CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN WIRE ROPES
Year: 1849

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
BUCK WILSON, late of Saint Helens, in the County of Lancaster, but now of
Haydock, in the same County, Rope Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present Majesty, by Her Letters Patent under Her Great
Seal, bearing date at Westminster, the Eighth day of November, in the
thirteenth year of Her reign, did grant unto me, my exors, admors, and
assigns, the sole privilege of using, exercising, and vending my Invention of
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN WIRE ROPES," within England, Wales, and the
Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, during the term of fourteen years thence next
ensuing: And whereas I, the said James Buck Wilson, in pursuance of a
proviso in the said Letters Patent contained, did by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal (commonly called a Specification), describe and
ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, and did cause the same instrument to be enrolled in Her said
Majesty's High Court of Chancery at Westminster, on the Seventh day of
May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty, and within
the time in the said Letters Patent limited for that purpose: And whereas,
since the enrolment of the said Specification I have found that those parts of
the said Invention which are in the said Specification firstly, secondly, and
fourthly described, are not of so much utility as I previously deemed them to
be; wherefore, and also for the purpose of preventing doubts respecting the extent
of the third claim of Invention contained in the said Specification, I am
desirous of making and entering the Disclaimer and alteration herein-after
expressed or contained.

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NOW KNOW YE, THEREORE, that I, the said James Buck Wilson, by
and with the leave of Sir Alexander James Edmund Cockburn, Knight, Her
Majesty's Attorney-General, and for the reasons aforesaid, do hereby disclaim
all so much and such part of the said Specification which immediately following
the words "my Invention consists," is contained in the following words,
First, of manufacturing wire ropes of wire wound as it comes from the
ordinary draw plates on to blocks revolving from the left hand to the
right, and from the right hand to the left (or in opposite directions), instead
"of winding it always in the same direction as is now customary, and when
winding the said wires on to the bobbins with which the wire rope
"machines are to be supplied, and when the same is required, I cause every
"coil of the wire in coming off a stationary reel to put on a twist into the
"wire that is being wound on to the bobbin, that is, when such wires are to be
"worked into a strand by machinery which would put on twist, if a previous
"twist had not been put on in an opposite direction. Secondly, in laying or
interweaving series of wires or series of wire strands diagonally upon a core
"of coiled wire, so that the interior will be coiled and the exterior braided,
" and also in forming flat wire ropes, by causing several series of wires or of
"wire strands to be braided together, so as to form a flat rope.
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"
And also in
the use of stationary mandrils, pressing rollers, and parts for conducting
the wires when making wire ropes by braiding. Thirdly." And also all so
much and such part of the said Specification which immediately following the
statement therein contained of what the said Invention thirdly consisted, is
contained in the following words (that is to say), "And, fourthly, in gradually
diminishing the number of wires forming a rope, so as to form a taper rope."
And by and with such leave as aforesaid, and for the reasons aforesaid, I do
hereby further disclaim all so much and such part of the said Specification
which, near the end thereof, and immediately following the words, "But what
"
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I claim is," is contained in the following words (that is to say), "First,
"the manufacturing of wire ropes, by employing wire wound as herein
explained. Secondly, I claim the manufacturing of wire ropes by laying or
interweaving series of wires or series of wire strands diagonally under and
"over series of wires or series of wire strands (each series consisting of two
or more wires or strands), so as to form flat or round ropes enclosing
helically coiled wire cores. And I also claim the application of a stationary
mandril and rollers, and parts for conducting the wires thereto for making
And I also claim the manufacture
platted or diagonally woven wire ropes.
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of flat wire ropes, as described in respect to Figure 15, wherein several series
"of wire strands or of wires are caused to braid diagonally amongst each

page_text: "other, from selvage to selvage. Thirdly." And also all so much and such part
of the said Specification which immediately following the third clause of
Invention at or near the end of the said Specification is contained, in the
following words (that is to say), "and, fourthly, I claim the manufacture of
"gradually diminishing or tapering ropes, as herein explained." And by and
with the leave aforesaid, and for the reasons aforesaid, I hereby disclaim the
machinery in the said Specification described, and also all of the several
matters and things in the said Specification described or claimed as being part
of the said Invention, save and except so much and such part of the said
Invention as consists of the manufacturing wire ropes by laying or coiling two
or more layers of wires or strands of wire on each other in opposite directions.
And I, the said James Buck Wilson, do hereby declare that the above written
Disclaimer is not, nor is any part thereof, intended to extend the exclusive
right granted by the said Letters Patent, and that these Presents shall not
extend the said exclusive right in any way whatsoever.
.In witness whereof, I, the said James Buck Wilson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of March, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty four

