PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF WIRE ROPES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lako, and Co Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature
of my invention. for "IM PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE
OF WIRE ROPES " to be as follows:-
My invention relates to machines for the manufacture of wire rope and has for
its objects, first, to make a rope or cable in which the strain applied thereto will be
borne by all the wires; next to take out whatever bends there may be in the wires
and re-bend the same before they enter the strands and to form a spiral which
shall approximate that assumed by the wires when the strand is completed; third,
to effect the lay of the wires and strands outside of the spinning heads; fourth
to produce a stronger and more flexible rope; and lastly to lessen the cost of
manufacture.
The machine comprising my invention is capable of laying individual wires
around cores to form strand cores, next to lay individual wires around strand cores
to form strands; and lastly to lay a number of the strands around a rope core to
forn the rope, all in one continuous operation.
In carrying the said invention into practice I provide a suitable frame for
supporting the mechanism and a hollow shaft supported at its forward end by an
annular journal connected with a hub by spokes, and working in a bearing. The
The rear
said hub is firmly secured to the hollow shaft in any suitable manner.
end of said shaft is supported in bearings all resting on, and socured to, cross-:
pieces of the main frame. At a point about midway between the said bearings tho
hollow shaft is again supported by a ring connected to, and revolving with, a
tri-armed spider fastened by the hub to the hollow shaft, the periphery of the ring
resting and running upon rolls secured to the frame.
The said ring or annulus braces and supports the central main shaft and
accompanying mechanism and prevents strain or injury to the said shaft when the
machine carries a quantity of wire and is in rapid motion.
Between the spokes of an annular journal are passages for the strands to pass
through to the spinning point which is inserted and suitably held by a set-screw,
or otherwise, in the bore of the hollow shaft.
The spinning point has a central opening or bore of a diameter little larger
than that of a rope-core which is to pass through it. Spinning points having
bores of various sizes may be employed to suit the different sizes of rope-
cores used.
The spinning point is in two parts, the former telescoping into the latter, the
object being to extend or retract the point of the first part to locate it contiguous.

page_text: to the focus of the strands when being laid about the rope core; a long lay
requiring the said first part to be extended and a short lay requiring it to be
retracted. The rear ends of the parts, and of the spinning point, are counterbored
to a bell-mouth shape to facilitate the passage of a rope-core through the main
shaft when filling the machine for use. A six-armed spider is secured to the
hollow shaft cach of whose arms is bifurcated and receives a grooved pulley the
purpose of which will be presently set forth. Immediately behind the six-armed
spider is a tri-armed spider the extremities of which carry bearings to receive
annular journals similar to, but smaller than, the first named annular journal.
These second journals are secured to hollow strand shafts which have their rear
bearings in the extremities of the tri-armed spider. Contiguous to the second
journals, and loosely mounted on the strand-shafts, are the wire tension and spiral
forming devices. About midway of these strand shafts between the tension and
spiral forming devices and the tri-armed spider is secured a disc carrying on
either face brackets provided with bearings near their outer ends. The cap to one
of these bearings is pivotted at one end; the other end thereof being removably
secured by a bail the free end of which is provided with a screw and check-nut
the purpose of which will be heroinafter explained.
The bearings of the said brackets receive the ends of small shafts which carry
spools. These spools are detachably secured to the small shafts by means of check-
nuts working on the screw-threaded portions of the shafts and screwing against
the faces of the spools, thus forcing them against a collar and onto a feather key
bedded in the shaft, whereby the shafts are compelled to revolve with the spools.
The purpose of this will be obvious when it is explained that friction is applied to
the small shafts in order that the spring of the wire on the spools will not revolve
them which otherwise would permit the wires to become entangled and break.
Friction on these small shafts is obtained by means of friction clamps. The said
clamps having suitable recesses receive some yielding material such as leather,
raw hide or felt, which encloses a portion of the small shaft.
Each clamp is pivotted at one end and has its jaws held together by a screw-
threaded bolt and nut. The bolt is pivotted at one end to one arm of the clamp,
and the nut working on the threaded portion of the bolt forces the other arm
toward the first arm, thus compressing the friction material against the small shaft
as much as may be desired. A projection on one part of the. clamp engages with
one of the bearings of the bracket, which projection prevents the clamp from
revolving with the shaft, consequently resisting, to an extent regulated by a nut,
the revolution of the said shaft. For convenience of putting on and taking off
the clamp its arm is slotted, to admit the bolt without entirely removing the nut.
One end of each small shaft is turned to the diameter of the bearing for a distance
twice the length of the said bearing. The cap of this bearing is provided with
alip which covers one end of the shaft and is provided with a scrow and
check-nut.
The end of the screw projects through the lip and abuts against the end of the
shaft to prevent end play thereof.
To remove the small shafts and their spools from the machine, the said screw is
loosened sufficiently to permit bail to swing over the end of the cap; the cap is
then raised until its lip is clear of the contiguous journal of the small shaft to
allow the latter to be moved laterally until the other journal is clear of its bearing,
when the said shaft with its spool may be removed.
Spinning points are adjustably secured to the strand shafts, which serve a
similar purpose for the strands that the spinning point does for the rope.
