36 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



R. Pratt, 62 Cannon-street, New- York, performed the duty assigned 

 them, and beg leave to report the following : 



These capstans are of two kinds, though in appearance the same. 

 One having a motion of tlie barrel of one revolution to five of the 

 crank, sufficiently powerful for ordinary service, or for warping 

 vessels of moderate size. The arrangement is simple, being that of 

 a pinion on the crank shaft mesliing into a bevel wheel attached 

 to the head of the capstan barrel. 



The more powerful capstan has a motion of one revolution to 

 sixteen of the crank. This also is turned by a pinion on the crank 

 shaft; the wheel, however, into which the pinion meshes, is detached 

 from the capstan barrel, and has upon its upper surface, at the 

 periphery, the cogs into which the crank-shaft pinion meshes, and 

 upon its lower surface another spur wheel of reduced diameter, with 

 vertical cogs, which mesh into three wheels of smaller diameters; 

 these three wheels revolve upon vertical shafts, cast upon a surface 

 plate, equidistant from each other. This surface plate has upon its 

 lower side vertical cogs meshing into the upper end, and on the in- 

 side of the capstain barrel, furnishing a powerful arrangement, and 

 without complication. The swell of the upper end of the barrel or 

 drimi affords sufficient space for the spur wheel and surface plate, 

 without enlarging the head above the size of the less powerful caps- 

 tan. 



The power arrangement is hid from view by a cover, which can 

 be removed as easily as that of a hat-box, whenever oiling or clean- 

 ing may be rendered necessary. 



The arrangement for increasing the power we regard as a good 

 one. In reference to the space occupied in operating it, less is re- 

 quired than by the ordinary arrangement of bars. The cranks are 

 adjustable to a larger or smaller circle, by means of slide sockets 

 through which they pass, and being reversible, with the handle 

 resting upon the cover, occupy no additional space, and are always 

 at hand. 



AJl of which is respectfully submitted. 

 (Signed,) 



JOHN W. GRIFFITH, 

 JOHN M. REED, 

 THADDEUS SELLICK. 



Read, accepted, and ordered on file, May 1, 1856. 



