Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Aug.. 1887
Complete Left, 11th May, 1888
Complete Accepted, 15th June,
1888
I, HENRY HERBERT MONTAGUE SMITH of Victoria Mansions Westminster in the
County of Middlesex Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a
communication to me from abroad by Andrew Smith Hallidie of San Francisco,
California, one of the United States of America wire rope manufacturer) to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to machines known as the Archibald Smith pattern, used in
the manufacture of wire rope.
According to one portion of this invention the machine consists of a combined
upper and lower horizontal framework. In the lower part of the framework is
mounted the driving shaft which is provided with a number of rollers keyed or
otherwise mounted thereon corresponding in number and position to the discs of the
bobbin frames. These discs are united and stayed together by longitudinal rods and
are revolved by means of the aforesaid rollers being kept in place by other rollers
mounted in the upper part of the lower framework. The bobbin frames are freely
suspended between said discs on hollow journals being kept in the proper position by
means of weights in the usual way. In the upper horizontal frame are mounted other
discs united and stayed together in like manner as described with reference to those
in the lower frame, and which are rotated by bearing on the rollers in the upper part
of the lower frame before mentioned and having also bearing rollers above. These
discs are also provided with bobbins as before described.
For making a nineteen wire strand for a wire rope the machine is provided with
seven bobbins in the upper part and twelve in the lower part. Each of the wires from
the first six of the bobbins in the upper part of the machine is led through the hollow
journal in the middle of the next disc thereto and from thence over pulleys or fairlead
sheaves mounted on the aforesaid longitudinal rods and through holes near the
periphery of the discs and from thence to the head of the machine through the laying
plate or top where they are laid round the remaining wire which forms the core.
This strand is then brought round to the lower part of the other end of the machine
by suitable pulleys or fair lead sheaves, through the hollow journal of the first disc

page_text: and over a curved guide of slightly serpentine form, over fair lead sheaves mounted as
aforesaid on the longitudiual rods and through holes near the periphery of the discs, over
another similar curved guide and up to the laying plate where the strand is covered
with twelve wires in the same manner as before described and the nineteen wire
strand is thus completed. The object of employing a curved guide is to prevent a
"spiral" form being given to the strand-from the upper machine in passing through
the hollow journal of the lower machine while the latter is revolving.
The combined machines may be constructed either to work together at the same
speed or at any relative speed to each other. A greater or lesser number of wires
may however be used if desired; or a third machine may also be employed to cover
the strand made in the combined machines with another layer of wires, and the
combined machines may either be run in the same or in opposite directions.
By the arrangement described there is no drawing off gear required for the upper
machine other than that which is provided for by the lower one which performs this
function for both.
Instead of having two combined frameworks that is, an upper and a lower one, one
long framework may be used, and be provided with nineteen of the same kind of
independent hanging weighted frames, and be driven in the same manner as the lower
part of the combined machine before described.
Instead of using bobbins of the ordinary description upon which the wire has to be
wound a kind of swift may be used upon the machine and be mounted on an
upright spindle on the top of each of the hanging frames. By this means the necessity
for winding the wire upon bobbins is avoided.
According to one modification the construction of these swifts is generally as
follows: A circular plate is concentrically keyed to or otherwise mounted on the
aforesaid upright spindle and bas at a certain distance from the centre (determined by
the size of the coils or bundles of wire as received from the wire drawer) a number of
hinged, or otherwise loosely connected, and curved arms which are hinged at their
upper ends to a corresponding number of radial arms jointed or hinged to a collar on
the upper part of the spindle. The collar may be fixed at any desired distance from
the circular plate by means of a set screw. When it is necessary to put a fresh bundle
of wire on the swift the set screw is loosened and the collar raised on the spindle; the
bundle of wire is then put over and round the aforesaid curved arms. The collar is
now pushed down thus expanding the curved arms the set screw is screwed up and
the bundle of wire is thus held tightly. Underneath the circular plate is placed a
brake drum, the band of which is held stationary by a stop on the hanging frame and
may be adjusted by means of a screw or other suitable appliance. The wire being
kept in tension by means of a device consisting of an arm acted on by a spring and
pivotted to the hanging frame and having mounted thereon two sheaves or pulleys
round which the wire is led and from thence to the hollow journal of the hanging
frame to the fair lead sheaves, or in the case of the last swift at the end of the
machine, direct to the laying plate.