4
The tension devices are loosely mounted on the strand shafts contiguous to the
annular journals and are composed of three main parts. The general contour of
these parts, when separate or combined, is that of a truncated cone.
Each part
carries on its outer surface, and inclined therewith, a number of grooved pulleys, 5
in practice twelve, which are loosely pivotted thereon. In the web of each part
are a number of holes. The number of holos in the first and third parts are the

page_text: same and exactly coincide, while the holes in the central part number more or less,
(in the present instance less,) twelve holes being supposed in the first and third.
parts, and eleven holes in the middle, therefore but one hole in the middle part can
coincide at a time with the holes in the third and first parts. The coincident holes
are maintained in line by means of a headed rod which passes through them,
thereby locking the parts together without preventing their free rotation on the
strand shaft. A collar on the strand shaft prevents the parts of the friction devico
from moving longitudinally on the shaft, and a projection on the said collar retains
the headed rod in place so long as the rotary motion of the tension device is not
more than the arc of the projection. An ordinary set screw retains the collar in
the desired position.
The annular journals of the strand shafts prevent forward movement of the tension
devices on the said shafts. When the machine is in operation, tho rotary motion
of the tension devices on their shafts, which is induced by the wires acting on the
pulleys, will never be sufficient to carry the headed rod beyond the projection on the
collar, while, on the other hand, the form of the collar permits the sections to bo
moved by hand and the rod inserted into any desired holes in the webs of the
sections, when the wires are loose and the machine is being threaded, or when a
change of tension is required.
The holes in two parts of the tension device differing in number from those in the
other parts permit the sections to be adjusted to throw the pulleys on the middle
section more or less out of alignment with those on the other sections, and the holes
being numbered from one upward enables the operator to obtain this adjustment at
a glance.
In order to take advantage of this adjustment, a grooved pulley is placed so that
its centre of motion shall be exactly on the plane of a lino intersecting a hole, say
number one in the web of the first part of the tension device and the centre of the
shaft upon which the said part is mounted; the same with a pulley on the second
part, and the same with a pulley on the third part. The headed rod being inserted
in holes numbered one in each part keeps the pulleys of the said parts on the plane
intersecting the said pulleys, the headed rod, and the longitudinal axis of the strand
shaft upon which the tension device is mounted. By withdrawing the hended rod
from holes numbered one and inserting it say in holes numbered two of the parts
of the tension device the middle part will have made a greater rotatory motion on
the strand shaft than the other parts, thus throwing its pulloy out of alignment
with the other pulleys to give a greater bend to the wire and consequently increaso
the tension thereon.
A still greater bend will be imparted to the wire by inserting the headed rod in a
third set of holes and so on. An opposite result will be obtained by reversing the
adjustment.
Wire being passed into the grooves of the said pulleys on alternato sides thereof,
it is obvious that greater or less tension may be obtained at will and, the individual
wires of a strand being threaded alike, that the tension on each side will be the
same. It will also be obvious that as the tension devices on the strand shafts
are set and threaded alike, an uniform tension will be imparted to the wrapping
wires.
As the leaving points of the wires on the spools are constantly changing from
side to sido of the spools as the wires are unwound, the tension devices rock on the
strand shafts by the strain of the wires, thus automatically dividing the lines of
strain among all the wires on each of the strand-shafts and ensuring a more equal
tension than would otherwise be obtained. The pulley of the first part of the
tension device is smaller than the pulley of the second part and the pulley of the
second part than the pulley of the third part. By this variation any crooks or
bends in a wire whose are or curve will correspond to the circumference of the
pulley of the third part will not be removed or increased by passing over the said
pulley but on reaching the pulleys of the second and first parts respectively the
bends will bo reversed, or increased should the wires turn, which they will tend to

page_text: do. This assists in getting a regular spiral form in the wire on leaving the first
pulley, for the reason that the bending of the wires increases their hardness or
temper.
The wires assume a spiral form on passing through the pulleys because of the
motion of the spools around the axis of the strand shaft and the angle at which
the wires are laid together. When this angle is very oblique and without tension
between the spools and laying points, the wires will tend to twist to a certain extent,
which tendency is lessened as this angle approaches a perpendicular from the strand
until the twisting tendency is entirely removed. When no other tension is used
but that on the spools, this torsion of the wires is very undesirable because of the
impracticability of getting wires of even temper. The torsion in a wire of uneven
tempor will be equally distributed until a portion having a soft place leaves its
spool, when, because of the superior stiffness of the wire before and behind the soft
place, the torsion will immediately accumulate at said soft place and will twist off,
or greatly weaken, the wire at that point.
With my present form of tension device this torsion is turned to useful effect,
inasmuch as the bending of the wires in passing over the grooved pulloys on the
tension device will be on everyside of such wire by reason of this torsion, and,
further, the bending of the wires over the first set of pulleys makes it very easy to
divide the torsion, which causes the wires to assume the spiral form and thereby
removing the torsion, the said spiral form having taken it up as fast as the wires
are drawn through to the strands. The forward movement of the strands at a
given speed causes the individual wires to be drawn at the same rate plus the
amount taken up in the lay around the core, which is exactly the diameter and
length of spiral required in the wires and which must and can be regulated by the
adjustment of the tension devices before referred to.
