Improvements in Drums for Holding Electric Cables and in Covers to be used with such Drums.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 30th July, 1898-Accepted, 27th Aug., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Drums for Holding Electric Cables and in Covers to
be used with such Drums.
I, THOMAS OXLEY, of Tudor Works, Pendleton, Salford, in the County of Lan-
caster, Engineer, 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;-
My invention consists in improvements in drums for holding electric cables
for purposes of carriage or transport and in covers to be used with such drums.
The principal object of my invention is the provision of drums on which electric
cables may be coiled for purposes of carriage or transport and covers for such
drums which shall be stronger, more durable, more convenient and efficient in use
and more readily kept in condition for use than the wooden drums hitherto
employed to receive and hold electric cables for purposes of carriage or transport
and the wooden lags hitherto used in covering such drums and the provision of
convenient and efficient devices by means of which the ends of cables which require
to be connected to drums in order that such cables may be wound thereon may
be connected to such drums and protected from injury during carriage or transport.
According to my invention I form the barrels and flanges of drums of steel
or iron plate and form the covers to be used with drums of connected lags of wood
or steel or iron or corrugated steel or iron.
Several modes of carrying my invention into effect are illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings in all the figures of which the same letters of reference are
employed to indicate corresponding parts.
One form of drum constructed according to my invention is illustrated in
Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 being in part a side elevation
and in part a transverse section taken on the plane indicated by the line A A of
Fig. 2, and Fig. 2 in part a front elevation and in part a longitudinal section
taken on the plane indicated by the line B B of Fig. 1. The drum illustrated
by Figs. 1 and 2 is provided with two cheeks or flanges (") each formed of a single
piece of steel or iron with a hole in the centre to receive the axles on which
the drum may from time to time require to be mounted when in use. Each of
the cheeks or flanges (a) is provided on one face with a circular groove (a¹) to
receive one end of a barrel or tube (b) formed of steel or iron either by drawing
or by rivetting, welding or brazing together the edges of a plate bent into the
form of a tube. The barrel or tube (b) forms the barrel of the drum. The barrel
or tube (b) and the cheeks or flanges (a) are secured together by bolts (c) which
are passed through the flanges or cheeks (a) and through the interior of the
barrel or tube (b) and provided with nuts. Instead of the bolts (c) rivets may
be used.
Another form of drum constructed according to my invention is illustrated by
Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings, Fig. 3 being in part a side cleva-
tion and in part a transverse section taken on the plane indicated by the line C C
of Fig. 4 and Fig. 4 being in part a front elevation and in part à longitudinal

page_text: section taken on the plane indicated by the line D D of Fig. 3. and Fig. 5 being
a longitudinal section. upon a larger scale then Figs. 3 and 4 and taken on the
plane indicated by the line D D of Fig. 3. Figs. 3, 4 and 5 also show a portion
of a cover applied to the drum illustrated by such figures. The drum illustrated
by Figs. 3, 4 and 5 is provided with two cheeks or flanges (a) each formed of a
single piece of steel or iron and a tubular barrel (6) formed of a tube or of a
plate of steel or iron bent into and rivetted in the form of a tube. Angle rings
of iron or steel (d) which extend around the ends of the interior of the barrel (b)
and are each rivetted to such barrel (b) and one of the flanges or cheeks (a) serve
to connect the barrel (b) and the flanges or cheeks (a) together.
On the inner surface of each flange or cheek (a) of each of the drums illus-
trated in Figs. 1 and 2 and Figs. 3, 4 and 5, a lining (e) formed of wooden seg-
ments is secured by bolts or other suitable means so that cables being coiled upon
or uncoiled from such drums shall be prevented from getting into contact with
and being injured by the edges of the cheeks or flanges (a) or the treads or shoes
which are mounted thereon as will be hereinafter mentioned. The outer edges
of the wooden linings (e) form shoulders on which a cover of any of the forms
hereinafter described as provided in accordance with my invention may be made
to bear.
a
Around the circumference of each of the cheeks or flanges (a) illustrated in
Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 is rivetted an angle ring (f) of iron or steel provided with
Hange (f) to cover the edge of the cheek or Hange (a) to which it is secured
and with a flange (2) projecting outwards from the sides of the said cheek or
flange (a), the angle ring (f) serving to strengthen and protect the edges of the
flanges or cheeks (a) when the drum is rolled upon its edges as is usual in the
transport and the laying of cables.