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-fifth day of March, in
the year of our Lord 1854, the aforesaid James Buck Wilson came before
our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Disclaimer
aforesaid, and all and everything therein contained and specified, in form.
above written. And also the Disclaimer aforesaid was stamped according to
the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose..
Enrolled the Twenty-seventh day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
BUCK WILSON, of Saint Helens, in the County of Lancaster, Rope Maker,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Eighth day of Novem-
ber, One thousand eight hundred and forty-nine, in the thirteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said James Buck Wilson, my exors, adññors, and assigns, Her especial
licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said James Buck
Wilson, my exors, admors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James
Buck Wilson, my exors, adiñors, or 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, my Invention
of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN WIRE ROPES;" in which said Letters Patent
is contained a proviso that I, the said James Buck Wilson, shall cause a
particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of
Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference
being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.

page_text: comprance with the Saru proviso, 1, the said
James Buck Wilson, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described
and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being
had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked
thereon, that is to say:-
My Invention consists,-
First, of manufacturing wire ropes of wire wound as it comes from the
ordinary draw plates on to blocks revolving from the left hand to the right,
and from the right hand to the left, (or in opposite directions,) instead of
winding it always in the same direction as is now customary; and when
winding the said wires on to the bobbins with which the wire rope machines
are to be supplied, and when the same is required, I cause every coil of the
wire in coming off a stationary reel to put on a twist into the wire that is
being wound on to the bobbin, that is, when such wires are to be worked into
a strand by machinery which would put on twist if a previous twist had not
been put on in an opposite direction.
Secondly, in laying or interweaving series of wires or series of wire strands
diagonally upon a core of coiled wire, so that the interior will be coiled and
the exterior braided. And also in forming flat wire ropes by causing several
series of wires or of wire strands to be braided together so as to form a flat
rope.
And also in the use of stationary mandrils, pressing rollers, and parts
for conducting the wires when making wire ropes by braiding.
Thirdly, in laying or coiling two or more layers of wires in opposite direc-
tions so as to form a compound strand or rope consisting of two or more
layers of wires, each succeeding layer being coiled over the previous one, and
in an opposite direction, the spaces between the wires and between the strands
being wormed and 'filled up with hemp or other matters, when desired.
And, fourthly, in gradually diminishing the number of wires forming a rope
so as to form a taper rope:
m
In order that my Invelition may be fully understood, and readily carried
into effect, I will proceed to describe the means pursued by me.
"
1984
..
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
In Sheet I., Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine for winding wire on to
bobbins in different directions for forming the right-hand and left-hand strands
or plaits of wire ropes; Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1; Figure 3
is an elevation taken partly in section of a machine for laying or interweaving
wires so as to form flat or round ropes; Figure 4 is a side elevation of a

