IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COTTON ROPES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Birkmyre, of Port Glasgow, in the County of
Renfrew, North Britain, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF COTTON ROPES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Birkmyre at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th July 1881.
HENRY BIRKMYRE, of Port Glasgow, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COTTON ROPES."
This Invention, which relates to improvements in the manufacture of cotton
ropes, has for its object to so construct such ropes that the individual threads in
the several strands shall all bear an equal or approximately equal proportion of any
strain to which the rope may be subjected.
In manufacturing cotton ropes, according to this Invention, a series of cotton
threads which have previously been spun on to separate bobbins or cops are wound,
laid, or doubled together, so as to constitute one thread, as follows: Any suitable
number of the bobbins or cops, but preferably six, are put on a winding machine,
and the threads from them are all laid, wound, or doubled together on to one
bobbin, after which any suitable number, but preferably ten of these latter bobbins,
are put on an ordinary doubling or twisting frame, and the threads from each of
them are all twisted together on to a single bobbin; or under an alternative method
the threads from each of the bobbins may be passed through holes in a register
plate and "tubed," a little twist being at the same time given to the finished
thread or yarn previous to winding it on the bobbin, or instead of these two
operations of winding and doubling, the requisite number of bobbins or cops of
thread or yarn to give a finished yarn of the desired thickness can be doubled or
twisted together at one operation, or passed through holes in a register plate and
"tubed" and slightly twisted, thereby obviating the first process of winding.
Under any of these modes of manufacture when the threads or yarns are so
twisted and of the requisite thickness, the bobbins containing them are put on to a

page_text: "bank" or frame, and the threads or yarns are then drawn through holes in a
register plate and through a tube by the common rope forming and laying machine
and formed into strands, and then laid into rope by the said machine.
By this means of manufacturing cotton ropes the outer threads in each strand
are longer than the inner ones, instead of all the threads being of uniform
length as heretofore, and the individual threads in the several strands are thereby
enabled each to bear an equal proportion of the strain thrown upon the rope,
whereby the rope is caused to wear more evenly and last longer than with the
mode of manufacture hitherto pursued.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Birkmyre in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th September 1881.
HENRY BIRKMYRE, of Port Glasgow, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COTTON ROPES."
My said Invention, which relates to improvements in the manufacture of cotton
ropes, has for its object to so construct such ropes that the individual threads in
the several strands shall all bear an equal or approximately equal proportion of
any strain to which the rope may be subjected.
In manufacturing cotton ropes according to this Invention a series of cotton
threads which have previously been spun on to separate bobbins or cops are wound,
laid, or doubled together, so as to constitute one thread, as follows:-Any suitable
number of the bobbins or cops, but preferably six, are put on a winding machine,
and the threads from them are all laid, wound, or doubled together on to one bobbin,
after which any suitable number, but preferably ten of these latter bobbins, are put
on an ordinary doubling or twisting frame, and the threads from each of them are
all twisted together on to a single bobbin, or under an alternative method the
threads frem each of the bobbins may be passed through holes in a register plate
and "tubed," and a little twist may at the same time be given to the finished
thread or yarn previous to winding it on the bobbins; or instead of these two
operations of winding and doubling, the requisite number of bobbins or cops of
thread or yarn to give a finished yarn of the desired thickness can be doubled
or laid together at one operation, or passed through holes in a register plate
and "tubed" and slightly twisted, thereby obviating the first process of winding,
or the twisting in both the first and second modes may if desired be dispensed
with.
Under any of these modes of manufacture when the threads or yarns are so
doubled and of the requisite thickness the bobbins containing them are put on to a
bank or frame, and the threads or yarns are then drawn through holes in a register
plate and through a tube by the ordinary rope forming and laying machine, and

page_text: formed into strands, and then laid into rope by the said machine, or the threads or
yarns can be formed into a rope on any suitable rope laying machine.
By this means of manufacturing cotton ropes the outer threads in each strand
are longer than the inner ones, instead of all the threads being of an uniform
length as heretofore, and the individual threads in the several strands are thereby
enabled each to bear an equal proportion of the strain thrown upon the rope,
whereby the rope is caused to wear more evenly and last longer than with the
mode of manufacture hitherto pursued.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may
be used or carried out in practice, I would observe in conclusion that what I
consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to me by the herein before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
Manufacturing cotton ropes in manner substantially as hereinbefore described, and
whereby the outer threads in each strand are rendered longer than the inner ones,
and the individual threads in the several strands are enabled to bear an equal
or approximately equal proportion of any strain to which the ropes may be
subjected.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Birkmyre, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
HENRY BIRKMYRE. (L.S.)