Improvements in Wire Rope Making Machines.
Year: 1893

page_text: [Communicated from abroad by CHARLES RIORDEN, of Toronto Mail Building,
King Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Manufacturer.]
Improvements in Wire Rope Making Machines.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 :-
The objects of this invention are to produce a simple, compact and easily
adjustable machine for making wire rope, composed of nineteen wires or strands,
by one operation, the inner layer of six strands being surrounded by the outer
layer of twelve strands which is wound around the inner layer in the same direction
in which the inner layer is wound around the core, whereby a rope of great
flexibility and strength is formed in which each strand bears its full share of the
strain.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved wire rope
Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.
machine.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section, on an enlarged scale, of the main reel frame
and connecting parts.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section, on an enlarged scale, of the guide and die
frame and connecting parts.
Figure 5 is a cross section of the final die on line xx, Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a rear view of the head in which both series of wires are guided and
which is secured to the rear end of the hollow shaft.
Figure 7 is a rear view of the primary guide head.
Figure 8 is a fragmentary cross section of the primary die on line y, y, Figure 4.
Figure 9 is a rear elevation of the secondary guide head and its supporting plate.
Figure 10 is a front view, partly in section, of the main reel frame, the section
being taken on line z, z, Figure 3.
Figure 11 is a detached view of the last reel carrying wheel.
Figure 12 is a detached sectional view of the gear mechanism connecting the
individual frames of the second and third sets of reels, and
Figure 13 is a horizontal section of one of the reels and its frame.
Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.
A represents the base frame of the machine and B, C, are standards secured
transversely upon the base frame near the front and rear ends thereof. D represents
the hollow longitudinal shaft of the main reel frame. This shaft is journalled at
its front end in a bearing b formed at the upper end of the front standard B while
its rear end is provided with a circular disc c, which is journalled in a bearing
formed in the upper end of the rear standard C as shown in Figure 4.
E represents the reel or spool which carries the central strand or core wire of
the rope. This reel is arranged horizontally at the front end of the machine and
is journalled on a transverse arbor secured in a frame e, which latter is supported
and centered by a sleeve e¹ on the front end of the hollow shaft, but is secured to
the front standard B by a bolt e², so as to be held against turning with said shaft.
The wire from this reel passes through the hollow shaft to the guides and dies.
F F1 F2 F3 represent four carrier wheels or circular frames which support the
reels carrying the wire for all of the strands which surround the core strand
spirally. These carrier or supporting wheels are secured to the hollow shaft at
suitable intervals and support three sets of reels between them, each set consisting
of six reels and each reel being mounted in an individual reel frame,

page_text: G represents the first set of six reels which carry the six strands of wire which
are wound immediately around the central or core wire and which form the first
layer around the same. Each of these reels is journalled in an individual frame
journalled horizontally between the first carrier wheel F and the second carrier
wheel F. The frames g are arranged equi-distant around the hollow shaft and are
provided at their front and rear ends with longitudinal trunnions g¹, g², which are
journalled in bearings formed in the carrier wheels F and F. The wires pass
from the reels G through openings formed in the rear trunnions g², thence through
steel bushings g³ secured in the wheels F F nearer the shaft D, thence through
an annular row of openings g (Figure 6) formed in the disc c supporting the rear
end of the hollow shaft, and thence to the guides and dies.
H represents an eccentric wheel whereby the reels are maintained in a horizontal
position during the rotation of the carrier wheels, to avoid twisting of the wire.
This eccentric wheel is arranged in front of the first carrier wheel F and is
mounted on an eccentric bearing h secured to the rear side of the front standard B.
The front trunnion of each reel frame g is provided with a crank which is pivoted
at its free end to the eccentric wheel. The length of each crank is equal to the
eccentricity of the eccentric wheel, whereby upon rotating the carrier wheels and
the eccentric wheel, the latter maintains the reels in a horizontal position.
I represents the second set of six reels which supply one half of the twelve wires or
strands of which the second or outer layer of the rope is formed. These reels are
arranged between the second carrier wheel F' and the third carrier wheel F² and
are supported in individual frames i having trunnions at their front and rear ends
journalled in the carrier wheels F' F'. The wires from these reels pass through
openings formed in the rear trunnion of the frames i, thence through steel bushings
secured to the carrier wheel F³ near the periphery thereof, and thence through
openings in the disc c. Each of the reels I is maintained in a horizontal position
by a longitudinal crank shaft which is journalled with its front end in the carrier
wheel and has its crank pivoted to the eccentric wheel like the cranks . The
rear end of each crank and of each crank shaft 3 is square and is seated in a
correspondingly shaped opening formed in the front trunnion of the reel frame, so
that the frame and crank or crank shaft are compelled to turn together.
J represents the third set of six reels arranged between the third carrier wheel F2
and the fourth carrier wheel F³, whereby the remaining half of the twelve outer
wire strands is supplied. Each of these reels is arranged in an individual frame j
having trunnions at its front and rear ends which are journalled in the carrier
wheels F2 and F3. The wires from the reels J pass through openings formed in
the rear trunnions of the frames j, and thence through openings formed in the disc c.
The frames of this third set of reels are maintained in a horizontal position by gear
mechanism which connects each frame with a frame of the second set of reels, and
which is constructed as follows: The rear trunnion of each frame i, of the second
set of reels, is provided with a pinion and the front trunnion of each frame of
the third set of reels is provided with a similar pinion k¹. k² represents an idle
pinion which is pivoted to the rear side of the carrier wheel F and meshes with
both of the pinions and, whereby motion is transmitted from the reel frames i
of the second set to the reel frames of the third set and the latter are caused to
move precisely like the reel frames of the second set and are so maintained in a
horizontal position. The reel frames g and j of the first and third sets are axially
in line, and the reel frames i of the second set are arranged equidistant between the
reel frames g and j.
Each of the wire reels consists of a cylindrical body of wood L having flanges
formed at its ends by metal discs / secured to the body of tie bolts *. One of
these discs is provided with an annular channel m which receives a divided tension
ring m. The ends of this tension ring are provided with eyes which are connected
by a screw bolt m². The eyes of the tension ring are bent. outwardly, so that, when
the reel is rotated these eyes strike against the reel frame and arrest the rotary
movement of the tension ring which opposes a constant and uniform frictional

page_text: resistance to the rotary movement of the reel. The friction between the tension
ring and the reel can be increased or decreased by tightening or loosening the
bolt m².
_N represents the primary guide head, shown most clearly in Figures 4 and 7,
whereby the core or central strand and the six strands forming the first layer around
the core are guided while being twisted together. This guide head tapers
rearwardly and is provided with radial arms which are secured with their outer
ends to longitudinal supporting rods n. The latter are secured at their front ends
to the disc c. The primary guide-head is provided with a central bore or passage n¹
through which the core wire passes.
O represents a wearing sleeve which is removably secured to the contracted
cylindrical rear end of the guide head N by a pin O'. This wearing sleeve is
provided at its rear end with an annular series of lugs O forming between them
notches or recesses Os and having openings Oʻ. The inner series of six wires which
are laid immediately around the core strand rest against the outer conical surface
of the guide-head N and are passed either through the openings 04, in the lugs 01
or through the notches O³ between these lugs. Small wires are preferably guided
by passing them through the openings in the lugs, because they are guided therein
more securely, but large wires are preferably guided in the notches, which latter
also permit the wires to be threaded more rapidly through the machine. When the
wearing sleeve is worn. It can be removed upon withdrawing the pin O¹, and can
be replaced by a new one. By providing the primary guide-head with a removable
wearing piece, the necessity of replacing the whole guide-head, when worn, is
avoided.
P. represents the primary die which receives the core wire and the first layer of
wires wound around the same. This die consists of two halves P1 P2, Figures 4
and 8, which are arranged in a cross-head secured to the longitudinal supporting
rods n.
The divided die is yieldingly held in place by a cap P³ secured to the
cross-head and a block of rubber p interposed between the cap P³ and one part of
the divided die. This die straightens the rope after the first layer has been wound
around the core and takes out any kinks, so as to leave the rope comparatively
round to receive the second layer of wire strands.
Q, represents the secondary guide-head, whereby the twelve wires or strands
which form the second or outer layer of the rope are guided upon the seven-strand
rope which issues from the primary die. This secondary guide-head is similar in
construction to the primary guide-head. It tapers rearwardly and is provided at
its rear end with a removable wear sleeve q having an annular row of lugs q₁ which
form intermediate notches or recesses in which the wires are guided. This guide-
head is attached by a flange q² to a face plate q³ which is secured to the rear ends
of the longitudinal rods n. The flange q is provided with several segmental
slots through which the wires pass.
The
R, represents the secondary die which receives the completed rope. This die is
divided and is arranged in a seat formed at the upper end of a standard r.
secondary die is yieldingly held in its seat by means of a cap plater secured to
the standard and a rubber block 2 arranged between said cap plate and the die.
S represents the driving shaft whereby motion is imparted to the shaft D and
carrier wheels constituting the frame supporting the wire reels. The shaft S is
provided with a gear wheels meshing with a gear rim s' formed on the first carrier
wheel F.
The primary guide head and the primary die are attached to the longitudinal
supporting rods by set screws, as shown, or other suitable devices, so that this guide
head and die can be adjusted lengthwise on the machine, as may be necessary to
properly guide the first series of wires upon the core strand.
It is obvious that a seven-wire cable may be made upon this machine by simply
omitting the twelve wires which form the outer layer when a nineteen wire cable
is made.
The main reel frame consists of the hollow shaft and the four wheels or circular

page_text: frames mounted thereon which form three compartments, one behind the other, in
which the individual reel frames are arranged in three annular sets. This frame is
very simple and compact, containing eighteen reels in three annular sets, whereby
the length of the machine is considerably reduced, and maintains each individual
reel frame by positive means in a horizontal position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The combination with the main reel frame, of two sets of individual reel
frames mounted therein one behind the other, mechanism whereby one of said sets
of individual frames is maintained in a horizontal position during the rotating of
the main reel frame, and gear wheels connecting the two sets of individual frames
and controlling one set from the other, substantially as set forth.
2. The combination with a main reel frame composed of three annular com-
partments, one behind the other, three annular sets of individual reel frames
journalled in said compartments, an eccentrically mounted wheel, cranks attached
to the individual frames of the first and second sets and pivoted to the eccentric
wheel, and gear wheels connecting the individual frames of the third set with those
of the second set, substantially as set forth.
3. The combination with a main reel frame, an individual reel frame journalled
therein, an eccentric wheel, a crank connecting the individual reel frame with the
eccentric wheel, an individual reel frame arranged in rear of the first mentioned
individual frame, gear wheels secured to the journals of said individual frames, and
idle wheels attached to the main frame and meshing with the gear wheels of said
individual frames, substantially as set forth.
4. The combination with the main reel frame and its hollow shaft, of a disc
mounted on said shaft and provided with a row of holes for the wires, a guide and
die frame connected with said disc and rotating therewith, and a guide head and
die mounted one behind the other in said guide and die frame and capable of
independent longitudinal adjustment thereon, substantially as set forth.
5. The combination with the main reel frame and its hollow shaft, of a disc
mounted on said shaft and provided with two concentric rows of openings for the
wires, a guide and die frame connected with said disc and rotating therewith,
a primary guide-head and a primary die mounted in said guide and die frame, one
behind the other, a secondary guide-head arranged in rear of the primary die, and
a stationary die arranged in rear of the secondary guide-head, substantially as set
forth.
6. The combination with the main reel frame and its hollow shaft, of a disc
mounted on said shaft and provided with two concentric rows of openings for the
wires, longitudinal rods secured to said disc, a primary guide-head and a primary
die adjustably secured to said rods and a secondary guide-head secured to the ends
of said rods, substantially as set forth.
Dated CDIS 11th day of April 1990.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.