page_text: cramp by which the wire rope is held in passing over the drawing-off wheel,
as shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a front view of Figure 4, and Figure 6,
a plan view of the same.
On Sheet II., Figure 7 is a plan view of the lower portion of the machine
shewn in Figure 3, taken in section through the line A, B; Figure 8 is a
plan view of part of the same'machine taken in section through the line C, D.
In Figures 7 and 8 several parts of the machine are left out or-broken-off,. in
order that those parts beneath may be more clearly shewn. Figure 9 is a
front elevation on an enlarged scale of a set of tightening pulleys for keeping
the wires to their requisite tension; Figure 10 is a side view of Figure 9;
and Figure 11 is a plan view of the lower part of the frame of the above-
mentioned tightening pulleys; Figure 12 is a detached view of some of the
pieces forming the upper part of the machine shewn in Figure 3, and of a flat
wire rope' such as is made by the said machine; Figure 13 is a sectional
elevation of Figure 12; Figure 14 is a plan view of the lower portion-of
Figure 12; and Figure 15 is a detached view of a flat wire rope which might
be made by a machine somewhat similar to the one shewn in Figure 3.
In Sheet III., Figure 16 is a side elevation taken partly in section of a
compound stranding machine for making round or flat wire ropes; Figure 17
is a plan view of Figure 16: In these views I have also left out and broken
off many of the parts to render the other portions of the machine more
distinct. Figure 18 is a side elevation taken partly in section of a machine
for making coils to be used as cores of wire ropes; Figure 19 is a plan view
of Figure 18; Figure 20 is a detached view on an enlarged scale of a round
rope made in the machine shown in Figures 16 and 17; Figure.21 is a flat
rope of the same description.
.
In Sheet IV., Figuré 22 is an elevation taken partly in section of a machine
for laying wires into a strand; or for laying strands into a rope; Figure 23:is
a plan view of 'Figure 22, taken in section through the line.E; F; Figure/24
is a plan view of part of the upper part of the machine shewn in Figure. 22;
Figure 25 is a plan view of the drawing-off roller and its adjuncts; and
Figures 26 and 27 are detached views of a strand or: rope. made by..the
machine shewn in Figures' 22, 23, 24, and 25.
2.4
It has heretofore been the practice in the manufacture of wire to wind it
on blocks revolving at all times in the same direction; but as it is. important
in making my improved ropes to have the wires and strands laid. in both
directions, namely, from the right-hand to the left, and from the left hand to
the right, I wind the wires as they come from the draw plates on, to blocks
revolving in opposite directions. I have found that, the practice of winding

page_text: wire from the draw plates all in one way has resulted in the strands and ropes
having a tendency to bend in one way, and it is with a view to obviate this
defect that I cause ropes to be manufactured of wire wound in opposite
directions. By this means I obtain greater facility in working the wires, as
there will be equal bending in the right and left handed strands or plaits, and
consequently more uniformity in the tension upon the component parts of
a rope; and I have found it to be an improvement upon the ordinary method
of filling the bobbins (with which machines for making wire ropes are
supplied or fed), to draw the wires upwards or endways off stationary reels,
by which a temporary twist is put into the wire. When the bobbins on to
which the wire has been wound according to this plan and placed on the
machine for making a rope, the twist that has been put into the wire is taken
out.by the rotary motion of the carriage on which the bobbins are mounted.
I would remark, that although it is objectionable to put any considerable
extent of twist on wire in the making of the same up into ropes, the putting
one turn in a considerable length of wire temporarily is not objectionable or
injurious.
In Figures 1 and 2 I have shewn a machine for filling bobbins; this
machine may be used for winding up wire supplied from the revolving reels
a, a, or from stationary reels, when it is desired to put on a temporary twist,
as before mentioned; it would, however, be necessary in the latter case to
place the stationary reels on a lower level than the bobbins on which the wire
is wound, so that the wire would be drawn over the tops of the reels, and the
twist above referred to imparted to the wire. The effect being that one turn
or twist would be put on a length equal to the circumference of the coil.
b, b, represent the bobbins to be filled, and c the driving shaft revolving in
bearings fixed to the wood frame d. The reels a are mounted freely on studs
fixed into the framework; but they are prevented from overrunning them-
selves by a friction strap a¹ fixed at one end to the inside of the revolving reel,
then passing partly round a pulley fixed to the stud on which the reel revolves,
and provided at the other end with an adjusting screw, by which the amount
of friction can be regulated. The bobbins 6 are placed upon the pulleys b'
to which rotary motion is given by the bevel wheels shewn in the Drawing
The wires, in coming from the reels a, are passed between the guide plates e
to which an up and down motion is given in the following manner:-The
small shaft c' is driven round by a crossed strap from the shaft c, and has at
its extremity a pinion working into the mangle wheel c² fixed on a shaft ; at
the other end of this shaft is a pinion taking into a vertical rack formed by
the lower end of the spindle of the guide e, and shewn by dotted lines in

