IMPROVEMENTS IN CAPSTANS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert John Haddan, of the Firm of Herbert and
Company, Patent Agents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CAPSTANS." A com-
munication from abroad by James Henry David, of Damariscotta, State of
Maine, United States of America.
Sealed the 7th November 1876, and dated the 12th May 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Herbert John Haddan at tho
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th May 1876.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Patent Agents,
of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
CAPSTANS." A communication from abroad by James Henry David, of Damaris-
cotta, State of Maine, United States of America.
The improvements consist in constructing capstans with vertical sides and of or
with one central spindle surrounded by several, say four, more or less, other spindles,
which shall form the sides of the capstan, and on or by which the rope or cable is to
be wound, the central spindle being connected with the others by means of suitablo
cog gearing, so that the whole may operate harmoniously together.
The improvements can be performed by making the spindles of metal solid or
hollow and mounting them in or on a base plate furnished with journal bearings on
its top face, one for each spindle; to the outside spindles pawls are attached, two
or more at or near the lower end of the spindle, and so arranged to be turned over
in either direction and engage a suitable rack fitted in the base plate. The top of
the capstan is furnished with a doubled head, both pierced with mortises for the
reception of bars; the top head is fixed to the central spindle which passes loosely
through the lower head and on the lower part of the under head; the surrounding
spindles are received in suitable bearings.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Herbert John Haddan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th
November 1876.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Patent Agents,
IMPROVEMENTS IN
of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer.
CAPSTANS." A communication from abroad by James Henry David, of Damaris-
cotta, State of Maine, United States of America.
The improvements consist in constructing capstans with vertical sides and of or
with one central spindle surrounded by several, say four, inore or less, other spindles,
which shall form the sides of the capstan and on or by which the rope or cable is to
be wound, the central spindle being connected with the others by means of suitable
cog gearing, so that the whole may operate harmoniously together.
The improvements can be performed by making the spindles of metal solid or
hollow and mounting them in or on a base plate furnished with journal bearings on
its top face, one for cach spindle; to the outside spindles pawls are attached, two or
more, at or near the lower end of the spindle, and so arranged to be turned over in
either direction and engage a suitable rack fitted in the base plate. The top of the
capstan is furnished with a doubled head, both pierced with mortises for the reception
of bars; the top head is fixed to the central spindle which passes loosely through
the lower head and on the lower part of the under head; the surrounding spindles
are received in suitable bearings.
The Invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying
Drawings, of which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved capstan; Figure 2
is a central vertical section of the same; Figure III. is a horizontal section taken
through the cogged gearing that connects the heads of the different spindles;
Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken ou the line X, X, of Figure 1.
The base plate A has journal bearings provided in its top face for the several
spindles B, C; each of the outside spindles C has two pawls c attached to opposite
sides of it, at or near the lower end, and arranged to be turned over in either
direction, so as to engage a suitable rack provided in the top face of the base plate
concentric with the roller or spindle, to which it belongs; these pawls are designed
to hold the capstan in any position and in either direction while it is being wound
up in the usual manner. The lower end of the central spindle B does not quite
extend down to the top of the base plate, as is shewn in Figure 2, so as to allow
room for the operation of the lower ends of the pawls c. The top of the capstan is
finished with two heads D, E, both of which are pierced with mortises, which aro
respectively referred to by the letters b, c, and which are used for the reception of
the capstan bars that are designed to operate the capstan in the usual inanner.
The mortises e in the lower head are sloped upward toward the periphery of the
head, as shown in Figure 2, so that when the bars or levers are placed in that set
of mortises their outer ends would occupy about the same vertical position that
they would when placed in the mortises b in the upper head D. The top head E
is fixed to the central spindle B, while the said spindle passes loosely up through
the lower head E. An annular plate E' fastened in the lower part of the head E
furnishes bearings for the journals of the spindles or rollers C. An annular plate F
is fixed to the bottom face of the lower head E, close up to its periphery, and has
inside cogged gearings which engage cogged wheels G attached to the top ends of
the spindles or rollers C, and these wheels G in turn engage the central cogged
wheel H which is attached to the central spindle B.
With these parts, connected as above described and as shown in Figures 2 and 3,
it is obvious that both of the heads and all of the spindles or rollers will be
operated simultaneously. If the operating levers be placed in the top head D the
motion will be transmitted to the other movable parts through the small cogged
wheel H, and the motion of the outer spindle C will be slow with corresponding
increase of power, but if the levers be placed in the lower head E the motion will

page_text: be transmitted to the other moving parts through the annular gearing F, which
will give a high speed with corresponding diminution of power. The spindles B, C,
are made cylindrical in form, and the outer ones rest against the periphery of the
ceutral one throughout their entire length, so that the united-strength of all the
rollers is obtained and the outside face of the capstan, formed by the exterior faces
of the spindles B will also be vertical, and consequently there will be no "surging"
of the rope or cable as it is being wound up.
Having thus described my Invention, I desire to claim, the capstan formed of a
set of vertical rollers or spindles B, C, with a double head D, E, and operated
at different speeds by means of the cogged gearings F, G, H, substantially as described
and set forth..
In witness whereof, I, the said Herbert John Haddan, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of November, in the year of our Lord Ono
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
H. J. HADDAN. (LS.)