NEW AND USEFUL IMPROVEMENTS IN SPLICING WIRE ROPE OR ROPES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Pickering Healey, of the State of Louisiana, of
the United States of America, for the Invention of "NEW AND USEFUL
IMPROVEMENTS IN SPLICING WIRE ROPE OR ROPES."
Sealed the 21st November 1879, and dated the 24th September 1879.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Pickering Healey at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th September 1879.
WILLIAM PICKERING HEALEY, of the State of Louisiana, of the United States of
America. "NEW AND USEFUL IMPROVEMENTS IN SPLICING WIRE ROPE OR
ROPES."
A wire rope as usually made is composed of a series of strands and a hempen
core encompassed by them, the strands and core being laid together with and
twisted about the hempen core.
Each of the strands is a fasces or a bundle of wires.
It is this kind of a rope to which my Invention is applicable.
In carrying out my said Invention, in the making of a loop or eye splice, or what
is termed a turned up end, I remove from the portions of the rope about which the
fusible metal of the splice is to be formed the hempen core, and put in place thereof
one or more tubes or other suitable devices (a tube perforated or slotted in its sides
and open at its ends may be used) adapted to prevent the strand from collapsing,
or to hold them expanded at the place of removal of the part of the hempen strand
or core. The part of the rope which is to aid in forming the splice is next to be
laid against the part to which it is to be connected, it being for the eye splice
beveled down or its wires cut so as to render it tapering when against the main
or standing part of the rope. Next the two parts or splicing portions are to be
wolded or sufficiently wound with wire to keep them in proper contact, after which
they are to be arranged within a suitable mold, and fusible or molten metal is to
be poured therein until the matrix of such mold may be filled by such metal, and
the metal may have thoroughly permeated between the strands of the parts to form
the splice, and have filled the cavity or cavities made by removal of part of the
hempen strand or core, as stated.
Preparatory to wolding the parts of the splice with wire I usually place them
in or between hollowed clamps, and force such clamps firmly upon such parts so

page_text: as to contract them and set them together as may be required, such clamps having
notches or helical openings in them to enable the wolding or fastening wire to be
passed through the clamps and wound firmly about the parts of the splice therein
while such parts may be so compressed. In making an end to end splice the
hempen core is to be removed from the parts which are to interlap, and they are to
be interlapped and pressed and wolded together, after which they are to be laid in
the mold and the fusible metal is to be cast around and between them.
The first part of my Invention therefore consists in the splice or splices, as made;
the second part relating to or consisting in the art, method, or process of making
such splice or splices.
Of the Drawings,—
Figure
denotes a side view of an eye splice; Figure 2, a side view of a turned
up end; and Figure 3, a side view of an end to end splice as made by my new or
improved method.
Figures 4, 5, and 6 are respectively longitudinal sections of such splices
complete.
Figures 7, 8, and 9 denote respectively the external appearances of the parts
before application to them of the fusible metal, each of such Figures also showing
the mold.
Figure 10 is a transverse section of the eye splice.
Figure 11 is a transverse section of the turned up end splice.
Figure 12 is a transverse section of the end to end splice.
Figure 13 is an inner side view of one of the compressing clamps.
Figure 14 is a side elevation, and Figure 15 a longitudinal section of the pair of
such clamps.
Figure 16 is a top view.
Figure 17, a side view.
Figures 18 and 19, end views; and
Figure 20, a longitudinal section of the mold for making the eye or loop splice.
Figure 21 is a top view.
Figure 22, a side view; and
Figure 23, a transverse section of the mold for making the turned up end
splice.
In such of the said Figures as they are shown, A, A', denote the portions of the
rope to be connected by the fusible metal shown at B, the hempen core being
represented at a. The mold is shown at C, and the wolding wire at b. The metal
that supplies the place of the removed part or parts of the hemp core is shown at c,
the tube or device for keeping the strands apart in the place where the hempen
core is removed being represented at d.
Various kinds of fusible metal may be used in forming the splice, but I prefer
the composition usually termed "Babbitt metal."
The penetration of the fused metal between the wires of the strands, and also
into the space or spaces from which the core may have been removed, and the
encompassing of the whole by the metal, and the adhesion of it to the wires, renders
the splice when completed very perfect and of great strength. The principle object
of removing parts of the hempen core, as described, is to prevent the production of
gases or smoke that would result were the molten metal to be suffered to come in
contact with and burn the core, such smoke or gas operating to prevent the metal
from properly passing between the wires or adhering to them..
In Figures 2 and 5 the end of the turned up splice is shown as finished by a
metallic ferrule, or thimble, or cap f, though this is not an essential part of my
Invention.
Each of the clamps shown at D, D, in Figures 14 and 15, is notched as repre-
sented at g in said Figures, and also at g in Figure 13. Furthermore, each mold is
shown as made in two sections and with suitable flanges to aid in closing them
together, there being to the mold if necessary one or more gates, inducts, or passages
for conducting the metal into it. By my improved mode of making the fusible

page_text: metal splice all necessity of "tucking" the wires is avoided; in making what is
usually termed a "long splice" the abutting ends of the strands may be connected
by the fusible metal cast between as well as around them.
What I claim as my Invention is as follows, viz. :—
First. The wire rope splice made substantially as described, one or more portions
of the hempen core being removed and fusible metal cast into, between, and around
the strands and into the space or spaces from which the core was taken, all as set
forth.
Second. The improved mode, substantially as described, of making a wire rope
splice with fusible metal, such consisting in removing from the part or parts to
be encompassed by the fusible metal the heart piece or core of the rope, and
employing a mold and casting fusible metal into and between and about the
strands, all essentially as explained.
Third. The improved mode or process described of making a wire rope splice
with fusible metal, such consisting in removing from the part or parts to be encom-
passed by the fusible metal the hempen heart or core of the rope, and compressing
and wolding such parts as described, and subsequently applying to them a mold
and casting therein and upon and within them fusible metal, as set forth.
Fourth. The clamps made substantially as explained for compressing together
the parts to be covered by fusible metal, and for enabling the wolding wire to be
applied to the said parts while they may be within the clamps.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Pickering Healey, have hereto set
my hand and seal, this Twentysixth day of August, 1879.