page_text: the Drawings. By this arrangement the wires are distributed evenly over the
whole surface of the bobbin, and the manual labor previously required for that
purpose dispensed with. The necessary motion is given to the winding
machine by a strap, actuated by steam or other power, passing over the
pulley on the shaft c. The bobbins 6 when full are taken to the machine
represented in Figures 3, 7, and 8, or to any other machine to which they
may be applicable, taking care that the twist temporarily put on the wire
does not run off, which it is liable to do if the end is not made fast.
On referring to Figure 3 it will be seen that the machine for laying or
interweaving wires into flat or round ropes is supported upon a wooden
foundation marked f, upon which is bedded the foundation plate g, consisting
of six or any suitable number of annular compartments, into which V-grooves
are turned for the spur wheels g¹ to revolve in. These spur wheels are all in
gear with each other, and they are each provided with four semicircular
bearings 92, placed at right angles to each other, as seen best in Figure 7.
The pinions g, fixed on the upright shafts g', gear into two of the wheels g,
and the shafts g' are set in motion from the horizontal shaft g³ by the bevel
wheels shewn in Figure 3. Near one extremity of the shaft is fixed the
spur wheel gº, which is driven by a pinion on the driving shaft g. The
pulleys g, fixed on the shaft g, are turned round by a strap from the main
shaft, actuated by steam or other power. The various parts forming the
foundation plate g are united in the centre by the arms 9', from the centre of
which rises the pillar 9. This pillar supports the centre of the top frame h,
seen best in Figures 3 and 8, which is also divided into as many annular
compartments as the foundation plate g. The standards h¹ are fixed below to
the foundation plate g, and support the outer circumference of the plate h.
To each of the wheels g', and at equal distances between the bearings g², are
fixed the upright rods g, to the upper ends of which the rings h² (see
Figure 8) are bolted. These rings have four projections h³ cast on them,
which work in the annular compartments of the plate h. The rings h² have
also cight semicircular recesses in them, marked h*. These recesses, and the
bearings g, form the journals for the travelling frames i which carry the
bobbins b. The upper part of the frames i is shewn on an enlarged scale in
the detached Figures 9 and 10, on referring to which it will be seen that the
two side frames i are united above by a cross piece i', from which project two
studs, each furnished with three steel rings. The two lower ones are made
to work in the semicircular recesses h', and the upper one acts upon the shunt
plates h³, as will be more fully explained hereafter. The lower part of each
of the frames i is provided with a pivot furnished with steel rings, one of

page_text: which acts in like manner on the shunt plates g¹². To the upper end of the
projections is bolted the bottom plate, forming the connecting plate of the
frames . These frames are united at the top by the sheet-iron plate. The
tightening pulleys. 26 are hinged on a shaft, and each pulley has a spiral
spring fixed above' to the pulley, and below to another cross shaft 2. When
the wires are drawn from the bobbins 6 they are. taken through holes in the
cross piece and bottom plate ³, then over the sheet-iron plate, and under
the pulleys, as seen by the blue lines in Figures 3, 9, and 10; and as. the
springs have a tendency to draw the pulleys downwards, it is evident that
any slackness in the wires will be taken up by the passing of the wires under
the said pulleys. Near the centre of the top plate h (see Figure 3) are fixed
upright bars he, united above by the plate of the cone pulley h; which forms
á guide for the wires on their passage from the tightening pulleys ³ to the
point at which they are interwoven. Between the cone pulley. h and
the top. plate h is placed the guide pulley h; which is allowed to turn
freely on the plate ho, so as to avoid the lateral. friction of. the wires,
which would take place if the pulley were fixed to its centre plate hº. The
height of the pulleys: h; h, can be regulated by 'set screws or otherwise
when a different: angle of lay is required. To the top of the shaft ho is
fixed a block 'h, seen best in Figures 12 and 13, and into the upper part
of this block is: fixed the flat mandril h, which serves as a temporary. core
for the wires to be laid or interwoven upon. The upper portion of the
mandril terminates in a wedge-shaped point, which enters between the rollers
k, These rollers k revolve in bearings let into the upper part of the brackets
k, which are fixed to any convenient part of the building, and near the lower
end of the same brackets are fitted; the bearings of the rollers ke, which
compress the wires against the mandril h¹. I wish to remark here, that if a
round rope is being made a cylindrical core or mandril would have to be put
in the place of the flat one shewn in the Drawings, and the rollers k.and.k³
would have to be made with semicircular grooves. The two brackets k² are
united below by the annular. stay k³, which serves as an abutment for the set
screws, and these set screws are tapped into the flange k, which is put
together in two halves, so as to afford greater facility when alterations are
required. The flange is made with a boss, having a hole throught it
čorresponding to the shape of the upper part of the block h", but of sufficient
size to allow free passage to the wires of which the rope is composed, and the
set screws, above referred to, are for the purpose of being able to regulate
the distance between the flange and block h". The bearings of the rollers
k and k² can also be set by the set screws shewn in the Drawing according

