IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WORKING WIRE ROPES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Horatio Harfield, of Mansion House Buildings, in
the City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
WORKING WIRE ROPES."
Sealed the 1st July 1879, and dated the 9th April 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Horatio Harfield at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th April 1879.
WILLIAM HORATIO HARFIELD, of Mansion House Buildings, in the City of
London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WORKING WIRE ROPES."
This Invention relates to new or improved methods of working wire ropes.
In stopping wire ropes I use a wedge with a groove on one side, between which
and a fixed grooved block the wire rope passes. The other side of the wedge moves
on friction rollers kept in their proper situation by a lever jointed to the roller
carriage. One arm of the lever is received into and slides in a groove in the
movable wedge, and the other arm moves in a similar groove in the fixed part or
base of the stopper. The wedge piece is moved into position to give the amount of
nip desired by a pinion working in a rack formed on the wedge; this pinion is
mounted in bearings formed in the frame of the stopper. A hand lever is fixed to
the pinion, and is so arranged that its weight is sufficient to keep the wedge bearing
against the rope. When an outboard strain comes upon the rope the friction in the
groove of the wedge draws the wedge along with the rope for a short distance, till
the compression of the rope between the movable wedge and the fixed block is
sufficient to hold the rope; should however the slack end be now hauled upon, the
wedge moving on the friction rollers is pulled back, and the rope is free. The hand
lever can be used either to release the rope by drawing back the wedge, and so let
it run freely, or it can be used so as to allow a moderate action of the wedge piece,
and to check the speed at which it is desired to veer the rope. The fixed block
mentioned above is capable of being removed from the frame in order to admit the
rope; it slides into its place after the rope is put in position.
I also apply an attachment to a riding bit, by which a wire rope can be checked
or stopped when running out. There is a horizontal bar or "battledore" passing
through the bit, and the end of this I turn upwards and cause it to carry a screw
which can be turned by a lever or handle; this screw bears against a brake block;
037

page_text: between which and the riding bit the rope passes. If a turn or two is taken round
the bit and the inboard part of the cable is passed between the brake block and the
bit, a small amount of pressure put on the screw and acting upon the brake block
will cause a resistance to the running out of the rope, and if more pressure is applied
the result is more resistance or total stoppage of the rope, according to the pressure
applied to the brake block.
In order to work wire ropes with chain capstans I employ portable whelps, which
can when required be fitted into the chain cable holders so as to form an outer
barrel on which to work the wire rope, thereby affording an increased diameter over
that of the ordinary capstan barrel above the cable holder; this is desirable, as wire
rope is not so flexible as hempen rope of equal size; the strain also is brought low
down on the capstan, where the spindle is strongest.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the snid William Horatio Harfield in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th
October 1879.
WILLIAM HORATIO HARFIELD, of Mansion House Buildings, in the City of
London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WORKING WIRE ROPES."
This Invention relates to new or improved methods of working wire ropes.
In stopping wire ropes I use a wedge with a groove on one side, between which
and a grooved block the wire rope passes. The other side of the wedge moves
on friction rollers kept in their proper situation by a lever jointed to the roller
carriage. One arm of the lever is received into and slides in a groove in the
moveable wedge, and the other arm moves in a similar groove in the fixed part or
base of the stopper. The wedge piece is moved into position to give the amount
of nip desired by a pinion working in a rack formed on the wedge; this pinion is
mounted in bearings formed in the frame of the stopper. A hand lever is fixed to
the pinion, and is so arranged that its weight is sufficient to keep the wedge bearing
against the rope.
Referring to the Drawings hereunto annexed, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation,
Figure 2 a plan, Figure 3 an end view, and Figure 4a transverse section on linc
ac, x, of this improved stopper.
A is a base, which is provided with lugs for bolts for fixing down on the deck or
platform; this base has an inclined surface, as shewn, and carries above this surface
à top or groove block B, which is fixed when the stopper is in use, but can be
removed when necessary. Between these two fixed surfaces I place a wedge C, its
upper surface being grooved at c to fit the rope to be worked, there being also a
corresponding recess 6 in the top B, between which and the wedge the rope passes.
The lower surface of the wedge is supported upon the inclined plane of the base,
friction rollers being interposed between the two surfaces. These friction rollers D
are mounted in the frame E, and the frame carries also a lever F with friction rollers
t

