IMPROVEMENTS IN BLOCKS FOR SHIPS, AND OTHER ISES
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Auguste Edouard Loradoux Bellford, of
No. 16, Castle Street, Holborn (City), London, Patent Agent, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BLOCKS FOR SHIPS, AND OTHER
ISES "A communication.
Sealed the 5th May 1854, and dated the 2nd December 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Auguste Edouard
Loradoux Bellford at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with his Petition, on the 2nd December 1853.
I, AUGUSTE EDOUARD LORADOUX BELLFORD, of 16. Castle Street,
Holborn (City), London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BLOCKS FOR SHIPS, AND OTHER
USES," to be as follows, viz. :-
The description of block to which these improvements relates is that
whose shell is formed of two cheeks or side pieces of wood, united by
plates of metal at the top and bottom. The object of the improve-
ments is to make a strong and durable block at a comparatively small
expense.
The first improvement consists in passing metal rods through the
cheeks lengthwise of the block, but transversely to the fibre of the wood,
in such a way as to secure the plates to the cheeks, and form the stiple

page_text: of the block. These rods, through passing through the cheeks trans-
versely to the fibre, effectually prevent the cheeks from warping or
splitting, and therefore render unnecessary the ordinary strap, which
but imperfectly answers the purpose.
The second improvement consists in permanently supporting the pin
or axle of the sheave or sheaves in the checks by means of metal rods,
which are inserted in the checks lengthwise of the block, in such a
manner as to form a durable bearing for the pin, and prevent it wearing
or becoming loose in the cheeks.
The accompanying Drawing exhibits blocks with one, two, and three
sheaves, constructed according to my. Invention.
Fig. 1 is a front view; Fig. 2 is a side view; Fig. 3 a section
through the axis of the single sheaved block. Fig. 4 is a front view,.
and Fig. 5 a side view of the two sheaved block; Fig. 6 is a front
view, and Fig. 7 a side view of a three sheaved block. Similar letters
of reference indicate corresponding parts of the several Figs. A, A, are
the cheeks of the block, which are of the usual form, and have the fibre
of the wood running crosswise. B, C, are the plates which hold the
checks at the proper distance apart to receive the sheave or sheaves D,
between them. E, E, are the metal rods, which pass through the
checks to prevent them splitting or warping, attach the plates B & C.
thereto, and form the staple of the block. These rods, which I make
of small round iron or other metal, run in a direction lengthwise of
the block, but transverse to the fibre, being received in suitable holes
bored for the purpose.
For the single sheaved block only one pair such rods are required,
one of which runs through both checks, on one side of the pin a,.
which forms the axle of the sheave, and the other through both cheeks
on the other side of the said pin. Each rod passes twice through.
both of the plates B and C, and forms a bow C outside the plate
B, and its ends are riveted, or have heads b. b, formed outside. the,
opposite plate C. The bows C, C, of the two rods are bent towards
each other to make their upper parts meet; as shewn in Fig. 2, to be
received in the ring of the hook F, and thus they form a staple. The
bend outside one plate,.and the heads outside the other, hold the two

page_text: plates and the checks securely together. The direction in which the
rods pass through the checks is shown in the several Figs. in dotted
lines. The manner in which the plate B, is secured by the bending of
the loops is shewn in Fig. 2, where a part of the cheek is represented
broken away for that purpose.
The double block requires three rods E, E, E', which are arranged
as shown in Figs. 4 & 5. The two rods E, E, each of which passes
through the two outside cheeks, are similar to the rods of the single
block, but the rod E' passes twice through the central cheek, passing
through on each side of the pin a. The bow C of the latter rod
requires to receive a twist, as shewn at d, in order to make it pass
through the ring of the hook F.
The treble block has two pairs of rods E", E", and E, E, of which
one pair E, E, pass through the two outer checks, and the other pair
E", E", through the two inner checks, as shewn in Figs. 6 and 7.
Each pair of these rods is arranged in a similar way to the pair
employed in the single block, and all the rods are received in the ring
of the hook F.
The pin a, is fitted to the block in the usual way, being driven
tightly through the cheeks, and furnished with a square head at one
end to prevent it turning. The rods e, e, which support the pin a, and
provent it wearing or getting loose in the cheeks, are straight pieces of
small round iron or other metal, which are driven tightly into suitable
holes bored into the cheek from the end opposite to the staple. Theso
rods are shown in the section Fig. 3, and their position is shown in
dotted lines in Figs. 2, 5, and 7. One end of each bears against the
pin a, and the other end is flush with the edge of the check. They
are kept in place by the plate C. It will be understood that these
rods are placed in the proper direction to sustain the pressure produced
by the pin, when a weight is being raised or a purchase taken by the
block, and they will prevent any wearing of the pin into the checks, or
enlargement of the hole through which it passes, being produced by
the heaviest purchases. In blocks having more than one sheave, the
pins e, e, may be used in the outer checks only, or in all the cheeks, as
may be desirable.