The importance of this will be seen more particularly in stiff or springy wires as
without this spiral bending of the wires there will be a constant tendency on the
part of the wires when in the strand to spring out and assume their original form,
whereas with the form of tension devices described the form of the lay is given
before the lay, thus ensuring a rest of forces after the lay.
There is another advantage with my improved tension devices combined with the
motion of the wire-carrying spools, viz whenever it may be desired to make a rope
or cable elastic in its length-a desirable feature in "tow ropes" and "switch
ropes "it is only necessary to use extra stiff or springy wire and set the tension
devices so that the spiral form of the wires will be larger in diameter than is
ordinarily required in other styles of ropes, whereby the rope is made more bulky,
because the wires therein do not hug the cores or touch one another as in other
ropes.
When sufficient longitudinal strain is applied to such a rope it will be reduced.
in size until the wires touch, when it assumes under said strain the form and '
condition of ordinary ropes, regaining, however, its original condition when relieved
of strain. In nearly all cases it is desirable to make ropes or cables of hard or stiff
wire because the tensile strength is much greater and its abrasion and wear in use
Jessened thereby securing a stronger and more lasting rope while the flexibility
remains practically the same since the rope is of smaller diameter in its relation to
strength.
Secured to the hollow shaft between the tri-armed spiders before mentioned is
a third tri-armed spider whose bearings receive journals secured to the strand
shafts, the latter being provided with spinning points, tension devices, discs and
brackets, the whole constructed, arranged, and operating exactly like those on the
spiders already described. The rear bearings for the strand shafts are in the
extremities of a fourth tri-armed spider fastened to the hollow shaft between two
other spiders. The fourth spider is in every respect like the first spider except
that it does not carry a supporting ring.
In line respectively with the strand shafts are other hollow shafts which I will
distinguish from the strand shafts by the term "core shafts" One set of core
L

page_text: hafts have forward bearings in the extremities a fifth tri-armed spider and rear
bearings in the ends of alternate arms of a six-armed spider. The other core
shafts have forward bearings in the alternate arms of the said six armed spider the
rear ends bearing in the ends of a sixth tri-armed spider The construction of the
operating parts of the two sets of core shafts being alike, a description of one set
will suffice.
The construction and operation of the forward annular bearings is the same as
herein before set forth. The tension devices on the core shafts are the same as those
on the strand shafts with the exception that the sections carry but six, each, of the
grooved pulleys. The construction of the discs with their attachments is the same
as that of the discs already described, except that the rear faces only carry
brackets, spools and accompanying mechanism.
A six-armed spider is secured to the hollow shaft back of the sixth tri-armed
spider and its extremities carry, each, a spool which are disposed in line with the
bores of the core and strand shafts.
A gear wheel, having external and internal teeth is loosely mounted on the
hollow shaft between the last mentioned six-arined spider and bearing and receives
motion from a pinion whose teeth intermesh with the external teeth of the said
wheel. The said pinion is detachably secured to a shaft journalled in bearings on
the frame. A second gear wheel secured to the hollow shaft near its rear end
engages a third gear wheel secured to the pinion shaft which is provided with the
band wheel.
Motion imparted to the pinion shaft is conveyed through the third and second
gear wheels to the hollow shaft which carries the spiders with their accompanying
mechanism. The pinion being smaller than the third gear wheel causes the first
gear wheel to revolve at a slower rate of speed than the hollow shaft. Inter-
meshing with the internal teeth of the first gear wheel are spur gear wheels which
are respectively secured to shafts, the rear ends of which have bearings in the six
armed spider. Half of the latter shafts are shorter than their alternate shafts and
have forward bearings in the arms of the sixth tri armed spider while the longer
shafts have forward bearings in alternate arms of the six armed spider. Spur
gear wheels are respectively secured to the forward ends of the shafts just
mentioned and intermesh with spur gear wheels which are respectively fastened to
the core shafts. The annular journals of the core shafts carry spur gear wheels
which convey motion to other shafts through intermediate pinions and gear wheels
which latter are respectively secured to the rear ends of the latter shafts. These
shafts have forward and rear bearings in the arms of the spiders. The forward
ends of the said shafts carry spur gear wheels which engage spur gear wheels
secured to the strand shafts. Sufficient power being applied to the drive shaft in
n right hand direction the hollow shaft with its spiders and accompanying
mechanism will be revolved to the left. The first gear wheel will also be revolved
to the left, but at a less number of revolutions per minuto than the hollow shaft,
the difference being determined by the size of the pinion and wheel consequently
the core shafts will be rotated to the left (thus laying the core-strands right
handed).
The spools being filled with wire, the free end of the strand-core hearts are first
passed from the spools, on the arms of the six armed spider, through the hollow
core-shafts and strand-shafts to any suitable drawing off mechanism. The free
ends of wires from the spools on the core shafts are then passed through corre-
sponding openings in the discs into the grooves of the proper pulleys on the tension
devices in the manner before set forth. The motion of the core shafts and their
accompanying mechanisin lays the core strands which then pass through the bore
of the strand shafts from the spools of which wires are drawn and properly
threaded. I prefer to draw the wires from the spools on the sides next their
operating shafts because there is less tendency in the wires to fly off when in rapid
motion, and I am enabled to work the spools in much less space without diverting

page_text: the wires from a line vertical with their operating shafts and further the
converging angle of the wires is thereby made more acute.
The wires for each strand having been drawn through to the spinning points of
strand shafts by loosening all but one of the pinions, and also the second gear
wheel and then imparting motion to the drive shaft, the mechanism connected
with the pinion not loosened will be operated, and the wires from that line being
suitably connected with drawing off mechanism, that strand alone will be laid until
sufficient length is obtained to unite with another and similarly made strand at
the spinning point of the main shaft. Each of the strands having been laid as
described their ends are passed through the spaces for that purpose in the annular
journal. A central rope-core is now passed through the hollow shaft, the core and
strands are secured to a suitable drawing-off mechanism and the gear-wheel and
pinions fixed in place, when the entire machine is put in motion to lay the strands
about the rope-core to form the completed rope. When arranged and operated as
described, the machine makes rope in which the strand cores are laid reverse to the
wrapping, which is a common form of hoisting rope. Another form, which is
generally used for the larger kinds of hoisting rope when made by a single strand
making machine and a "closing" machine, is that in which the wires of the strand-
core are laid parallel with the wires composing the wrapping This form is
objectionable for two reasons,-first, the strands are apt to be flattened and when
used over sheaves or drums and thus destroy the contour of the rope and soon
render it unsafe, second, the lay of the core strand is too short to get the same
proportional longitudinal elasticity as that of the wrapping because of its smaller
diameter, while so short a bend is more or less injurious to the wires. The first
form described is also objectionable for the reason that the torsion of the strands
when being "closed" about the rope-core tends to close the wrapping wires
tighter and to open the wires composing the cores. This it may not actually do
but it will cause a tensile strain to be exerted on the wrapping wires while
longitudinally compressing the core wires, so that when in use the strain applied
to the rope causes tho wrapping wires to be unduly strained and at the same time
subjects them to the abraiding action of wear. I intend to obviate all these
objections by making the lay of the strand cores in the same direction but longer
than the lay of the wrapping the lay of the wires in each case being in proportion
to the diameter. In order to accomplish this I arrange the gears of the machine as
follows Remove the spur-gear wheels from the forward ends of the spool shafts
and replace them with smaller gear wheels, when intermediate gear wheels are so
placed as to convey motion from such smaller gear wheels to the spur gears on the
core shafts. Instead of each of the intermediate goar wheels two smaller gear
wheels are so disposed that motion will be successively conveyed through them to
the gear wheels by which the motion of the core shafts is reversed, thus making
the lay of the core strands in the same direction with the lay of the wrapping.
Other gear changes may be made to accomplish the same results.
The tension device need not be coned nor the pulleys thereon be of different
sizes, as a good working tension may be obtained without such features. Further,
the holes in the several sections may differ from one another in number; and one
or more of the sections may be fastened to the shaft so as not to be capable of
rotation thereon. In the latter case the headed rod would serve to hold the
loose sections in fixed relation to those held to the shaft so as to obtain any
adjustment desired; but the sections when so held would not as a whole be
capable of rotatory movement on the shaft, as hereinbefore set forth, to distribute
the strain and equalize the tension on all the wires whenever a crooked or stiff
wire passed through the tension device.

page_text: A indicates a suitable frame for supporting the mechanism and B a hollow shaft
supported at its forward end by an annular journal C connected with a hub a by
spokes a¹ and working in the bearing a³, the said hub being firmly secured to
shaft B in any suitablo manner. The rear end of the shaft B is supported in
bearings a³, a, resting upon, and secured to, cross pieces of the frame A.
At a point about midway between the bearings a³, a³, the hollow shaft Bis
again supported by a ring D connected to and revolving with a tri-armed spider or
bracket E, secured by the hub H to the shaft B the periphery of the said ring D
resting and running upon rolls b, b, secured to the frame A as clearly shown in
Figure 7.
The ring or annulus D braces and supports the central main shaft and
accompanying mechanism, and prevents strain or injury to the said shaft when
the machine carries a quantity of wire and is in rapid motion.
Between the spokes a¹ of the annular journal Care openings (clearly shown in
Figure 5) through which the strands pass to the spinning point F which is inserted
and suitably held by means of a set screw (as shown in Figures 4 and 22) or in
any other suitable manner in the bore of the shaft B.
The spinning point F has a central opening or bore the diameter of which is
little larger than that of the rope-core which, is to pass through it. Spinning
points having bores of various sizes may be employed to suit the different sizes of
rope-cores used.
The spinning point F is in two parts 21 and 22, the former telescoping into the
latter, the object being to extend or retract the point of the part 21 to locate it
contiguous to the focus of the strands when being laid about the rope.core; a long
lay requiring the part 21 to be extended and a short lay requiring it to be
retracted. When desired a divided disc may be attached to the spinning point for
equally dividing the strands. The rear ends of parts 21 and 22 of the spinuing.
point F are counterbored to a bell mouth shape, to facilitate the passage of a
rope-core through the main shaft when filling the machine for use.
Secured to the shaft B is a six-armed spider H' shown in Figure 4, each of
whose arms is bifurcated and carries a grooved pulley c, the purpose of which will
be hereinafter set forth.
