IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY POR PREVENTING THE OVERLAPPING OF CHAINS OR ROPES WHEN USED ON DRUMS OR SHAFTS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS CAN BE APPLIED TO THE LAYING OF TELEGRAPHIC CABLES
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John de Normann, Telegraphic Engineer, of the
Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, Naples, and William Thomas Henley, of
St. John St. Road, London, Telegraph Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY POR PREVENTING THE OVERLAPPING OF CHAINS
OR ROPES WHEN USED ON DRUMS OR SHAFTS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS CAN BE
APPLIED TO THE LAYING OF TELEGRAPHIC CABLES."
Sealed the 26th February 1858, and dated the 12th December 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John de Normann and
William Thomas Henley at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 12th December 1857.
We, JOHN DE NORMANN, Telegraphic Engineer, of the Kingdom of the
Two Sicilies, Naples, and WILLIAM THOMAS HENLEY, of St. John St. Road,
London, Telegraph Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY POR PREVENTING THE OVERLAPPING OF
CHAINS OR ROPES WHEN USED ON DRUMS OR SHAFTS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS CAN BE
APPLIED TO THE LAYING OF TELEGRAPHIC CABLES," to be as follows:-
Our improvements consist of apparatus for enabling a rope or chain to be.
wound on a barrel without one coil riding on another. As ordinarily in lapping
a rope round a barrel it takes a spiral form, advancing along the barrel untill

page_text: others.
In paying out telegraph cables it is necessary to pass the same round
drum, to which is attached a break to check its running out too freely unless
there are several turus round when the break is checked, and the cable slips
round the drum, while if there are many turns the coils override each other
as before mentioned; but with our improved apparatus, twenty or any number
of turns can be placed round, so that the cable cannot slip. The same prin
ciple can be applied to the driving of machinery, as, when the band or cord
takes one turn on the pulley in the usual manner; to prevent its slipping it
must be very tight, causing great friction and wear in the bearings, and
requiring a corresponding quantity of power to drive it, and if the pulley is
very small it will slip; but with apparatus, as herein-after described, no matter
how small the diameter or how slack the band, no slipping can take place. The
same will be found very useful if applied to a capstan or to a drum used over
a mine, or in similar situations, as the rope will wind on at one end and off at
the other in any length and for any time without fouling or one coil lapping
over another. One plan for attaining this object, and which is applicable to
the paying out of a telegraph cable, is represented in Sheet 1, Figs. 1, 2, 3,
& 4. A is the drum, mounted in suitable bearings, round which the cable is
lapped in its passage out from the ship's hold; B is a ring, placed on the
drum and revolving with it, but it is capable of moving on the drum longi
tudinally by means of the projecting lugs a, a, a, moving in the slots on the
periphery of the drum; this ring is, by means of rollers b, b, b, fixed to the
framework, kept in an inclined position to the axis of the drum, as shown in
Figs. 2 and 4, so that as the drum revolves, the cable passing on to the drum
at the point C, is made to take a spiral direction as it laps round the drum by
the inclination of the ring B, so that if there are a dozen or more coils round
the drum, the cable as it passes on at C always finds a clear space to lay in
without riding on the other coils, and as tho ring B revolves with the drum
and with the cable no friction can take place between the cable and ring. It
will be seen that the part of the ring that is on the right-hand side of the slut
at C will, when the drum makes half a revolution, be on the left-hand side, as
at D, having been compelled to take that position by the guide rollers b, b, b, b;
and by these means the cable is kept clear from overlapping.
Another machine for the same purpose is shewn in Sheet 2, Fig. 1. In this
there are two drums of a suitable size, say, 8 ft. diam. one of these is grooved
B, the other plain C, the grooved drum being of the same diameter at tho
bottom of the grooves as the plain surface of the other. The cable runs on the