page_text: In all blocks having an odd number of sheaves, as 1, 3, and so forth,
every rod E will pass through two cheeks; but in blocks having an even
number of sheaves, as 2, 4, and so forth, the central cheek will have a
rod to itself as shown in Figs 4 and 5
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Auguste Edouard Loradoux Bellford in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd June 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
AUGUSTE EDOUARD LORADOUX BELLFORD, of No. 16, Castle Street,
Holborn (City), London, Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Second day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the seven-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Ter heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Auguste Edouard Loradoux Bellford,
Her special licence that I, the said Auguste Edouard Loradoux
Bellford, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as T,
the said Auguste Edouard Loradoux Bellford, my executors, adminis-
trators, 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 Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BLOCKS
FOR SHIPS, AND OTHER USES," being a communication from a foreigner
residing abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Auguste Edouard Loradoux Bellford, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the late
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Auguste Edouard Loradoux
Bellford, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in

page_text: what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement (that is to say):-
The description of block to which these improvements relate is that
whose shell is formed of two cheeks or side pieces of wood, united by
plates of metal at the top and bottom. The object of the improve-
ments is to make a strong and durable block, at a comparatively small
expense.
The first improvement consists in passing metal rods through the
cheeks lengthwise of the block, but transversely to the fibre of the
wood, in such a way as to secure the plates to the checks, and form
the staple of the block. These rods, by passing through the cheeks
transversely to the fibre, effectually prevent the cheeks from warping
or splitting, and therefore render unnecessary the ordinary strap, which
but imperfectly answers the purpose.
The second improvement consists in permanently supporting the pin,
or axle, of the sheave or sheaves, in the checks by means of metal rods,
which are inserted in the checks lengthwise of the block, in such a
manner as to form a durable bearing for the pin, and prevent it wearing
or becoming loose in the cheeks.
The accompanying Drawing exhibits blocks with one, two, and three
sheaves.
Fig. 1, is a front view; Fig. 2, is a side view; and Fig. 3, a section
through the axis of the single sheaved block. Fig. 4, is a front view;
and Fig. 5, a side view of the two sheaved block. Fig. 6, is a front
view; and Fig. 7, a side view of a three sheaved block. Similar
letters of reference indicate corresponding parts of the several Figs.
A, A, are the cheeks of the block, which are of the usual form,
and have the fibre of the wood running crosswise. B, C, are the
plates which hold the cheeks at the proper distance apart to receive the
sheave or sheaves D, between them. E, E, are the metal rods which
pass through the cheeks to prevent them splitting or warping, attach
the plates B and C thereto, and form the staple of the block. These
rods, which I make of small round iron or other metal, run in a direc-
tion lengthwise of the block, but transverse to the fibre, being received
in suitable holes bored for the purpose.

page_text: For the single sheaved block only one pair such rods are required,
one of which runs through both checks, on one side of the pin a,
which forms the axle of the sheave, and the other through both checks
on the other side of the said pin. Each rod passes twice through
both of the plates B and C, and forms a bow C outside the plate D
and its ends are riveted, or have heads b, b, formed outside the opposite
plate C. The bows c, c, of the two rods are bent towards each other,
to make their upper parts meet, as shewn in Fig. 2, to be received in
the ring of the hook F, and thus they form a staple. The bend out-
side one plate, and the heads outside the other, hold the two plates and
the cheeks securely together. The direction in which the rods pass
through the cheeks is shown in the several Figs. in dotted lines. The
manner in which the plate B is secured by the bending of the loops,
is shown in Fig. 2, where a part of the check is represented broken
away for that purpose.
The double block requires three rods E, E, E', which are arranged
as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The two rods E, E, each of which passes
through the two outside checks, are similar to the rods of the single
block; but the rod E' passes twice through the central check, passing
through on each side of the pin a; the bow, c, of the latter rod requires
to receive a twist, as shown at d, in order to make it pass through the
ring of the hook F.
The treble block has two pairs of rods E, E, and E", E", of which
one pair E, E, pass through the outer cheeks, and the other pair
E", E", through the two inner cheeks, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7.
Each pair of these rods is arranged in a similar way to the pair. em-
ployed in the single block, and all the rods are received in the ring of
the hook F.
The pin a, is fitted to the block in the usual way, being driven
tightly through the cheeks, and furnished with a square head at one
end to prevent it turning. The rods e, c, which support the pin a, and
prevent it wearing or getting loose in the checks, are straight pieces of
small round iron or other metal, which are driven tightly into suitable
holes bored into the cheek from the end opposite to the staple. The rods
are shown in the section Fig. 3, and their position is shown in dotted lines

page_text: in Figs. 2, 5, and 7. One end of each bears against the pin a, and the
other end is flush with the edge of the cheek. They are kept in place
by the plate C. It will be understood that these rods are placed in the
proper direction to sustain the pressure produced by the pin, when a
weight is being raised, or a purchase taken by the block, and they will
prevent any wearing of the pin into the cheeks, or enlargement of the
hole through which it passes, being produced by the heaviest pur-
chases. In blocks having more than one sheave, the pins e, e, may
be used in the outer cheeks only, cr in all the cheeks, as may be
desirable.
In all blocks having an odd number of sheaves, as 1, 3, and so forth,
every rod E will pass through two cheeks; but in blocks having an
even number of sheaves, as 2, 4, and so forth, the central cheek will
have a rod to itself, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.
I claim, Firstly, the employment of rods E, E, E, E", E", passing
through the checks A, A, of the block, in a direction transverse to the
fibre of the wood, for the purpose of preventing the splitting of the
cheeks, which said rods also serve to attach the plates B, C, to
the cheeks, and form a staple for the hook F, or other device for
suspending or connecting the block for taking a purchase, as herein
describe:l.
Secondly, the employment of rods e, e, applied in the manner de-
scribed, to the pin a of the block, for the purpose of sustaining it, and
preventing it wearing into or enlarging the holes, so as to become loose
in the cheeks.
In witness whereof, I, the said Auguste Edouard Loradoux
Bellford, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Second
day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-four.
A. E. LORA DOUX BELLFORD. (L.S.)