NEW INVENTED METHOD OF REGULATING THE SAILS OR VANES OF ENGINES AND MILLS WORKED BY FORCE OF WIND;
Year: 1787

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BENJAMIN
HEAME, of the Borough of Penryn, in the County of Cornwall, Merchant, send
greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third, by His
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date the
First day of February, in the twenty-seventh year of His said Majestie's
reign, did give and grant unto me, the said Benjamin Heame, His special
licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Benjamin
Heame, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should and lawfully might,
during the term of years therein expressed, use, exercise, and vend, throughout
that part of His Majestie's Kingdom of Great Britain called England, the
Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and also in His
Majesties Colonies and Plantations abroad, my "NEW INVENTED METHOD OF
REGULATING THE SAILS OR VANES OF ENGINES AND MILLS WORKED BY FORCE OF
WIND;" in which the said recited Letters Patent is contained a proviso obliging
me, the said Benjamin Heame, by writing under my hand and seal, to cause a
particular description of the nature of the said Invention to be enrolled
in His Majestie's High Court of Chancery within one calendar month after
the date of the said recited Letters Patent, as in and by the said Letters
Patent, and the Statute in that behalf made, relation being thereunto respec-
tively had, may more at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, and in pursu-
ance of the said Statute, I, the said Benjamin Heame, do hereby declare that
the following is a particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and
of the manner in which the same is to be performed, that is to say :-
I propose to regulate the vanes or sails of engines or mills, according to the
force of wind acting on them, in the following manner,―
First. "When the weights to regulate the sails are placed within the machine,

page_text: the horizontal axle may be bored its whole length for an iron rod to pass
through, a square sockett being fixed at the outer end of the axle to prevent
the turning of the rod seperate from it. To the outer end of the rod are fixed
the braces, passing over pullies at the end of the outriggers, from the rod to the
sails. The sails and yards are made to hoist or lower, as lug-sails, try-sails, or
of various other forms. The braces being fixed to the leeward edge of the sail,
will, in proportion to the power of the wind acting upon them, draw them
either to a greater or less degree of obliquity to the wind, and thereby increase
or diminish its power, which will always be just sufficient to balance the
weight. The inner end of the rod moves round in a sockett of iron by means
of a swivell head, the sockett being confined to a square frame, which moves
on two transoms backward and forward in proportion to the force of wind
acting on the sails. To this frame is fastened the rope or chain, passing over
a wheel or pulley between the transoms, to which wheel or pulley the weight
is suspended, and a stopper is applied to prevent the sails being drawn too
far forward.
Secondly. The horizontal axle, instead of being bored for the iron rod, may
be fluted or grooved, so that a bowline or brace may pass in each on to the
inner end of the axle (which works on friction wheels), and then fixed to a
plate or block of iron, wood, or other material; each bowline seperate, in the
centre of which plate works a swivell head. A small weight is applied where
the chain or rope is fastened, that passes over the pully to prevent it from twist-
ing. By this method the braces or bowlines can be managed seperate, within
the engine.
Thirdly. When the weights are placed outside, the axle is to be extended so
far as may be found necessary; at the outer end of which is a tube supported on
a circle (or any other support); at the mouth of the tube are rollers. The braces
or bowlines being fixed to the lce parts of the sails, are fastened to a tra-
veller on the outer part of the axle, or reeved through pullies near the inner
part of the tube, and passing through it and over the rollers so suspend a weight
which draws the sails to the proper angle for the wind to act on them,
and which, when overpowered by force of wind, is raised, and thereby the
sheets or braces of the sails are eased off, which causes the wind to act in a
more oblique direction; and as the wind decreases the weight preponderates,
and draws the sails full to the wind again. The whole head of the machine,
including axes, transoms, weight, and frame, is moved round on rollers, and friction
wheels at the sides by a leaver. A sail to the aft part of the roof may be added,
to help it to move as the wind shifts. To stop the engine when in full force of
working, the weights are raised with a tackle, or may be entirely disengaged,
which instantly throws the sails edge to wind. An index is fixed to the bottom

page_text: of the vane spill, to shew the wind by night. To the inside of the horizontal
axis is fixed a perpendicular cog wheel, working with the horizontal wheel, to
carry forward the movements of the machine.
This construction of the wind engine or mill may be applied to any works
carried on by force of wind, will act in a more equal manner, and not liable
to the accidents of the common wind-mill; for when the wind becomes too
strong the vanes or sails recede from it, drawing the braces forward, by which
means the weight being overpowered raises, and so soon as the wind decreases
the weight as before mentioned preponderates, and by drawing the sails again
to the wind gives it greater power over them. To the perpendicular axis is
applied a horse barr to carry forwards the works in a calm. Springs of various
forms may also be applied seperately or jointly with the weights, but weights
only are proved to be less expensive, and much more convenient and usefull.
The further particulars of my Invention are more minutely described in the
several Drawings thereof hereunto subjoined, marked respectively with the
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, whereunto I refer as a part of this
iny Specification.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Heame, have hereto set my
hand and seal, the Ninth day of February, in the twenty-seventh year
of the reign of King George the Third, and in the year of our Lord
One thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven.