IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS CONNECTED WITH RAISING, LOWERING, CONTROLLING, AND STOPPING CHAIN CABLES IN-BOARD SHIPS ON VESSELS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edmund Walker, of the Firm Emerson Walker and
Company, of Leadenhall Street, in the City of London, Ships' Windlass and
Capstan Manufacturers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
CONNECTED WITH RAISING, LOWERING, CONTROLLING, AND STOPPING CHAIN
CABLES IN-BOARD SHIPS ON VESSELS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edmund Walker at thể.
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th March 1878.
EDMUND WALKER, of the Firm Emerson Walker and Company, of Leadenhall
Street, in the City of London, Ships' Windlass and Capstan Manufacturers. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS, CONNECTED WITH RAISING, LOWERING, CONTROLLING,
AND STOPPING CHAIN CABLES IN-BOARD SHIPS OR VESSELS."
This Invention relates to several improvements in apparatus to be applied to
capstans, controllers, compressors, and chain stoppers used in-board ships or vessels.
The first improvement consists in fitting a frame or base plate close to the base
of a capstan; this frame has fitted within it a lever kept central at one end by
means of a pin fitted in it, and working in grooves at top and bottom of frame, the
opposite end being a rectangular form or square with corners. rounded off, has a
lateral motion, and is fitted between two clutch plates, a pin being also fitted in
this end, and working in an oblong groove in each plate, to give an equal pressure
upon each jaw, the rectangular parts of lever bearing against corresponding surfaces
of a pair of jaws, force them open or away from each other at that part, the jaws
being upon stud pins upon which they work as centres.
A part of each jaw forms a projection or tooth, and these are embraced by a
curved or bent strip of steel or other metal which serves as a break to act upon the
periphery of capstan base or paul head, in order to check the rotation of the capstan
head, or to stop it entirely. The inner end of the lever is held between a top and

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bottom clutch plate within the frame, and one end of each of these plates take into
an annular groove formed in the upper and lower faces of the paul head in which
they are fitted as guides: Upon the frame a hand lever is pivotted, its short end
being connected to the inner end of one of the plates before mentioned to force it to
the right or to the left as desired, and thus to throw the two plates and the inner
lever out of gear or central, when brake on capstan is not required. The action
which causes the inner lever which has a motion of its own from working on
distinct pins, and the rectangular or square end pressing upon each jaw, compel
them to turn upon their stud pins, for their knuckle ends to press the strip of steel
into contact with the periphery of the capstan's paul head, the strip of steel taking
its bearing all through against the paul head, ensures a broad and perfect bite
without injury whatever to surface of paul head.
When the levers are in their normal positions, a pin can be inserted through a
portion of the hand lever to engage in a hole in the top plate and prevent the levers
moving.
Should the pin not be in the hole, the capstan in moving round in either
direction would draw the plates with it, and the jaws would be caused to act upon
the periphery of the paul head, and the steel strip to bite, and thereby check or
stop the rotation of the capstan, the appliances serving them as a self-acting break
or controller.
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The apparatus thus arranged may be adapted to a windlass purchase for lifting
purposes, or two of such apparatus may be fitted to act upon the lift wheels
alternately.
The next improvement relates to chain controllers, and consists in making a
wrought-iron frame to fit into and upon the deck of a vessel; this frame has on one
face a conical surface corresponding to a surface on a lift wheel which is fitted upon
a shaft to engage against. The wheel has on its opposite side a conical surface to
be engaged upon by the cone of a sliding piece, which causes the whole of the
conical surfaces to come into contact. The slider is guided by the edges of the
frame which it bears against, and this slider is acted upon by a wheel nut which
moves along the shaft, for the purpose.
The wheel has rather broad teeth, so that a pinion which gears into it may be
kept in gear; the pinion is turned direct by an outside hand wheel, or by bevil or
other gearing as found convenient.
The sliding piece can be dispensed with, and only one cone surface on the lift ;
wheel may be used.
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The next improvement relates to attachable or connecting links used for con-
necting the ends of a chain, particularly with messenger chains of windlass or
capstans, when such are driven by power from a steam winch. The links are in
two pieces of U shape, each having half of the "stud" upon its inner portion. The
half links are formed with tongues and hollows which correspond, so that when the
two halves are placed together a perfect link is formed. The body of the link has
an aperture formed at an angle for the reception of a key which passes through the
legs of the U to firmly bind the two limbs together, a pin or screw being passed
through the key to prevent it slipping out from any cause.
