinafter described.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing.
A represents a hook having its shank arranged to slide within a two part
casing B; this casing is so formed that the hook may be partially retracted within
it, and is provided with a spring C which forces the hook out until checked by a
nut D, which is fitted upon the shank and adapted to strike against the casing.
The shank end of the hook is screwed into the nut D so that the said hook may
be adjusted and extended more or less from the casing, according to the diameter of
the rope which is to be gripped between the casing and the hook; E, E, represent
two pairs of metal straps or bars which are pivotted at their upper ends in the
casing B; and F, F, are two blocks or frames which are pivotted between the
lower expanded ends of the straps.
One of these blocks F is formed with extended sides G, while the other block is
formed with short sides, and an extended bar G¹ at the centre of the same; the
said bar G and the side bar G are made with slots H, which constitute the
bearings for an axle rod I upon which the pulleys or wheels K are loosely
mounted.
Secured to the nut D in which the shank of the hook A is fitted, as hereinbefore
described, are two laterally projecting pivots Lupon which are pivotted four metal
straps or bars M, M, and N, N. The inner pair of straps M are expanded at their
pivotted ends so as to embrace the nut D, and are separated from the outer straps N
by means of suitable washers. Upon the outer ends of the pivots are nuts or heads
for maintaining the straps thereon.
The straps M are also pivotted to the bar or arm G' of one of the blocks F, while
the straps N are pivotted to the sides or arms G of the other block or frame F. The
pivotal points of these straps upon the blocks, as shewn in the Drawing, are
arranged between the slots and the pivots of the straps E, E, and hence will be
between the bearings of the axle upon which the pulleys or wheels are mounted,
and the pivots by which the blocks and straps E are connected.
O represents a clevis which is secured upon the ends of the axle I; and P is a
ring or staple to which the rope Q is secured.
In order to effectively apply the power requisite to operate the above mechanism
I provide a block and tackle, which may consist of the pulley block R, the pulleys
or wheels S, and the rope Q; the block R when in use being connected with a
hook, or staple, or other device in a convenient position.
The operation of the said apparatus is as follows:-
The hook A is caught upon the rope or shroud which is to be tightened, and the
pulley rope is tightened up until the tension upon the pullies or wheels and clevis
causes the blocks F to turn upon their pivotal bearings, and draw the axle of the
said wheels towards the ends of the slots which are formed in the arms G, G¹.

page_text: These arms thus constitute levers which cause the hook to be partially retracted
within the casing B, so as to firmly grip the rope or shroud, and as the pulley rope
is still further tightened, the rotation of the blocks F upon the pivots of the straps
M and N will force the casing B with great power upon the shroud or rope through
the medium of the straps E, E, whereby all danger of the shroud rope slipping
between the case and hook as it is being tightened will be avoided.
In some instances I form the hook with a curved spring bolt T, as shewn in
Figure 3, so that when a rope is gripped between the hook and casing the bolt
may be projected to guard against any lateral displacement of the rope from
between the two. When desired the bolt may be retracted within the casing,
and secured by a suitably arranged catch U. The hook may also be made single,
as shewn in Figure 3.
The apparatus above described may be employed for numerous purposes, among
which may be mentioned the lowering of boats from the davits of a ship, tightening
the shrouds of a vessel, and the drawing taut of ropes wherever desired.
The casing B may if desired be continued down to take the place of the straps E,
the same result being attained in both instances.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. In a shroud-block for the purposes herein described, a hook and casing
adapted to be brought together to grip the shroud or rope by tension exerted
upon pivotted pulley blocks connected with the hook and casing, and arranged to
operate as levers in bringing the hook and casing together, substantially as above
set forth..
Second. The hook adjustably fitted in the nut in combination with the casing,
the pivotted pulley blocks, and the metal straps connecting the said blocks with
the hook and casing, substantially as above set forth and shewn in the accom-
panying Drawing.
Third. The combination of the hook, the casing, and the spring with the blocks
F, F, and the straps E, M, N, pivotted at both ends, as above set forth.
Fourth. The blocks F, F, provided with the arms having the slots in combination
with the hook, the casing, the straps E pivotted to the blocks, and the casing, and
the straps M, M, pivotted to the arms of the blocks and connected with the hook,
substantially as above set forth.
Fifth. The pivotted blocks F, F, having slotted arms arranged to constitute
bearings for the axle upon which the pulleys or. wheels are mounted in combination
with the hook, the casing, the connecting straps, and the clevis with the block and
tackle connected therewith, substantially as above set forth.
Sixth. The pivotted blocks F, F, formed with the arms in combination with the
axle having its bearings within slots formed in the said arms, the loosely mounted'
pulleys or wheels, the straps E, E, pivotted to the casing, and the blocks, and the
straps M, N, connected by pivots with the nut D, and pivotted to the arms of the
blocks at points intermediate between the axle of the pulleys or wheels, and pivotal
points of the straps E upon the blocks, substantially as set forth.
Seventh. The double hook provided with a spring bolt in combination with the
casing, and with the straps, the blocks, and the pulleys or wheels adapted to bring
the hook and casing together so as to grip the shroud or rope, substantially as
herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty fourth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.