Another method of forming a tread or shoe upon the circumference of each of
the cheeks or flanges (a) of a drum formed in accordance with my invention is
illustrated by Fig. 6 which is a longitudinal section through a part of the edge of
one of the cheeks or flanges of the drum and the tread or shoe thereon taken on a
plane corresponding to either of the planes indicated by the lines B B and D D
of Figs. 1 and 3. In the formation of a tread or shoe in the manner illustrated
by Fig. 6 a steel or iron ring of a T section is rivetted to each of the cheeks or
flanges (a) of the drum so that between the circumference of the wooden lining
secured to the said cheek or flange (a) and the flange (f¹) of such ring (f) which
covers the edge of the said cheek or flange (a) there is a groove or channel (E)
into which a cover of any of the forms hereinafter described as provided in accor
dance with my invention may be passed. A notch is formed in the flange (f') of
each ring (f) in order that the cover used with the drum in which such ring (f)
is employed may be placed in and withdrawn from the grooves or channels (E).
Another method of forming a tread or shoe upon the circumference of each of
the flanges or cheeks (a) of a drum formed in accordance with my invention is
illustrated by Fig. 7 of the accompanying drawings which is a longitudinal
section through a part of the edge of one of the flanges or checks (a) of the drum
and the tread or shoe thereon. In the formation of a tread or shoe upon the
flanges or cheeks (a) of the drum in the manner illustrated in Fig. 7 each flange
or cheek (a) is formed with a flange or shoe or tread (2) by its edge being bent
at right angles to the outer face of such flange or cheek (a).
The shoes or treads (f) upon the edges of the flanges or checks (a) of the drums
made in accordance with my invention may be formed in any of the modes illus-
trated by Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.
In any case in which it may be preferable a drum made in accordance with my
invention may be provided at one end with a flange or cheek (a) provided with a
tread or shoe (f) in one of the modes hereinbefore described and at the other end
with a flange or cheek (a) provided with a tread or shoe (f) in another of the said
modes.
One form of cover provided in accordance with my invention is illustrated by

page_text: Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 which have been hereinbefore in part described and by
Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the accompanying drawings, Fig. being a side elevation
and Fig. 9 a plan of a part of a cover and Fig. 10 being a front elevation of a
drum provided with a cover of the said kind and Fig. 11 a side view of a part
of such cover removed from the drum and folded up. The cover illustrated by
Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 and 11 is formed of a number of wooden lags (g) each
of which is at each end reduced in size and provided with a protecting band (h)
of steel or iron with two of its opposite corners rounded and with
its two other opposite corners angular so that each end of each band (h)
is partly flat and partly rounded and is also formed with a notch at right
angles to the length of the lag. (g) to which it is applied and arranged to
receive a link (2) which being connected by one pin or rivet (¹) to the said
protecting band (h) and by another pin or rivet (1) to the protecting band (h)
upon the adjacent lag (9) serves to connect such lags (g) together. The protect-
ing bands (h) applied to two of the lags (g) in the said cover that is to say the
two lags which are at, the ends of such cover are only connected at one end by
means of links (i) to the protecting bands (h) upon the adjacent lags and are
arranged to be connected together by means of bolts and nuts, the said bolts
being arranged to pass through lugs upon the bands (h) to be connected by such
bolts or by one band (h) of each pair to be connected together being provided
with a lug formed with. a hole in which is formed a screw-thread into which a
screw passed through the lug upon the other band (h) in such pair is screwed.
Any other suitable means of connecting the ends of the said cover may be used
instead of bolts and nuts or screws. The bands (h) upon the lags (9) which are
provided with sides partly plane and partly rounded like the ends of the bands (h)
are so arranged that when the cover formed by such lags (g) is laid out or
extended as when covering a cable upon the drum to which it is to be applied the
ends of each band (h) shall bear against the ends of the neighbouring bands (h)
each band having one flat portion directed downwards and one directed upwards.
When the cover formed of the lags (y) connected together by the bands (h) illus-
trated in Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10 is removed from the drum with which it
is used it is readily folded together into the form illustrated by Fig. 11 the forma-
tion of the rounded and plane parts upon the ends of the bands (h) ensuring that
the adjacent lags (g) shall be folded towards each other and in opposite direc-
tions alternately and that the alternate lags shall be turned in the same direction.
Another form of cover provided in accordance with my invention is illustrated
by Figs. 12 and 13 of the accompanying drawings, Fig. 12 being a side elevation
and Fig. 13 a plan of part of a cover. The cover illustrated by Figs. 12 and 13
is formed of wooden lags (9) connected together by links (i) through each of
which pass two bands (3) of sheet metal which being bent so as to embrace the
ends of the links (2) through which they are respectively passed and so as to form
bands to lie upon the lags (g) with which they are respectively employed are
secured to such lags (g) by means of bolts and nuts or instead of bolts and nuts,
rivets may be used. With the exception of two of the lags (g) that is to say
the two lags (g) which form the ends of the cover, the lags (g) are provided with
bands (1) each passing through two of the links (i). Each of the two lags (g)
which form as aforesaid the ends of the cover is provided at each end with a
band (2) passing through one link (i) only and provided with a lug through or
into which a bolt or screw to connect the two ends of the cover may be passed.