By this arrangement a solid central stud is formed from parts of the link itself,
and from the key being at an angle, great strength is obtained, with fewer pieces
than by the present connecting link.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edmund Walker in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th
September 1878..
EDMUND WALKER, of the Firm Emerson Walker and Company, of Leadenhall
Street, in the City of London, Ships' Windlass and Capstan Manufacturers.
"IM-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS CONNECTED WITH RAISING, LOWERING, CONTROLLING,
AND STOPPING CHAIN CABLES IN-BOARD SHIPS OR VESSELS."
This Invention relates to several improvements in apparatus to be applied to
capstans, controllers, compressors, and chain stoppers used in-board ships or vessels.
The first improvement consists in fitting a frame or base plate close to the base
of a capstan; this frame has fitted within it a lever which is kept central at one
end (by means of a pin fitted in it), within grooves at top and bottom of frame;
The opposite end of the lever is of a rectangular form, or it may be square with the
corners rounded off; it has a lateral motion, and is fitted between two clutch plates,
a pin being also fitted in this end and working in an oblong groove in each plate.
The rectangular part of the lever at each side bears against corresponding surfaces
of a pair of jaws to force their tail ends open or away from each other, the jaws
being upon stud pins, upon which they work as centres.
A part of each jaw forms a projection or tooth, and these are embraced by a
curved or bent strip of steel or other metal which serves as a break to act upon the
periphery of the capstan base or paul head, in order to check the rotation of the
capstan head or to stop it entirely. The inner end of the lover is held between a top
and a bottom clutch plate within the frame, and one end of each of these plates.
take into an annular groove formed in the upper and lower faces of the paul head
in which they are fitted as guides. Upon the frame a hand lever is pivotted, its
short end being connected to the inner end of one of the plates before mentioned, to
force it to the right or to the left as desired, and thus to throw the two plates and
the inner lever out of gear or central when brake on capstan is not required. The
action which causes the inner lever which has a motion of its own from working
on distinct pins, and the rectangular or square end pressing upon each jaw, compels
them to turn upon their stud pins, for their knuckle ends to press the strip of steel
into contact with the periphery of the capstan's pawl head, the strip of steel taking
its bearing all through against the pawl head, ensures a broad and perfect bite
without injury whatever to surface of pawl head.
When the levers are in their normal positions a pin can can be inserted through
a portion of the hand lever to engage in a hole in the top plate, and prevent the
levers moving.
Should the pin not be in the hole, the capstan in moving round in either direction
would draw the plates with it, and the jaws would be caused to act upon the peri-
phery of the pawl head and the steel strip to bite, and thereby check or stop the
rotation of the capstan, the appliances serving then as a self-acting brake or controller.
The apparatus thus arranged may be adapted to a windlass purchase for lifting
purposes, or two of such apparatus may be fitted to act upon the lift wheels
alternately.
The next improvement relates to chain controllers, and consists in making a
wrought-iron frame to fit into and upon the deck of a vessel; this frame has on one
face a conical surface corresponding to a surface on a lift wheel, which is fitted upon
a shaft to engage against. The wheel has on its opposite side a conical surface to
be engaged upon by the cone of a sliding piece, which causes the whole of the
conical surfaces to come into contact. The slider is guided by the edges of the
frame which it bears against, and this slider is acted upon by a wheel nut which
moves along the shaft for the purpose.
The wheel has rather broad teeth, so that a pinion which gears into it may be
kept in gear; the pinion is turned direct by an outside hand wheel or by bevil or
other gearing as found convenient.

page_text: The sliding piece can be dispensed with, and only one cone surface on the lift
wheel may be used.
The next improvement relates to attachable or connecting links used for con-
necting the ends of a chain particularly with messenger chains of windlasses or
capstans, when such are driven by power from á stean winch. The links are in
two pieces of U shape, cach having half of the stud upon its inner portion. The
half links are formed with tongues and hollows which correspond, so that when the
two halves are placed together, a perfect link is formed. The body of the link has
an aperture formed at an angle for the reception of a key which passes through the
legs of the U to firmly bind the two limbs together, a pin or screw being passed
through the key to prevent it slipping out from any cause.
