Improvements in and connected with Reefing Sprits.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in and connected with Reefing Sprits.
I, VERNON DE HORSEY DOWLER, of 515 Barking Road, Plaistow, in the County of
Essex, Mariner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to sprits such as are used to support sprit sails in sailing
barges, boats, and the like, and consists in improvements by means of which a sprit
sail can be easily and conveniently handled and reefed.
The invention consists primarily of a sprit, the length of which can be easily
varied, by reason of its being extensible. It is formed telescopically of two or more
tubes, one sliding inside the other, and having a screw arrangement by means of
which the two or more tubes can be forced apart or drawn together longitudinally so
as to vary the total length of the sprit. The screw or screws employed are generally
of coarse pitch.
When this description of sprit is employed the throat of the sail is attached to the
mast in such manner as to be capable of sliding up and down; this is preferably done
by the use of hoops or a jack stay such as is used with a "gaff" sail. By fitting the
sail to the mast in this manner, when it is desired to reef the sail, all that is
necessary is to lower the throat of the sail, and simultaneously shorten the sprit by
turning the shaft, or one of the telescope tubes; then the reef points are tied up in
the usual manner at the foot of the sail instead of on the "weather," as in spankers
and the like.
This system of reefing is greatly superior to others; the craft can lay as close to the
wind when the sail is reefed as when otherwise; the sprit will last much longer than
the ordinary kind, and they can be produced at a low first cost. In addition
the weight is diminished by about one half, and the sprit itself is much more sightly
and less cumbersome.
-
Improvements in and connected with Reefing Sprits.
I, VERNON, DE HORSEY DOWLER, formerly of 515 Barking Road, but now of
55 Khartoum Road, Plaistow, in the County of Essex. Mariner, 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 statement :-
This invention relates to sprits such as are used to support sprit sails in sailing'
barges, boats, and the like, and consists in improvements by means of which a sprit
sail can be easily and conveniently handled and reefed.

page_text: The improvement consists primarily of a sprit, the length of which can be easily
varied by reason of its being extensible. It is formed telescopically of two or more
tubes one sliding inside the other and having a screw arrangement by means of which
the two or more tubes can be forced apart or drawn together longitudinally so as to
vary the total length of the sprit. The screw or screws employed are generally of
course pitch.
When this description of sprit is employed the throat of the sail is attached to the
mast in such manner as to be capable of sliding up and down; this is preferably done
by the use of hoops or a jack stay, such as is used with a "gaff" sail. By fitting the
sail to the mast in this manner when it is desired to reef the sail, all that is necessary
is to lower the throat of the sail and simultaneously shorten the sprit by turning the
shaft; then the reef points are tied up in the usual manner, at the foot of the sail,
instead of on the "weather" as in spankers and the like.
This system of reefing is greatly superior to others; the craft can lay as close to the
wind when the sail is reefed as when otherwise; the sprit will last much longer than
the ordinary kind, and they can be produced at a low first cost. In addition the
weight is diminished by about one half, and the sprit itself is much stronger, more
sightly and less cumbersome than when made of wood.
In order that my invention may be more fully understood and ascertained I append
drawings in which :-
Fig. is an elevation, partly in section, of my improved reefing sprit shewn
attached to the mast.
Fig. 2 is a part elevation of a boat or sailing barge, shewing my improved sprit
with sails attached.
Referring to Fig. 1 in which is shewn an elevation, partly in section, of my improved
sprit attached to the mast. A indicates the mast, and D, E, the two metallic tubes
forming the sprit, the top one E being preferably of smaller diameter than the bottom
one D so as to easily slide up and down inside same by means of the screw or
shaft F.
The sprit is attached to the mast near its bottom by means of a muzzle a¹ or a
double wire grummet strop, and to the mast head by means of yard tackle. G the
blocks at the ends of which are attached to eye bolts 63 and 64 attached to rings or
hoops 62 and 6' encircling the sprit and mast head respectively. This yard tackle has
a fall H by means of which the sprit can be raised or lowered to any suitable angle.