page_text: to the size of the wire, and the size of the rope under operation. When.the
wires have been interwoven or interplatted on the mandril, h, in the manner
above, described and shewn, in Figure 12, the rope, so formed is. carried
over the large wheel, seen only in Figure, 3, and, over, the guide pulley T,
from whence it goes to the reel 12. A slow, rotary motion is given.to.the
wheel, by a train, of, wheels represented by red circles, and by, the driving
pulleys, shewn by a dotted circle... As it requires a heavy. strain ..upon. the
rope to draw the wires off the bobbins,b,, and round, the..caps, and tension
pulleys ³, I make use of the cramps shewn in the detached Figures 4, 5, and
6 to connect the rope with the wheel is effected in the, following, manner.:
The cramp is formed of the piece, which fits between. the teeth of the
wheel, and has two projecting ends passing through the plate which has a
groove in it of the size of the rope that is being made, or rather larger, to
allow of a piece of leather or other yielding material being placed in the same to
protect the wires from injury. The projecting ends of the piece have.cotter
holes through them to receive the cotters, consequently, when the cotters
are tightened up the rope, is held securely, by the cramp... On putting these
cramps. on the rope it is necessary, to; place the piece between two of the
teeth of the wheel 7 at the point marked in Figure, 3, and, when the wheel
has advanced a few inches the plate can be put over the projecting ends of
the piece l', and, the cotters tightened up. Two or more cramps can always
be kept on the rope while passing over the wheel,, but they must be renioved
in succession, before the, rope passes over the guide pulley
*
Having now enumerated the principal parts of the machine, I, will. proceed
to explain how they perform their various duties when the machine isiset in
motion, premising that the red parallelograms in Figure 7 are supposed to
represent seven sets, of bobbins similar, to the, five shown. The action of the
machine is somewhat similar to that of an ordinary braiding machine; that is
to say, the bobbins bare constantly being carried round the main centre, of the
machine at the same time, that, they keep advancing toward and receding from
the said centre, as, is well understood in braiding machinery. The bobbins,
and the frames by which they are supported, are guided below from one
of the wheels g¹ to the other by the shunts g, and above by the shunts h³.
Half of these latter are provided with steel bows, which are acted upon by the
upper rings on the projections , and half of the lower shunts 912 have
projections acted upon by the pivots of the frames i, for the purpose of
reversing the direction in which the shunts are placed. The shunts h³ vibrate
upon the fulcrum studs h¹³, seen in Figure 3 and 8, and they are prevented
from moving too far in either direction by slots fitting on to the pins h. The