By this arrangement a solid central stud is formed from parts of the link itself,
and from the key being at an angle great strength is obtained, with fewer pieces
than by the present connecting link.
My Invention will be clearly understood by reference to the annexed Drawings,
in which Figure 1 is a sectional part elevation of the base portion of a capstan.
The ring A which is secured to the central stem or shaft B, has near its peri-
phery a groove in the upper face, and another. in the under face, within which lugs
C, C, on clip plates D, D, engage. The lug plates have between their opposite ends
a lever E, to which the plates D, D, are attached loosely by a centre or perch pin F,
so that they move together. The back end of the lever E is centred or fulcrumed
in a casing G, at H, to enable its front end I to move in the arc of a circle to the
right or to the left when acted upon by a hand lever J, this being outside the
casing and pinned to the upper of the lug plates at K for that purpose..
The hand lever J is fulerumed on the pin L of the casing, and can be held in a
fore and aft or rigid position, by dropping a pin M through a hole in it, and in the
casing as shown.
The front end of the lever E is of rectangular or square shape, as seen in Figure 2,
and the side faces bear against the tail ends N, N, of two jaws P, P, which are
forced apart when the lever E is moved over in either direction. This forcing apart
cause the nose or knuckle ends Q, Q, to press upon a strip of metal (preferably
steel) R, and put it into contact through the whole of its length against the outer
periphery of the capstan base ring A, to regulate the rotation of the capstan head,
or to stop it entirely, the hand lever J being under control of an attendant, such as
when a chain is being run out.
Should the pin M not be in the hole, and the ship be riding in a tideway, the
drag of the chain acting upon the capstan would tend to draw it round, and the
chain be thereby given off; this drag however causes the lug or clip plates D, D',
to move on their centre pin, and the lever E to move also, whereby the jaws are
thrown apart, and the metal strip brought automatically into contact with the ring
to act as a break, the curled or bent ends S, S, of the metal strips R returning the
clip plates to their normal position when the strain is removed.
The apparatus thus arranged may be adapted to a windlass, purchase for lifting
purposes, or two of such apparatus may be fitted to act upon the lift wheels
alternately.
I claim as this part of my Invention, the combination of appliances, namely, the
jaws P, P, the clip plates D, D, metal strip R, lever E, and hand lever J, arranged
substantially as described and shown for the purposes set forth.
Figures 3 and 4 represent a capstan with my break and controlling apparatus
fitted upon the upper deck T of a vessel, and with its central stem or shaft B carried
down below the deck, that it can be acted upon by a steam engine, such as when
the chain has to be lifted or hauled in. The engine is fitted upon the lower deck,
and the connecting rods from the pistons of the cylinders 1, 1, act upon disc cranks
2,2, on the outer ends of a shaft 3, this carrying a bevil pinion 4 in gear with a
bevil wheel 5 upon a vortical shaft 6, whose lower end carries a spur pinion 7,
gearing into a spur wheel 8, keyed to the shaft B of the capstan, by which it
is rotated.

page_text: The engine is under the control of an attendant from the upper deck, who can
when desired, fit the key U over the shaft V, when by a turning action, the strap
block and valve links can be adjusted to suit the speed at which the engine has
to run.
Figures 5 and 6 represent an arrangement of horizontal mechanism, by which a
reversing action of steam windlasses can be effected.
Within two uprights a, a, I mount a horizontal shaft b, this carrying eccentric
discs c, c, in a piece with spur wheels d, d, so that they turn together. These discs
and wheels are mounted loosely, or they may be fixed upon the shaft b, and are
under the control of spur pinions e, e, upon a horizontal shaft f. At about the
middle of the shaft I fit a couple of bevil pinions 9,9, geared into by a bevil
wheel upon a hand wheel shaft i, so that by turning the hand wheel ; to the
right or to the left, a corresponding movement is imparted through the spur gearing
to the eccentric discs c and valve rods, and the reversing of the steam. windlass takes
place. The bevil pinions g, g, are each set to run loose in the opposite direction, so
that whichever way the wheel j is turned, one or other of the pinions is rotated
accordingly. One pinion g may however only be used, and preferably that on the
right of the Figure.
