Improvements in and relating to the Hulls of Vessels.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Aug., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 19th May, 897-Accepted, 28th June, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Hulls of Vessels.
We, WILLIAM KING, and RICHMOND JAMES MARTINEZ, both of 115
and 117 Magazine Street, New Orleans, La., U.S.A., Gentlemen, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:→
This invention has reference to improvements in and relating to the hulls of
vessels; its object being to provide means whereby the vessel is rendered capable
of carrying a larger quantity of sail.
By this invention, the hull of the vessel is provided with a well, having a
depending keel on each side thereof, and meeting at their ends to form
points.
Within the well are three, more or less keels, or centreboards, the upper ones
of which are hollow to contain the next one below it. The several keels are con-
structed so as to be telescopic, oue within the other. The lowest keel is of single
thickness only.
Two centreboards are located in compartments of the main centreboard and are
vertically movable therein.
Each of the keels or centreboards are adapted to be raised or lowered by
windlasses, in the upper part of the well, and connected thereto by chains or the
like.
A lid is provided for covering the well, when desired.
PERCY R. J. WILLIS,
Agent for Applicants.
Improvements in and relating to the Hulls of Vessels.
We, WILLIAM KING and RICHMOND JAMES MARTINEZ, both of 115
and 117 Magazine Street, New Orleans, La., U.S.A., Gentlemen, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in aud by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to an improved construction of the hull and centreboard
mechanism of marine vessels, the object being to provide a vessel which will be
capable of carrying a very much enlarged sail area.
The invention consists in certain peculiar features of construction and com-
binations of parts, as will be described hereinafter, and finally embodied in the
claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
specification, in which similar characters of reference indicato corresponding parts.
all the fours

page_text: Figure represents a longitudinal section of a marine vessel constructed alter
the manner of my invention.
Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken through the vessel and illustrating the centre
board as housed therein.
Fig. 3 is a broken vertical section shewing the centre board extended to its
fullest area.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the main centreboard, shewing it detached from
the other portions of the vessel. Fig. 5 is a similar view of one of the port and
starboard centreboards.
Fig. 6 is a plan view of a vessel having the improved centreboard applied. Fig. 7
is a cross section of the same; and
Fig. 8 is a perspective view of an attachment for filling the space usually
occupied by the main centreboard in the event of the latter being removed.
In carrying out my invention the hull 1 of the vessel may be of any construction
and is provided with two parallel keels 2, merged into each other at their fore and
aft ends to form the points 3, as best shewn in Fig. 2. Located between the keels 2
and movable vertically therein is the main centreboard 4, composed of eight
principal sections, four end sections a being arranged two at each end and each
having a tongue and side boards or panels c, secured one on each side of the
tongues. This construction forms three parallel and longitudinally extending
compartments in the main centreboard, the central compartment being wider than
the side compartments and slightly longer.
The two forward sections a of the main centreboard are each formed with a
transversely aligned recess d, adapted to receive the step 5 of the mast 6 when
the main centreboard is raised to the position shewn in Fig. 1. Each pair of
sections a is provided with a transversely extending bar 7, adapted to engage
the upper edges of the keels 2 when the main centreboard is lowered, as
best shown in Fig. 7, so as to limit the downward movement of the said
centreboard.
Movable within the centre compartiment of the main centreboard 4 is the
double centreboard 3, having a central compartment 9 and having pointed front
fore and aft edges 10. The double centreboard has at its fore and aft extremities
projecting ears 11, adapted to engage inwardly extending ledges 12 12, located at
the lower portion of the central compartment of the main centreboard. By these
means the double ceutreboard is prevented from excessive downward movement.
The double centreboard 8 has the amidship centreboard 13 movable in its com-
partment 9, and the said amidship centreboard has projecting arms 14 similar to
the arms 11 of the centreboard 8, which are adapted to rest upon ledges 15,
arranged at the lower ends of the compartment 9 of the double centroboard 8.
It will thus be seen that the main centreboard 4 is adapted to project into the
water and serve as a portion of the centreboard, and also that it carries in its
middle compartment two centreboards which are extensible to increase the areu of
the centreboard.
Located in the side compartments of the main centreboard 4 and movable
vertically therein are the port and starboard centreboards 16 and 17. The centre-
boards are duplicates of each other, as shewn in detail view Fig. 5. There it will
be seen that each of the said centreboards has outwardly extending arms 18 at its
fore and aft extremities, and these are adapted to rest upon ledges projecting
inwardly from the lower portions of the side compartments of the main
centreboard.
Rising from the deck of the vessel and located over the centreboards is a
housing 19, having a series of shafts 20 revolubly mounted therein, and each
shaft is provided with a drum 21 having cog teeth with which the pinions 22
respectively mesh. The shafts 20 are provided with cranks 23, whereby they may
be operated.
Over the drums 21 are wound the two cables 24, connected to the double centre-
board 8, the two cables 26, connected to the amidship centreboard 13, and the four

page_text: cables 25 connected to the port and starboard centreboards 16 and 17, and hy
means of said cables the said centreboards may be operated. Two cables 27 are-
connected to the ends of the main centreboard 4, said cables passing over pulleys.
or sheaves 28, supported within the bull of the vessel, and are finally wound upon
drums 29, whereby the cables may be drawn on. By this means the main centre-.
board is raised or lowered.
The rudder 30 is provided with a suitable stem 31 and is located at the aft
extremities of the keels 2, it being supported at its lower portion on a step 32, as.
shewn in Fig. 1.
In using my invention, should the vessel be close-hauled, the port and starboard
centreboards 16 and 17 should be raised, and the main centreboard 4, the double-
centreboard 8, and the amidship centreboard 13 should be lowered to their
fullest extent, as shewn in Figs. 3 and 7. This will present a large centre-
board area and sustain the vessel, notwithstanding the very much increased area
of sail which it may carry.
Should the vessel be sailing before the wind, all of the centreboards should be-
raised. If cruising with light sails or with nearly a fair wind, one or both of the
centreboards 16 or 17 should be lowered.
Fig. 8 illustrates a block comprising an enlarged upper portion 33 and a.
reduced lower portion 34, said block being adapted to fill the space occupied
by the main centreboard 4 should it be desired to remove said centreboard,.
and by means of this block the centreboard well or the space between the
keels 2 will be filled. The block is provided with staples 35, to which suitable
ropes may be attached, whereby the block may be raised or lowered, as will be
understood.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to he performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
(1.) A marine vessel provided with a well, a main centreboard within said well,.
a doublo centreboard carried by the main centreboard, an amidship centreboard
carried by the double centreboard, and a port and starboard centreboard respectively
carried on each side of the double ceutreboard and within the main centreboard,.
substantially as described.
(2.) A marine vessel having a centreboard well, a main contreboard within said
well, and a port and starboard centreboard carried by the ceutreboard, substantially
as described.
(3.) A marine vessel having a centreboard well, a main ceutreboard within said.
well, and baving three parallel and longitudinally extending compartiments, and a
centreboard within each compartment, substantially as described.
(4.) A marine vessel having a centreboard well, a main centreboard within the
centreboard well and provided with three longitudinally extending and parallel
compartiments, a double centreboard within the middle compartment, an amidship
centreboard carried by the double centreboard, and a port and starboard centre-
board respectively carried by the other compartments of the main centreboard
substantially as described.
(5.) A marine vessel having a main centreboard composed of two pairs of end
sections, each formed with a tongue, and a board secured to each side of each
tongue, said boards extending from one pair of end sections to the other, a double.
centreboard arranged between two of the side boards, and a port and starboard
centreboard, substantially as described.
P. R. J. WILLIS,
Agent for Applicants.