IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDLASSES AND CAPSTANS
Year: 1842

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
ROBINSON, of Watney Street, Commercial Road East, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Third day of May, in the fifth year of Her reign, did, for
Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said John
Robinson, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that
I, the said John Robinson, my exors, admors, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said John Robinson, my exors, admors, or assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-
upon-Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDLASSES AND CAPSTANS;"
in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said John
Robinson, shall cause a particular description of the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be inrolled
in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent,
as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at
large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
John Robinson, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention,

page_text: Figure 1 represents a plan of a windlass, having some of my improvements
applied thereto; Figure 2 shows a transverse section thereof, taken towards
the right-hand end of Figure 1.
The first improvement consists of using two barrels, with guide rollers or
pulleys between them. a is the right-hand end of the ordinary barrel of a
windlass; and 6 is a second barrel, which receives motion from the barrel a by
means of the cog wheels d, e, f, the cog wheel d being affixed on the barrel a,
and the cog wheel f is affixed on to the barrel b, the cog wheel e being an
intermediate wheel. g, g, are pulleys or rollers for guiding the cable; these
pulleys or rollers move freely on their axis. By this arrangement the cable
may be continuously wound in without stopping to move it on the surface of
the barrels a, b. The direction the cable takes is indicated in Figures 1 and 2
of the Drawings.
The second part of my Invention relates to another mode of constructing
the barrel of a windlass, in order to allow of a cable being continuously wound
in, avoiding the necessity for stopping from time to time for the purpose of
moving the cable on the barrel of the windlass. This improvement consists
in applying projecting bits h, h, in an inclined direction across the central axis
of the barrel, whereby the cable, as it is wound in, will be caused to slide
downwards easily, and thus constantly make room for the next turn of the
cable wound on to the barrel of the windlass. The part of the barrel a',
where the projecting bits h, h, are affixed or formed, is conical, as is shown,
and the bits h, h, form a series of incline planes, and they each incline across
the axis of the barrel of the windlass, as will readily be understood on examining
Figures 1 & 1° of the Drawings.
My third improvement consists of an apparatus for facilitating the giving
out of the cable, and consists of a guide plate i, which partly embraces the
conical part a² of the barrel of the windlass, such plate moving on an axis 2,
'affixed to the plate 2, the plate being affixed near the windlass. j is a
friction roller, moving on an axis j, affixed to the plate, and when it is
desired to give out cable, the cable is placed between the roller j and the
guide plate i, when the cable will assume the position indicated by the dotted
lines in Figure 1. k is a guide roller, which moves on an axis ³, which is

page_text: affixed forward of the windlass; is a stop, to prevent the guide plate i
moving too far in that direction.
My fourth improvement consists in applying four sockets to the cross head
which works the requisite apparatus for turning the barrel of a windlass.
It is well known that at the present time there are many windlasses worked
by a motion similar to a pumping action, but in such cases the cross head
which moves the apparatus employed for turning the barrel of the wind-
lass has only two sockets, whereby only two bars can be applied. And
my fourth improvement, as above stated, consists in applying two more
sockets to the cross head, in order that four bars may be applied thereto to
work the windlass. In Figure 1, m is the cross head, and m¹, m³, are what
may be called the old sockets for the bars, and m³, m³, are the additional
sockets, whereby two more bars may be applied in working the windlass, and
thus may more power be conveniently applied for working a windlass when
necessary.
I will now describe my fifth improvement, which relates to the means of
giving motion to a windlass barrel, and consists of using a band which
embraces a cylindrical projecting surface on the barrel of a windlass.
Figure 3 shows another section of the windlass barrel, Figure 1, showing.
this fifth part of my Invention. a is the barrel; n is a projecting ring affixed
thereon, the outer part of which at n' projects on either side, so that the
plates o, o, which are turned inwards and have projecting surfaces concentric
with such parts n', may be suitable for holding against the inner surfaces n.
The plates o, o, are secured to each other by screws or bolts o¹, the plates
being held at a distance in order to allow of their being on either side of the
ring n, and also to allow of the lever p working between them. The lever p
moves on an axis at p', carried by the plates o, o, and the lever p (when it is
desired to give motion to the barrel of the windlass) is moved up and down by
means of the bars which work the cross head m. q is a link, which is attached
by a pin joint to the lever p, and at the other end the link 9 is attached by a
pin joint to the metal strap or band r, which embraces the projecting ring n;
the other end of the strap being attached to a links by a pin joint, as is
shown, and the links is attached by a pin joint to the plates o; and it will
readily be understood, that if the end p² of the lever p be raised, it will cause
the strap or band r tightly to embrace the projecting ring.n, and the con-
tinued movement of the end p of the lever p will cause the barrel a of the
windlass to move round, and then, on again lowering the end of the lover p,
the band or strap r will pass freely back on the projecting ring n, and when
again raised, will again nip and hold the projecting ring on the barrel a, and

