Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Ropes and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd July, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Apr., 1900-Accepted 26th Mov
4000
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Ropes
and the like.
We, ROBERT SOMMERVILLE and JOHN RICHARDSON, both of Murdoch Terrace,
Dundee Street, Edinburgh, Engineers and Blacksmiths, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
―:
This invention relates to improvements in thorals for spinning the cords or
strands in the manufacture of ropes and the like. In accordance with our improve-
ments the thoral consists of a spindle rotating within a sleeve; the end of the
spindle having the usual hook for catching the cord or strand in order to twist it;
upon the other end of the spindle a half clutch is fixed. The other half of the
clutch is formed upon the side of the ordinary pulley for driving the spindle.
The pulley and the other half of the clutch are kept out of gear by means of a
spiral or other spring or by an equivalent of the same.
such that when the spindle is operating and there is a pull on the hook, the two
The arrangement is
halves of the clutch are in gear. In the event of the cord or strand breaking,
the tension on the spindle is released and the driving pulley is under the influence
of the spring automatically disengaged from the clutch and the spindle stopped
running.
The front end of the sleeve, or that end which is in proximity with the hook,
is also provided with a clutch so that when the pulley clutch
spindle is prevented from running back whereby the cord or strand is prevented
disengaged, the
from unwinding. It will thus be seen that our improved thoral is automatic.
The series of thorals may be mounted in a bar carried between the standards,
the mounting of the bar between the standards being such that all the thorals
can be simultaneously disengaged from contact of their pulleys with the driving
band, by lowering the bar, the lowering of the bar being effected by any con-
venient means such as by an eccentric or quadrant, manipulation of which lowers
the position of the axis of the bar.
Datel
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
. Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Ropes
and the like.
We, ROBERT SOMMERVILLE and JOHN RICHARDSON, both of Murdoch Terrace,
undee Street, Edinburgh, Engineers and Blacksmiths, do hereby declare the
[Price 8d.]

page_text: "
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention, which relates to improvements in thorals for spinning the
strands in the manufacture of ropes and the like, and for twisting, finishing or
hardening such ropes, has for its object to ensure the thoral running only whilst
the load is on and to prevent the thoral from running back and unwinding the
strands in the event of their breaking; also to enable the thoral or thorals to be
individually or collectively thrown out of action whilst the load is on, when
desired. But in order that our said invention may be more readily understood
and easily carried into effect we will proceed to describe the same with reference
to the accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a side elevation.
Fig. 2a plan and
Fig. 3 a front elevation of a thoral, constructed and mounted in accordance
with our invention.
Referring to the said drawings, the spindle A of the thoral, which has a
twisting hook a of usual form at the front, rotates within a sleeve B and is fitted
at the rear end with a half clutch C. A similar half clutch D is formed upon the
boss of the ordinary spindle-driving pulley E and a spiral spring F is interposed
between the two halves of the clutch to keep them out of gear and allow the pulley
to ride loosely upon the spindle A when no load is on. Immediately however,
that the load is applied to the hook a the spring is compressed and the clutch
put in gear. In the event of the strand or strands breaking the tension on the
spindle is released and the driving pulley, under the influence of the spiral spring,
is automatically disengaged from the clutch, the running of the spindle being
thus stopped. The front of the hook is also provided with a clutch G so that
when the pulley clutch is disengaged, the spindle is prevented from running back
and unwinding or entangling the strands or rope. It will thus be seen that our
improved thoral is automatic.
The example illustrated, for simplicity, in the drawings is that of a thoral
for twisting, finishing or hardening the strands of cords, and is mounted in a
bar H carried between the standards J so that the pulley E of the thoral can be
lowered out of contact with the gut or other driving cord or band K. The lower-
ing of the bar may be effected by any convenient means such as by the eccen-
tries L, manipulation of which through the lever M and suitable operating cords
or chains, lowers the position of the axis of the bar.
The series of thorals employed in spinning the strands for the manufacture of
the rope or cord are similarly mounted on a bar so that they can be raised or
lowered, collectively, into or out of engagement with the driving band.
In lieu of employing a spiral spring for disengaging the pulley clutch any
equivalent thereof producing the same effect may be adopted.
The driving band or cord K may be endless, passing over two pulleys, and of
any desired length, but any existing form of drive may be employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. A thoral for spinning the strands in the manufacture of ropes and the like
and for twisting, finishing or hardening such ropes, constructed, mounted and
operating, substantially in the manner as and for the purposes described and
shewn in the accompanying drawings.
2. In apparatus for the manufacture of ropes and the like, mounting the
spindle A of the spinning or twisting thoral within the sleeve B and fitting the
rear end with a half clutch C to engage with a similar half clutch D carried by
the driving pulley E,. the clutch being kept out of gear, when the load is off, by
the spiral spring F or its equivalent, substantially as hereinbefore described and
shewn in the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 3. In apparatus for the manufacture of ropes and the like, providing the spindle
of the spinning or twisting thoral with a clutch G whereby backward rotation
of the thoral is prevented when the strand or strands break, substantially as
herein before described and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
4. In apparatus for the manufacture of ropes and the like the means whereby
the pulley or pulleys E of the thoral or thorals can be engaged with and dis-
engaged from the driving band K, consisting of the bar H, carrying the thorals,
mounted in the standards J so that it can be raised and lowered by the actuation
as herein before
of the eccentrics L or the like, substantially in the manner
described and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
JOHNSONS,
Applicants Agents,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow.