IMPROVEMENTS IN WIRE ROPES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Hodson, Managing Partner of William James
Glover and Co., of St. Helens, in the County of Lancaster, Steel, Hemp, and
Wire Rope Manufacturers, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WIRE
ROPES."
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Hodson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th October 1881.
JAMES HODSON, Managing Partner of William James Glover and Co., of St.
Helens, in the County of Lancaster, Steel, Hemp, and Wire Rope Manufacturers.
IMPROVEMENTS IN WIRE ROPES."
The object of my Invention is to provide a wire rope which is flexible, one in
which the core is not likely to break and at the same time one in which the core
will return to its normal position after strain or bending, and keep the outer
strands always in their proper position.
It consists in forming a core for the rope by coiling wire in the shape of a spiral
spring (and a little larger than one of the outer strands of the rope), round which
1 wind preferably eight strands of the requisite size to give the thickness of rope
required in any of the ways now employed in rope making.
Ropes made according to this Invention will be much more flexible than those
at present in use, enabling the rope to be worked over small pulleys or drums (say,
from nine inches in diameter) without fear of breaking; consequently the rope is
much more durable, and also on account of the greater evenness of the surface of
the rope, the interstices of which are nearly filled up, reducing the friction by
reason of a larger number of wires being brought into play.
The durability of the rope is also greatly enhanced by the elasticity of this
core over a solid wire core, which through being less elastic than the outer strands
of the rope frequently breaks, causing the rope to subside and then flatten and
give way.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Hodson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th April
1882.
JAMES HODSON, Managing Partner of William James Glover and Co., of St.
Helens, in the County of Lancaster, Steel, Hemp, and Wire Rope Manufacturers.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN WIRE ROPES."
In the manufacture of wire ropes at the present time it is customary to make a
central core of hemp, or of a straight strand of twisted wire similar in kind, though
sometimes varying in diameter, to the strands forming the outside.
There are several disadvantages in this practice, among others the following:-
First, the rope being solid will not permit of bending on pulleys of vory small
diameter, as the various strands cannot move on each other, and thus conform
readily to the bend; second, when a great strain comes the outer strands, which
are twisted round the central one, and so much longer for a given length of rope,
straighten out or extend under the strain more than the central core can, leaving
the latter to bear an enormous strain. This causes the core to fracture at its
weakest point, and being drawn apart at the fracture the outer strands subside,
flatten, and at length give way at this place.
Now my Invention is designed to overcome these and other evils, and consists
in forming a core for the rope by coiling spring steel or other wire into the shape
of a spiral spring round which I wind the outside strands in the usual manner.
I find a rope made in this manner will coil or pass round a much smaller radius
without damage than any other, as the spring or central coil allows the outer
strands to adjust themselves to the varying strains and assists in bringing them
back to their normal positions when the strains are removed. As, too, the central
coil can be lengthened without breaking to a much greater extent than the outside
coils, no tensile strain brought to bear on the rope can break the core till all the
outer strands are fractured.
Again in ordinary wire ropes, owing to the rigidity of what we may call a solid
wire core, the outside strands are unable to move to sufficient extent to correct any
irregularity of strain or of manufacture, while in ropes made after my Invention
the central core assists by its pliability in equalizing the strain by giving way
somewhat to any extra strain on one or more strands, thereby actually transmitting
a portion of the strain to the other strands.
In mines wire ropes used in winding are apt to get saturated with moisture, and
the central core being as solid as possible there is no drainage. In my rope
however any water entering the rope will drain down through the core.
Another advantage of my rope is that the core can be filled with grease or other
lubricant, and thus lubricate itself. While for general purposes preferring to leave
the core hollow or filled with lubricant, for some purposes I find it desirable to fill
the hollow with hemp or any other material suitable.
The Drawing shows an eight strand rope made in accordance with my Invention
with a part cut away to show the coil; any ordinary number of strands can be
used, the core being nude of size to suit.
Having now described my Invention with my latest improvements and ideas
respecting it I claim as new and to be protected under the Letters Patent,-
First. As a new article of manufacture a wire rope with a core formed of coiled
wire, substantially as described.
Second. In a wire rope the combination of the outer wires or strands with a
metallic core, having greater longitudinal elasticity than the outside strands.

page_text: Third. A wire rope for bending round small pulleys formed with a hollow spiral
spring core, so that the spring shall give a little with the strain and regain its
normal condition when the strain is removed.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Hodson, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Fifteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.
JAMES HODSON. (L..S.)