US113738A - Improvement in the modes of attaching topwiasts and top-gallant-masts - Google Patents

Description

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Letters Patent No. 113,738, dated April 18, 1871.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE MODES OF ATTACHING TOPMAS'I'S AND TOPGALLANTIMASTS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEvEnn'rT BROWN, of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fitting and Fastenin g Topmasts and Top-GallantMasts 5 and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1v is a perspective view of two parts of a mast united in accordance with my invention.

Figures 2 and 3 are like views of the two parts separate.

The ordinary method of supporting the topmast upon the lower mast of a vessel is by means of a iid vpassing through the lower end of the topmast, and

resting ou the trestle-.trees; and, in like manner, the top-gallantmast is supported upon the topmast. Thus the trestle-trees of the lower mast are requiredl to-sustain the' whole weight and strain of the masts and rigging above, while the trestle-trees of the topmast must uphold the weight of the top-gallantmast and its appurtenances.' Ihe effect of this upon the trestle-trees, and, especially upon those of the lower mast, is very injurious, as is well known, and it becomes necessary to renew them comparatively frequently.

This operation is troublesome, and attended with considerable expense, for not only are the trestletrees themselves costly, but the sending down of the masts and rigging above, which must be done before the old trestle-trees can be removed and replaced by new ones, entails an expenditure of time and money well wort-hy of being saved.

The object of my invention is to remove the weight of the upper masts from the trestle-trees below, and to transfer this office of the' trestle-trees to the masts themselves, so that the topmast shall directly sup- ,port the weight'of the top-gallant-inast, and the lower mast directly support the weight of those above. To this, end, the ends ofthe two masts are seal-fed; or, in other words, I form a shoulder in the upper end of the lower mast and in the lower end of the'upper mast in such, manuel' that when the two ends are applied together the shoulder of the upper will rest directly upon the shoulder of the lower mast.- The latterl thus directly supports the weight of the mast or masts and rigging above it, and the two parts being united by straps or bauds, form, in effect, one continuous mast.

To enable those skilled in the ait tounderstand and use my invention, I will.,now proceed to describe the manner in which the same is or may be carried into eiect, by reference to the accompanying drawing.

Let it be supposed, vin this instance, that A represents the lower mast, B the topmast, and G the trestle-trees,upon which is the iid which passes through the end of the topmast.

I form on the upper end of the mast A a shoulder or ledge, 1,11pon ,which a corresponding shoulder or projection, b, formed by recessing or' cutting away a portion ofthe lower end ofthe topmast rests when the two masts are tted together, as shown in g. l. By this means the weight of the topmast is borne directly by the lower mast,fall vertical pressure being removed from the trestle-trees for the purpose hereinbefore specified.

The same mode of. uniting the two ends is to be followed in fitting together the topmast and top-gallant-mast, and, in general; in all instances where the trestle-trees are ordinarily employed to sustain the superincumbent weight of sparsand rigging.

The ordinary means for binding together the two ends may be employed, but for greater 'security I prefer to place a band around the two, near the point where the shouldersa b meet; and this baud I prefer to construct inthe` manner seen in the drawing, where it is represented-as consisting of two parts, c d, hinged together at one end, and provided ou the opposite side with ears, through which a screw-bolt,f, passes. The head' of the bolt bears againstl the part c, while its opposite end passes through a stationary nut, g. Y

By screwing up the bolts the two parts, c d, will be drawn tightly together, and the two masts can thus .be clamped more or less tightly, as may be necessary.

Having now described my invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be carried into effect, l

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

'The method of fitting and securing the topmast and top-gallantmasts of vessels in the manner herein described, so that the mast above shallrest upon and be directly supported by the mast immediately below, instead ofthe trestle-trees of such masts, as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my Aname to this specification before two subscribing witnesses.

LEVERETT BROWN. \Vitnesses:

M. BAILEY, A. POLLoK.

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