Either of the spur pinions e, e, can be thrown out of gear by. a sliding action, as
in dotted lines, Figure 5.
The next part of the Invention is represented in Figures 7 and 8, composed of a
wrought metal casing or frame k, partially sunk into the deck of a vessel, as to
leave only a sufficient of the upper part exposed for the hawse pipe / to be above
the deck for the free passage of the chain cable, the upper portion of the casing
being flanged or curved over a carline or combing k³, as shown in Figure 10.
On the upper part at one side I fit a short shaft or spindle, having at one end a.
hand wheel m, and at the other within the casing a spur pinion n, which can be
wheel
turned in the desired direction by it. The spur pinion gears into a spur P.
which has rather broad teeth to ensure the pinion being always in gear, the spur
wheel P having an end-on motion along the shaft to move a sliding plate r,
which is guided in its movements by flanged edges 8, 8, bearing against the sides of
the frame. The inner face of this sliding plate is provided with a conical recessed
face, so that when slid along, can be brought into contact with the corresponding
conical frictional-surface of the lift chain wheel t, which is fitted loosely upon the
shaft, and tliereby control the speed of rotation, and give out of chain, or to hold
the chain at any desired portion of its length.
In the Drawing I have shown the lift wheel as having another conical frictional
surface on its other face, but that can be dispensed with, and the shoulder or hub
be caused to bear direct against the side of the casing. These conical frictional
) surfaces in capstans, windlasses, and other like apparatus used for raising, lowering,
controlling, and stopping chain cables, are contained in my previous Patent,
No. 4149, 1873.
Figures 9 and 10 represent a modified form of my frame sunk into the deck of a.
vessel, whereby the cone of the chain wheel t is put into contact with the cone
5 break by a screw nut u, when turned by the worm v from below or from above the
deck, which worm can be acted upon by bevil gearing as in Figure 11, or in other
convenient manner.
Figures 12 and 13 show another arrangement of a sunken frame, within which is
a broak wheel under control of a strap 0, this being actuated by bevil gearing and
O a head x. This break strap winstead of being on a flat surface of the lifter wheel,
may be around the periphery of the capstan base, as in Figure 14, to regulate its
running out or to stop it entirely as desired.
Figure 15 is another modification of my break or controlling apparatus. In this
view the break band w which encircles the drum of the lift wheel or the drum of a.
5 windlass, has its opposite ends jointed to quadrants x, x, with toothed faces to gear
into each other between uprights g; the quadrant ¹ has a socket y', to which a hand

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lever is fitted, by which the pressure of the band may be applied to or relieved
from the drum as desired.
By fitting a weighted, lever as in dotted lines, the lever and weight can be
adjusted as to make it self-acting.
By this novel arrangement of fitting a break appliance to a lift wheel, a windlass
drum or other apparatus used in connection with chain cables, I can obtain a better
grip than usual by reason of the band being in contact for nearly the whole circum-
ference of the, drum, the quadrants and uprights being by this plan arranged close
to or nearly under the wheel, whereby space is economized and efficiency secured.
I claim as this part of my Invention, the wrought metal frame or casing fitting
into and upon the deck of a vessel, said frame having a conical surface corresponding
to a surface on the lift wheel, also a sliding piece with conical surface, the whole
acting as and for the purposes described and shown in Figures 7 and 8 of the
annexed Drawings.
I also claim the modifications described with reference to Figures 9, 10, 11, 12,
13, and 14 of the annexed Drawings as and for the purposes set forth.
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I also claim the modification shown in Figure 15 of the annexed Drawings.
The last improvement relates to attachable or connecting links used for connecting
the ends of a chain particularly with messenger chains of windlasses or capstans,
when such are driven by power from a steam winch. The links are in two pieces
of Ushape, as in Figures 16 and 17, each having half of the "stud" y upon its
inner portion. The half links are formed with tongues and bollows which corres-
pond, so that when the two halves are placed together, a perfect link is formed.
The body of the link has an aperture formed at an angle for the reception of a key
2, which passes through the legs of the U, to firmly bind the two links together, a
pin or screw a' being passed through the key to prevent it slipping out from any
cause.
By this arrangement a solid central stud is formed from parts of the link itself,
and from the key being at an angle, great strength is obtained with fewer pieces
than by the present connecting link.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edmund Walker, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Third day of September, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-eight.
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