CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MACHINE FOR MAKING ROPE OR CORDAGE, EITHER SHROUD OR CABLE LAID, AND IN THE MODE OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME
Year: 1807

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, J, JOHN
SYEDS, of Rotherhithe Wall, in the Parish of Saint Mary Magdalen.
Bermondsey, in the County of Surrey, Compass Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third did, by
His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Sixteenth day of June,
in the forty-seventh year of His reign, give and grant unto me, the said
John Syeds, my exors, admors, and assigns, His especial licence, full power,
sole privilege and authority, that I, the said John Syeds, my exors, adñors,
and assigns, during the term of years therein mentioned, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the
Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MACHINE FOR MAKING ROPE OR CORDAGE, EITHER SHROUD
OR CABLE LAID, AND IN THE MODE OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME;" in which said
Letters Patent there is contained a proviso obliging me, the said John Syeds,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, to cause a particular
description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery
within one calendar month after the date of the said recited Letters Patent,
as in and by the same, relation being thereunto had, may more fully and at
large appear.
| NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
John Syeds, do hereby declare that my said Invention is described in the

page_text: Drawings nereunto annexcu, and the following description thereof, that is to
say:
Before I explain on this Specification, I have first to say, I do not confine
myself to the heights, lengths, diameters, circumferences, breadths, depths,
squares, circles, or cemicircles, that is or may be useful in framing the works
in its parts in wood or timber, iron, steel, brass, or metal of any kind, notwith-
standing I have made my Drawing at the proportion of one inch to the foot.
A is the head of the rope ground; B, the bottom of ditto. C is the bed on
which the work, D, D, the uprights or standards is fixed which supports the
eight cog wheels for laying the strands in a shroud form, with the purchase to
turn the said wheels.
Explanation of the Bed C.-Fig. 1 and 2 are two pieces of oak timbers,
thirteen feet long, and about eleven inches square, which are staked to
the head of the rope ground A, pointing from A to B. Fig. 3, 4, 5, 6,
and 7, are pieces of oak timber, eleven inches broad by five inches deep,
and four fect three inches long, dovetailed into F 1 and F 2 at equal
distances. F8 to 15 are eight angular curlings or spur shores to assist
in supporting the frame of the bed C from twisting; when compleat it
forms a bed of thirteen feet in length and four feet nine inches broad clear
of the ledges F 16 and 17, which project three inches above the bed to
keep the other following apparatus in their place. D1 and D2 are the
uprights that support the eight cog'd wheels 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24,
and 25 at the back of 24, see the arrangement of the wheels, which wheels
face A, the head of the ground, the wheels supported in the uprights or
standards by planks of five inches thick in the front to bear the strain of laying
or twisting the strands for rope. Plank No. 26 is bolted as a fixture to D 1 and
D2; in the upper edge of it is left the balf die or cog 27. 28 is another
plank to slide down in the grooves in D1 and D 2 on the plank 26 into
plank 28.
On the lower edge is another half cog or die 29, so that, when the
two planks are closed, forms a cog with a round hole in the center to receive
the spindle or axletree, in which 18 and 19 are to be fixed, and on the upper
edge of plank 28 is let in another half cog or die 30. No. 39 is another, in
the lower edge of which is let in the half cog or die 31, so that when plank 39
is let down in the grooves in D1 and D 2 to plank 28, it forms a whole cog with
a round hole in it to receive spindle 38, on which 20 and 21 wheel is to be
fixed. In the upper edge of plank 39 are to be fixed the two half cogs or
dies 82 and 34, plank 40; to the lower edge are fixed the half cogs or dies 33
and 35, so that when the plank is let down in the grove in D1 and D 2, it
forms two cogs, with round holes in each, for the spindles 36 and 37 to work

page_text: in. DB 1, and D B 2, shew the back part of the uprights that the cog
wheels are fixed on, and when turned at the back of D 1 and D 2, the planks
and cogs being fixed in the same manner as in D1 and D 2, when turned back
to back, so as DB 1, to be placed behind or at the back of D 1, and DB 2
behind or at the back of D 2, then D B 1 and 2 become the back of D 1
and 2, which back faces the bottom of the rope ground B, so that the surface
or outside of the planks facing the head of the rope ground A, and the surface
or outside of the planks facing the bottom of the ground B, are at the distance
of one foot three inches, which is a steadiment to the spindles or axletrees 29,
36, 37, and 88, to work in, which sheweth the bed or frame and their supports
to withstand the strain that may be expected to be on them when laying a
large cable. The center of the three outside cogs in the planks form an exact
triangle from the center of the middle cog.
To place the wheels on the spindles.--Spindle No. 38, in the necks of which
is greater length than the other three spindles 29, 36, 37, on account that
when the wheel 18 is first placed on the spindles or axletrees, the smaller
wheel 19 is left at the distance of the clear of the thickness of the wheels 20,
22, 24, when in their place; wheel 21 is placed on spindle or axletree 29,
after which wheel 20 is placed on ditto close to 21, and secured together.
Wheel 23 is placed on spindle or axletree 36, and wheel 22 follows on the
same spindle close to the wheel 23; wheel 25 is next placed on spindle 37,
and wheel 24 follows on ditto, close to the wheel 25. The wheels being placed
on the spindles or axletrees, the planks 40, 39, 28, are to be taken off or raised
sufficiently high to let spindle 29, with its wheels, into the cogs facing A, the
head of the ground, and B, the bottom of ditto; then close the plank 28
upon it, makes the cogs on which the spindle is to act. Then place in
like manner spindle or axletree 38 in the centre half cogs, and let
down the plank 39, and it is in its place.. Then place spindles or axle-
trees 36 and 37 in the half cogs of plank 39, then let down on it plank
40 close to 39, by which all the spindles are secured in the cogs they.
are to act in, a true triangle from the center wheel.
On the Action of the spindles or axletrees.-To the spindle of the center wheel
facing A is a square socket 51 for the square of the purchases to go into, which
gives it its revolutious, and when to act with a stronger power the center wheel
is placed so much toward A that the cogs of the small wheel behind the greater
of the center, takes into the cogs of the large wheel, placed in the triangular
form to the smaller wheel, gives the three larger wheels a greater power to
lay the strands; and to keep it in that state, place 41 across the neck of the
spindle with its prongs on each side of said spindle at the end facing tho
bottom of the ground, being a stop between the back plank, and the

