IMPROvements in REFRING TOPSALLS FROM THE DECK
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Whitmarsh Webb, of No. 4, Woolwich
Common, in the County of Kent, a Captain in Her Majesty's Navy, for
the Invention of "IMPROvements in REFRING TOPSALLS FROM THE DECK."
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REFRING TOPSAILS from the DECK.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Whitmarsh Webb
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
27th August 1867.
I, JOHN WHITMARSH WEBB, of No. 4, Woolwich Common, in the County
of Kent, a Captain in Her Majesty's Navy, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN REEPING TOPSAILS FROM THE DECK,"
to be as follows:-
I divide the topsail horizontally into two parts or halves herein respectively
called the "upper topsail," and "lower topsail," the two together being called
by the general name of the "topsail." When the topsail is set without reefing
the bottom of the upper topsail slightly overlaps the top of the lower topsail.
The head of the upper topsail is attached to the topsail yard in the usual
manner, and the clues of the lower topsail are attached to the yard with sheets
in the usual manner. The head of the lower top sail is fitted with reef tackles
and head ropes attached to it to draw it taut, such reef tackles being fitted
in the usual manner, and the head ropes leading through blocks on either
quarter of the topsail yard, and leading from thence to the cleats on deck-in

page_text: the manner common to small gear. In like manner the foot of the upper
topsail is fitted with sheets and downhauls, the sheets leading through blocks
on the clues of the lower sail, and through sheaves on the fore part of the
lower yards, and the downhauls through fairleaders on the forepart of the
quarters of the lower yards and to the cleats on deck. Also with outer leech
ropes and head ropes, the former rove through cringles at the earings of the
lower topsail, and the latter through cringles on either quarter of the lower
sail. These several ropes are used to keep the topsail taut when set, and to
make it as effective as if it was formed in one in the ordinary manner.
When it is necessary to reef, the topsail yard is lowered to the required distance,
and the several sheets and ropes are hauled taut from the deck, by which
operation the effective surface of the topsail acted upon by the wind is reduced,
the upper topsail and lower topsail respectively sliding over each other, and
when it is necessary to close reef the topsail the topsail yard is brought down
close to the head of the lower topsail, and the foot of the upper topsail is
brought down close to the lower yard; so that one sail is behind the other;
neither of the sails are rolled up or furled, but the sail when close reefed
presents to the wind about half the superficial area of its whole surface, and
being then of double canvas becomes a very strong sail just when strength is
most required. I use only the ordinary spars, and when the topsail is required
to be furled it is clued up in the usual manner. When reefing only is required
it is not necessary to roll up the sail, nor is it necessary to furl it for the
purpose of reducing sail. All which operations of reefing are performed from
the deck and without going aloft.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Whitmarsh Webb in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd February 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
WHITMARSH WEBB, of No. 4, Woolwich Common, in the County of Kent,
a Captain in Her Majesty's Navy, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred. and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
'the said John Whitmarsh Webb, Her special license that I, the said John
Whitmarsh Webb, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as

page_text: 1, the said John Whitmarsh Webb, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
hould at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should, and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"REEFING TOPSAILS FROM THE DECK," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said John Whitmarsh Webb, by an instrument in writing under
my band and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Whitmarsh Webb, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say):-
F
This Invention bas for its object the reefing topsails from the deck in a
simple and efficient manner without going aloft. For this purpose the topsail
is divided horizontally into two parts or halyes, herein respectively called the
upper topsail" and "lower topsail," the two together being called by the
general name of the "topsail."
"
5 manner;
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents a fore side view of the
topsail set without reefing; and Figure 2, an after side view of the same.
a is the upper topsail, which is attached to the topsail yard in the usual
b is the lower topsail, the clues of which are, attached to the yard c
with sheets in the usual manner. The head of the lower topsail is fitted
with reef tackles d, d, and head ropes e, e, attached to it to draw it taut, such
reef tackles being fitted in the usual manner, and the head ropes leading
through blocks on either quarter of the topsail yard, and leading from thence
30 to the cleats on deck in the manner common to sinall gear. The foot of the
upper topsail is fitted with sheets f. f, and downhauls g, g; the sheets f, f,
leading through blocks on the clues of the lower topsail and through sheaves
on the fore side of the lower yard c, and the downbauls g, g, through fair-
leaders on the fore side of the quarters of the lower yards, and to the cleats
35 on deck. The object of using these ropes is to keep the topsail taut and fait
when set. When it is necessary to reef the topsail yard is lowered to the
required position, and the several sheets and ropes are hauled taut from the
deck, by which operation the effective surface of the topsail is reduced, the
upper topsail and lower topsail respectively sliding over each other.

page_text: Figure 3 is a fore side view and Figure 4 an after side view of the topsail
so reduced as to be equivalent to a "double-reefed " topsail.
When it is necessary to close reef the topsail the topsail yard is lowered
down close to the head of the lower topsail, and the foot of the upper topsail
is lowered down close to the lower yard, so that one sail is behind the other,.
the canvas being consequently doubled, and thereby greatly increasing its
strength.
Figure 5 is a fore side view, and Figure 6 an after side view of the topsail
in the position lastly described.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner in 1
which the same is to be performed, I would have it to be understood that
what I claim is, the particular mode of reefing topsails from the deck and
without going aloft, as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Whitmarsh Webb, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Twentieth day of January, in the year of 1
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
Witness,
THO. MOY.
J. W. WEBB. (L.S.)