IMPROVEMENTS IN, THE MANUFACTURE OF ROPES, CORDAGE, LINES, AND TWINES
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane,.
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN, THE MANUFACTURE OF ROPES, CORDAGE, LINES, AND
TWINES." A communication from abroad by Louis Gabriel Yon,.
Rope Maker, of 13, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris.
Scaled the 27th April 1869, and dated the 6th November 1868..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville
Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his.
Petition, on the 6th November 1868.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ROPES,
CORDAGE, LINES, AND TWINES," to be as follows:-
In the manufacture of ropes and cordage hitherto a certain number
of spun fibres termed rope yarns are twisted together, several of which
when combined form the strands. These strands when laid or applied
on a core form ropes or cables of various kinds. The successive twists

page_text: to which the fibres are thus subject tend to decrease their length to such
an extent that each yard and a half of fibre only measures one yard
when twisted, the difference being still greater in cables of large
dimensions. These successive twistings of the fibres result in a weaken-
ing of their powers of resistance to strains. Further, as the whole of
the fibres are not subject to equal strain, those on the outside being
stretched to a greater degree than the rest, some of the fibres become
broken, as may be seen by untwisting a rope after but slight
wear.
The existing mode of manufacture may be thus deemed defective,
inasmuch as a twist equivalent in length to the fibre cannot be obtained,
while the rope is also weakened.
This Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of cables,
ropes, and cordage, including lines and twines. For example, in making
a cable of any suitable dimensions, I take a number of yarns, strings,
or twines, and stretch them equally, afterwards laying them together
in bundles without twisting. This may be done either by hand or
machine. On this cylindrical bundle of yarns I weave a sheath or
en ope composed either of rope yarn, string, or twine, or it may be
of
wire. In this manner I produce ropes, cables, and cordage of
any required diameter, presenting externally the appearance of a blind
cord.
The advantage of this new mode of manufacturing ropes and cordage.
is that,―
1st. The rope yarn is economized, as one yard of said yarns will
produce a rope of equal length.
2ndly. The core or foundation is also saved, while the rope possesses
increased strength, all the fibres receiving an equal strain in the.direction
of their length and not obliquely.
3rdly. The cables are easily repaired, as if not subject to extraordinary
strains the case or sheath only will wear from external friction, and,
another sheath may be readily adapted to the same cable.
The rope yarns may further be united together by tying as well as by
the sheath before mentioned.
These improvements may also be adapted to brass and iron wire ropes
and cordage.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Scal Patent
Office on the 1st May 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
assigns, or such others as I, the
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the
thirty-second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said. Alexander Melville Clark,
Her special licence that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark,
my executors, administrators, and
said Alexander Melville Clark, executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and 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 THE MANUFACTURE
OF ROPES, CORDAGE, LINES, AND TWINES," a communication to me from
abroad by Louis Gabriel Yon, Rope Maker, of 13, Boulevart St. Martin,
Paris, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alexander
Melville Clark, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their bands and seals, 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 Alexander Melville Clark, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement (that is to say): :-
In the manufacture of ropes and cordage hitherto a certain number
of spun fibres termed rope yarns are twisted together, several of which
when combined form the strands. These strands when laid or applied
on a core form ropes or cables of various kinds. The successive twists
to which the fibres are thus subject tend to decrease their length to such

page_text: an extent that each yard and a half of fibre only measures one yard
when twisted, the difference being still greater in cables of large dimen-
sions. These successive twistings of the fibres result in a weakching
of their powers of resistance to strains. Further, as the whole of the
fibres are not subject to equal strain, those on the outside being stretched
to a greater degree than the rest, some of the fibres become broken, as
may be seen by untwisting a rope after but slight wear.
The existing mode of manufacture may be thus deemed defective,
inasmuch as a rope equivalent in length to the fibre cannot be obtained
while the rope is also weakened.
This Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of cables,
ropes, and cordage, including lines and twines. For example, in making
a cable of any suitable dimensions, I take a number of yarns, strings,
or twines, and stretch them equally, afterwards laying them together
in bundles without twisting. This may be done either by hand or
machine. On this 'cylindrical bundle of yarns I weave a sheath or
envelope composed either of rope yarn, string, or twine, or it may be
of metal wire. In this manner I produce ropes, cables, and cordage of
any required diameter, presenting externally the appearance of blind
cord. The yarns, strings, or twines are previously passed through a
solution of gutta percha in order to impart sufficient suppleness to enable
the ropes so made to pass round pulleys of small diameter.
The advantages of this new mode of manufacturing ropes and cordage
are that,--
1st. The rope yarn is economized, as one yard of said yarn will produce
a rope of equal length.
2ndly. The core or foundation is also saved, while the rope possesses
increased strength, all the fibres receiving an equal strain in the direction
of their length and not obliquely.
3rdly. The cables are easily repaired, as if not subject to extraordinary
strains the case or sheath only will wear from external friction, and
another sheath may be readily adapted to the same cable.
The rope yarns may further be united together by tying as well as by
the sheath before mentioned.
These improvements are also applicable to brass and iron wire ropes
and cordage.

page_text: Having described the nature of this Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention
of improvements in the manufacture of ropes, cordage, lines, and
twines to be protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent
is, disposing the yarns in a parallel manner without twisting as usual
in order to form strands on which I weave a sheath or envelope, in the
manner and for the purposes before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have
hercunto set my hand and seal, this First day of May, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
Witness,
01.
JAMES DAISI,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)