Improvement in and relating to Self-acting Fastenings for Top-masts.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 19th May, 1891
Complete Specification Left. 10th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 12th Dec., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in and relating to Self-acting Fastenings for
Top-masts.
I, CONSTANTIN DE KNORRING of No. 31 Behrenstrasse Berlin, Germany,
Secretary of the Imperial Russian Embassy at Berlin, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in self acting fastenings or locking devices
for topmasts such as are used in sailing yachts and other sailing vessels of smaller
size. It has for its object to prevent any missing of the action of the locking device
in the event of the top mast being raised too high.
On the accompanying drawing
Fig. 1 shews a part front elevation and part section, and
Fig. 2 a side view of a locking device of the construction heretofore employed,
while
Figs. 3 to 5 shew the several relative positions of the moveable parts, from
which the defective action of such an arrangement will be seen.
In Figs. 6 and 7 are shewn the front and side views of the improved construction,
while
Figs. 8 to 11 shew the various relative positions of the moveable parts.
In the construction shewn at Figs. 1 and 2 the lower end of the top
mast, d which is guided in the cap a and ring of the lower mast c is provided
with a latch e which is pivotted on a pin, but which is subjected to such frictional
resistance that the latch e cannot move freely. In the arrangement shown, the
latch e is situated in a slot in the topmast. The two armed latch e is of such
length, and the ends are so rounded that when inclined with its right hand end
downward and left hand end upward, only the latter projects beyond the topmast,
as shewn at Fig. 3. When the inclined position is reversed, neither end projects.
When in a horizontal position, which is not regulated by stops, both ends project.
The movement of the topmast is effected by a cord which, passing up from below,
is led first over a block i suspended from the ring b of the lower mast, then down-
wards to a pulley / let into the topmast & and rotatable on a pin k, and then up again
to the ring b.
To the cap a is fixed a stop m in such manner that, shortly before the position is
attained in which the right hand lower end of the latch e rises above the cap a, the
left hand upper end of the latch, which has passed through the slot a' in the cap
will strike against the stop mas at Fig. 3. If, after the latch has been turned into
the horizontal position as at Fig. 4, the topmast were raised still higher, the right
hand end of the latch would be raised until the left hand end thereof was pushed
by the stop into the slot of the topmast.
P
On releasing the cord therefore, and on the consequent descent of the topmast,
the latch woull remain in this inclined position in which case it would pass through
the cap again as at Fig. 5 instead of, as is intended, assuming the horizontal position
in which it projects on each side beyond the hole of the cap a and thus prevents
the top mast from dropping beyond the locked position in which the latch rests
with both ends on the cap a.
According to the present invention this defect is obviated by providing, in the
arrangement shewn, on the right hand side of the cap a a second stop ", capable of
turning through a small angle on a horizontal axis a', while on the topmast d itself
is provided a fixed upward directed hook o.
Corresponding to this hook there is formed in the cap a a second slot a². The

page_text: action of these parts in combination with the arrangement described with reference
to Figs. 1 and 2 will be understood on reference to Figs. S to 11. The topmast
moves up out of the first position I Fig. 8, into the position II shewn in the same
figure, cansing the left hand upward directed end of the latch e to come in'contact
with the stop m, as described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, whereby the latch
will be turned so as to make the lower right hand end project from the side of the
topmast. When the latch has been turned to this extent, the hook o will have
engaged with the stop n whereby any further rising of the topmast will be
prevented.
The topmast can then be lowered until the latch e bears with both ends upon the
cap a, and it is consequently locked in this position.
In order now to unlock the topmast again, it is again raised, whereby the
horizontal latch first attains the position IV, in which its end raises the stop n so as
to free it from the hook o.
On now raising the topmast still farther, the left hand end of the latch strikes
against the stop m, whereby it is turned into the opposite inclined position at V.
Fig. 10.
When, by such turning, the left hand end of the latch no longer projects beyond
the topmast, a stop p on the topmast bears against the underside of the cap a,
thereby preventing any further rising of the topinast. On now lowering the latter,
the hook o first presses the stop n outwards so as to allow it to pass, as at VI
Fig. 10, whereupon the right hand end of the latch e also comes in contact with the
stop n, which will have fallen back against the mast after the hook has passed, as
at VII. Fig. 11, and the latch will now be turned first by the stop n and then by
passing through the hole of the cap until it assumes the position VIII Fig. 11.
From this position the latch is lastly turned back by hand into the opposite inclined
position IX, with the upper left hand end projecting, whereupon the device is ready
operate again as described on raising the topmast.
Dated this 19th day of May 1891.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in and relating to Self-acting Fastenings for
Top-masts.
I, CONSTANTIN DE KNORRING, of 31, Behrensstrasse, Berlin, Germany,
Secretary of the Imperial Russian Embassy at Berlin, 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 and by the following stateinent :-
This invention relates to improvements in self acting fastenings or locking
devices for topinasts, such as are used in sailing yachts and other sailing vessels of
smaller size. It has for its object to prevent any missing of the action of the
locking device in the event of the top mast being raised too high.
On the drawing accompanying my Provisional Specification Fig. 1. shews a part
front elevation and part section, and
Fig. 2 a side view of a locking device of the construction heretofore employed,
while
Figs. 3 to 5 shew the several relative positions of the moveable parts, from which
the defective action of such an arrangement will be seen.
In Figs. 6 and 7 are shewn the front and side views of the improved construction,
while
Figs. 8 to 11 shew the various relative positions of the moveable parts.
In the construction shewn at Figs. 1 and 2 the lower end of the topmast & which
is guided in the cap a and ring of the lower mast is provided with a latch e
which is pivotted on a pin f; but which is subjected to such frictional resistance

page_text: that the latch e cannot move freely. In the arrangement shewn, the latch e is
situated in a slot in the top mast.
The two-armed latch e is of such length, and the ends are so rounded that when
inclined with its right hand end downward and left hand end upward, only the
latter projects beyond the topmast, as shewn at Fig. 3. When the inclined position
is reversed neither end projects. When in a horizontal position, which is not
regulated by stops, both ends project. The movement of the topmast is effected
by a cord which, passing up from below, is led first over a block i suspended from
the ring of the lower mast e. then downwards to a pulley. I let into the topmast d
and rotatable on a pin k, and then up again to the ring b
To the cap a is fixed a stop m in such manner that, shortly before. the position is
attained in which the right hand lower end of the latch e rises above the cap a, the
left hand upper end of the latch, which has passed through the slot a' in the cap
will strike against the stop mas at Fig. 3. If, after the latch has been turned into
the horizontal position as at Fig. 4, the topmast were raised still higher, the right
hand end of the latch e would be raised until the left hand end thereof were pushed
by the stop into the slot d' of the topmast.
On releasing the cord therefore, and on the consequent descent of the topmast,
the latch would remain in this inclined position in which case it would pass through
the cap again as at Fig. 5 instead of, as is intended assuming the horizontal position
in which it projects on each side beyond the hole of the cap a, and thus prevents
the top mast from dropping beyond the locked position in which the latch rests
with both ends on the cap a.
According to the present invention this defect is obviated by providing in the
arrangement shewn, on the right hand side of the cap a a second stop n capable of
turning through a small angle on a horizontal axis a', while on the topmast & itself
is provided a fixed upward directed hook o.
Corresponding to this hook there is formed in the cap a a second slot a². The
action of these parts in combination with the arrangement described with reference
to Figs. 1 and 2 will be understood on reference to Figs. 8 to 11.
The topmast
moves up out of the first position 1 Fig. 8, into the position 11 shewn in the same
figure, causing the left hand upward directed end of the latch e to come in contact
with the stop m, as described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, whereby the latch
will be turned so as to make the lower right hand end project from the side of the
topmast. When the latch has been turned to this extent, the hook o will have
engaged with the stop whereby any further rising of the topmast will be
prevented.
The topmast can then be lowered until the latch e bears with both ends upon the
cap a. and it is consequently locked n this position.
In order now to unlock the topmast again, it is again raised, whereby the
horizontal latch first attains the position IV, in which its end raises the stop n so as
to free it from the hook o.
On now raising the topmast still farther, the left hand end of the latch strikes
against the stop m, whereby it is turned into the opposite inclined position at V.
Fig. 10.
Wher, by such turning, the left hand end of the latch no longer projects beyond
the topmast, a stop p on the topmast bears against the underside of the cap a,
thereby preventing any further rising of the topmast. On now lowering the latter,
the hook o first presses the stop n outwards so as to allow it to pass, as at VI.
Fig. 10, whereupon the right hand end of the latch e also comes in contact with the
stop, which will have fallen back against the mast after the hook has passed, as
at VII. Fig. 11, and the latch will now be turned first by the stop.n and then by
passing through the hole of the cap until it assumes the position VIII Fig. 11.
From this position the latch is lastly turned back by hand into the opposite
inclined position IX, with the upper left hand end projecting; whereupon the
device is ready to operate again as described on raising the topmast.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what
I claim is: :-
In self acting fastenings for topmasts of the kind herein referred to, the use of a
hook such as o opening upwards, in combination with a stop such as n; turning on
a fixed horizontal axis and projecting into the path of the hook, so that on the first
raising of the topmast the stop, in engaging with the hook prevents the further
rising of the topinast, while at the second raising of the latter the latch e is caused
to disengage the stop n from the hook, so as to allow the second turning of the
latch to be effected, the said device having for its object to prevent the latch e
from being brought into an incorrect position by an excessive upward motion of the
top mast in the first raising thereof, substantially as described.
Dated this 10th day of November 1891.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.