IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR PAYING-OUT SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH CABLES, AND FOR REGU- LATING AND CONTROLLING THE PAYING-OUT THEREOP
Year: 1857

page_text: This invention recei
application for Letters Patent was not given within the time prescribed by
the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Pier Alberto Balestrini at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th November 1857.
I, PIER ALBERTO BALESTRINI, of Brescia, Italy, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
AND APPARATUS FOR PAYING-OUT SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH CABLES, AND FOR REGU-
LATING AND CONTROLLING THE PAYING-OUT THEREOP," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in the arrangements of machinery herein-after stated.
My main machine consists of a drum, levers, grooved pulley, and springs.
The lever or levers are fixed or connected at one end to the axis of the drum,
which forms the axis of oscillation of the lever or levers. At the opposite end
the levers carry plummer blocks or bearings for the axle of a grooved pulley.
These plummer blocks are free to slide up and down in guides fixed on the
levers. Between the upper surface of the levers and the bottom of the
plummer blocks there are springs to keep the blocks and the grooved pulley
under the ordinary tension or strain of the telegraph cable raised from the
levers. Near the drum, and under the levers, are elliptical or other suitable
springs or elastic mediums upon which the levers rest, and which act as
fulcrums for them. The cable is brought from the hold and passed once,
twice, or more round the drum, then over the grooved pulley into the water.

page_text: Should the strain or tension of the cable be increased from any cause what-
ever, the grooved pulley will first yield, and should the strain overcome the
resistance of the springs under the bearings thereof, then the levers them-
selves will in turn be depressed until the outer end thereof is so far lowered
that the cable runs from the drum to the water without meeting with any
retarding force or agent. As soon as the extra strain or tension is removed
the levers and grooved pulley rise and resume the positions from which the
strain drew or depressed them. Instead of arranging the levers and springs
in the manner just described, the levers themselves may be formed of lami-
nated plates or otherwise, so as to act as springs, the inner ends of which, or
those nearer the drum, would then be fixed. In order to regulate or control
the rate of rotation of the drum, and consequently that at which the cable is
payed out, I connect the axis of the drum with a shaft carrying paddles,
which are made to revolve wholly or partially in water or air. There may be
more than one set of paddles geared or connected in any suitable manner to
produce the greatest effect desired. The shaft is so connected with the drum
that it can be wholly thrown out of gear should. circumstances require it. I
provide pumps, cocks, and other apparatuses for adding to or drawing off
liquid from the vessels in which the paddles revolve.
I use in connection with my paying-out machine one or more brakes com-
posed of friction straps or bands attached to a weighted lever, upon which the
position of the weight can be altered to increase or diminish the leverage.
'I also use indicating dials to shew the speed of the vessel, the speed at
which the cable is being payed out, and the tension thereof.