page_text: thus again give motion to the barrel a; and it will be seen that if the end p²
of the lever p be lowered, so that the plates o rest on the block or stop t, the
band or strap will be so opened as to allow of the barrel a of the windlass
turning freely when giving out cable. Motion is communicated to the lever p
by means of a connecting rod v connected thereto, the upper end being con-
nected to the cross head m, which is worked by suitable bars; and it should
be remarked, that each windlass barrel should have two straps or bands r,
so arranged as to come alternately into action, in order to their keeping up a
continuous rotatory motion to the windlass barrel.
I will now describe the sixth part of my Invention, which relates to an
improvement in the apparatus used in giving motion to a windlass barrel. In
this arrangement the outer surface of the projecting ring n, Figure 4, is
formed into ratchet teeth, and in place of the band or strap r, the lever p acts
as a nipping lever, holding the projecting part n' between it and the turned-in
surfaces of the plates o, there being a plate of metal w placed between the
nipping end of the lever p and the teeth on the surface n'; and it will be
found that by thus using a plate w and the teeth on the surface n', a better
holding will be obtained than when the lever p is caused to act on a smooth
surface of the projection n', as has heretofore been practised; and this arrange-
ment offers another advantage, by allowing of a driving catch a being used, as
is shown in Figure 5, such driving catch being shown hinged to the plates o,
and the plate w is pressed against the plain surface n', in place of that surface
being made into ratchet teeth, and a pall wheel affixed on the barrel a receives
the catch x.
I would remark, that in all these apparatus for giving motion to windlass
barrels, they may be used in place of the ordinary palls; but in such cases I
should prefer to use three such apparatus for each windlass barrel.
I will now describe the seventh part of my Invention, which relates to
another mode of giving motion to the barrel of a windlass. In this arrange-
ment the plates o, o, are each affixed to a hoop which embraces the projecting
ring n, as is shown at Figure 6, such hoop turning freely on the projecting
ring n, when the nipping lever is not causing it to be held tightly to the
surface of the ring n; between the nipping lever and the surface n is intro-
duced a plate w, as before explained; and it will readily be understood that
as the end p² of the nipping lever p is raised, the nipping end will cause the
hoop to which the plates o are affixed to bind tightly on the surface n, and
cause the barrel to move round, and motion is communicated to the lever p
in a similar manner to that shewn and described.
This Figure of the Drawing also shows another improvement, which con

page_text: sists of a mode of applying a friction band, which may be used to retard the
turning of the barrel a of the windlass, or it may be used as a means of turning
it. The red lines y show a metal band around a projecting cylindrical ring n,
one end of which has a projection y' formed thereon, to which is attached the
link y' by a pin joint, and the other end of the link y is attached to a socket
y by a pin joint, as is shown, the end of the socket being attached by a
pin joint to the other end of the strap or band y; and it will be seen that if
a bar or handspike be inserted into the socket y³, and raised upwards, the
band or strap y will move freely on the projecting surface or ring n; but if the
bar or handspike be depressed, then the band or strap y will bind on the sur-
face n and hold it secure, and, if desired, will turn the barrel a partly round by
further depressing the bar or handspike. It will be seen that the plate wis
shown to be part of the band or strap y, which is the best arrangement when
the two apparatus are used on the same barrel.
I will now describe the eighth part of my Invention, which relates to
another mode of applying a second barrel b to a windlass barrel, in order to pre-
vent the necessity of stopping from time to time to move the cable. Figure 7
shows a plan of part of a windlass barrel, and Figure 8 shows a section thereof.
a is the ordinary barrel; and 6 is another barrel, which receives motion by
means of the cog wheels d, e, f, as formerly described in respect to Figures 1
and 2. In this arrangement one of the barrels a, b, is to be grooved, so as to
keep the turns of the cable separate and to guide them correctly; by this
means the cable may be continuously wound in without stopping.
Figures 7 and 8 also show another of my improvements, which consists of
an apparatus for stopping the cable, in order to relieve the windlass when a
ship is riding at anchor. This apparatus is affixed forward of the windlass, as is
shown, and consists of the lever catch A, which moves on an axis A¹; this lever
catch is retained in its place by the link B, which is secured by the pin or bolt
Con the lever D; this lever moves on an axis E, as is shown, and when holding
a cable, the link B will be on the pin or bolt C, and the lever catch A will
rest and press on the end of the lever D. On the under side of the lever D
is attached a link F by a pin joint, which link is attached at its other end by a
pin joint to the holding surface G, such surface having projection H, I, on
either side, by which the cable is retained as if in a groove; and the surface J
has also projections, which aid in embracing the cable; hence, when the cable
is strongly pressed between the surfaces G and J, it will be held secure, and
thus will the windlass be relieved of the strain. H¹, I', are projections when
chain cables are used, they coming on to the horizontal links.
I will now describe the ninth part of my Invention, which relates to

page_text: improvements in capstans, which consists in a mode of employing two barrels,
the one being grooved or else having guide rollers or pulleys to guide the cable
in its taking successive turns around the two barrels of which the capstan is com-
posed. Figure 9 is a side view, and Figure 10 is a plan, of a capstan according
to this part of my Invention. A, B, are two barrels, having guide rollers C, C,
to support the cable and to guide it in its successive turns around the barrels.
The capstan head may be affixed to either of the barrels, and the two barrels
are geared together by means of cog wheels, or the capstan head may be
applied to the axis of the intermediate wheel, as is shown. By this arrange-
ment the cable will wind on an off continuously without stopping to have it
moved on the barrels; and I may remark, that if it be desired to gain power,
then the axis of the pinion or intermediate cog wheel E is to have the capstan
head affixed thereon, in place of having the capstan head on either of the
barrels A or B; or in place of having the barrels A or B both plain, with guide
rollers or pulleys, as is shown, the barrels A or B may be grooved, as before
described in respect to the barrels of windlasses.
I will now describe the tenth part of my Invention, which relates to a mode
of lowering the cross heads of windlasses, in order to the driving apparatus
being put out of motion, in order that the barrel of the windlass may turn
freely back in giving out cable. Figure 11 shows a front view of a windlass;
Figure 12 shows a transverse section thereof, taken beyond the pall plate;
and Figure 13 shows a transverse section thereof, taken at the pall plate; and
these Figures also show another improvement, whereby the palls are readily
thrown out of action when it is desired that the windlass barrel should turn
back in giving out cable. The apparatus for giving motion to the windlass
barrel is similar to one before described. The carriage or bearing of the axis
of the cross head m is capable of rising and falling between two guides, as is
shown, and when at the highest position it may be sustained in a working
position by a block or by wedges introduced under the bearing of the axis;
when the bearing of the cross head is lowered to the lowest position, then the
stop t will receive the plates o, and the driving or nipping apparatus will be out
of action, and the barrel a of the windlass may turn back freely if the palls be
removed out of the pall wheel. m³ is a lever, by which the bearing of the axis
of the cross head m may be raised or lowered; this lever has a socket for
receiving a handspike or bar, as is shown. m' is a link at the other end of the
lever m, such link being attached to the lever m³ by a pin joint, and also to
the sliding bolt m by a pin joint. The sliding bolt is under the bearing of the
nxis of the cross head; hence, when the lever in³ is depressed by the bar, the
sliding bolt will be raised and the bearing placed in its highest position, where

page_text: t may be retained by a block, or by wedges, or by other convenient means, till
When the barrel of the windlass is
he bearing again requires to be lowered.
equired to remove back, the palls are to be removed out of the pall wheel;
his is accomplished by the curved plate D, which moves on the fixed plates or
uprights E, E; and on the front end of the curved plate D is formed a socket
D', into which a bar or handspike is introduced, as is shown, which, being
depressed, causes the other end of the curved plate D to rise under the several
palls, as is indicated by dotted lines in Figure 13, and thus to lift out the palls
from the pall wheel, and the palls will remain out till the bar or handspike in
the socket D' is again raised, when the other end of the curved plate D will
descend and allow the palls to fall into the pall wheel.
I will now describe the eleventh part of my Invention, which relates to a
mode of working a windlass on the main deck, by means of the top-gallant
capstan. Figure 14 shows part of the top-gallant forecastle deck, and a side
elevation of the top-gallant capstan, on the spindle or axis of which is affixed
the cam wheel A by keys, which being removed will relieve the capstan from
working the windlass when the capstan is required for other purposes. On the
axis of the capstan is applied the socket B, through which the axis of the cap-
stan passes aud turns freely therein. C is a bar, one end of which turns freely in
the hollow socket B, the other end being forked, as is shown, the two points of
the fork entering into sockets formed in the ends of a cross head m, such cross
head working suitable nipping apparatus for driving the barrel of a windlass,
but which I have not thought it necessary to show, as the same is well under-
stood, and I have described various of such apparatus above; or the two points
of the fork may have suitable apparatus for working the windlass applied to
them without the cross head. On the bar C is affixed the forked arms D, D,
having friction rollers E, which alternately rise and fall on the inclines of the
cam wheel affixed on the axis or spindle of the capstan, by which means the
cross head m will be put in motion by the capstan.
I will now describe the twelfth part of my Invention, which relates to a
mode of giving motion to a windlass barrel by means of excentrics, worked by
a winch handle, or otherwise. Figure 15 is a side view, and Figure 16 an
end view, of this machinery. Z, Z, are connecting rods, which are to be
attached by suitable means, in order, when worked up and down, they may give
5 motion to the apparatus used in giving motion to a windlass barrel. These
connecting rods are attached to rectangular frames Y, within which the excen-
trics X,X, work, as is shown. The excentrics are affixed to the axis W, and
motion is given to that axis by means of the winch handle U, the axis W turn-
ing in suitable bearings, as shown.

page_text: I will now describe the thirteenth part of my Invention, which relates to a
mode of applying power to capstans. Figure 17 is an elevation of a capstan
in section; and Figure 18 is a plan, in section. A is the spindle or axis of
the capstan, which is to be fixed at its lower end. The capstan head is affixed
to a hollow axis B, which is placed over the fixed spindle or axis.A, and moves
freely thereon. C is the barrel of the capstan, which is capable of moving freely
on the hollow axis B, and at the lower end of the barrel C is affixed the plate C,
which is turned down, and forms a cylindrical cover to the wheel work within,
there being notches or teeth cut in the lower surface of the cylinder C', in order
to receive palls D, D, which move on axes on the plate E. These palls serve
to pall the barrel of the capstan when the plate E is fixed, and they also serve
to hold the plate E with the barrel of the capstan when the plate E is free to
move. This plate E can move freely on the axis or spindle A, and when
desired can be held stationary by the sliding or other stops F, F, entering into
any of the recesses or notches formed around the plate. G is a cog wheel,
affixed to the hollow axis B, which takes into and drives the cog wheel H, which
is carried by an axis affixed to the plate C', and the wheel H takes into the
female cog wheel I, formed on the upper surface of the plate E. Hence, it will
be seen that if the plate E be held, and the capstan head turned, the hollow
spindle will give motion to the cog wheel H by the cog wheel G, and the teeth
of the cog wheel H acting against the teeth of the cog wheel I, will cause the
barrel of the capstan to turn round, but slower than the capstan head; hence,
power will be obtained. But when less power is required and greater speed to
the barrel of the capstan, then the capstan head is to be affixed to the barrel
of the capstan by the palls on the plate E taking into teeth in the cylinder C³,
and the plate E is to be permitted to turn on the axis A; the plate and
cylinder C¹ being caused to move together by means of the palls, the barrel of
the capstan will move at the same speed as the capstan barrel. Another
arrangement of this part of my Invention is shown at Figures 19 and 20, in
which the hollow axis B is dispensed with, and the axis A is permitted to
turn. The capstan head in this case is fixed to the spindle A, and when
extra power is not required, the barrel of the capstan is fixed to the capstan
head by means of the palls D, D, taking into teeth on the plate E, and the
plate E is free to move. When more power is required and less speed, then
the capstan head is released from the capstan barrel by moving the palls D, S
and the plate E is made fast. The cog wheel G which is affixed to the axis A
will then take into and drive the cog wheel H, and the cog wheel H take
into the teeth of the cog wheel I of the plate E, and thus will motion be
communicated to the barrel of the capstan.

page_text: Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I would have it understood that I do not
laim any of the separate parts of the machinery herein described, nor do I
confine myself the precise details shown and described, so long as the peculiar
character of either part of my Invention be retained; but what I claim is,―
First, the mode of combining two barrels a, b, having guiding surfaces or
pulleys between them, as above described.
Secondly, I claim the mode of applying a series of incline planes or bits h,
which also incline in a direction across the axis of the barrel of the windlass,
as above described.
Thirdly, I claim the mode of applying the guide plate i to guide the cable,
as above described.
Fourthly, I claim the mode of constructing cross heads for working windlass
barrels, whereby four bars may be used in giving motion to the cross head, as
above described.
Fifthly, I claim the mode of giving motion to a windlass barrel by employing
a band or strap with the side plates o, o, and parts connected therewith, as
above described.
Sixthly, I claim the forming the surface n' into teeth, and using a plate w
between the nipping lever and the surface n¹, whether with or without teeth,
as described in respect to Figures 4 and 5.
Seventhly, I claim the mode of employing a plate w between the nipping
lever and the surface n, and embracing the surface n by a hoop affixed to
plates o, o, as above described; and also the mode of applying a friction band
y, and parts connected therewith, for retarding or giving motion to a windlass
barrel, as described in respect to Figure 6.
Eighthly, I claim the mode of applying a second barrel 6 to a windlass when
one of the barrels a or 6 is grooved, as above described; and I also claim the
mode of constructing a stopper, as described in respect to Figures 7 and 8.
Ninthly, I claim the mode of constructing capstans with two barrels A, B,
when guide pulleys or rollers are used between them, as described in respect to
Figures 9 and 10.
Tenthly, I claim the mode of putting the nipping apparatus out of action
by lowering the cross head, as above described; and I also claim the mode of
putting out the palls by means of the bent plate D, as described in respect to
Figures 11, 12, and 18.
Eleventhly, I claim the mode of giving motion to a windlass by means of
connecting the cross head or other apparatus which works suitable driving
tackle of the windlass with the working of a capstan, as above described.

page_text: Twelfthly, I claim the mode of giving motion to a windlass barrel by means
of excentrics working the connecting rods which actuate the apparatus for
driving the windlass band, as above described.
And, thirteenthly, I claim the mode of applying power to capstans, as
described in respect to Figures 17, 18, 19, & 20.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Robinson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of November, in the year of our Lord