IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC ROPES
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Henson Henson, of No. 13, Parliament
Street, Westminster, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention
of IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC ROPES,"
Sealed the 9th February 1869, and dated the 12th August 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Henson Henson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
12th August 1868.
I, HENRY HENSON HENSON, of No. 13, Parliament Street, West-
minster, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC ROPES," to be
follows:-
My Invention has for its object an improved construction of metallic
ropes, such as are used in mines, for the rigging of ships, and other
purposes, whereby greater safety and strength will be insured, and the
great danger to ships from the effects of the electric fluid will be
rendered more remote. Wire rope as at present in general use is made
of galvanized iron wire of a fine gauge, which being unprotected suffers
[Price 8d.]

page_text: much from abrasion, corrosion, and consequent fracturing, in addition to
which it is said that by the process of galvanizing the wire, through being
heated to a high temperature during the process, loses twenty-five per
cent. of its strength.
Now my present Invention consists in employing the wires for such
ropes in their natural ungalvanized and consequently unweakened state,
and providing them either before or during the process of rope making
with a protective coating of tape, jute, hemp, or any other suitable fibre
or fabric, either alone or combined with "Hay's glue," carbonized oil,
or some other suitable bitiminous or other material or compound that
will effectually exclude moisture and grit. Or in place of or in addition
to coating each wire separately the fibrous substance with or without
bituminous or other matter may be introduced between the wires of the
rope during the process of rope making, so that each wire is more or less
entirely imbedded in such fibrous and bituminous matter, and is thus
effectually preserved and protected against undue straining, the fibrous
matter forming an elastic cushion for the same, and preventing the
fracture of numerous wires in the rope, such as occurs in ropes of
present construction.
By the use of my improved wire ropes the danger and expense arising
from the decay and breakage of wire ropes as at present made will be more
or less entirely obviated, whether such improved ropes are used in coal or
other mines, for ships, or other purposes, and when employed for ships'
rigging the non-conducting coating of the rope will more or less entirely
protect it from the action of the electric fluid, the rope being at the same
time air and water proof, more ductile, and consequently safer than the
wire ropes now employed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry Henson Henson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 11th February 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
HENSON HENSON, of No. 13, Parliament Street, Westminster, in the
County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of August, in the year of

page_text: our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Henry Henson Henson, Her special
licence that I, the said Henry Henson Henson, my executors, adminis-
trators and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry Henson
Henson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC ROPES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Henry Henson Henson, my executors or adminstrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
alendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Henson Henson, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
My Invention has for its object an improved construction of metallic
ropes, such as are used in mines, for the rigging of ships, and for other
purposes, whereby greater safety and strength will be insured and the
great danger to ships from the effects of the electric fluid will be rendered
more remote. Wire rope as at present in general use is made of
galvanized iron wire of a fine gauge, which being unprotected suffers much
from abrasion, corrosion, and consequent fracturing, in addition to which
it is said that by the process of galvanizing the wire, through being beated
to a high temperature during the process, loses twenty-five per cent. of its
strength.
Now my present Invention consists in employing the wires for such
ropes by preference in their natural ungalvanised and consequently
unweakened state, and providing them either before or during the process
of rope making with a protective coating of tape, jute, hemp, or any other
suitable fibre or fabric, or combination of fibres or fabrics, either alone or
combined with a preparation of "Hay's glue," carbonized oil, or some

page_text: other suitable bituminous or other material or compound that will effectually
exclude moisture and grit. Or in place of or in addition to coating each
wire separately the fibrous substance with or without bituminous or other
.matter may be introduced between the wires of the rope during the pro-
cess of rope making, so that each wire is more or less entirely imbedded
in such fibrous and bituminous matter, and is thus effectually preserved
and protected against undue straining, the fibrous matter forming an
elastic cushion for the same and preventing the fracture of numerous
wires in the rope, such as occurs in ropes of present construction while at
work. The covering of the wires with the before-mentioned materials
may be effected during any convenient stage of manufacture of the
rope. Also in place of covering each wire separately I sometimes
only cover each strand of wires with hemp, cordage, or other material
before mentioned; or I even provide the entire rope with such an
external covering in addition to or in place of coating or covering
each wire or strand of wires. My Invention is equally applicable to flat
wire ropes in which the strands are plaited together or secured together
side by side.
By the use of my improved wire ropes the danger and expense arising
from the decay and breakage of wire ropes as at present made will be
more or less obviated, whether such improved ropes are used in coal or
other mines, for ships, or other purposes, and when employed for ships'
rigging the non-conducting coating of the rope will more or less entirely
protect it from the action of the electric fluid, the rope being at the same
tine more or less perfectly air and water proof, more ductile, and con-
sequently safer than the wire ropes now employed.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I am aware
metal wires have been covered with fibrous materials for forming electric
telegraph conductors or cables, also that one or more covered wires have
been introduced into common hempen rope for the purpose of strengthening
the same, and I therefore in no way claim such applications of covered
wires; but what I claim is,-
First. Providing the wires or strands of wires of wire ropes for hauling
purposes, ships' rigging, stays, or for fences, or the entire wire rope, or
all or any of its parts with a coating of tape, jute, hemp, or other suitable
fibre or fabric, or combination of such fibres or fabrics, either with or
without the admixture of bituminous or other suitable water-proofing

page_text: material or materials, the object being to render such wire ropes more
or less perfectly impervious to the action of the atmosphere, water,
or grit.
Second. Imbedding the wires of such wire ropes in or upon a core of
fibrous material with or without the admixture of bituminous or water-
proofing materials, such wire ropes or the separate strands or wires.
thereof being either provided or not with a separate protective covering as
aforesaid.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Henson Henson, have
hereunto set my haud and seal, this Eleventh day of February,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
nine.
HENRY H. HENSON. (L.S.)