page_text: drum at the point A of the grooved drum, and then following round the drums,
as shown in the Drawing, and if the distance between the grooves bear about
the same proportion as shown in Fig. 1, no fouling can take place, as the
different laps of cable in crossing each other between the drums keep exactly..
in the centre between each other. If from any cause it is necessary to wind
the cable back again, on turning the drums the reverse way the rope is drawn
back with the same facility. To do this with a telegraph cable we propose to.
key a large spur wheel on the axis of one of the drums, say, the grooved one;,
into this spur wheel a pinion should gear, worked by a long cranked handle,
for the purpose of winding back the cable for repairs or otherwise; this pinion
should be thrown out of gear when the cable is running out; a break band with
lever should be applied to one or both drums to regulate the running out of
the cable, its last lap as it leaves the grooved drum should not touch the plain
one, but should pass over a large pulley; this should be allowed to play in
vertical sliding bearings to the extent of several feet; two ropes should pass
from the bearings of this pulley over two other pullies, and attached to two
heavy weights to rise and fall in wooden trunks one on each side of the deck.
In case of meeting with rough weather, as the ship rose on the wave the extra
strain on the cable would cause the pulley to descend and raise the weights,,
and when the ship sinks in the trough of the sea the weights would raise up
the pulley, thus keeping the cable from falling slack, and this rising and falling
of the pulley would indicate to the man at the break when to ease it, giving
him time to do so without any sudden strain coming on the cable. We are
aware that plans have been suggested for applying a moveable pulley at the
stem of the vessel, connected with springs or other similar means for easing a.
sudden check to the cable, therefore we make no claim to this part of the
arrangement. Instead of one grooved drum and one plain, both may be
grooved, but I prefer them as shewn in Fig. 1, Sheet 2; of course the spur
wheel and pinion and the break are intended to be applied to the arrangement
shewn in Sheets 1 and 2.
Sheet 2, Fig. 2, shews another plan. In this there is one large drum D,
round which the cable laps, and another smaller drum E, with several flanges;
the object of these flanges is to compel the rope or cable to take the screw or
spiral form in lapping round the drum; narrow grooves or channels are shewn
in the large drum for some part of the flanges to work in, so that the cable
may bear on as much of the flange as possible; the grooves are not absolutely,
necessary, as both drums may be plain; the pressure of the cable against these
flanges causes the drum on which they are fixed to revolve, therefore no
friction takes place between the cable and the drum. Instead of several flanges,

page_text: one will anwer the purpose, but not so well. The object in these arrangements is,
if applied to the paying out of the submarine cables, that several turns should
be taken round the paying-out drum or drums, so that no slipping of the cable
round the drum can take place; at the same time the cable should run freely
out of the vessel without any overlapping or riding or friction of the cable;
and if applied to other machines, either for raising weights or driving pullies
or shafts, the same facility of passing any length of rope over the drum, with
the same absence of slip, takes place as before mentioned.
Fig. 3, Sheet 2, shews a perspective view of the machine represented in
Sheet 1
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of tho conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John de Normann and William Thomas Henley in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th June 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, wc, JOHN DE
NORMANN, Telegraphic Engineer, of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, Naples,
and WILLIAM THOMAS HENLEY, of Saint John Street Road, London, Telegraph
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said John de Normann and William Thomas Henley, Her special licence that
we, the said John de Normann and William Thomas Henley, our executors,
administrators, and assigns; or such others as we, the said John de Normann
and William Thomas Henley, our 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 Islo of Man, an Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PREVENTING THE OVERLAPPING OF CHAINS OR
ROPES WHEN USED ON DRUMS OR SHAFTS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS CAN BE APPLIED TO
THE LAYING OF TELEGRAPHIC CABLES," upon the condition (amongst others) that
we, the said John de Normann and William Thomas Henley, our executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of their
hands 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

page_text: 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 we, the said John de Normann and William
Thomas Henley, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Our improvements consist of apparatus for enabling a rope or chain to be
wound on a barrel without one coil riding on another. As ordinarily in
lapping a rope round a barrel it takes a spiral form, advancing along the
barrel until it reaches the end, when the coils commence riding or lapping
over the others.
In paying out telegraph cables it is necessary to pass the same round a
drum, to which is attached a break to check its running out too freely,. unless
there are several turns round, when the break is checked and the cable slips
round the drum, while if there are many turns the coils override each other,
as before mentioned; but with our improved apparatus, twenty or any
number of turns can be placed round, so that the cable cannot slip. The
same principle can be applied to the driving of machinery, as when the band
or coil takes one turn on the pulley in the usual manner to prevent its slipping
it must be very tight, causing great friction and wear in the bearings, and.
requiring a corresponding amount of power to drive it, and if the pulley is
very small it will slip; but with apparatus as herein-after described, no matter
how small the diameter or how slack the band, no slipping can take place.
The same will be found very useful if applied to a capstan or to a drum used
over a mine, or in similar situations, as the rope will wind on at one end and
off at the other in any length and for any time without furling or one coil
lapping over another.
One plan for obtaining this object, and which is applicable to the paying out
of a telegraph cable, is represented in the Drawings annexed hereto by.
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. A is the drum, mounted in suitable bearings, round.
which the cable is lapped in its passage out from the ship's hold; B is a ring
placed on the drum and revolving with it, but it is capable of moving on the
drum longitudinally by means of the projecting lugs a, a, a, moving in the
slots on the periphery of the drum; this ring is, by means of rollers b, b, b,
fixed to the framework, kept in an inclined position to the axis of the drnm,
as shewn in Figures 2 and 4, so that as the drum revolves, the cable passing on
to the drum at the point C, is made to take a spiral direction as it laps round
the drum by the inclination of the ring B, so that if there are a dozen or
more coils round the drum, the cable as it passes on at C always finds a clear

