Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for the Manufacture of Cordage, Cords, and the like, of Fibrous and other Material.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Nov., 1899-Accepted, 16th June, 1900
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for the Manufacture of
Cordage, Cords, and the like, of Fibrous and other Material.
I, CHARLES STODART MCCONNAN, of 305, Edge Lane, Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Rope-Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to the manufacture of cords, gasketting, engine gland
packing and the like and to the forming of rope strands and the like in the
manufacture of cordage. Also to the forming of jute and other cores as used
in wire rope making. This machine is simple in construction, may be run at
a high speed and gives a larger output of the manufactured article than present
used machines.
The invention will be understood from the following description, reference
being had to the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 is a general side elevation of a cord making machine constructed in
accordance with my invention;
Figure 2 a cross section through the flyer arms showing one end frame, and
other parts;
Figure 3 a detail view on an enlarged scale of one of the hollow stay tubes;
Figure 4 a detail view of the trough which carries the traversing ring;
Figure 5 a plan view partly in section, on an enlarged scale of part of the
machine shown in Figure 1;
Figure 6 an end view showing the stop motion for stopping the machine when
the material being twisted breaks;
Figure 6, an enlarged view of the rotating traversing ring, showing the
manner in which it is mounted and adjusted on the flyer arms;
Figures 7 and 8, detail views of the device for securing a true running of the
ring on the flyer arms;
Figure 9, an end view of the frame showing the arrangement of pulleys that
drive the back bobbins;
Figure 10, a detail view showing the manner of mounting the back bobbins,
and the arrangement of flyer arms therefor;
Figure 11, a detail view, showing the manner of mounting the pulley p in
the flyer plate F¹;
Figure 12, a sectional plan of the capstan and the flyer and bobbin ends
showing the manner in which the cord passes from the capstan to the bobbin
by way of the sheaves in the flyer plate and ring.
Referring to these figures,
A. A are two end frames held together by two stay tubes S S, see Figures 1
and 5. These stay tubes are shown in Figure 3 with two nuts nn, at each end
of the tube. The tubes are screwed at each end as shown to receive these
nuts n n. The tubes are then passed through bosses or lugs b b, Figure 1,
which bosses are cored out and cast to each end frame A, and the nuts n n, one
on each side of the boss or lug, are screwed tight up against the face of each

page_text: boss bb so that the two stay tubes S S hold the two end frames A A of the
machine secure, Figure 5 shows this also. Two rods then s s hold in a similar
way the base of the machine secure. These two end frames A A support the
pedestals W W carrying the journals of the flyer F, Figures 1 and 5, and as
well as holding the stay tubes S S by means of the described cored bosses or
lugs bbbb, Figure 5, have also cast to them a third boss or lug which receives
and holds the traverse screw as shown in Figure 2. As well as holding the end
frames A A secure, the two stay tubes S S serve as a guide or slide for a carrier T.
In place of stay tubes S S, ordinary cast iron slides may be used to hold the end
frames A A and to form a slide or guide for the traverse of the carrier T. This
carrier T is shown in Figure 4 and in Figure 5. It has a segmental circular
groove or trough L which receives the traverse ring R that guides the yarn to
the bobbin. This ring slides on the flyer arms f f of the flyer F. Carrier T,
Figure 4, has two sliding bearings with caps ce attached by bolts as shown, so
that carrier T may be placed on the stay tubes S S, Figure 5, of the machine and
rendered capable of sliding longitudinally backwards and forwards along said
stay tubes $ S.
A boss d, Figure 4, is cast to the underside of carrier 1 and
receives a traverse web w engaging with the ordinary traverse screw t: This
traverse screw is driven by a belt from the driving shaft K of the machine,
Figure 1. The ring R sliding on the flyer arms f f revolves in the groove L of
this carrier T so that as the traverse screw revolves, carrier T is traversed back-
wards and forwards longitudinally along the stay tubes S S, and the ring R
(running in the groove L of carrier T) is consequently also traversed back and
forth on the flyer arms ff of the flyer F. The ring R is not held by the carrier T.
but is held and rotated by the flyer arms f f. It runs freely in the groove L of
the carrier T, that is the two sides only of the groove L touch the ring R. and the
outside periphery of the ring R need not touch the bottom of the groove L of the
carrier T but at the sides only. The purpose of the carrier T. then is to act as a
guide to the ring R and traverse it up and down the flyer, also to take the side pull
on the ring R, i.e. the pull of the twisted material threaded through the ring R.
The carrier T may be of cast iron with the groove L, Figure 5, lined with white
metal. The material being twisted passes from the forming block-, Figure 5.
through the tube e e, and is taken about eight turns round the hollow cone capstan C
and the cord or the like is then taken over a guide sheave p fixed to the periphery
of the end disc F of the flyer F, the cord then runs to a second guide sheave pl
attached to ring R from which the cord' passes to the bobbin B.
Figures 11 & 12 show the manner in which the aforesaid guide sheave P is
fixed to the periphery of the front end plate or disc F of the flyer F, vi by
drilling a hole E out of the disc F and inserting the guide sheave holding the
strand or cord 7 and running on a pin kk fixed in the said disc or flyer end plate F¹.
Figure 12 is a section of the capstan C and flyer end F1 F2 through the centre
line of the flyer F, Figure 5, and shows the manner in which the cord, strand or
the like passes from the cone capstan C to the guide sheave in the flyer plate Fl
to the guide sheave in the ring R and thence to the bobbin B. The guide
sheave is mounted on a pin 2 secured to the web 3, on the piece 17, the pieces 17
fitting inside ring R as hereafter described. The hollow cone capstan C runs
loose on a pin P. The end plate of the flyer F is made with a box frame F2 in
which the pin P is fixed tight, (Figure 5). The special end or box frame F2 is
cast or formed in one with the end plate of the flyer F. The single hollow cone
capstan C has a long boss c on which is fixed to it, the bevel wheel b', and both
cone capstan C and bevel wheel 1 run together loose on the fixed pin P. A bevel
pinion gearing into the bevel wheel is keyed to one end of the tube e e.
D) is the flyer pulley and D' the twist pulley, Figure 5, keyed to the other end of
the tube e so that pulley D' may be changed as required to vary the speed of
hollow cone capstan C, driven by the bevel wheels 1 and 2. Sufficient drag is
kept on the bobbin B by means of the drag pulley D² which is keyed to one end
of the tube 3, 3, the other end of tube 3,-3, holding the usual bobbin plate 4.

page_text: 81 is a spindle which can be withdrawn by means of knob G to admit of the bob-
bin B being removed when required, catch 82 holding the spindle 8 when in
position. A cord h h is taken several times round the drag pulley D² and as well
as serving as a drag to the bobbin B, serves also to actuate a stop motion for
stopping the machine when the material being twisted breaks and which will now
be described in reference to Figure 6. One end of the cord h, h, has a weight Wi
hanging, and the other end of the cord his attached, as shown to the end of the
lever 11. Lever 11 swings at a range fixed by stops on a pivot 12 fixed to a
bracket 8, bolted to one of the machine end frames A. A catch 7 rests on a pin 9
also fixed to bracket S. Catch 7 is attached by a loose pin 13 to a link 14, which
is fixed to the starting rod 6 of the machine and the hand lever 5 is also attached
to this rod 6. The starting rod 6 is connected to the belt fork of the machine in
any known or convenient way. As the material being twisted extends from the
guide sheave of the ring R, Figures 5 and 12 to the bobbin B, and as the flyer F
is driven by the pulley D, the cord, strand or the like itself drives or pulls round
the bobbin B, tube 3, 3, and drag pulley D2, so that when the machine is started,
drag pulley 12 begins to revolve and pulls the drag cord round in the direction
of the arrow shown in Figure 6. So long as the machine continues running, the
lever 11 is raised by the pull of the cord up to the top stop and kept in this
position shown in Figure 6. Immediately however, the material which is being
twisted breaks, say at the forming block, Figure 5, the bobbin B is no longer
driven and slows down and stops, consequently pulley 12 also slows down and
stops and there being no further pull on the drag cord hh, the end of the lever 11
with weight W falls to the lower stop r, and più 10 at the other end of lever 11
rises and knocks catch 7 out of the pin 9, causing the hand lever 5 to drop and the
starting rod 6 to turn round and shift the belt fork on to the loose pulley and so
stop the machine. This stop motion as above described may also be connected
in a similar way to the back bobbins y, y, y, of the machine, Figure 1, so as to
stop the machine in the same way when any of the yarns m m m break.
The mode of mounting the ring R on the flyer arms ff will now be described.
Referring to Figure 6ª, two pieces 17 of section shown in Figure 7, fit on the
inside periphery of ring R and their webs 3, are fitted with pins on which
are mounted guide sheaves p₁ for the reception of the cord or strand. One of
the pieces 17 is shown in Figure 8, and has a piece 18 attached and a cap 19.
Two eccentric bushes, Figure 6a fit loosely on to the flyer arms ff and the
curved portion 18 of the piece 17 fits on to them. The cap 19 is then placed
in position as shown. The outside circumference of 18 and 19, Figure 7, has
a slightly taper screw at each end, and nuts 16 are screwed thereon, so that
when the two nuts 16, 16, are screwed up tight, the two eccentric bushes v
are held tight by the curved portions 18, 19 of the piece 17 fitting to the inside
of the ring R. The bushes then, slide easily on the flyer arms ff, but are
held rigid with the ring R in the manner described.. The bushes are dove-
tailed together and may be closed in when they wear on the arms ff. The
principal object however of these bushes is to form a means of adjustment
to secure a true running of the ring R. If the ring R runs out of truth, the
nuts 16, 16 are slacked back and the eccentric bushes are turned round by
means of a key fitting into the holes 15. 15, and adjusted until the ring runs
true, when the nuts 16, 16 are tightened up and the bushes locked to the
ring R.
When the machine runs at a high speed, the drag pulley D², Figure 5, gets
slightly heated by reason of the friction of the cord hh, on the drag pulley D².
But when the drag cord h h is kept lubricated, the pulley D² does not unduly
heat. For convenience however, a hard wood or other suitable non-conducting
dise H, Figure 5 is fixed by screws 2, 2, to the drag pulley D³ as shown, so
that for the adjustment of the bobbin B when replacing a full bobbin or the
like operation, the disc H may be readily grasped by the hand of the attendant
and the bobbin turned round and manipulated as required. A solid forming

page_text: block may be used with this machine and it is found that when the strand,
cord or the like, being made, is taken a sufficient number of times round the
cone capstan C, a sufficient pull can be attained to draw the strand, cord or the
like, properly through the forming block. The cone capstan C is made
hollow for lightness, and a balance weight is held to the end of pin P by
the nut n¹ so as to balance the weight of the bevel wheel b¹. Rods R¹ R¹ pass
through the stay tubes and are secured by nuts rr, as shown. These rods Ri R¹
hold the forming block, as shown, and extend to and hold by nuts in the
same manner, the back part of this machine as shown in Figure 1, F. The
back part 3 of this machine may be used or not in conjunction with the already
described front portion of the machine, and according to the purpose for which
the machine is required, i.e. for the forming of rope strands the back portion F³
is not used but for making 6 ply "topped" cord, the whole machine is used.
The shape of the frame F³ is shown in Figure 9 and holds six pulleys D³, each
held by means of a single journal J, Figure 10. The six pulleys D³ are fixed
in a circle and an endless belt encircles them, as shown in Figure 9. A wooden
or other pulley D* runs loose on a pin ; fixed also to the frame F. The pulley D+
partly drives the six pulleys D³ and counteracts the pull of the endless belt.
