Improvements in the Manufacture of Buoyant Wire Ropes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Mar., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 13th Dec., 1894-Accepted, 19th Jan., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Buoyant Wire Ropes.
H
I, GEORGE GATTON MELHUISH HARDINGHAM, of 191, Fleet Street, in the
City of London, Civil Engineer and Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention (a communication to me from the Firm of Felten &
Guilleaume, of Mülheim on the Rhine, in the German Empire, Cable Manu-
facturers,) to be as follows :-
This invention relates to the manufacture of ropes, in the main composed of wire,
but embodying cork in sufficient quantity to afford the requisite buoyancy for enabling
the rope to float in water.
According to one mode of carrying out this invention, the wire or wire strands
are covered with hemp, jute or the like in one or several layers as may be necessary
to render them of sufficient thickness to completely cover the braiding. Unless so
treated, the weight of the wire becomes excessive in proportion to the buoyancy
afforded by the cork, or the gauge of the wire would have to be reduced beyond
the degree of practicability.
According to another method of construction, the wire rope proper is manu-
factured in the ordinary manner and independently, the cork-supports being strung
upon it afterwards. Such a rope can be produced to possess all the advantages
claimed for wire ropes in regard to uniformity of strain upon the separate wires,
elasticity, ductility etc. The finished wire rope has strung upon it cork-rings, and
these are by preference further protected by braiding. Where braiding is applied,
a filling composed of cork-particles may be substituted for the cork-rings.
In cables constructed according to another modification, the requisite buoyancy
is obtained by means of a hose-pipe produced by braiding, knitting or otherwise
filled with cork-particles, the pipe so charged being wound spirally around the
wire rope.
The diameters of the cork-rings and of the hose-pipe are dependent upon the
weight of the wire rope to rendered buoyant.
Dated the 12th dow of March 1801
CUM LEIE DI MUITIATION
Improvements in the Manufacture of Buoyant Wire Ropes.
I, GEORGE GATTON MELHUISH HARDINGHAM, of 191, Fleet Street, in the
City of London, Civil Engineer and Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention (a communication to me from the Firm of Felten &
Guilleaume, of Mülheim-on-the-Rhine, in the German Empire, Cable Manu-
facturers,) and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to the manufacture of ropes or cables, in the main composed
of wire, but embodying cork, reindeer hair, tan bark or other buoyant material in
sufficient quantity to afford the requisite buoyancy for enabling the rope to float in
water.

page_text: In order that the said invention may be clearly understood, I will now proceed to
describe the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, whereof
Fig. 1 represents in side elevation a buoyant wire rope embodying the present
improvements; Fig. 2 being a cross section of the same.
According to one mode of carrying out this invention, the wire or wire
strands a, a, a, etc., is or are furnished with a hemp, jute or like covering in one
or several layers, as may be necessary to render them of sufficient substance when
laid up, to completely cover the braiding c. Unless so treated, either the weight
of the wire becomes excessive in proportion to the buoyancy afforded by the cork
or other buoyant material d, or the gauge of the wire would have to be reduced
beyond the degree of practicability. The core e is not furnished with wire and
beyond serving as a core only contributes to the buoyancy.
According to another method of construction, illustrated in. Figs. 3 and 4, the
wire rope proper is of any ordinary character and is manufactured independently
of the cork-supports the latter being strung on afterwards. Such a rope can be
produced to possess all the advantages claimed for wire ropes in regard to
uniformity of strain upon the separate wires, elasticity, ductility, etc. The finished
wire rope a° has strung upon it the cork-rings or -balls 60, which latter, if considered
desirable, may be further protected by the braiding cº. Where braiding is applied,
a filling composed of cork-particles, reindeer hair or equivalent buoyant material
may be substituted for the cork-rings or balls..
According to the modification illustrated in Fig. 5, the requisite buoyancy is
obtained by means of a hose-pipe c*, produced by braiding, knitting or otherwise,
filled with cork-particles or equivalent material d*; the hose-pipe so charged being
wound spirally around the wire rope a*.
If the rope is required to withstand great tension, a hose-pipe or outer braiding
of wires may enclose the buoyant material, which latter may be in the form of
rings, balls or particles.
The diameter of the cores, or of the rings, or of the hose-pipe is dependent upon
the weight of the wire rope to be rendered buoyant.
When it is desired to utilise a cable of the type hereinbefore referred to for
electrical purposes, it will be obvious that an insulated conductor or conductors may
be embodied in various well known ways.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :-
1. A buoyant wire rope, constructed substantially as described with reference to
Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, and comprising strands composed of
wires covered with hemp, jute or the like, such covered wires enclosing a braided
filling of cork or equivalent buoyant material.
2. A buoyant wire rope,. constructed substantially as described with reference to
Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings, and comprising discs or spheres of
cork, or of equivalent buoyant material, strung upon a central wire cable and
enclosed within a braided envelope.
3. A buoyant wire rope, constructed substantially as described with reference to
Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings, and comprising a hose-like pipe, produced by
braiding or otherwise, filled with cork or equivalent buoyant material and wrapped
spirally, about a central wire cable.
4. A buoyant wire rope, consisting of a filling of cork or equivalent buoyant
material enclosed within a braided wire envelope, substantially as herein.described.
- Dated the 13th day of December 1904