IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING ROPE AND CORDAGE
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Vincent Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR MAKING ROPE AND CORDAGE." -A communication.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Vincent Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 23rd October 1855.
I, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING
ROPE AND CORDAGE" to be as follows:-
A shaft driven by competent power is fitted with conical pulleys, by which
a regulated speed can be given to a second shaft, and from bevelled gearing
thereon to a vertical shaft, which carries the revolving creels and other parts
used for laying up the rope. On the first-mentioned shaft are double mitre
gears, with a clutch box driving in either direction a vertical shaft, communi-
cating a revolving motion through gearing to a loose wheel around the main
vertical shaft; and above said wheel keyed on to said shaft is a frame or spider,
carrying vertical shafts with bobbins or creels, there being as many of these
shafts and creels as there are to be strands in the rope, and to each of these
shafts and creels the required revolving motion is given by 'an 'intermediate

page_text: gear to the loose wheel around the main shaft, before mentioned. The bobbins
containing the strands of fibrous material are each set on to a small metal disc
with a pin entering the bobbin, and each disc is prevented from turning too
freely by a friction cord or wire tightened as required by a set screw, and
passing into a groove around the edge of said plates, as said plates stand around
in the circular form of the creel. The strands from these bobbins pass through
a hollow journal of the shaft supporting the creel, and are thence led through a
plate attached above and revolving with said shaft, so that the strands from
the bobbins are laid up and wound by the revolution of the creel into one
of the main strands of the rope; and these strands from any desired number of
creels are formed into a rope by a lay-up cap on the end of the main vertical
shaft, which lay-up cap is formed with a cone having as many grooves as there
are strands in the rope, and over this cone is a bell-shaped pipe adjustable
nearer to or farther from the said cone, so as to work with different sizes of
strands, and said lay-up cap revolving in the opposite direction to the twist
of the rope lays the same properly together. From this lay-up cap the rope or
cordage is passed over conical pulleys to stretch the same, and also through a
revolving pipe heated on the outside by steam to dry and iron down the rope.
When the strands require sizing and rubbing down, the same is to be performed
between the creels and the lay-up cap by a flexible receptacle containing the
size, and a vibrating rubber moved by the revolution of the machine.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alfred Vincent Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 22nd April 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, London, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, Her special license that I, the said
Alfred Vincent Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, 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 terin therein expressed, should and

page_text: 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 MACHINERY FOR MAKING ROPE AND CORDAGE,"
being a communication from abroad, upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, 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 calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Vincent' Newton, 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, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
:-
Fig. 1 is a plan of the machine below the line A, A, of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is
an elevation of the machine, complete. The other Figs. are separately referred
to, and the same marks of reference indicate similar parts.
The nature of the said Invention consists, first, in a peculiar arrangement
of gearing and parts for revolving the creals and bobbins with the required
speed, and in the requisite direction; second, in the construction of the lay-up
heads and caps that form the strands and lay the same into rope or cordage;
third, in the method of constructing the apparatus used for drawing the rope
through the lay-up blocks and caps, and stretching the same, and then winding
the rope upon a reel into a coil for transportation; and also the said Invention
relates to a method of finishing the rope by rubbing down and sizing the
strands, and then drying the rope while being stretched; and also to a peculiar
means for leading the strands off the bobbins.
In the Drawing a horizontal shaft 1 is supported in journals on the frame C
of the machine, and driven by competent power through pulleys or wheels a, a,
and on the inner end of this shaft, mitre gearing b, b, communicates motion to
a vertical shaft c, set at the bottom in a step on the cross fraine E of the
framing, and at the top this shaft is supported in a framing D, and acts to lay
up the rope in the manner hereafter set forth. This vertical shaft c also carries
the creals or frames of bobbins forming the strands of the rope; and as said
creals revolve with the shaft c, and also the strands r, r, which lay up to form
the rope, the said creals have to revolve at an increased speed in the opposite
direction to said shaft c, in order to give the strands the necessary twist. The
motion to revolve said creals is communicated as follows, reference being had
to the arrows indicating the direction of the revolution :-

page_text: On the shaft 1, near the mitre wheels b, a pinion 2 is fitted, gearing to a
wheel d, on a second shaft 3 in journals 4, 4, and carrying a cone of pulleys
e, e, with a belt 5 to a similar cone of pulleys f, f, on a horizontal shaft 6, by
means of which pulleys the speed of the shaft 6 can be regulated, and also the
parts taking motion therefrom. On this shaft 6 is a pair of mitre gear wheels
7,7, fitted adjustably on said shaft, so that either one can be brought into
gear with a wheel 8 on a vertical shaft 9, to drive the same in either direc-
tion, according to which of the gears 7 is brought in contact with said, gear 8.
This shaft 9 is stepped at the bottom on the cross piece E, and fitted with a
wheel g gearing to a large wheel h, that sets loose, so that it can revolve on
the shaft c, and said gear wheel h is formed with a sleeve 10, extended upwards,
see vertical section, Fig. 5, and provided with another gear wheel i beneath a
plate or disk k, attached firmly to and revolving with the main shaft c, and
carrying short columns 11, 11, below said disk, which sustain and rotate the
ring 12, that is provided with steps receiving the lower ends of the vertical
shafts, carrying the creals and bobbins, which shafts are also sustained by
and revolve in journals on the ends of arms, or a spider frame m, keyed on to
the main shaft c. On the shafts 1, near their lower ends, small pinions 13 are
provided, gearing to intermediate pinions 14, fitted on studs on the under side
of the bottom plate k.
On reference to Fig. 4, which is a sectional plan of the gearing below the
line B, B, it will be seen, that while the main shaft c and creals revolve in the
direction (as a whole) of the arrow 1, the creal shafts themselves. turn on
their axes in the direction of the small arrows; hence, if the large wheel h
and wheel i were stationary, the creal shafts, bobbins, and the strands formed
from them, would be twisted in the correct direction in consequence of the
intermediate pinions 14; therefore, if the large wheel h be propelled in the
same direction as the main shaft, but slower than the same, the strands formed
from the creals will not be twisted as much as if the wheel h were stationary,
and the faster said wheel h be rotated in this direction by speeding the parts
through the cone of pulleys e, f, the slower the creals will revolve, and the less
twist there will be in the strands; but if the mitre gears 7 be so set as to
revolve the wheels h and i in the opposite direction to the main shaft c, the
twist on the strands will be greater in proportion to the speed of said wheels
h and i. By this arrangement the extent of twist to the strands can be regu-
lated to any desired amount, and that without any variation in the construction
of the parts.
The creals themselves are formed of any desired number of rings n, attached
to each shaft, and fitted with holes, through which the pins, of the bobbin's 15