In hitherto used machines, two journals such as J are used, and the arms f¹ fl
are fixed to a separate plate or disc. In my invention, they are fixed directly
to the pulley D³, and the disc and second journal are dispensed with. The
carrier T with its groove, Figure 2, may be taken right round the ring R, if
so desired, as shown in Figure 2, by the portion dotted in.
It will be obvious from the foregoing description that the amount of framework
in this machine is small compared with present machines, there being only
two end frames A A. And that the gearing also is reduced to a minimum,
there being only two gears in the whole machine, riz.-the two bevels
driving the capstan C:
Consequently, this machine may be run at a high speed and the output result-
ing will be considerably in excess of present used machines.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. In apparatus for the manufacture of cordage and the like of that kind
in which there is a flyer and bobbin on which the twisted material is wound,
the combination therewith of a traverse ring surrounding the bobbin and fitted
with eccentric bushes to slide on the flyer arms, said eccentric bushes being
rotatable so that by means of their eccentricity they can be made to accommo-
date themselves to the flyer arms, and secure the true running of the ring thereon,
substantially as described.
2. The combination with the traverse ring, of semi-circular flanged pieces
secured to the inside periphery of the ring and carrying eccentric bushes which
are adapted to slide on the flyer arms, said bushes being capable of adjustment
so as to accommodate themselves truly to the flyer arms, and means for locking
said bushes when so adjusted, substantially as described.
3. In apparatus for the manufacture of cordage and the like, the combination
with a drag pulley for keeping the necessary drag on the bobbin and a drag
cord wrapped or coiled round it, of a hard wood or other non-conducting disc
by which the drag pulley and consequently the bobbin can be turned by hand,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
4. In apparatus for the manufacture of cordage and the like, the arrange-
ment for automatically stopping the machine when the material being twisted
breaks, which consists in providing in combination with the bobbin and its drag
pulley, a drag cord which is wound round the pulley and weighted at one
end, a pivoted weighted lever to which the other end of said cord is secured,
and which is kept raised by the pull of the cord so long as the machine is

page_text: running, and means for connecting said lever at other end to the starting rod or
belt fork of the machine, whereby when the material breaks, the bobbin together
with its drag pulley being no longer driven, will slow down and stop, and there
being no further pull on the cord the end of the weighted lever falls, thus
shifting the belt fork which stops the machine, substantially as described.
5. An automatic stop motion consisting of a weighted, lever to one end of
which the drag cord is fastened and kept raised by the pull of the cord so long
as the machine is running, a catch which comes in contact with the opposite
end of said weighted lever and is coupled to the starting rod of belt fork of
the machine whereby when the pull on the cord ceases the weighted lever will
fall raising the catch and thus operating the starting lever or belt fork, sub-
stantially as described.
6. In apparatus for the manufacture of cordage and the like of that kind in
which there is a flyer and a bobbin on which the twisted material is wound,
forming the end plate of the flyer with a box frame in such a manner as to
receive a capstan such as C which runs loose on an axis fixed in the said box
frame, but at right angles to the flyer axis, in combination with means for im-
parting rotary motion to and varying the speed of the capstan on its own axis
as it revolves on the common axis of the flyer, substantially as described.
7. In apparatus for the manufacture of cordage and the like in which there
is a flyer and bobbin on which the twisted material is wound and a ring sur-
rounding the bobbin for obtaining the necessary traverse, means for passing
and guiding the twisted material from the forming block to the traverse ring,
and from thence to the bobbin, substantially as described.
8. The combination with a back bobbin, of the pulley D, on which one end
of the bobbin is directly mounted a single journal to which the said pulley is
fixed and a pair of short flyer arms such as fl attached directly to the pulley
instead of being fixed to a separate plate or disc, substantially as described.
9. The general combined arrangement and construction of parts forming my
improved apparatus for the manufacture of cordage and the like substantially
as described,“
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.