Immediately behind the six-armed spider is a tri-armed spider. H³, the
extremities of which carry bearings d to receive aunular journals e similar to, but
smaller than, the journal C. These journals e are secured to hollow strand shafts G
which have their rear bearings in the extremities of the tri-armed spider E.
Contiguous to the journals e, and loosely, mounted on the strand-shafts G, are the
spiral forming devices or spiral formers I. At about the centre of the length of
each of these strand shafts, between the device I and the spider E, is secured a
disc J, carrying on either face brackets f provided with bearings near their outer:
ends. The cap g of one of each pair of these bearings is pivotted at one end, as
shown in Figures 19 and 20, the other end thereof being removably secured by a.
bale h, the free end of which is provided with a screw i and check nut i¹, the
purpose of which will be hereinafter explained.
The bearings of the brackets f receive the, ends of the bobbin shafts ; whichi
carry bobbins. These bobbins are each detachably secured to a shaft j by means
of nuts cc working on the screw-threaded portion of the shaft and screwing
against the face of the bobbin, thus forcing it against a collar and onto a feather.
key m bedded in the shaft, whereby the said shaft is compelled to revolve with
the bobbin.. The purpose of this will be obvious when it is explained that friction
is applied to the bobbin shafts ; in order that the spring of the wire on the bobbins
will not revolve them which otherwise would permit the wires to become entangled
and break.
Friction is applied to the shafts j by means of friction clamps & composed of two
arms or jaws p, q, shown in Figures 10, 11, 12 and 20. Each of the said clamps k
has a recess for receiving some yielding material n such as leather, raw-hide or felt,
which eucloses a portion of the shaft j. The said arms are pivotted at one cudi

page_text: 5
nd are held together at the other end by a screw-threaded bolt o and a nut r.
The said bolt is pivotted at one end to the arm g of the clamp and the nutr
vorking on the threaded portion of bolt o forces the arm p toward the arm q thus
compressing the friction material n against the shaft j as much as may be desired.
A projection 8 on the part 1 of each clamp engages with one of the bearings of
he bracket f, which projection prevents the clamp from revolving with the
haft j consequently resisting, to an extent regulated by the nut r, the revolution
of the said shaft. For convenience of putting on and taking off the clamp K, its
arm p is slotted as shown in Figure 12, to admit the bolt o without entirely
removing the nut r.
One end of the shaft j is turned to the diameter of the bearing for a distance
twice the length of the said bearing and the cap y of this bearing is provided with
a lip which covers one end of the shaft ; and is provided with a screw 8¹ and
check-nut. The end of the screw 8¹ projects through the lip and abuts against the
end of the shaft to prevent end wise movement thereof.
To remove a shaft ; and its bobbin from the machine; the screw is loosened
sufficiently to permit the bale h to swing over the end of the cap g, and the cap is
raised until its lip is clear of the contiguous journal of the shaft thereby allowing
the latter to be moved laterally until the other journal is clear of its bearing, when
the said shaft with its bobbin may be removed.
Spinning points t are adjustably secured to the strand shafts G which spinning
points serve a similar purpose for the strands that the spinning point F does for
the rope.
The spiral forming devices I are loosely mounted on the shafts Ġ, contiguous to
the annular journals e, and are composed of three main parts m¹ m² m² as shown
in Figures 13 to 17 inclusive. As shown, the general contour of these parts, when
separate or combined, is that of a truncated cone, in order to follow the inclination
of the wire from the leaving point on the bobbins to the laying point in the
strands. Each part carries on its outer surface, and inclined therewith, a number
of grooved pulleys, (in practice twelve), which are loosely pivotted thereon. In
the web of each part m¹ m³ m are a number of holes as shown in Figures 13,
14, 15. The number of holes n'n' in the parts m' and m³ is the same and they
exactly coincide, while the holes n² in the central part m² number more or less
than those in the other parts-in the present instance less-twelve holes n¹ being
shown in the parts m' m³ and cleven holes n³ in the part m³, therefore but one
hole in the part m² can coincide at a time with a hole in the parts m¹ and m³.
The coincident holes are maintained in line by means of a headed rod O' which
passes through them (see Figure 16) thereby locking the parts together without
preventing their free rotation on the shaft G.
A collar L on the shaft G prevents the parts m² m² m³ from moving longi-
tudinally on the shaft, and a projection on the said collar retains the rod o' in
place as long as the rotary motion of the spiral forming device I is not more than
the length of the projection 1. An ordinary set-scrow retains the collar in the
desired position.
The journals e of the shaft G prevent forward movement of the spiral forming
device I on the said shaft, as clearly illustrated in Figure 4.
When the machine is in operation, the oscillating motion of the spiral forming
devices on their shafts, is induced by the wires. This motion, however, acting on
the pulleys travelling from side to side of the bobbins as the wire is unwound
therefrom will never be sufficient to carry the rod o¹ beyond the projection l on
the collar L, while on the other hand-the form of collar shown permits the
sections to be moved by hand and the rod inserted into any desired holes in the
webs of the sections, when the wires are loose and the machine is being threaded,
or when a change of tension is required.