Instead of bolts or screws any other suitable means may be employed to connect
the ends of the cover illustrated by Figs. 12 and 13.
Fig. 14 is a side elevation and Fig. 15 a plan of a portion of a cover illustrating
another form of cover provided in accordance with my invention. The cover
illustrated by Figs. 14 and 15 is similar to the cover illustrated by Figs. 12 and 13
except that the lags (g) are made of corrugated steel or iron instead of wood. In
some cases lags (9) of flat steel or iron may be employed.
Fig. 16 is a side elevation showing a portion of a cover and illustrating another

page_text: form of cover provided in accordance with my invention. The cover illustrated by
Fig. 16 is formed of a sheet of corrugated steel or iron, connected at its ends by
bolts or any other. suitable means. In any case in which it may be preferable
a cover formed of two or more sheets of corrugated steel or iron connected together
in any suitable manner may be employed instead of a cover formed of a single
sheet of corrugated steel or iron.
Fig. 17 is a side elevation and Fig. 18 is a plan of a portion of a cover of
another form provided in accordance with my invention.
The cover illustrated by Figs 17 and 18 is formed of a number of bars or lags of
metal each provided with a hook or hooks to engage with that or those to which
it is to be connected, the two bars or lags (g) which form the ends of the cover
being connected together by bolts or other suitable means.
In order to secure to a drum the end of a cable which requires to be fastened
to such drum before the winding of a cable thereon can be commenced I employ
according to my invention a device which is illustrated by Figs. 19 and 20, Fig. 19
being a side elevation of a drum formed according to one form of my invention
with the said device applied thereto and Fig. 20 being a transverse section of
such device taken upon the plane indicated by the line F F of Fig. 19 but drawn
upon a larger scale than Fig. 19. In the said device for securing the end of a
cable there are two plates (k) (m) of steel, iron or other metal or alloy which
are connected together by means of a pivot or hinge-pin passing through holes or
ears formed in or upon the said plates (k) (m). The plate (m) is secured by screws
or other suitable means in such position on the outer surface of one of the flanges
or cheeks (a) of the drum to which the device for securing the end of a cable
is to be applied that when the plate (k) is turned about the said pivot or pin
against the said flange or cheek (a) such plate (k) shall cover the hole or slot (n)
which is indicated by dotted lines and is formed in such flange or cheek (a) to
receive the end of a cable which is to be secured to the drum before such cable
can be coiled thereon. The plate (k) is stamped or otherwise so shaped as is clearly
indicated by Figs. 19 and 20 that it may be passed over the end of a cable which
is to be secured and be made to bear firmly upon the said end of such cable and
cause it to be firmly pressed against the cheek or flange (a) aforesaid. In order
to press the plate (k) against the end of a cable which is to be secured by it screws
studs or bolts are secured in the flange or check (a) aforesaid and wing-nuts
are secured upon such screws, studs or bolts after holes formed in the plate (k)
have been made to receive such screws studs or bolts in the turning of the plate (k)
into position to bear against the end of the said cable or instead of the said screws,
studs or bolts and wing-nuts (o) any other suitable means of pressing the plate (k)
upon the cable-end to be held thereby may be employed.
A the commencement of the winding of a cable upon a drum made in accordance
with my invention and provided with a device such as is described with reference
to Figs. 19 and 20 for securing the end of a cable to be wound upon a drum, the
end of the said cable is first thrust through the hole (n) in the flange or cheek (a)
of such drum which is provided with such hole (n) and is laid against the outer
face of the said flange or cheek (a) so as to be in position to be covered by the
plate (k) when turned against the said flange or cheek (a) and then the plate (k)
is made to firmly hold the said end of the cable. When the cable has been coiled
upon the drum so that the outermost coils thereof are found to be of a diameter
equal to or a little less than the diameter of the wooden linings (e) the cable
wound upon the drum is if necessary cut off from the part which is not coiled upon
such drum and its latter end is closed, covered or protected in any suitable manner.
The end of such cable which is last wound upon the drum is then secured in any
suitable manner and then the cover provided for use with such drum in accor-
dance with any form of my invention is applied thereto and secured. In the use
of a drum of any of the forms illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 the cover
employed with such drum simply needs to be laid around such drum and secured
but in the case of a drum with shoes or treads such as are illustrated by Fig. 6

page_text: the cover requires to be slipped into the grooves or channels (E) through the
notches provided in the flange (*) in order to permit it to be slipped therein and
passed around such channels or grooves. After the cover has been placed and if
necessary secured in position the drum with the cable wound upon it is ready
for carriage or transport. The manner of releasing and uncoiling a cable from a
drum made according to my invention is obvious without description.