page_text: lower shunts g¹ are held in a similar manner.
When the wires have passed
over the caps, and under the pulleys, they are taken upwards to the
blocks h. And it will be seen, on referring to Figure 3, that the distance
from the pulley to the block h" is greatest when the pulleys are farthest
from the centre of the machine, consequently the wires are most distended
at this point. This might, however, be varied by having the bobbins and
frames inclined, but I prefer the arrangement shewn. When the pulleys are
near the centre of the machine the wires would become slack if it were not for
the compensating action of the springs, which has already been explained
with reference to Figures 9 and 10. The bobbins 6 are supported on their
periphery by the two bottom stays and centre plate of the frames i, as seen in
Figure 3; and it has been found in practise that by this arrangement the
power required for turning the full bobbin round is the same as when the
bobbin is nearly empty, or sufficiently so for all practical purposes. The
number of bobbins in each travelling frame, and the number of travelling
frames, may be varied according to circumstances. And I wish to remark,
that, instead of the bobbins shewn in the Drawings, I also intend to make
cylindrical upright bobbins, on which the wire is wound. These bobbins must
not revolve on their centres, consequently, every coil that is drawn off them
will impart a temporary twist to the wire, which twist is afterwards taken out
again by the rotary motion of the travelling bobbin frames. The diameter
of these upright bobbins may be so calculated that one coil from the bobbin
shall be equal to one coil of the wire when formed or laid into rope. When I
desire to make round or flat-braided rope with a core, then I employ a core of
coiled wire of the shape desired, and I so arrange a braiding machine as to
conduct such wire core through the machine so as to have the braiding wires
laid thereon, in like manner to that in which cores of hemp and other material
have before been used, the novelty of this part of my Invention consisting of
using helically-coiled wire as a core in braided wire ropes, by which, when the
rope so made is stretched, the helically-coiled wire core will stretch with the
braided part, and will, by its elasticity, contract with the other or outer parts
of the rope.
In Figure 15 I have shewn a portion of a flat rope, which may be made
upon a machine somewhat similar to the one represented in Figures 3, 7,
and 8. The connection of the wheels g¹.would have to be broken, so that the
travelling frames i with bobbins b, instead of performing entire revolutions
round the centre of the machine, would only perform a portion of a revolution in
alternately different directions, as in the machine by which flat braid is usually
made, and which are well understood, the block and mandril h would be

page_text: dispensed with, and instead of six bobbins 6, there would only be two in each
of the travelling frames i. I have shewn the rope as being composed of pairs
of strands (each strand containing three wires); but this may be varied both in
respect to number of strands placed side by side, and thus platted or woven
diagonally in sets; and in the same manner may sets of single wires, two or
more wires side by side, be employed in making flat or platted ropes.
In Figures 16 and 17 of Sheet 3 I have represented a machine for making
round or flat ropes. This machine I call a compound stranding machine,
because any convenient number of wires may be formed by it into a strand, or
any convenient number of strands may be laid into a rope. The machine
consists principally of an outer frame m, which is broken away in some places
and shown in section in others, in order that its construction may be better
explained. The top plate n works in a circular V-groove, turned in the
upper part of the frame m, and supports forty-eight or any other convenient
number of bobbins 6 which rotate with the said plate. The lower plate o
revolves in another V-groove fixed to the under part of the framing m, and
supports the same number of bobbins 6' as the top plate n; these plates n
and o revolve in contrary directions, having motion communicated to them by
the bevel wheels n' and o¹ fixed to the plates. These bevel wheels are driven
by the pulley wheels and shafts, as clearly shewn in Figure 16. To the upper
part of the frame m is fixed the bridge m', in the centre of which is placed the
guide plate m²; the diameter of the hole in this guide plate must be made
suitable to the size of the core required for the rope that is being made. The
bearing of the guide pulley m³ may also be fixed to the bridge m'. In the
centre of the top plate n is fixed a register plate n², having as many holes in it
as there are bobbins on the top plate. The register plate n² is fixed in the
guide plate n which fits into the centre of the set of arms n*, bolted to pro-
jections from the top plate n. The lower plate o is in like manner provided
with a register plate o, guide plate 0%, and arms 0%, and both the register
plates and guide plates can be taken out of their places and replaced by others
to suit the particular size of rope that is being made. The bobbins b and b'
are partly supported by the circular stay pieces n" and os, and the conductors
n and os are placed near the centre of the machine. The wires in coming
off the bobbins are carried round the pieces no and o³, and over the conductors
n and of, as shewn by the blue lines in Figure 16, so as to give the requisite
amount of friction to them before they pass through the register plates
n2 and o, It will in some cases be sufficient to form the rope with two coils
of wires laid one over the other in contrary directions, as seen in Figures 20
and 21, thereby dispensing with a core; in these cases the two coils of wires

