138 



How lateral 

 friciioii is pre- 

 Tcnted, 



May be u?e<l 

 for a sniail ca- 

 ble without a 



messenger. 



Applicable to 



^'iadiasses. 



IMPROVED CAPSTAN AND WINDLASS. 



the 3eok -w ill be the best for it, as it will take up less room. 

 This spindle may be secured below the deck, so as to bear any 

 strain, as the small barrel need not be much above half the 

 height of the large barrel ; the capstan bars can easily pass 

 over it in heaving- _round, when it is thought fit to use cap- 

 stan bars on the same deck with the small barrel. As two 

 turns of the messenger round both barrels will be at least 

 equivalent to three turns round the common capstan, it will 

 hardly ever be necessary to use more than four turns round 

 the two barrels. 



The circumstance which prevents the lateral friction of 

 the messenger in my double capstan is, that in it each coil 

 is kept distinct from the rest, and must pass on to the second 

 barrel, before it can gain the next elevation on the first, by 

 which no one coil can have any influence in raibing or de- 

 pressing another; and what each separate coil descends in a 

 single revolution, it regains as much as is necessary in its 

 passHge between the barrels, where in the air, and free from 

 all contact with any part of the apparatus, it attains higher 

 elevation without a possibility of fnction or wear. 



1 have described my double capstan, as it is to be used iu 

 large vessels, where messengers are necessary, irom the great 

 size of the cables ; but it is obvious that it is equally appli- 

 cable in smaller vessels, as their cables can be managed with 

 it in the same manner as is directed for the messenger. The 

 same principle may also be easily applied to windlasses, by 

 having a small horizontal barrel placed parallel to the body 



Tarther advan- 

 tage stated. 



same way as the capstan already described. The proper 

 place for the small horizontal barrel is forward, just before 

 the windlass, and as much below its level as circumstances 

 will admit; it should be furnished with catch-palls as well 

 as the windlass. 



Beside the advantages already stated, my proposed im- 

 provement to the capstan has others of considerable utility. 

 Its construction is so very simple, that it is no more liable to 

 derangement or injury than the capstan itself. Its cost can 

 be but small, and every part of it can be made by a com.- 

 TDon ship carpenter, and be repaired by him at sea if damaged 

 by shot. It will take up but little room, only that of a halif 



barrel 



