US236237A - Self-adjusting ship-mast - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

J. MOLEOD. v Self Adjusting Ship Mast.

Patented Jan. 4,1881.

, G W A B N ETERS, PHDTO-LITHOGRAPNEI, WASMXNGTON.D. Cl

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

mw. M 4% UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN MCLEOD, OF AUCKLAND NEW ZEALAND.

SELF-ADJUSTING SH l P-MAST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 236,237, dated January 4, 1881.

Application filed March 2, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN MGLEOD,OfA11Gklaud city, New Zealand, have invented a new and Improved Self-Adjusting Mast for Boats and Vessels, of which thelfollowing isa specification.

The object of this invention is to increase the safety and improve the sailing qualities of boats and vessels.

The invention consists of a mast hung so that it may swing from side to side on an axle ortrunnions on a thwart of a' boat or beams of a larger vessel; and it consists, further, of a curved tube, preferably tubular and armed with strong springs fixed beneath the thwart or beams .for the heel of the mast to travel on,

said springs being preferably coiled about the curved tube and extending from either side of the mast upward and outward, their upper ends being restrained by adjusting-nuts that are designed to compress and thereby increase the tension of said springs; and it consists, further, of a counterbalance weight secured about the foot of the mast to increase the inertia thereof, and thereby co-operate with the said springs, and to operate as self-adjusting ballast; and it consists, further, of springs secured to the shrouds to co-operate with the springs around the curved tube to hold or restore the mast to its upright position.

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional elevation of a boat, showing the improved device partly in section. Fig. 2 is a plan view, showing the thwart of a boat with the mast hu'ng or pivoted therein. Fig. 3 is a partly-sectional side elevation.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawing, A represents the hull of a boat. B is the thwart, provided with a central opening, a, about which is secured a metallic plate, I), provided with opposite verticallugs cc.

0 is the mast, that is set down through the (No model.)

or is in close contact with the curved tube E, which curved tube E extends across the boathull A, its lower point being supported on the block d, that is secured to the keelson F, while its arms extend upward and outward through the said thwart B, near the ends thereof, as shown. The curved tube E consists, as shown, of a metal tube, having coiled about each arm a spiral spring, f, that extends from the heel of the mast O upward in contact with an adjusting screw-nut, 9, that is movable on said arm. On the ends of the curved tube E extending up through the thwart B are secured the sheaves h, and within the curved tube E are secured the springs m.

The shrouds K, extending from the mast 0 down on either side thereof, enter the ends of the curved tube E, and are there made fast to the said springs m, the sheaves h, against which the shrouds K bear, serving to relieve their friction as the springs extend or retract. On the foot of the mast O is secured a block of metal, Gr, that serves as adjustable ballast as the boat lies over, and as a counter-balance to hold the said mast in an upright position and to assist in restoring the mast to such position after it has been moved from it.

With this device, in a boat or vessel under sail the mast will remain in its proper upright position under an ordinary wind, and the boat or vessel will list over as far as compatible with good sailing and safety; but under a heavy wind or squall the mast will yield to leeward and spill out of the sails all the wind or the pressure thereof that may be in excess of what the boat or vessel can carry, and on the slightest slacking of the wind the mast instantly begins to resume its primary position by reason of the windward springs fm and the counter-balance G, which counter-balance shifts to windward as the boat keels to leeward. Thus the speed of the boat or vessel maybe maintained without danger of capsizing.

Most accidents in open boats occur from the sheets 7 being belayed, so that they cannot quickly be thrown off in a squall or sudden freshening of the wind, or from jibbing when attempting to bring the boat closer to the wind. Both'these causes of accidents may be avoided by the use of the device herein shown and described, as the boat or vessel would not lie over so that her keel would lose its hold upon the water, nor would the boat or vessel make much leeway, but would always keep a good sailing position.

In undecked or open boat-s the curved tube, springs, and counter-balance would be put in shallow boxes in the spaces between the thwarts and keelson. For yachts and other decked vessels the curved tube may be constructed of a strong iron plate with flanges for the heel of the mast to move in while acting on the springs. The shrouds could be fastened to spring-chain plates, the plates being passed down through the covering-boards inside the railing, or suitable springs could be arranged in any other part of the shrouds.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent The combination, with a boat having centrally-aperturcd thwart B, of the plate I), having lugs 0 c, the trunnion D, the curved tube E, having inner and outer springs,fm, the

sheaves h, ropes K, and counter-balance Gr, all 2 arranged as and for the purpose specified.

JOHN MOLEOD. Witnesses:

I. I. S'roRER, C. SEDGWICK.

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