Improved Means for Securing the End Loops of Ropes or Chains.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 5th June, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Apr., 1897-Accepted, 8th May, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Securing the End Loops of Ropes or Chains.
We, MICHAEL SNOWDON MELDRUM, Superintendent Engineer of 3 Humbledon
View, Sunderland and EDWARD CLARKE, Ship and Engine Smith of 13 Wadham
Terrace Tyne Dock, both in the County of Durham, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improved means for securing the end loops of ropes or
chains when used to fasten one object to another and is specially intended for
mooring ships though it may be employed wherever applicable.
According to our arrangement we connect to the end of the hawser or chain a
lever arm or cross-bar to one end or side of which we secure the piece to form the
loop while at its other extremity the other loop-end when in position round for
example a mooring post is adapted to be attached or detached. This is effected by
suitably securing to the end of the rope or chain forming the loop a link with
partially flattened or equivalently shaped formations thereon to permit of its
passage through a slot or hole to and from its seat in the lever end which is of a
hook-shape somewhat.
Thus it will be understood that by our invention the hawser may be speedily and
securely fastened to a mooring post or buoy or the like while it may be as readily
unfastened without the disadvantages and inconvenience attending the shackle
arrangement most generally employed at present.
Dated this 4th day of June 1896.
A. CRAWHALL CHAPMAN,
3 St. Nicholas Buildings, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Patent Agent.
Improved Means for Securing the End Loops of Ropes or Chains.
We, MICHAEL SNOWDON MELDRUM, Superintendent Engineer, of 3 Humbledon
View, Sunderland and EDWARD CLARKE, Ship and Engine Smith of 13 Wadham
Terrace, Tyne Dock, both in the County of Durham, 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 :-
Our invention relates to means for securing the end loops of ropes or chains when
used to fasten one object to another and is specially intended for mooring ships,
though it may be employed wherever applicable.
According to our arrangement, we connect to the end of the hawser or chain a
lever, arm, or cross-bar to one end or side of which we secure the piece to form the
loop, while at its other extremity the other loop end, when in position round, for
example, a mooring post, is adapted to be attached and detached.
This is effected by securing to the end of the rope or chain forming the loop a
link with partially flattened or equivalently shaped formations thereon to permit of
its passage through a slot or hole to and from its seat in the lever end, which is of
a hook-shape somewhat.

page_text: The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of this
specification, wherein
Figure 1 is a plan showing the parts in position round a mooring post and
Figure 2 a side elevation thereof.
Figure 3 is a view of a modification and
Figure 4a cross section of a detail both hereinafter referred to.
A is the hawser and B the arm or cross-bar connected thereto. C is the rope or
chain forming the loop encircling the post D and it is attached to the end 6 of the
part B, while its other end has attached the special link E completing the connection
round the post D or similar object by taking into the hooked extremity of the
part B. This link E has flattened or reduced surfaces e e on each of its side
members, as shown best in Figure 4, so that when the link is turned to bring the
flattened parts in line with, or opposite, the mouth or slot 62 in the bar B, it can be
inserted or withdrawn, thus effecting the required attachment or detachment
respectively; the slot 62 is of such size as to admit of the easy passage of the
reduced parts ee of the link E in the manner just described, but less than its
normal dimensions, thereby holding the link securely in use as shown in Figures 1
and 2.
For trawling and similar purposes the modified form of bar B illustrated in
Figure 3 may be used. It is made shorter and connected to the slings F on the
"beam" or "boards" and the link E is fastened to the ends of the bridle G of the
towing rope, its connection and disconnection being accomplished as before.
The ropes are connected to the bar B and link E by thimbles and serving in the
usual way, or otherwise conveniently.
It will be seen that by our invention attachments and detachments of the kind
referred to may be speedily, readily and efficiently accomplished, and the wear and
tear on the rope or chain reduced to a minimum as the loop adjusts itself to any
angle. Further by its use the disadvantages attending the usual shackle and screw
pin arrangement are obviated since there are no parts to lose, even should the
hawser or loop break, while in the event of a number of superposed connections on
one mooring post, our invention permits of free detachment without disturbing the
upper ones as there are no projecting portions to foul.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. For securing the ends of ropes or chains, the combination with a bar, having
a slotted part and a loop attached to one end thereof, of a link with reduced
portions arranged to pass into the said slot, all constructed and adapted to operate
substantially as described.
2. The improved means, for securing the end loops of ropes or chains when used
for fastening one object to another, consisting of a lover, arm, cross-bar or equivalent
connected to the end of the main hawser or chain and having attached at one end
the loop, and having at its other end a slotted aperture to receive flattened or
reduced parts of a link fixed to the loop end, substantially as herein described.
3. The improved means for securing the ends of ropes or chains substantially as
herein described in reference to and shown in the drawings.
Da ed this 2nd day of April 1897
ed this 2nd day of April 1897
For the Applicants,
J. C. CHAPMAN,
70 Chancery Lane, London, W.C. and
3, St. Nicholas' Buildings, Newcastle-on-Tyne,
Chartered Patent Agent.