Drums constructed according to my invention are very durable and not readily
injured and if any parts of such drums become injured parts corresponding
thereto can very readily be substituted therefor and this is especially the case in
the drums constructed in the manner illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.
The covers provided in accordance with my invention are very durable and
convenient and efficient in use and when removed from the drums upon which
they have been used are readily folded or rolled into a small compass and there is
little risk of them or the lags if any employed therein becoming lost or destroyed
before they are again required for use and in the case of covers formed according
to my invention in which lags are employed any lags which become broken or
otherwise injured can readily be removed and new ones can be inserted in such
covers in their stead.
The covers provided in accordance with my invention are also applicable to
wooden drums of the kind hitherto employed for holding electric cables.
The devices provided according to my invention to hold fast upon drums the
ends of cables which are required to be first attached to drums may also be
applied to drums such as those hitherto employed for holding electric cables.
Instead of covers such as are provided according to my invention being employed
in conjunction with drums constructed according to my invention wooden lags
such as have hitherto been employed in conjunction with the drums hitherto
employed may be used in conjunction with drums made according to my inven-
tion in any cases in which they may be preferable.
The devices provided according to my invention to secure to drums the ends
of cables which require to be attached thereto before the winding of cables on
such drums is commenced are efficient in holding the ends of cables and protect
them from injury and are also always ready for use, and in their use involve no
injury to the drums in conjunction with which they are employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. For having electric cables coiled upon them for purposes of carriage or
transport, drums with flanges and barrels of steel or iron and with wooden linings
upon the flanges for the purposes hereinbefore described.
2. For having electric cables coiled upon it for purposes of carriage or trans-
port, a drum with flanges and barrel of steel or iron and with wooden linings
upon the flanges and constructed and arranged for the purposes herein before
described and substantially in the manner herein before described with reference to
Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
3. For having electric cables coiled upon it for purposes of carriage or trans-
port, a drum with flanges and barrel of steel or iron and constructed and arranged
for the purposes hereinbefore described and substantially in the manner herein-
before described with reference to Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.
4. For having electric cables coiled upon it for purposes of carriage or trans-
port, a drum with flanges and barrel of steel or iron with wooden linings upon
the flanges and constructed and arranged for the purposes hereinbefore described
and substantially in any of the modes herein before described with reference to
Figs. 1, and 2 and Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings and having its
flanges provided with shoes or treads of any of the forms herein before described
with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, Figs. 3, 4, and 5, Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 of the accom-
panying drawings.

page_text: 5. For use in conjunction with a drum for holding electric cables for pur-
poses of carriage or transport a cover formed of lags connected together for the
purposes hereinbefore described and substantially in the manner hereinbefore
described with reference to Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the accompanying drawings.
6. For use in conjunction with a drum for holding electric cables for purposes
of carriage or transport a cover formed of lags connected together for the purposes
herein before described and substantially in the manner hereinbefore described.
with reference to Figs. 12 and 13 of the accompanying drawings.
7. For use in conjunction with a drum for holding electric cables for purposes
of carriage or transport a cover formed of lags of steel or iron connected together
for the purposes hereinbefore described and substantially in the manner herein-
before described with reference to Figs. 14 and 15 of the accompanying drawings.
8. For use in conjunction with a drum for holding electric cables for purposes
of carriage or transport a cover formed of lags of steel or iron connected together
for the purposes herein before described and substantially in the manner-herein-
before described with reference to Figs. 17 and 18 of the accompanying drawings.
9. For use in conjunction with a drum for holding cables for the purposes of
carriage or transport a cover formed of a sheet or sheets of corrugated steel or
iron for the purposes herein before described and substantially in the manner
herein before described with reference to Fig. 16 of the accompanying drawings.
10. The combination of a drum for holding electric cables for purposes of
carriage or transport and furnished with treads or shoes of any of the forms herein-
before described and a cover of any of the kinds hereinbefore described for the
purposes hereinbefore described.
,
11. For use in conjunction with a drum for holding electric cables for purposes
of carriage or transport the herein before described device consisting in the plates (k)
and (m) arranged upon one of the flanges of such drum and employed substantially
as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 19 and 20 of the accompanying
drawings and for the purpose of securing to the said drum that end of the cable
to be wound thereon which requires to be attached thereto before the winding of a
cable thereon can be commenced.
Dated this Twenty-ninth day of July 1898.
HOWARD
CHEETHAM,
Manchester, Agent to the Applicant.