page_text: space to lay in without riding on the other coils, and as the ring B revolves
with the drum and with the cable, no friction can take place between the
cable and ring. It will be seen that the part of the ring that is on the right-
hand side of the slot at C, will, when the drum makes half a revolution, bo
on the left-hand side, as at D, having been compelled to take that position
by the guide rollers b, b, b, b, and by these means the cable is kept clear from
overlapping. Figure 5 is a perspective view of the arrangement.
Another machine, for the same purpose is shewn by Figures 6 & 7. In this
there are two drums of a suitable size, say, eight feet diameter; one of these is
grooved B, the other plain C, the grooved drum being of the same diameter
at the bottom of the grooves as the plain surface of the other. The cable runs
on the drum at the point A of the grooved drum, and then following round
the drums as shown in the Drawing, and if the distance between the grooves
bears about the same proportion as shewn in Figure 1, no furling can take
place, as the different laps of cable in crossing each other between the drums
keep exactly in the centre between each other.
If from any cause it is necessary to wind the cable back again, on turning
the drums the reverse way the rope is drawn back with the same facility. To
do this with a telegraph cable, we propose to key a large spur wheel on the
axis of one of the drums, say, the grooved one; into this spur wheel a pinion
should gear worked by a long cranked handle, for the purpose of winding back
the cable for repairs or otherwise; this pinion should be thrown out of gear
when the cable is running out. A break band with lever should be applied to
one or both drums, to regulate the running out of the cable, its last lap as it
leaves the grooved drum should not touch the plain one, but should pass over
a large pulley, this should be allowed to play in vertical sliding bearings to
the extent of several feet; two ropes should pass from the bearings of this
pulley over two other pullies, and attached to two heavy weights to rise and
fall in wooden trunks one on each side of the deck. In case of meeting with
rough weather, as the ship rose on the wave, the extra strain on the cable
would cause the pulley to descend and raise the weight, and when the ship
sunk in the trough of the sea, the weight would raise up the pulley, thus
keeping the cable from falling slack, and this rising and falling of the pulley,
would indicate to the man at the break when to ease it, giving him time to do,
so without any sudden strain coming on the cable. We are aware that plans
have been suggested for applying a moveable pulley at the stern of the vessel,
connected with springs or other similar means, for casing a sudden check to
the cable, therefore we mako no claim to this part of the arrangement.
Instead of one grooved drum and one plain, both may be grooved, but wę

page_text: prefer them as shewn in Figure 6; of course the spur wheel and pinion and
the break are intended. to be applied to both arrangements. Figure 7 shews
another plan, in this there is one large drum D, round which the cable
laps, and another smaller drum E, with several flanges, the object of these
flanges is to compel the rope or cable to take the screw or spiral form in
lapping round the drum; narrow grooves or channels are shewn in the
large drum for some part of the flanges to work in, so that the cable may
bear on as much of the flange as possible. The pressure of the cable against
these flanges causes the drum on which they are fixed to revolve, therefore no
friction takes place between the cable and the drum; instead of several
flanges, one will answer the purpose, but not so well. The object in these
arrangements is, if applied to the paying out of submarine cables, that several
turns should be taken round the paying-out drum or drums, so that no slipping
of the cablo round the drum can take place, at the same time the cable
should run freely out of the vessel without any overlapping or riding or
friction of the cable; and if applied to other machines, either for raising
weights or driving pullies or shafts, the same facility of passing any length of
rope over the drum with the same absence of slip takes place as before
imentioned.
Having now described the nature of our Invention, and how the same is to
be performed, we make no claim to the use of the moveable pulley as applied
to easing checks on the running out of cables or ropes; but what we claim is,
the several arrangements and apparatus herein-before described, and shown by
the Drawings annexed, for preventing the overlapping of chains and ropes and
for paying out telegraphic cables.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Thomas Henley, for myself and
the said John de Normann, have, hereunto set my hand and seal, this
Twelfth day of June. A.D. 1858.
。 Witness,
C. BARLOW, Patent Agent,
89, Chancery Lane, London.
W. T. HENLEY. (L.S.)