page_text: are inserted, and the number of bobbins placed in each creal is to be such as
to form the desired size of strand and roping or cordage. To receive the
bottom of the bobbins, small metallic or other suitable disks 16 are provided,
having a pin entering the end of the bobbin, so that they turn together, and
each disk has a groove around its edge, into which grooves a wire or cord is
passed as said disks stand in the circular position in the ranges of creals (see
Fig. 6), and one end of said wire is attached to the rings n, and the other end
adjusted by a tightening screw 17, so that any desired amount of friction can
be applied to prevent the yarn or warp running off the bobbins too freely; and
said yarn is led beneath and up through small guide rings o, which prevent the
same becoming entangled. By reference to Fig. 10, it will be seen that larger
sized bobbins may be inserted in place of those shewn in Figs. 2 and 6, or the
same sized bobbins may be brought into less space by simply 'replacing the
rings o by arms 43, with holes in the ends, and leading the yarn through
these holes in the manner shewn; thereby the yarn is allowed to run freely off
the bobbin, and by providing an extra hole in the next arm above, the yarns
from the separate ranges of bobbins are led off separately to the lay-up block,
and the creals are thereby condensed and rendered far easier to drive, and less
expensive to manufacture: Each of the creal shafts extends vertically to a
little below the journal m 1, and is fitted into a hollow gudgeon p, open at the
sides below the bearing, and fitted with arms above, carrying a lay-up block 9,
shewn sectionally in larger size in Fig. 7. This lay-up block is provided with
the required number of holes to pass the warps or yarns, an equal number
through each hole, so as to lay the same up uniformly into the strands, as all
the yarns or warps pass through a tube 18, sustained by columns, and a cross
bar 19 above the centre of the lay-up block q, and on the centre line of the
shaft . The tubes of these lay-up blocks can be taken out of their respective
supports on releasing the set screw, and others substituted, with larger or smaller
holes through them, according to the required size of strands; and the tension
of the strand itself is regulated by the distance between the lay-up block q and
pipe 18, for if said pipe be brought closer to the lay-up block more power will
be required to draw the strands through, and consequently the tension will be
greater. Figs. 11 and 12 shew a section and plan of a variation in the lay-up
block, which becomes necessary with yarn or strands that are uneven or knotty,
in order to prevent said knots sticking in the tube 18. The strands in this
case are led through the lay-up block the same as before, and through the
tube 18, but this tube is larger than the strand, passing the same freely; and
on the upper end of this tube a disk or plate 44 receives the screws 45, attaching
the spring jaws 46, and these jaws open and shut freely by moving on the

page_text: screws 45; and into each of said jaws over the centre of the tube 18 semi-
circular notches are formed and bevelled off at top and bottom, so as to form
when set together an adjustable spring tube to bind on to and hold the strand
with the necessary power as it runs through the same, but yielding for any
knots or inequalities to pass through with the strand; and the amount of force
applied to keep these jaws together is regulated by a rod and set nut 47, applied
to the ends of the springs on the jaws. It will thus be seen that the strand
is properly laid together and twisted by the revolution of the creal, in manner
before described, and the strands themselves are led into the lay-up cap on the
end of the main shaft and formed into rope, as next set forth. On the cross
frame D is a ring flanch 20, passing through said frame, and forming the
journal box for the main shaft c; and screwed on to the end of said shaft c is
the lay-up caps, fitting the inside of the flanch 20, and formed with a recess in
its upper end to receive the cap piece or cone t, that is made movable, so that
different sized cones can be substituted; and in this cone grooves are formed of
the required size, passing to holes through the cap s, that receive and pass the
strands r; and in consequence of the shaft c rotating in the reverse direction
to the twist of the strands r, and at a slow speed, the rope is formed at the
apex of the cone t, before mentioned; and in order to make the rope of an
uniform size and evenly laid, there is provided a hollow tube 22, with a bell-
shaped mouth setting over the cone t, and passing off the rope as it is formed.
This tube 22 is supported in a socket 21, and secured by a set nut, by which
the tube can be removed, and another substituted, with a different sized hole
adapted to the given size of rope or cordage.
The rope or cordage is stretched and drawn away from the machine in the
following manner :-
'
A small pulley on the shaft 3 communicates, by a belt v 1, rotation to the
pulley 2 and shaft 27, supported in suitable bearings, and having a movable
wheel or piuion 28, near the frame D, gearing to an adjustable pinion 29, set
on a sliding gudgeon on the frame D, and by changing this pinion 28, the
relative speeds can be proportioned so as to draw the rope or cordage off with
a faster or slower motion as it is made. The pinion 29 gears into a wheel w,
set on a gudgeon attached to an arm on the frame D, and said wheel w turns
two wheels w 1 and w 2, set on shafts 25 in journals on the upper ends of
columns 26, 26, and on said shafts are grooved drums u and u 1, around which
the rope or cordage is wound, and by their speed, in proportion to the amount
of rope made by the machine, so the same will be stretched, and the strands
drawn compactly together. The rope or cordage (24) passes out of the lay-up
tube 22, over a roller or shieve 23, to the said drum u, and from the drum