page_text: at its ends, the upper one of which enters a slot, f in the wedge C, while the lower
is received into a similar slot f' in the base A. The action of this lever is to compel
the carriage with its rollers to maintain its correct relative position in respect to the
wedge and the base. Within the thickness of the wedge CI form a recess g long
enough to allow of the requisite motion of the wedge, and within this recess I place
a pinion G, gearing into the teeth of a rack d formed in the wedge. The pinion G
has a lever H fixed to its axis, and by moving this lever the wedge C can be
advanced up the incline, the effect of which is to nip the wire rope between the
groove c in the upper surface of the wedge and the groove b in the top B. This
lever H stands in such a position that its weight causes the wedge piece (through
the pinion and rack) always to bear against the rope with a moderate amount of
pressure, and any effort to pull the rope through in the direction of the arrow only
causes the wedge to follow up a little in the same direction, and to tighten the
grasp of the rope between the top B and the wedge C. On the contrary, should
there be any pull on the other end of the rope behind the stopper, the wedge piece
will also follow the rope for a short distance, and overcoming, the disposition of the
stopper to close itself, will by moving the wedge down the incline cause a greater
opening for the passage of the rope between the top B and the wedge C. The rope
can then be hauled through with but small resistance; however, as the tendency of
the stopper is constantly to close, the least pull in the direction of the arrow causes
the rope to be stopped from running in that direction; the stopper is thus perfectly
self acting. When it is desired to release the rope all that is necessary is to lift the
lever H, which in acting upon the wedge causes it to move down the incline and
allow an opening for the rope to pass. The speed of the rope in running may be
checked by gradually raising or lowering the hand lever, according to the amount
of compression required. On the hand lever being let go the stopper becomes self
acting, as before described. In placing the rope in the stopper the top B is slid out
at the back of the stopper from the horizontal grooves in the base A, in which it is
held, and the rope is then placed in the groove of the wedge C; the top B is then
slid back again into its place. The top B has stops J, J, at one end, so that it will
resist any strain that is put on it in the direction of the arrow. The catch I retains
the top B in the contrary direction, its T head when the catch is down engaging
with projections on the base A.
A modified form of iny stopper is shewn in sectional elevation at Figure 5, in
cross section at Figure 6, and in plan at Figure 7. The reference letters are the
same as in the Figures already described, but in this case it will be seen that I use
two wedges, each with its set of rollers and carriers. I also place the wedges hori-
zontally, and act upon them through the pinion placed underneath. The com-
pression of the rope takes place between the two wedges. The rope can be
released with great ease by the hand lever, there being friction rollers on both
surfaces. The wedges are supported at one end by resting upon the pinion, and
at the other end by a roller, as shewn.
I also apply an attachment to a riding bitt, by which a wire rope can be checked
or stopped when running out. There is a horizontal bar or "battledore" passing:
through the bitt, and the end of this I turn upwards and cause it to carry a screw
which can be turned by a lever or handle; this screw bears against a brake block,
between which and the riding bitt the rope passes.
Figure 8 is an elevation, and Figure 9 a plan of a riding bitt as commonly used
for chain cables, but provided in accordance with iny Invention with an attachment
for the purpose of working wire rope upon the saine "bitt" without in any way inter-
fering with its utility as a riding bitt for the chain cable. K is the battledore
passing through the bitt; the end k is turned up and has a screwed hole in it, in
which the screw L works. One end of the screw has a head with handles on it;
the other end of the screw is fitted into a block M in such a manner that the revo-
lution of the screw will cause the block to advance towards the bitt or retire from
it; this block has on its lower side a projection which fits into a slot in the battle-
dore long enough to allow of the motion of the block. The end of the brake block

page_text: nearest the bitt is grooved to allow the rope to pass between it and the bitt. If a
turn or two of the wire rope is taken round the bitt, and the inboard part is placed
between the brake block and the bitt, a small amount of pressure put on the screw
and acting upon the brake block will cause a resistance to the running out of the
rope, and if more pressure is applied the result is more resistance or total stoppage
of the rope, according to the pressure applied.
The three bars N are in order to keep the coils of wire rope from springing off
the bitt; they are portable, and can be removed when it is required to work a chain
cable on the bitt.
In order to work wire ropes with chain capstans I employ portable whelps, which
can when required be fitted in to the chain cable holders so as to form an outer
barrel on which to work the wire rope, thereby affording an increased diameter over
that of the ordinary capstan barrel above the cable holder.
Figure 10 is an elevation, and Figure 11 is a sectional plan of a capstan with
chain holder and portable whelps, which are temporarily applied when it is required
to work wire ropes. O is the cable holder for working the chain; when however it
is required to work wire ropes upon the same capstan, or for any purpose in which
an enlarged body is required, as for warping, a series of portable whelps P, P, P, are
placed around the cable holders. The lower part of each whelp has a pin p which
fits into a hole in the lower flange of the cable holder, while the upper part fits into
a recess p¹ in the upper flange, and is kept in its place by a pin Q passing through
a lug formed on the portable whelp, and also through a hole in the upper flange. It
will be seen that this arrangement forms an outer barrel, and affords an increased
diameter over the ordinary capstan barrel R; this is desirable, as wire rope is not
so flexible as hempen rope of equal size, and the wire rope is not only brought into
a more favourable position for working, but also is lower down on the capstan,
where the spindle is strongest.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of per-
forming the same, what I claim is,—
First. The construction of a stopper with a wedge moving upon rollers to com-
press and hold a rope, substantially as described.
Second. The construction of a stopper with a wedge moving upon rollers, such
rollers being controlled in their movement, substantially as described.
Third. The construction of a stopper with a wedge moved into position and
held against the rope by the action of hand lever, pinion, and rack, substantially as
described.
Fourth. The construction of a stopper with a sliding top cover for facilitating
the admission of the rope and for keeping it safely in the stopper, substantially as
described.
Fifth. The attachment to a riding bitt for holding or checking wire rope without
interfering with the utility of the bitt when used with a chain cable, substantially
as described.
Sixth. The adaptation of portable whelps to be temporarily attached to the cable
holder of an ordinary capstan for working wire ropes, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Horatio Harfield, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventh day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
W. H. HARFIELD. (L.S.)
H;