The holes n' in the part m² differing in number from those in the parts m² and m³
permit the sections to be adjusted to throw the pulleys on the section m² more or

page_text: less out of alignment with those on the sections m' and m³ and numbering the
holes from one upward, enables the operator to obtain this adjustment at a glance.
In order to take advantage of this adjustment, a grooved pulley u is placed so
that its centre of motion shall be exactly on the plane of a line intersecting hole
number one in the web of the part m' and the centre of the shaft upon which the
part m is mounted; the same with a pulley u¹ on the part m², and the same with
a pulloy u on part m³. The rod o' being inserted in holes numbered one in each
part, keeps the pulleys u u¹ u² on the plane intersecting the said pulleys, the
rod o', and the longitudinal axis of the shaft G upon which the devico I is
mounted. By withdrawing the rod o¹ from holes numbered one and inserting it
in holes numbered two of the parts m' m³ m³ the part m² will have made a greater
rotatory motion on the shaft G than the other parts thus throwing the pulley u¹
out of alignment with the pulleys u u² to give a greater bend to the wire and
consequently increase the tension thereon.
A still greater bend will be imparted to the wire by inserting the rod o¹ in holes
numbered three, and so on. An opposite result will be obtained by reversing the
adjustment.
The wire (see Figure 17) being passed into the grooves of the pulleys u u¹ u²on
alternate sides thereof, it is obvious that a greater or less spiral with correspondingly
increased or decreased tension may be forined at will, and, the individual wires of
a strand being threaded alike, that the spiral and tension on each side will be the
same. It will also be seen that as the devices I on the strand-shafts are set and
threaded alike, au uniform spiral and tension will be imparted to the wrapping
wires.
As the leaving points of the wires on the bobbins are constantly changing from
side to side of the same as the wires are unwound, the devices I rock on the shafts G
by the strain of the wires, thus automatically dividing the lines of strain among all
the wires on each of the strand-shafts and ensuring a more equal tension than
would otherwise be obtained.
It will be observed that the pulley u is smaller than the pulley u' and the
pulley u' than the pulley u. By this variation any crooks or bends in a wire
whose are or curve will correspond to the circumference of the pulley u will not
be removed or increased by passing over the said pulley, but on reaching the
pulley u' and u respectively the bends will be reversed, or increased, should the
wires turn, which they will tend to do. This assists in getting a regular spiral
form in the wire on leaving the pulley u, for the reason that the bending of the
wires increases their hardness or temper.
The wires assume a spiral form on passing between the pulleys u, u, u³,
because of the motion of the bobbins around the axis of the shaft G, the bobbins
each making one revolution on themselves when making a revolution around the
axis of the strand shaft, while the completed strand simply makes a revolution
around the main shaft, not turning upon itself to any appreciable extent. This
causes the grooved pulleys on the spiral forming devices to make a complete
revolution about the individual wires, bending the wires on every side thereof,
and, as the wires advance by the drawing mechanism and the laying of them in the
strand, the pitch of the spiral will be the same as that of the strand. The angle
at which the wires are laid together assists, to a certain extent, the amount of force
or torsion required to make the spiral. When this angle is very oblique and
without tension between the bobbins and laying points, the wires will tend to
twist, which tendency is lessened as this angle approaches a perpendicular from the
strand until the twisting tendency is quite removed. When no spiral former is use!
this torsion of the wires is very undesirable. The torsion in a wire of uneven
temper will be equally distributed until a portion having a soft place leaves its
bobbin, when, because of the superior stiffness of the wire before and behind the
soft place, the torsion will immediately accumulate at such soit place and will twist
off, or greatly weaken, the wire at that point.

page_text: With the present form of spiral former this force in the form of torsion is turned
to useful effect, inasmuch as the bending of the wires in passing over the grooved
pulleys on the spiral forming device I will be on every side of such wire by reason
of this force or torsion, and further the bending of the wires over the pulleys on
the spiral formers makes it very easy to distribute the force or torsion throughout
the whole length of the wires and causes them to assume the spiral form and
thereby remove the torsion, the said spiral form having taken it up as fast as the
wires are driven through to the strands.
The forward movement of the strands at a given speed causes the individual
wires to be drawn at the same rate plus the amount taken up in the lay around the
core, which is exactly the diameter and length of spiral required in the wires, and
which must, and can, be regulated by the adjustment of the spiral formning devices
I before referred to.
The importance of this will be seen more particularly in stiff or springy wires,
as without this spiral bending of the wires there will be a constant tendency on the
part of the wires when in the strand, to spring out and assume their original form,
whereas with the form of spiral forming devices herein shown, the form of the lay
is given before the lay, thus ensuring a rest of forces after the lay. Another
advantage results from the use of my improved spherical former combined with the
notion of the wire-carrying bobbins viz-whenever it may be desired to make a
rope or cable elastic in its length (a desirable feature in "tow ropes" and "switch
ropes") it is only necessary to uso extra stiff or springy wire and set the spiral
forming devices I so that the spiral form of the wires will be larger in diameter
than is ordinarily required in other styles of ropes, whereby the rope is made more
bulky, because the wires therein do not hug the cores or touch one another as in
other ropes. When sufficient longitudinal strain is applied to such a rope it will be
reduced in size until the wires touch, when it assumes, under said strain, the formn
and condition of ordinary ropes, regaining however its original condition when
relieved of strain.