Dated this 11th day of Am
1007

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION..
!
r
Improvements in Machines for the Manufacture of Wire Rope.
I, HENRY HERBERT MONTAGUE SMITH of Victoria Mansions. Westminster in the
County of Middlesex Gontleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention
(a communication to me from abroad by Andrew Smith Hallidie of San Francisco,
California, one of the United States of America, Wire Rope Manufacturer) 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 machines, known as the Archibald Smith pattern, used in
the manufacture of wire rope.
☐ The improvements relate to the general arrangement and combination of parts, to
the mode of driving the machine, to the swifts for holding the wires, to tension device
for equalizing the strain on the wires and to means for straightening the strand.
According to one portion of this invention the machine consists of a combined
upper and lower horizontal framework. In the lower part of the framework is
mounted the driving shaft which is provided with a number of rollers keyed or other-
wise mounted thereon usually corresponding in number and position to the discs of
the bobbin frames. These discs are united and stayed together by longitudinal rods
and are revolved by means of the aforesaid rollers, being kept in place by other
rollers mounted in the upper part of the lower framework. The bobbin fraines are
freely suspended between said discs on hollow journals being kept in the proper
position by means of weights in the usual way.
In the upper horizontal frame are mounted other discs united and stayed together
in like manner, as described with reference to those in the lower frame, and which are
rotated by bearing on the rollers in the upper part of the lower frame before
mentioned and having also bearing rollers above. These discs are also provided with
bobbins as before described..
For making a nineteen wire strand for a wire rope the machine is provided with
seven bobbins in the upper part and twelve in the lower part. Such a machine is
represented in Figures 1 to 4 arranged so that the 7 and 12 bobbins, can be worked
together either at the same number of revolutions per minute or at any relative
speed according to the practice of the manufacturer and make a flexible wire rope of
strand of two or more annular layers of wire. Figure 1 is a side elevation, Figure 2
a plan, both figures being shown in continuation on sheets 1, 2 and 3.
This combined machine is capable of making a strand of 19 wires, formed of one
wire covered by six made in the upper machine A Figure 1 and making a strand of
7. wires which is afterwards covered by 12 wires by the lower machine B.
A lesser number of wires can however be used if desired and a third machine can
likewise be used if desired to cover the strand made in the machines A and B, with
another layer of wires and these machines can either be run in the same or opposite
directions...

page_text: Figure 3 is an enlarged end view of the machine and Figure 4 an enlarged longi-
tudinal sectional elevation of the front and rear part of the machine shewing the
details not indicated in Figures 1 and 2. Figure 4 is shewn in parts continued on
sheets 4 and 5. Each of the wires h from the first six of the bobbins f reckoning
from the right hand side in the upper part of the machine is led through the hollow
journal in the middle of the next following disc d and from thence over pulleys or fair
lead sheaves i mounted on the longitudinal tie or tension rods g which hold the
revolving frame together and then through holes near the periphery of the discs d and
from thence to the head of the machine through the laying plate or top where they
are laid round the remaining or seventh wire which comes from the last bobbin f
on the left in Figures 1 and 2 and forms the core. This strand jis then brought
round to the lower part B of the other or right hand end of the machine by suitable
pulleys or fair lead sheaves 1 through the hollow journal m of the first disc d' and
over a curved guide n of slightly serpentine form, over fair lead sheaves i mounted as
aforesaid on the longitudinal rods and through holes near the periphery of the
discs d' over another similar curved guide n in the left part of machine B and up to
the laying plate where the strand is covered with twelve wires in the same manner as
before described and the nineteen wire strand or rope K is thus completed and then
carried back to the drawing off device at the right hand of the machine.
The object of employing a curved guide is to prevent a "spiral" form being given
to the strand from the upper machine A in passing through the hollow journal 'm of
the lower machine B while the latter is revolving.
On the driving shaft 1 are mounted fast and loose pulleys 2 and also a number of
friction rollers or discs 3 which transmit motion to the discs d' on the lower revolving
framing of the machine. The discs d' revolve against the rollers o which are mounted
in the framing a and again transmit the motion to the discs d in the upper revolving
framing of the machine, o' are rollers to take the up thrust. The drawing off gear
consists of usual sheaves and gearing c c c.
By the arrangement described there is no drawing off gear required for the upper
machine other than that which is provided for by the lower one which performs the
function for both.
Instead of having two combined frame works that is an upper A and a lower one B
one long frame work may be used and be provided with nineteen of the same kind of
independent hanging weighted frames and be driven in the same manner as the lower part
of the combined machine before described. Instead of using bobbins of the ordinary
description upon which the wire has to be wound a kind of swift may be used upon
the machine and be mounted on an upright spindle on the top of each of the hanging
frames. By this means the necessity for winding the wire upon bobbins is avoided.
Although I have shewn the top and bottom part of the machine as working at the
same speed I may as required arrange the gearing to run them at different speeds.
Figs. 5 to 11 illustrate an arrangement of horizontal wire strand making machine
for laying up 19 wires by means of a single frame Fig. 5 is side elevation and Fig. 6
plan showing the general position of the swift the laying plate, the drawing off and
winding apparatus and the driving pulley. These figs. are shown in parts continued
on sheets 6, 7 and 8.. Fig. 7 is an enlarged plan view of front or left hand end of
machine C showing the arrangement of the swift the tension device and the laying
plates. Two of the latter are shown but one only may be used as shown in the end
view Figure 10.
.
Figure 8 shows the machine in enlarged cross section.
Figure 9 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the two left hand bays or sections
of the machine. This figure is shown in parts continued on sheets 9 and 10.
-
Figure 10 is an end view of the laying plate.
Figure 11 is an end view illustrating a mode of transmitting power to the driving
rollers by means of belt.
According to this modification the construction of the swifts is generally as
follows: :
A circular plate 1 is concentrically mounted so as to revolve on the fixed upright

page_text: spindle and has at a certain distance from its centre (determined by the size of the
coils or bundles of wire as received from the wire drawer) a number of hinged, or
otherwise loosely connected and curved arms s which are hinged at their upper ends
to a corresponding number of radial arms t jointed or hinged to a sleeve which works
freely around collar u on the upper part of the spindle v. The collar u may be fixed
any desired distance from the circular plate p by means of a set screw.
at
When it
is necessary to put a fresh bundle of wire on the swift the set screw is loosened and
the collar u raised on the spindle v, the bundle of wire is then put over and round
the aforesaid curved arms. The collar is now pushed down thus expanding the
curved arms the set screw is screwed up and the bundle of wire h is thus held
tightly. Underneath the circular plate p is placed a brake drum q, the band of
which is held stationary by a stop on the hanging frame e and may be adjusted by
means of a screw or other suitable appliance. The wire being kept in tension by
means of a device consisting of an arm & acted on by a spring z and pivotted to the
hanging frame e and having mounted thereon two sheaves or pulleys ww round
which the wire 'is led and from thence to the hollow journal m of the hanging
frame e to the fair lead sheaves i or in the case of the last swift at the end of the
machine direct to the laying plate. This arrangement and construction of swift may
also be applied to wind wire upon spools directly and equally.
The driving of the machine may suitably be actuated as shewn in Figures 5, 6, 8, 9
and 11 viz. by belt over guide pulleys g¹ g¹ to the pulley 2 on the shaft 1 which
runs the whole length of the machine and is provided with friction rollers 3. These
latter impart motion by frictional contact with the discs d of the revolving framing,
the discs d revolving against the rollers o¹ having their spindle bearings in the
frames a.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is :—
First: The improved construction of wire rope making machine being a com-
bination of an upper machine for making a core strand and a lower machine for
covering such core strand with wires, all so arranged that the two work simultaneously
substantially as described with reference to and as shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4
or any mere modification thereof.
Second-The reversed curve guide n n substantially as described with reference to
and as shewn in Figure 4 and for the purpose stated.
Third: The improved construction of wire rope making machine substantially as
described with reference to and as shewn in Figures 5 to 11.
Fourth-The adjustable swift substantially as described with reference to and as
shewn in Figures 7, 8 and 9.
Fifth-The tension device for wire holding swift consisting of sheaves w w¹ working
freely on spindles attached to an arın working on a pivot y and regulated by a
spring substantially as shewn in Figures 7 and 9.
Sixth-The driving shaft 1 with friction rollers 3 in combination with the discs d
and rollers o substantially as shewn in Figures 5, 8, 9 and 11.
Dated this 11th day of May 1888.