page_text: 1 the said rope passes over a long friction roller 30 to the apparatus for
winding the rope or cordage into a coil, which apparatus is constructed as
follows:-
A belt 31 from a pulley 32 on the shaft 3 communicates motion to a wheel
33 and pinion 3+, driving the gear wheel 35 and shaft 36 of the winding
reel. This reel is made with a metallic head on the shaft 36, and a similar
head a 1, on the movable shaft 37, is fitted in a box 38, so that the same can
be slid along to confine and rotate a block z 1, by means of square lugs on the
ends of said. shafts 36 and 37 entering recesses in the ends of said block (1),
the shaft 37 being held in place to confine the said block by means of a locking
piece 39 entering a groove therein. The reel and parts attached are sup
ported on the frame y on the side of the main frame C; and to give facility for
tying the coil of rope or cordage, the heads. x, x 1, are provided with radial
slots, see Fig. 2, in which the cording of the bale is tied up, the same having
previously been inserted through the coil in grooves on the sides of the block
z 1. In order to wind the rope or cordage regularly on the reel a slotted
traveller is used; that moves back and forth on the guide rod and shaft 40,
in consequence of a button 41 travelling in an endless screw thread cut on
said shaft 40, and this shaft is rotated with the speed required, according to
the size of rope, by conical pulleys y 1, y 2, banded together.
Should the yarn made use of to form the strands be irregular, or require
rubbing down, the same is to be done by rollers or smooth surfaces, between
which the strands (r) pass; and said rubbing surfaces are to be mounted on
arms or a spider frame setting around the shafts c, between the frame D and
the spider m, and to this frame a vertical vibrating or jigging motion is to be
given as the said shaft and rubbing surfaces revolve by a suitable cam. Sonic
characters of yarn and strands require sizing before being laid up into rope,
and to accomplish this purpose we make use of a suitable vessel or receptacle
for the size, attached around the shaft c, near its upper end; and through the
bottom of said vessel tapering tubes of elastic material, such as india-rubber; are
inserted and secured in place, and through these tubes and the body of sizing
above their upper ends the strands are passed to the lay-up cap; and in this
case the rope requires drying before it is wound up into a coil, and for this
purpose is introduced a drying and ironing tube between the roller 23 and
drum u, or in any other convenient place; said tube is made as shewn in
larger size in Fig. 9, and is slightly larger at one end than the other, and bell-
mouthed, so as to pass the rope freely; and as the rope is drawn through said
pipe 42, the same is revolved in suitable bearings by a band or otherwise, at
the same time hot air or steam is applied to the outside of said tube within a

page_text: suitable casing; thereby the said rope or cordage is dried and smoothed down
to a handsome and perfect finish.
Having thus fully described the said machine, what is claimed therein as
new, and to be secured by Letters Patent, is as follows:-
First, the arrangement of gearing, substantially as set forth, for regulating
the relative speeds of the main shaft c, which lays up the rope, with the speed
of the shafts, and creals, with the bobbins for laying up and twisting the
strands.
Second, regulating the tension of the warps composing the strands by means
of the adjustable friction cord or wire 17 and the grooved disks 16 receiving
the bobbins, as specified.
Third, the lay-up blocks q, and tube, 18, and also the adjustable spring tube,
shewn in Figs. 11 and 12, the whole constructed and operating substantially
'as specified.
Fourth, the lay-up cap s, composed of the movable cone t; and adjustable
or movable tube 22, substantially as specified.
Fifth, constructing and arranging the parts made use of for drawing off
the rope, stretching and winding the same into a coil, substantially as and.
for the purposes specified.
Sixth, the arrangement of the arms 43, and bobbins, for the purposes and
as. specified.
Seventh, the revolving heated tube 42, for drying and finishing the rope or
cordage, as specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
A. V. NEWTON. (L.S.)