In nearly all cases it is desirable to make ropes or cables of hard or stiff wire
because the tensile strength is much greater and its abrasion and wear in uso
lessened, thereby securing a stronger and more lasting rope, while the flexibility
remains practically the same since the rope is of smaller diameter in its relation to
strength.
Secured to the shaft B between the tri-armed spiders H³ and E is the tri-armed
spider H³ whose bearings receive journals e' secured to the strand shafts C, the
latter being provided with spinning points t, spiral forming devices I, discs J', and
brackets f, the whole constructed, arranged and operating in the same manner as
those on spiders H² and E already described.
The rear bearings for the strand-shafts G₁ are in the extremities of a tri-armed
spider H fastened to the shaft B between the spiders H and H7. The spider Ho
is in every respect like the spider E except that it does not carry a supporting
ring D.
,,
core
In line respectively with the strand shafts G G₁ are other hollow shafts G²
and G³ which I will distinguish from the strand shafts G G¹ by the term "
shafts The core shafts G' have forward bearings in the extremities of the tri-
armed spider H and rear bearings in the ends of alternate arms of the six-armed
spider H. The core-shafts G³ have forward bearings in the alternate arms of said
spider H7, the rear ends bearing in the ends of the tri-arm spider H³.
The construction of the operating parts of the shafts G³ and G³ being alike, a
description of the parts on the shaft G will suffice.
The construction and operation of the forward annular bearings d' is the same
as herein before set forth in the description of the bearings d. The spiral forming
devices I on the shafts G2 G3 are the same as those on the shafts G G' with the
exception that the sections m² m² m³ carry but six, each, of the grooved pulleys
u u¹ u².

page_text: The construction of the discs J with their attachments is the samo as that of
the discs J, already described, except that the rear faces only of the said discs Ja
carry brackets, bobbins, and accompanying mechanism.
A six-armed spider HP is secured to the shaft B behind the tri-armed spider H³,
and its extremities each carry a bobbin ¹, which bobbins are arranged in line with
the bores of the hollow shafts G G2 and G' G³.
gear wheel, M, having external and internal teeth is loosely mounted on
shaft B between the spider HP and the bearing a³, and receives motion from the
pinion whose teeth intermesh with the external teeth of the said wheel. The
pinion is detachably secured to shaft N journalled in bearings on the frame A.
A gear wheel O secured to the shaft B near its rear end engages with a gear
wheel secured to shaft N which is provided with the band wheel N¹. Motion
imparted to the shaft N is conveyed through gear wheels O' and O to the shaft B
which carries the spiders and their accompanying mechanism. The pinion v¹ being
smaller than the gear-wheel O' causes the gear wheel M to revolve at a slower rate
of speed than the shaft B.
Intermeshing with the internal teeth of the gear wheel M, as shown in Figure 9,
are spur gear wheels P P which are respectively secured to shafts R R', the rear
ends of which have bearings in the spider H2, as shewn in Figures 4 and 9.
The shafts R' are shorter than their alternate shafts R, and have forward
bearings in the arms of the spider H while the longer shafts R have forward
bearings in alternate arms of the spider H. As shewn in Figure 4, spur gear-
wheels are respectively secured to the forward ends of shafts R R and
intermesh with spur gear-wheels g³ which are respectively fastened to the
core-shafts G2 G³. The annular journals e³ ³ of the core shafts G2 G³ carry spur
gear-wheels ec which convey motion to the shafts S S' through the intermediato
pinions W W and the gear wheels W3 W4, which latter are respectively secured
to the rear ends of the shafts S S¹. These shafts have forward and rear bearings
in the arms of spiders H, H and H H respectively, as clearly shewn in Figure 4.
The forward ends of the said shafts carry spur gear wheels x¹ x² which engage
with the spur gear-wheels a secured to shafts G G¹.
Sufficient power being applied to the driving shaft N in a right hand direction,
the shaft B with its spiders and accompanying mechanism will be revolved to the
left. The gear-wheel M, will also be revolved to the left, but at a less number of
revolutions per minute than the shaft B, the difference being determined by the
size of the pinion and wheel M, consequently the shafts R R will be rotated to
the right, the core shafts G³ G³ to the left (thus laying the core strands right
handed) the shafts S S¹ by means of the single intermediate wheels WW2 also to
the left, and the strand shafts G G¹ to the right.
The bobbins being filled with wire, the free ends of the strand-core hearts or
cores are first passed from the bobbins, on the arms of the spider HP, through the
hollow core-shafts G2 G3 and strand-shafts G G to any suitable drawing-off
mechanism. The free ends of the wires from the bobbins on the shafts G³ G³ are
then passed through corresponding openings in the discs J2 J3 into the grooves of
the proper pulleys on the strand-forming devices I in the manner before set forth.
The motion of the shafts G² G³ and their accompanying mechanism lays the core
strands which then pass through the bore of shafts G G¹, from the bobbins of
which wires are drawn and properly threaded.
I prefer to draw the wires from the bobbins on the sides next their operating
shafts because there is less tendency in the wires to fly off when in rapid motion,
and I am enabled to work the bobbins in much less space without diverting tho
wires from a line vertical with their operating shafts, and further the converging
angle of the wires is thereby made more acute.
The wires for each strand having been drawn through to the spinning points t
of strand-shafts G G by loosening all but one of the pinions P P' on the shafts R R¹
also loosening the gear wheel O', and then imparting motion to the shaft N, tho

page_text: mechanism connected with the pinion P or P' not loosened will be operated, and
the wires from that line being suitably connected with drawing-off mechanism, that
strand alone will be laid until sufficient length is obtained to unite with another,
and similarly made, strand at the spinning point F of the main shaft B. Each of
the strands having been laid as described their ends are passed through the spaces
for that purpose in the annular journal C. A central rope-core is now passed
through the hollow shaft B, the core and strands are secured to a suitable drawing-
off mechanism and the gear wheel O' and pinions P P' fixed in place, when the
entire machine is put in motion to lay the strands about the rope-core to form the
completed rope.
When arranged and operated as described, the machine makes rope in which the
strand cores are laid in a reverse direction to the wrapping, which is a common form
of hoisting rope.
Another form which is generally used for the larger kinds of hoisting rope when
made by a single strand making machine and a "closing" machine, is that in which
the wires of the strand-core are laid parallel with the wires composing the wrapping.
This form is objectionable for two reasons; first, the strands are apt to be flattened
out when used over sheaves or drums and thus destroy the contour of the rope and
soon render it unsafe; second, the lay of the core-strand is too short to get the
same proportional longitudinal elasticity as that of the wrapping because of its
smaller diameter; while so short a bend is more or less injurious to the wires. The
first form described is also objectionable for the reason that the torsion of the strands,
when being "closed" about the rope-core, tends to close the wrapping wires tighter
and to open the wires composing the cores. This it may not actually do, but it
will cause a tensile strain to be exerted on the wrapping wires while longitudinally
compressing the core-wires, so that, when in use, the strain applied to the rope
causes the wrapping wires to be unduly strained and at the same time subjects them
to the abrading action of wear.
I intend to obviate all these objections by making the lay of the strand-cores in
the same direction but longer than the lay of the wrapping, the lay of the wires in
ench case being in proportion to the diameter. In order to accomplish this I
arrange the gears of the machine as follows that is to say:-I remove the spur-
gear-wheels g' g² from the forward ends of the shafts R. R' and replace them by
smaller gear-wheels, intermediate gear-wheels being then so placed as to convey
notion from such smaller gear wheels to the spur gears g³ on the shafts G³ G³.
Instead of each of the intermediate gear wheels ww two smaller gear wheels aro
so arranged that motion will be successively conveyed through them to the gear
wheels by which the motion of the shaft G2 G3 is reversed, thus making the
lay of the core strands in the same direction with the lay of the wrapping. Other
gear changes may be made to accomplish the same result, or, if desired, the lay of
the core-strand may, by a simple change of gear-wheels be made shorter than the
lay of the wrapping. By speeding the double (or internal and external) gear-
wheel faster than the main shaft, the strands may be laid in the same direction as
that of the rope, or by using intermediate gear-wheels on alternate strand systems,
a rope will be made having strands composed of wires laid in a reverse direction;
many other styles of ropes may be made which will be obvious.
The spiral forming device I need not be coned nor the pulleys thereon be of
different sizes, as a good working tension may be obtained without such features.
Further, the holes in the several sections may differ from one another in number;
and one or more of the sections may be fastened to the shaft so as not to be capable
of rotation thereon. In the latter case the rod o' would serve to hold the loose
sections in fixed relation to those held to the shaft so as to obtain any adjustment
desired; but the sections when so held would not, as a whole, be capable of rotatory
movement on the shaft, as herein before set forth, to distributo the strain and
equalize the tension on all the wires whenever a crooked or stiff wire passed
through the tension device.

page_text: 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 :-
First. The spiral forming mechanism for automatically giving a spiral form to,
and exerting a tensile strain upon, the individual wires, substantially as specified.
Second. In a wire-rope making machine, the spiral forming mechanism consisting
of several sections adapted to be applied to a shaft and provided with equal numbers
of studs or pulleys and unequal numbers of holes, and suitable means for holding
the said sections in their proper relative positions, substantially as described.
Third. The perforated discs or frames adapted to carry wire-bearing bobbins on
both its sides or faces, substantially as specified.
Fourth. The combination with the main and its auxiliary shafts, of the ring or
annulus D and two or more bearing rolls b, substantially as, and for the purpose,
set forth.
Fifth. The clamps K constructed substantially as set forth.
Sixth. The bobbin-shafts j, each provided with a collar and key or feather m,
and having the screw-threaded portion and nuts thereon, substantially as described.
Seventh. The combination, with the bobbin shafts j, of a frictional clamp K,
operating substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Eighth. The brackets f, constructed and adapted to operate substantially as
specified.
Ninth. The shaft B and the gear-wheel M, combined with the core shafts G' G³,
means for conveying motion from the said gear-wheel M to the said core shafts,
the strand-shafts G G', and mechanism for conveying motion from the said coro
shafts to the said strand shafts, substantially as described, and for the purpose
set forth.
11:11 Cambo 1001
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.