Improvements in Means for Holding and Automatically - Releasing Sails.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Feb., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 28th Sept., 1895-Accepted, 14th Dec.; 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Holding and Automatically
-
Releasing Sails.
HARRY ARTHUR WOOD MIDDLEDITCH Electrical Engineer Lyminster
Arundel Sussex do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :—
An invention for the prevention of capsizing of sailing vessels by means of a
winch. The frame of, the winch is made in shape sectional three sides of a square.
The vertical side forms back or base of frame of winch. At back of vertical base
are three clips to fasten to masts. The top horizontal arm carries three rollers
two vertical and one horizontal. The bottom horizontal arm forins the seat for the
ball which automatically draws the wedge. On each side of the vertical base is
fixed a triangular arm to form hearings for spindle of drum. The drum has a
pair of toothed wheels one each end. At the top corners right and left of vertical
base where horizontal arm intersects the angles the latter are braced by means of
brackets provision being made in the brackets to receive spindle of moveable plate.
The said plate has two claws fixed at the bottom-one right and one left which
form pawls which rest in the toothed wheels when the plate is pushed forward by
the insertion of wedge between the vertical base and moveable plate. The wedge
is automatically withdrawn by a ball which rests. in a seat which seat is formed. in
the aforesaid bottom horizontal arm. The ball is made in two halves in the bottom
half is fixed a vertical'spindle which is threaded-the top half is tapped to receive
thread of spindle and can be moved up or down by turning right or left. The
spindle is provided with a lock nut for locking top half in position from top of
spindle to bottom of wedge connection is made by means of á cord or other
suitable material.
March 30th 1895
'
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Holding and Automatically
Releasing Sails.
I, HARRY ARTHUR WOOD MIDDLEDITCH of Lyminster, Arundel, Sussex,
Electrical Engineer, 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 an improvement in means for holding and automatically
releasing sails of sailing vessels when caught in a squall in order to prevent
capsizing. The apparatus consists of an improved winch in which the pawl, is
formed by a moveable plate and wedge, the wedge being automatically withdrawn
by the pull of a cord actuated by the fall or drop of a ball which is displaced by
the vessel lurching to port or starboard, caused by the pressure of wind on sails.
The pawl being displaced and forced back allows the dram to revolve which pays
the sheet out, relieving the tension of the sails, and 'allowing the vessel to right
St

page_text: It will be seen that my invention consists essentially of apparatus which provides
for the automatic release of the lower aft corner of a "fore and aft" sail, by
means of a ball or weight which normally rests in a cup or seat but which falls out
of such cup or seat as soon as the vessel heels or inclines to such an extent as
might involve danger of capsizing. In such cases the ball or weight falls from its
seat, and by means of an attached cord pulls a wedge and releases a pawl that
controls the winch upon which the sheet or cord that normally holds the lower aft
corner of the sail in position is wound.
In order that my invention may be fully understood, I append a sheet of drawings
in which a simple form of apparatus is shewn';-
Fig. 1 is an elevation of a complete apparatus in position.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the winch frame.
Fig. 3 is a front elevation of same.
Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 are detail views.
Attached by clips B to the after side of the mast X at a point below the jaws
of the boom Zis a plate or base a which has two arms or plates cand c projecting
horizontally from it; as well as a double triangular frame d in which bearings d
are formed for the spindle a' of the winch A upon which the sheet is wound.
The winch barrel has one or more ratchet wheels e formed integrally with or'rigidly
attached to it, and rotates with its spindle a' which can be turned by means of the
cranked handle a. To the base or plate a and to the upper arm c are attached
two gusset-shaped brackets in which holes 9 are pierced so as to form bearings for
the pirots of the pawls F which engage with the ratchet wheel e. Between this
pawl F and the base or plate a is insented a wedge H which is normally held in
position by the pressure of the pawl F. In the after end of the lower arm or
plate c is formed a cup or recess K, and in this rests the ball or weight i which is
formed in halves, the upper one being adjustable vertically on a screwed stem ³
which forms part of the lower half of the weight i. One end of a cord is
fastened to the upper end of the stem and its other end to the lower end of the
wedge . The cord or sheet y is attached to the lower aft corner of the sail Y
and passes through the boom Z (preferably running round a sheave), and through
guide rollers M and N to the winch barrel A round which it is wound.
In the normal position as shewn in the drawings the sail exerts a pull upon the
cord or sheet y which tends to turn the winch barrel, but this rotation 'is prevented
by the pawl F, the lower end of which is held in contact with the ratchet teeth e
by the wedge H. But should the vessel under the influence of an exceptionally
severe or sudden breeze heel or incline over to an extent which might be dangerous,
the weight at once falls from its seat, and its attached cord pulling down the
wedge H, the pawl drops back and its end becomes disengaged from the ratchet
wheel teeth e. The pressure upon the sail then pulls the cord y and this unwinds
the winch barrel A and leaves the sail loose thus enabling the vessel to resume
the normal upright position. Danger being past the cord or sheet
y can be
rewound upon the winch barrel A and the wedge H and pawl F replaced in their
positions.
The weight being divided, by screwing down or up the upper half upon the
screwed stem it can be adjusted so as to fall from the cup or recess K when the
vessel has inclined to any angle which is considered a safe limit.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. An improved apparatus for holding and automatically releasing sails of
vessels, in which a ball or weight normally resting in a seat or cup falls out of the
same when the vessel heels or inclines to a dangerous extent, and in so falling
releases a cord or sheet, and allows the sail to fly loose, substantially as described
and shewn.
2. An improved apparatus for holding and automatically releasing sails of vessels,

page_text: consisting essentially of a winch or drum, having one or more ratchet wheels, a
pawl or pawls, a wedge which normally retains the pawls in engagement with the
ratchet wheel teeth, and a weight which when the vessel inclines to an unusual
degree falls from its seat, and in so falling displaces the wedge, and liberates the
cord and the sail, substantially as described and shewn.
3. In an apparatus for holding and automatically releasing sails of vessels, the
combination of the winch A, the pawl or pawls F, the wedge H, the cord, the
sheet y, and the weight i, all constructed and operating together substantially in
the manner and for the purpose described and shewn.
Dated this 27th day of September 1895.
HARRY ARTHUR WOOD MIDDLEDITCH.