IMPROVEMENTS IN SAILS FOR SHIPS OR VESSELS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Peacock Savage, of Hilgay, Downham,
in the County of Norfolk, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SAILS FOR SHIPS OR VESSELS.”
Sealed the 18th April 1871, and dated the 16th February 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Peacock
Savage at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 16th February 1871.
I, WILLIAM PEACOCK SAVAGE, of Hilgay, Downham, in the County
of Norfolk, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SAILS FOR SHIPS OR VESSELS," to be as follows :—
This Invention has for its object improvements in sails for ships or
vessels.
In order to enable a sail to adjust itself to the pressure of the wind so
as to hold more or less wind according to its force at any moment I
arrange it as follows:-
-The top and bottom of the sail, if it be a square
sail, are carried by the yards as heretofore, and between them the sail is
divided horizontally into two parts, and the edges so formed are attached
-

page_text: to two spars, which are held together by weights or springs acting
through tackles connecting the spars the one with the other. These
weights or springs are so proportioned or arranged as to hold the two
spars close together so long as the force of the wind is no greater than
it is desired that the sail should hold, but when a gust or squall of
greater strength comes the tackles yield and allow the spars to separate,
and the wind is let out of the sail. The weights or springs are con-
veniently arranged around or near the mast. It is not essential that the
wind should be let out at the middle of the sail; it may, but less con-
veniently, be allowed to escape under its lower edge, in which case the
lower yard takes the place of one of the spars above mentioned; or sails
may be divided in other ways so as to be capable of opening and closing
under the control of weights or springs acting through tackles. Similar
arrangements may be applied to fore and aft and other sails.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Peacock Savage in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 16th August 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
PEACOCK SAVAGE, of Hilgay, Downham, in the County of Norfolk,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent. Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the
thirty-fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said William Peacock Savage, Her
special license that I, the said William Peacock Savage, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Peacock Savage, 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 Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SAILS FOR SHIPS OR VESSELS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said William Peacock Savage, my executors

page_text: 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 William Peacock Savage, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, that is to say:-
-
This Invention has for its object improvements in sails for ships or
vessels.
In order to enable a sail to adjust itself to the pressure of the wind so
as to hold more or less wind according to its force at any moment I
arrange it as follows:-The top and bottom of the sail, if it be a square
sail, are carried by the yards as heretofore, and between them the sail is
divided horizontally into two parts, and the edges so formed are attached
to two spars which are held together by weights or springs acting
through tackles connecting the spars the one with the other. These
weights or springs are so proportioned or arranged as to hold the two
spars close together so long as the force of the wind is no greater than
is desired that the sail should hold, but when a gust or squall of greater
strength comes the tackles yield and allow the spars to separate, and the
wind is let out of the sail. The weights or springs are conveniently
arranged around or near the mast.
The annexed Drawing represents a square sail constructed according
to my Invention. a is a portion of the mast; b is the upper and c the
lower yard; d and d³ are the two parts into which the sail is divided;
e¹ and e³ are spars to which the edges of the parts and dª of the sail
are attached; e¹x, e²x, are caps upon the ends of the spars e¹ and e³, and
they are able to turn thereon; f, f, are ropes connected at one end to
the caps on the spare passing over pulleys in the caps e¹× e**, and
descending over pulleys on the lower yard c to a weight 9 encircling the
mast and capable of moving up and down upon it; h are guide rollers
on the yard c to lead the ropes fairly over the pulleys on the yard; i is
a centre rope which may also be attached to the weight g, or a separate
weight may be employed, or a spring or springs may be substituted for
the weight or weights. It is not essential that the wind should be let

page_text: out at the middle of the sail; it may, but less conveniently, be allowed
to escape under its lower edge, in which case the lower yard takes the
place of one of the spars above mentioned, or sails may be divided in
other ways so as to be capable of opening and closing under the control
of weights or springs acting through tackles. Similar arrangements
may be applied to fore and aft and other sails..
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner of performing the same, I would have it understood that I do
not confine myself to the exact details represented by the Drawing,
but what I claim is, the construction of sails in parts held together by
weights or springs, so that when the force of the wind is greater than
the sail can or is required to hold, the parts of the sail may separate
and allow a portion of the wind to pass through, substantially as
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Peacock Savage, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of August
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
one