page_text: forming the rope are carried under the wheel 772 and over the puney-m.co
the reel.
Having now shewn how cores of coiled wire may made, I wish to remark,
that in some cases I would pass the ropes made of-two series of wires-wound
on each other in contrary directions by the machine shewn in Figures 16
and 17, two or more times through the same machine, so as to form a rope of
four, six, or other suitable numbers of layers of wire; by this means, a rope
of great size can be obtained, and the rigidity of the rope may be modified to
a great extent by varying the angle at which the wires are laid....
1
It may be necessary for some purposes to worm the inner core with hemp
or other yarn, as shewn in Figure 20. If it is desired to have a core in the
rope, then I make use of the machine shewn in Figures 18 and 19, or the
machinery in Sheet 4, by which a coil of any suitable length and shape is
formed in the following manner:p is a pulley with six-arms, having slots in
them; into these slots are fitted the studs p', carrying the guide pulleys-p²;
the pulley p is fast on the top of the bevel pinion p³, which revolves freely on
the tube pt, projecting from the stand ps. Into the inside of the tube p.Ifix
one end of a maundril, of the diameter or shape. of the inside of the core
required; this maundril projects upwards until it reaches rather beyond the centre
of the drawing-off pulley's p", which are set in motion by a strap from the main
shaft q, and by the pulleys, wheels, and pinion shewn in the Drawing. Upon
the main shaft is fixed a bevil wheel q', gearing into the pinion p before referred
to: The wire to be made into a coil is placed on-the-pulley. p, as seen in blue
in Figure 19; and one end of it is carried between two of the guide pulleys
p, and coiled round the maundril. Motion is then given to the machine. by a
strap passing over the pulley q, and every revolution of the pulley. p will lay
one coil of wire on the maundril. It is necessary to observe that-the-wire
must be pressed against the maundril by a presser fixed to any convenient part
of the pulley p. The drawing-off pulleys pe are also pressed against the coil of
wire by the weighted levers p', clearly shewn in the Drawing..
9
The stranding or laying machine, which is represented in Sheet 4 of the
Drawings, is provided with two tiers of bobbins, each tier having six bobbins,
but the number of bobbins may be changed according to circumstances, or the
machine may be made with only one tier of bobbins, if found more convenient
for the particular purpose required.
In Figures 22 and 23, r represents a cast-iron column firmly secured to a foun-
dation stone, and r' is a tube fitting above and below on the column r, but turning
freely upon it; to the tube r¹ are fixed the three rings r3,
as supports for the swivel frames. The swivel frames
3, and 4, which serve
contain each a bobbin

page_text: b..upon which the wire is wound for forming the strands or the strands are wound
when the machine is used for laying a rope. Independently of the friction caused
by the periphery of the bobbin 6 working on the lower part of the swivel frames
5, it is desirable to be able to increase the friction by means of washers_faced
with leather, which can be tightened against the centre of the bobbins on each
side by set screws passing through the swivel frames. The pivots of the
lower swivel frames ro project through the lowermost ring *; and to the end of
the pivots are fixed the links . In the arms of the pulley 7 are fixed studs,
which enter into holes,made to receive them in the links r, and the pulley r
is made to revolve freely upon the excentric fixed to the column r. The
distance between the centres of the holes in the links
being equal to the
distance between the centre of the column r and that of the excentric, it is
evident that as the pulley r revolves. the bobbins will also be carried round,
but they will retain..their relative. position parallel to each other, as seen in
Figure 23, during every portion of the revolution. The upper tier of swive!
frames is provided. with the shafts, which are fixed above into the said
swivel frames, and below pass through the ring. The lower extremity of
the shafts are also provided with links 2, which answer the same purpose as
those already described. When the wires are drawn off the bobbins b, they are
carried through bushes let into the rings 2 and 3, and from thence to the
guide plate, which is supported upon three stay rods, fixed into the
arms of. the upper ring. A register plate is let into the guide plate,
through which the. wires pass, and they are united into a strand soon after
passing the said.register plate. The distance of the guide plate 10 and register
plate from the ring r², may be varied by, sliding the guide plate up or down
the bars "The pulleys draws the wires, or strands, through the machine,
and they are then wound on to the reel t, which I mount upon the friction
rollers.t' and t, the latter of which is turned round by a pair of bevel wheels
from the upright shafts t. On the same shaft as the pulley s is fixed the
wheel s', which is set in motion by a train of wheels represented by red
circles in Figure. 22, and by the driving pulley s shown by a dotted circle.
The upright shaft is turned round by a pair of bevel wheels from the main
driving shaft, and imparts a rotary motion to the pulley by a strap passing
round the pulley.t', fixed near the lower part of the upright shaft ts; or in
place of the strap the driving may be by wheels or otherwise. On referring
to Figure 25, it will be seen that I pass the strand or rope two or more times
round the drawing-off pulleys, before it is conveyed to the reel t; and I make
use of the revolving guide disc to fixed on the pinion shaft to to guide the
strand or rope to the right hand or the left, as may be required to suit the strand
27
spur

