Improvements in and relating to Life-saving, Line-coiling, and Line-throwing Apparatus.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Mar., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 7th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 26th Feb., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Life-saving, Line-coiling, and
Line-throwing Apparatus.
WILLIAM SCHERMULY, 62, Stainsby Road, Poplar, London, E., Rope Splicer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in life-saving, line-coiling and line-
throwing apparatus, and the object of it is to provide a line coiled or wound in
a confined space and in such a manner that the line will run at any speed, such
speed for instance as a rocket-line without any friction or any possibility of the
line becoming foul.
The following is a useful machine for effecting the purpose of my invention.
A circular rack is secured to a stand which forms the bottom of the machine,
on the top of the rack turns a platform kept down upon the rack by means of a
bolt in the centre, which also acts as a swivel. At a suitable distance from the
edges of the platform are fixed vertically a number of pins, and on the sides of the
platform are secured bearings with a plain bore, in which are working rods of a
suitable length, the portion of the rods above the bearings are screwed, and on the
ends of the rods under the bearings, pinions are fixed, which gear into the circular
rack.
Another platform which I will call the upper platform with holes bored in it
to correspond with the pins fixed in the lower platform is attached to the machine
by means of the screwed rods; on the sides of the upper platform are bearings
fixed to correspond with the bearings on the lower platform; but whereas the
bearings on the lower platform have a smooth bore, the bearings on the upper
platform have a screwed bore to take the screwed portion of the rods.
When about to coil the line the upper platform is raised by means of the screwed
rods to the top of pins; before commencing to coil the line, a piece of canvas
or any suitable material is placed on top of the upper platform the line can
then be coiled and as one layer of line is coiled so the operator moves the
platforms in the requisite direction to lower the upper platform, this opera-
tion is continued until the pins are filled or sufficient line has been
coiled. A supplementary box is then placed over the line and the piece of
canvas or its equivalent is made fast to the supplementary box and the platforms
turned in the reverse direction which will drive the line and the supplementary
box upwards and clear of the pins, the supplementary box then contains the line
in a compact mass and may be removed from the machine and hermetically
sealed.
With reference to the raising and lowering of the upper platform, I do not con-
fine myself to any particular device, but may arrange for the upper platform to
be raised or lowered, or, for the lower platform to be raised or lowered, in various
mechanical ways. The machine may be made in various shapes, and the line may
be coiled in various ways.
1
1007

page_text: Line-throwing Apparatus.
I, WILLIAM SCHERMULY, 62, Stainsby Road, Poplar, in the County of Middlesex,
Rope Splicer, do hereby declare the 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:-
My invention relates to life-saving, line coiling and line throwing apparatus and
comprises the improved method of coiling the line, and apparatus for effecting the
said coiling hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 is a plan, and
Figure 2 is an elevation showing my improved line coiling apparatus.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.
a is the bed or base-plate of the machine, and 6 is a platform or plate rotatably
mounted upon the bed or base-plate a as indicated at 61. c, c are pins or pega
secured to the rotary platform or plate 6 and projecting vertically therefrom.
d is a second upper or auxiliary platform or plate provided with suitable holes
or apertures d* to admit of the passage of the pins or pegs c, and which platform d
is adjustably mounted or supported by nuts d upon vertical screw-threaded
spindles e, e. The spindles e are each rotatably mounted in the lower or main
platform 6 as shown at 6, (Figure 2) and are fitted at their lower extremities with
pinions or toothed wheels e¹ which latter gear or mesh with a toothed wheel or
ring f formed on, or secured to, the base or bed-plate a. It will be seen that upon
rotating the lower or main platform or plate 6 and the second or upper platform
or plate d upon the axis 6 in the one or other direction the pinions or toothed
wheels e¹ will be likewise rotated upon their axes by the toothed wheel or ring/
so as to turn the screw-threaded spindles e, and thus, through the nuts d¹, raise
or lower the said second or upper platform d. g, g are stop nuts to prevent the
said second or upper platform d from being raised too high.
To employ the above described apparatus for coiling a line the adjustable second
or upper platform or plate d is first brought to within a suitable distance from
the upper extremities of the pegs c and a piece of canvas or other material placed
thereon. The end of the line (which may be looped for the purpose) is then
fastened to one of the pins or pegs c (preferably one projecting through at one of
the corners of the said upper platform) and the line is then coiled or passed round
the pins or pegs in any suitable manner until the end of the two rows of pegs
facing the operator is reached, and a layer of line formed. The platforms are
then turned one fourth of a revolution so as to bring the other two sides thereof
and rows of pins or pegs c in front of the operator and at the same time through
the adjusting screws or spindles e and nuts d¹ to lower the second or upper plat-
form da sufficient amount, when the coiling or winding of the line is proceeded
with in a similar manner upon these pins or pegs. These operations are repeated
until the second or upper platform or plate d has been moved to its lowermost
position and the whole length of the pins or pegs e filled, or until such time as a
sufficient length of line has been coiled or wound.
According to my invention the coiled line is then removed from the pins or
pegs and placed into a box or case provided for its reception, the piece of canvas
or other material facilitating the operation. Or in lieu of a rigid box or the like
may employ a case made of canvas, sail-cloth or other textile fabric which case
may be stitched, and buttoned down at one or more convenient points similar to a
I

page_text: mattress. This box or case is thus filled with a compact mass of line. In the case
of a rigid box it can be hermetically sealed, or otherwise closed until required
for use and in the case of a canvas or like cover, when the line is required to be used
one side may be ripped off. Between the line and the lid of the box I may place
an auxiliary lid or plate to further compress the line.
By my invention I am enabled to wind or coil a line of great length into a very
confined space, and in such a manner that the said line will run, or unwind,
or uncoil, at a high speed without becoming foul, as for instance when employed
as a life line in connection with rockets and the like. The long lengths of
coiled line, moreover, stowed in boxes or cases in the manner described may be
roughly handled and packed in any position without any danger of the line
becoming entangled, and they are in a very convenient and portable form for
transport.
Although I find the herein before described apparatus both convenient and ad-
vantageous, I wish it understood that I do not confine myself to the exact details
as above set forth but may modify the same without, however, in any way departing
from the nature of my said invention. For example instead of four screw-
threaded spindles or adjusting screws e, pinions or toothed wheels e¹, and nuts l',
I may employ two, or other suitable number thereof, and instead of gearing or
meshing with an externally toothed wheel or ring f, I may arrange the said
pinions or toothed wheels e¹ to gear or mesh with an internally toothed wheel o
ring in like manner secured to, or formed on, the bed or base plate a. Moreover
I may employ any other equivalent and suitable mechanism for raising and lower-
ing the second, upper, or auxiliary platform d. Or I might arrange to lower or
raise the platform 6 by means of a central screw or otherwise.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. The herein described improved method of coiling or winding a life or other
line for the purpose specified.
2. An improved apparatus for coiling or winding a life or other line comprising
a rectangular or other suitably shaped platform or plate having at or near its
edges rows of vertical pins or pegs projecting through a second, upper, or auxiliary
vertically adjustable or movable platform or plate, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
3. An improved apparatus for coiling or winding a life or other line, com-
prising a rectangular or other suitably shaped rotatably mounted main platform
or plate, having at or near its edges rows of vertical pins or pegs projecting through
a second, upper, or auxiliary platform or plate supported through nuts upon two
or more vertical screw-threaded spindles or adjusting screws rotatably mounted
in the said main platform or plate, and fitted with toothed wheels or pinions
adapted to gear or mesh with an externally or internally toothed wheel or ring,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
4. The improved apparatus for the coiling or winding and the reception of a
life or other line substantially as set forth.
1007
A. F. SPOONER,
323, High Holborn, London, Agent for the Applicant.