AN IMPROVED METHOD OF HANGING THE LOWER TOPSAIL YARDS OF SHIPS AND OTHER SAILING VESSELS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Maclean Tate, of Bermondsey Wall, Ber-
mondsey, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
METHOD OF HANGING THE LOWER TOPSAIL YARDS OF SHIPS AND OTHER
SAILING VESSELS."
Sealed the 11th March 1864, and dated the 16th September 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Maclean Tate at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
16th September 1863.
I, JOHN MACLEAN TATE, of Bermondsey Wall, Bermondsey, in the County
of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN
IMPROVED METHOD OF HANGING THE LOWER TOPSAIL YARDS OF SHIPS AND OTHER
SAILING VESSELS," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in adjusting and fixing two truss hoops or rings
around the top mast for carrying the yard, one of said truss hoops being fixed
above the mast head cap of the lower mast and the other of said truss hoops
below the mast head cap aforesaid. These hoops are formed with projecting lugs
to receive an upright truss bar or bolt, the ends whereof pass through round
holes in said lugs, and are held in position by shoulders formed on said truss
bar and a screw nut on each end thereof. The aforesaid truss bar has au
eye or round hole formed through same a few inches below the uppermost
truss hoop aforesaid, through which passes a truss bolt formed with a shoulder,
said bolt being held in position by a screw nut. The aforesaid truss bolt is
also formed with a hinged ring for carrying the yard to which it is securely

page_text: fixed; there is a pivot formed on said hinged ring in a line with a truss bolt
thereof, said pivot being supported by a hole formed in a stay bar extending.
from the bottom shoulder of the truss bar, before described; by these means
the yard may be turned upright, when desired, and the truss bar aforesaid
enables the yard to be moved sideways, when desired. By this Invention the
lower topsail yards of ships may be more securely and simply adjusted to the
top masts than heretofore.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Maclean Tate in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 16th March 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
MACLEAN TATE, of Bermondsey Wall, Bermondsey, in the County of Surrey,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said John Maclean Tate, Her special licence that I, the said John
Maclean Tate, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said John Maclean Tate, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should 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 Inven-
tion for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF HANGING THE LOWER TOPSAIL YARDS OF
SHIPS AND OTHER SAILING VESSELS," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said John Maclean Tate, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
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 Maclean Tate, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, that is to say:-.

page_text: This Invention consists in adjusting and fixing two truss hoops or rings
around the top mast for carrying the yard, one of said truss hoops being fixed
above the mast head cap of the lower mast, and the other of said truss hoops
below the mast head cap aforesaid. These hoops are formed with projecting
lugs to receive an upright truss bar or bolt; the ends whereof pass through
round holes in said lugs, and are held in position by shoulders formed on said.
truss bar and a screw nut on each end thereof. The aforesaid truss bar has
an eye or round hole formed through same a few inches below the uppermost
truss hoop aforesaid, through which passes a truss bolt formed with a
shoulder, said bolt being held in position by a screw nut; the aforesaid.
truss bolt is also formed with a hinged ring for carrying the yard, to which it is
securely fixed. There is a pivot formed on said hinged ring in a line with
the truss bolt thereof, said pivot being supported by a hole formed in a stay
bar extending from the bottom shoulder of the truss bar before described; by
these means the yard may be turned upright, when desired, and the truss bar.
aforesaid enables the yard to be moved sideways, when desired. By this
Invention, the lower topsail yards of ships may be more securely and simply
adjusted to the top masts than heretofore.
In order to explain my said Invention as completely as possible, I now
proceed to describe the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the
same into practical effect, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing,
and to the numeral figures and letters of reference marked thereon respec-

page_text: bar d. E represents a portion of a lower yard, which is embraced midway of
its length by the hoop of the truss bolt; i is a screw nut for connecting the
truss bolt to the truss bar d, so as to allow said bolt to turn freely on its
pivots; k, k, are screw nuts for connecting the truss bar d to the truss
hoops D, D, so as to allow the pivots of said truss bar to turn freely in the
holes in the truss hoops, said hoops being securely fixed around the top mast
(one above and the other below the mast head cap) enable the yard to be
moved both in a horizontal and vertical direction. By the above method
perfect freedom of movement of the yard is secured, and by these means the
yard, working or moving on two centres or pivots, can be braced fore and aft,
or topped so as to be quite out of the way when in harbour, and by easing
the screws in the hoops D, D, on the top mast, the mast can be struck without
unshipping anything connected with the yards. In fitting out new ships, an
eye can be made on the mast head cap to receive the upper pivot of the truss
bar d; thus dispensing with the upper truss hoop.
Having now fully described and set forth the nature and object of my said
Invention for "An Improved Method of Hanging the Lower Topsail Yards
of Ships and other Sailing Vessels," together with the best means I am
acquainted with for carrying the same into practical effect, I would. remark,
in conclusion, that I bereby declare my Invention to consist in, and I claim
the mode set forth, described and represented by the accompanying Drawing,
of hanging the lower and lower topsail yards of ships, whereby they can be
braced fore and aft, or topped as above stated.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Maclean Tate, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
JN. M. TATE. (..)