page_text: or rope under operation. Upon the upper ring r² are placed bobbins 7+¹³ filled
with yarn of hemp, or other fibrous material; these yarns are taken under the
guide ring, and then guided through the register plate 12, from whence
they go to fill up the interstices left between the wires or strands. I can make
use of gutta percha, or other vegetable matter, instead of hemp or other
fibrous material, and these matters will be found particularly useful to fill up
the spaces of the inner circles of wire, as they will render the outer circle
more round, and prevent in a great measure the cutting of the wires caused
by friction; and these matters when fibrous should be saturated with oil or
other lubricating material, and they will lubricate the wires or strands, and
allow them to move without chafing. The pulley u is for the purpose of
guiding a core of wire or other material into the strand or rope, and this core
would be wound on the pulley or reel u'.
In Figures 26 and 27 I have shewn a compound strand, formed of a central
part having six wires and an outer casing formed of twelve wires. Three, or any
convenient number of these compound strands may be formed into a rope wormed
with hemp or other material, as already explained, and this rope may then be used
as a core on to which another series of strands may be laid. By this means a
rope of very large dimensions will be obtained. As it is in some cases desirable
to make one end of a rope stronger than the other, I reduce gradually the
number of wires of which the rope is composed in the following manner:-
Supposing a rope is being made with one hundred and forty-four wires on the
machine shewn in Figures 3, 7, and 8, or any other machine; after a certain
length has been laid, let one wire or any convenient number of wires be
cut, and after another suitable length has been laid, let another wire or other
wires be cut, and so on until the rope is reduced to the size required. Ropes
made in this manner would be particularly applicable in deep mines, or
in other cases where the weight of the rope is greater than the load to
be lifted.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I would have it understood that I do not
make any claim to the mechanical parts separately of which the machinery
herein described is composed, neither do I confine myself to the details as
herein described, so long as the peculiar character of any part of my Invention
be retained; but what I claim is,-
First, the manufacturing of wire ropes by employing wire wound as herein
explained.
Secondly, I claim the manufacturing of wire ropes by laying or inter-
weaving series of wires or series of wire strands diagonally under and over

page_text: series of wires or series of wire strands (each series consisting of two or more
wires or strands), so as to form flat or round ropes enclosing helically coiled
wire cores.
And I also claim the application of a stationary mandril and rollers and
parts for conducting the wires thereto for making platted or diagonally woven
wire ropes.
And I also claim the manufacture of flat wire ropes, as described in respect
to Figure 15, wherein several series of wire strands or of wires are caused to
braid diagonally amongst each other from selvage to selvage.
Thirdly, I claim the manufacturing wire ropes by laying or coiling two or
more layers of wires or strands of wire on each other in opposite directions;
and,
Fourthly, I claim the manufacture of gradually diminishing or tapering
ropes, as herein explained,
In witness whereof, I, the said James Buck Wilson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand sight hundred and fo..
JAMES BUCK (L.B.) WILSON.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Seventh day of May, in
the year of our Lord 1850, the aforesaid James Buck Wilson came
before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged
the Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and
specified, in form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was
stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty.