A METHOD OR METHODS OF MAKING A BELT OR FLAT BAND FOR THE PURPOSE OF DRAWING COALS, OR OTHER MINERALS, UP THE PITS OR SHAFTS OF MINES, AND FOR RAISING OF HEAVY ARTICLES IN ANY SITUATION WHATEVER
Year: 1807

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, WILLIAM
CHAPMAN, of the Town and County of the Town of Newcastle-upon-Tyne,
Civil Engineer, and EDWARD WALTON CHAPMAN, of the same place, Rope
Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS His present Majesty King George the Third, by His most
gracious Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing
date at Westminster, the Thirtieth day of October, in the forty-eighth year
of His reign, did give and grant unto us, the said William Chapman and
Edward Walton Chapman, His especial licence that we, the said William
Chapman and Edward Walton Chapman, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said William Chapman and Edward
Walton Chapman, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-
upon-Tweed, our Invention of "A METHOD OR METHODS OF MAKING A BELT OR
FLAT BAND FOR THE PURPOSE OF DRAWING COALS, OR OTHER MINERALS, UP THE PITS
OR SHAFTS OF MINES, AND FOR RAISING OF HEAVY ARTICLES IN ANY SITUATION
WHATEVER;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso obliging
us, the said William Chapman and Edward Walton Chapman, by an instru-
ment in writing under our hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one
of us, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of our said Invention,

page_text: and in what manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the samo to
be inrolled in His said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within one calendar
month next and immediately after the dato of the said recited Letters Patent,
as in and by the same, reference being therounto had, will more fully and at
large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, we, the said
William Chapman and Edward Walton Chapman, do hereby describe and
ascertain the nature of our said Invention to be as follows, namely :-
First, in the combination of two or any greater number of strands of shroud-
laid rope, laid side by side, so as to form any determinate breadth of belt or
flat band; and,
Secondly, in the peculiar machinery for facilitating its formation.
A strand of a shroud-laid rope is the first combination of the yarns, which
are twisted together round one common axis, so as to form a compact cylindric
mass; and the common shroud-laid rope is formed of three of these strands
twisted together the contrary way to the twist of the strand, which for common
purposes is necessary, although the loss of strength is so considerable that,
exclusive of the reduction of length from being made into a rope, the strength
of two strands made in such a way as to mako all, the yarns bear an equal
tension, or nearly so, will, when laid side by side, be nearly equal to that of
three such strands combined in a rope; from which circumstance the chief
advantage arises in forming the strands into belts, instead of making them
into ropes.
Having explained the advantage the public may derive from the use of
these belts, we now proceed to shew what appears to be the best method of
putting them together, and then to describe the machinery w have invented
for that purpose. The belts will be best composed of an equal number of
strands, each alternate one twisted the contrary way to the other, so as to
counteract the tendency they would otherwise have to twist round one
another. It is also eligible that the yarns for the differently twisterl strands
should be twisted contrary ways. Four, six, or cight strands will form the most
convenient belt, but each extreme verges towards its respective disadvantage,
(videlicet) if liable to be chafed the broad belt will be soonest injured; but,
on the other hand, the narrow belts, from the necessarily increased thickness
of the strands, will sooner destroy themselves by bending over the pulleys. In
forming the flat belts, attention should be paid to the strands being all brought
to an equal tension before they are combined together, which combination may
be done in any manner at the pleasure of the manufacturer. They may be
rivetted together, at proper intervals, with strong iron wires, or laced or

page_text: stitched together. The easiest way of stitching them is whilst they are laid at
length in the rope ground to attatch each strand to a rope, on which, by
means of leading pulleys, equal loads or weights may be suspended, which will
stretch each strand equally. If these weights descend to the ground, they
may be raised by heaving at the opposite end of the proposed belt. Means, of
course, must be taken to prevent the strands untwisting, which may easily be
done by fastening a sufficient weight below each where they are attached to
the stretching ropes, so as to prevent their turning round. The degree of
tension upon each strand should be proportionate to what the whole belt has
to bear. The remaining process is to combine the strands side by side, which,
as before observed, may be done in any manner at the pleasure of the operator.
We shall, however, describe a method of doing it, (videlicet) by having a
sledge or four-wheel truck resting under the strands, with a frame at or a little
above their level. On each side of which is affixed a screw a, a, Fig. III. in
the annexed Plan, hollow within, so as to receive the shank of a large needle,
with an eye near the point, as in some needles used for packing bales. Each
of these screws may point rather obliquely across the strands which are to
compose the belt; and be kept in its due direction by two standards or bars c, c,
Fig. III., with cylindric. holes, through, which the screw. passes, leaving a
space between the bars to receive a nut or concave screw m, Fig. III., with
arins, through which the screw will likewise pass. In the screw there must
be a groove parallel to its axis, to receive a feather or thin piece of steel, fixed
in a longitudinal groove in one or both of the cylindric holes c, c, through
which the screw passes, so that on turning the nut m, it shall push forward or
draw back the needle. Fig. III. shews the truck, with its screws and needles.
The size of the latter may be enlarged or reduced at pleasure, to suit belts of
any size; but the screws and truck will be common to all, by means of what
we shall call a belt board; see n, n, Fig. I., II., & III. The belt board is
formed of elm, or any suitable wood or other substance; in the middle of it
there must be a groove of suitable width, to admit the designed number of
strands or lines to lie side by side, and of any suitable depth, to retain them in
their places; also the thickness of the bottom of each belt board may be such
as to raise: the centre of the strands to a level with the needle; or, to save the
necessity of numerous belt boards, one side may be made to approach to or
recede from the other by means of screws; and when placed upon the truck,
the use of any belt, this board must be adjusted by wedges or screws to for
such level-as that the centre of the strands or lines shall lie fair to the
directions of the needles; also the bottom of the belt board, opposite the side
opening, should be hollowed sufficiently to admit the swelling of the strands on

page_text: the passing through of the needle. It is obvious that the strands or lines
should be kept firm down in their places, which in general will be sufficiently
done by the level of the belt board being rather higher than the direction they
are stretched in, as shewn in Fig. II.; but should this not be deemed
sufficient, they may be pressed down in the groove, by weights fitting it,
or by rollers at cach end. The strands or lines being stretched, as described,
one or any suitable number of these trucks, with their apparatus, may be
placed under them so as to expedite their being stitched together, the
process of which is as follows, (videlicet) a suitable thong, thread, or line,
of length sufficient to make any convenient number of stitches, has a not or
other fastening at one end, and the other is put through the eye of one of the
needles, which is then by turning the nut pushed through all tho strands or
lines. It will be eligible to have the end tapered which goes through the
ncedle. On drawing the end from the eye of the needle, the latter is drawn
out of the belt by turning the nut the contrary way, and then the thread or
line is drawn tight, and the truck is brought forward, so as to bring the point
of the other needlo to the proper position for making the next perforation,
which, after inserting the end of the thread, is done as tho preceding; and in
this manner the operation goes forward until the thread be exhausted. The
end is then either fastened to the next thread, or secured in any convenient
way, and the operation is continued to the completion of the belt. Or the
stitching may be performed by first pushing the needle through the strands or
lines, and then putting the thread through the eye, and hauling it through on
the withdrawing of tho needle, in which case direction of the needles must be
towards the tail or receiving end of the truck. The connecting of strands side
by side, by interlacing, is so obvious as to need no description. If the rivetting
of them by strong wires or rivet pins be deemed eligible, the pins may be
forced through by having two side screws, similar to those described, placed
upon the truck directly opposite to each other, and pointing in the same line.
One of these serews may have a cylindric pieco of steel, with a sharp point, by
which a hole may be made through the belt; and the end of the other should
have a socket, into which the head of the rivet pin may be inserted. The pin
may be about the eighth of an inch in diameter; and on entering tho point in
the hole made by the instrument from the other side, the rivet pin may be
pushed through, and the truck brought forward to the proper position for the
next, which may be at a space equal to the width of the belt; after which,
and putting on the rivet or burr, the pin may be rivetted over it. To prevent
the lead and rivet of the pin from injuring the strands or lines they attach
together, little pieces of leather, with holes through them, may be used; onc

page_text: piece slipped over before the pin is put through, and the other put on before
the rivet. The screws on each side of the sledge need not be made, as already
described, as they will be better for revolving round their axis, therefore in
place of passing through cylindric holes or guides, they must go through cor-
respondent hollow screws, and have handles or fliers at their outer ends, by
turning of which they will be drawn backwards or forwards as wanted. Also
the screw, before described, for pushing through the needle need not indis-
pensably be prevented from turning round by means of a longitudinal groove
and feather, as the same end may be answered by making an extension to one
end of the screw, of any form which will not turn round, but let it slide back-
wards and forwards through a suitable groove. Likewise in place of needles,
piercers may be used, and the tapered ends of the stitching lines be put
through. In the use of the belts for raising weights of any kind, it will be
most adviseable for the belt to be confined to roll upon itself as a spiral; but in
some cases this may be dispensed with; the hauling forward of the truck any
determinate space between each stitch may be done by means of a winding
barrel on the sledge, and a chain or rope leading from it to any fixed object,
and in a variety of ways so obvious as to require no description, although the
progressive transition of the machine from place to place is one of its most
essential constituant parts, because without this moveability it could not be
applied to the stitching of any belt where its parts to be thus connected are
lying stretched at length side by side. But if the operator prefer drawing
forwards the belt or flat band as it is stretched, then the truck or frame may
be stationary, and without wheels.
All that this Invention consists of, is the use of strands laid side by side, so
as to acquire a strength which ropes used in this manner would not have; and
also the Invention of the truck or frame, with its apparatus for combining
speedily and correctly together any requisite number of strands, or other
flexible substances, laid side by side.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Chapman and Edward Walton
Chapman, have hereunto set our hands and seals, the Twentieth day of
November, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
Sovan

page_text: George Ayre, of the Town and County of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Gentleman,
maketh oath and saith, that William Chapman, of Newcastle-upon-Tyno
aforesaid, Civil Engineer, and Edward Walter Chapman, of the same place,
Rope Maker, did duly sign, scal, and as their respective act and deed deliver,
the Deed Poll hereto annexed, in the presence of this deponent and William
Hunter Smoult, of the same place, Gentleman, and saith, that the names or
characters "Will Chapman" and "Edwa W. Chapman," thereto set or
subscribed as the parties executing the same, are of the respective proper
handswriting of the said William Chapman and Edward Walton Chapman, and
that the names or characters "W. II. Smoult" and "Geo. Ayre," thereupon
indorsed as the witnesses attesting the execution thereof, are of the respective
proper handswriting of the said William Hunter Smoult and him this
deponent.
Sworn at Newcastle-upon-Tyne aforesaid,
the Twentieth day of November, 1807,
⚫ before me,
ROBT WALTERS,
GEO. AYRE.
A Master Extry. in Chancery.
Inrolled the Twenty-fourth day of November, in the year above written.