On the inside of the upper tube E of the sprit is formed a female screw with
which the screw F engages thereby shortening or lengthening the sprit as the
screw is turned to the left or right. At the bottom of the screw are formed two
circular flanges a' and a³ on each side of the thrust block a³, sufficient
being left between these flanges to allow the screw to be rotated freely.
space
The weight of the sprit on the fore side of the mast is supported by an
extensible lift I of metallic wire or other material or in form of a chain the
bottom end of which is attached to an eyebolt formed on the ring or hoop
encircling bottom of sprit, and the upper end attached to the mast head in a
similar manner.
In Fig. 2 is shewn a part elevation of a boat or sailing barge shewing my
improved sprit attached to the mast, and in this figure, A represents the mast, and
D. E the two parts or tubes forming the sprit which is attached to the mast near its
bottom by means of a wire strop or muzzle a¹ encircling the mast and sprit in the
usual manner.
The upper part of the sprit is connected to the mast head by means
of a yard tackle G or similar contrivance having a fall H for adjusting the sprit to
any angle. At the bottom of the screw F can be fixed a hand wheel or similar
contrivance at ; preferably at right angles thereto by means of which the screw
is turned.
The screw F passes through the length of the lower tube and engages a female
screw formed on the inside surface of the upper tube or throat E. This tube is
of such diameter as to allow of its sliding up and down freely within the lower
tube when the screw F is rotated by the hand wheel, but if preferred the

page_text: larger tube inay be placed at the top and be caused to slide outside the smaller
one. E is a metallic or other ring placed round the sprit at the point where the
bottom of inner tube comes when the sail is taut, to strengthen the outer tube, as
the strain will be very great at that point.
The sprit has also a second hoop or ring 62 attached to it at or near its top having
an eye bolt 63. To this eye bolt is fastened a block on one end of the yard tackle G
the block on the other end being attached to a similar eye bolt 6 on ring or hoop 65
encircling the mast head to enable the sprit to be inclined at any suitable angle.
When it is required to extend the sail all that is necessary is to rotate the screw,
by means of the hand wheel or similar contrivance, which engaging with the female
screw on the inner surface of the upper tube or peak E forces same upwards, thereby
extending the length of the sprit longitudinally. To reef the sail the hand wheel is
rotated in the opposite direction thereby drawing the upper tube or peak E down
inside the lower tube D, the reef points are then tied up in the usual way at the foot
of the sail instead of on the "weather" as in spankers and the like.
"Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is: "-
1. In reefing sprits of sailing barges, boats or the like, forming the sprit of two or
more tubes of such diameters as to slide the one within the other, substantially as
described and shewn.
2. For use in teloscopic reefing sprits for sailing barges, boats or the like, of a
screw arrangement operated by a hand wheel or similar contrivance for the purpose
of lengthening or shortening the sprit longitudinally, substantially as shewn and
described.
3. In reefing sprits of sailing barges boats, or the like, the combination of two or
nore tubes of such relative diameters as to slide the one within the other by means
of a screw arrangement operated by a hand wheel or similar contrivance, said screw
having circular Hanges to prevent its falling out of, or being pushed into, the lower
tube of the sprit, substantially as described and shewn.
4. In reefing sprits of sailing barges boats and the like the use of a preferably
extensible lift for supporting the weight of the sprit on the fore side of the mast,
said lift being composed of rope, wire chain or of other suitable construction and
material or of one or more combined and being shackled or otherwise attached to the
sprit and mast and a yard tackle for supporting other end of sprit, substantially as
described and shewn.
5. In reefing sprits of sailing barges, boats, and the like constructed and operating
substantially as shewn and described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 20th day of October 1897.
WILLIAM J. MUNDEN.
75 Chancery Lane London. W.C. Agent for the Applicant.