page_text: shoulder will keep the spindle in its position; but if a less powerful strain
is required and a quicker motion, take out fork 41 and shove the spindle in
and place fork 41 at the other end of the spindle or axletree 38, and place
the fork on the side and between the shoulders of the spindle and inside of
the plank, facing the head of the ground A; then the cogs of the wheel 24
will act in the cogs of the wheels 18, 20, 22. In the ends of the spindles
which project without the side of the cogged planks facing B, the bottom of
the ground is in each a hole, and the ends being square, by placing in a
chuck for making the yarns fast to in a regular manner. The said chucks
are to be in size to suit the number of yarns that are in the strand to be
layed when the strain comes on the axletrees the spindles bear against the
cogs or dies in the planks in the inside of the front plank to A and dies in
the side of plank at the back in the inside between the two planks where all
the wheels act. The bolts that go through the planks in the front pass
through the standards and back plank, and are secured with screws on the
bolts, ends, and nuts to screw thereon. The purchase to give those wheels
their action 42 is the side of the frame which supports the five uprights 43,
44, 45, 46, and 47. In these uprights are four cranks, No. 48, 49, 50, and
51, which cranks stand No. 48 downwards, 49 upwards, 50 to the left hori-
zontally when facing B, the bottom of the ground, and 51 to the right, by
which some of the laborers at the cranks have at all times the best power.
On the bed are two wheels to be forced down by the levers 52 and 53 on each
side which lift the bed off the ground, and the pressure is on the wheel. When
removed to where required, ease the levers, and the bed is again solid on the
ground or bed to be rested on. When a small purchase is wanted, so that
one or two cranks is sufficient, unship two or three as may be thought proper.
I is a very powerful machine for purchase, and is to be used to lay ropes
when a great purchase is required, H 1 and H 2 facing A, the head of the
ground; and is to be two strong pieces of timber in length three feet, with
strong iron gudgeons at the head to receive the axletrees, on which two wheels
with catch teeth are to be fixed on, and as on the side view of F 1 there is
an opening in the uprights H 1 and H 2 for the wheels to work in, one wheel
in each upright. H 3 is a piece of strong timber of two feet six inches
long, and has two notches in a dovetail form to receive half the thickness of
the foot of 1 and H 2 in dovetail and to receive in a tenanted manner
half of H 5, the lower part of which below H 3 becomes a round spindle.
H4 is another strong piece of timber formed the same as II 3, and lets in
the other half of the dovetails and tenants in H 1 and H 2 and II 5, so
that when H 3 and H4 are closed together and bolted to each other they are
to lay flat on the bed E with the spindle through the sliding hole or groove

page_text: with the uprights erect. II 6 is a strong piece of timber notched at each end,
so that the body of it comes through to the middle of H 1 and H 2, and
receives half of the dovetail part of H 5. H 7 is another equal piece of
timber, and notched and dovetailed the same as H 6, so that when it is joined
to H 6, and the ends bolted together through the uprights H 1 and H 2, and
one bolt through them at the dovetail at II 5, it compleats the framing exclu-
sive of the necessary spur, shores, &c. E is the bed that spindle H 5 is to
act in. G 1 and G 3 is a strong piece of timber layed down with notches at
each end. G 2 and G 4 is another strong piece of timber, each one foot broad
and eight inches deep, each of their lengths three feet being laid down about
one foot asunder. The notches at each end receive another piece of timber
let in half and half, so that the surface above and below are equal or flush ;
then another notch is cut from side to side between the two cross pieces half
way through, and two other pieces of timber notched half through and let down
on the notches of G 1 and 3 and G 2 and 4, so that all the surfaces of each
piece of timber are equal on the lower and upper flats when fastened together
with sinall treenails. Both sides are to be planked with three-inch oak, and
then all bolted together through the planks, and the bolts rivetted. In the
middle of the bed is a mortice hole through it, the sides of which are
equal to the round spindle H 5, but the length admits of the spindle
to slide backward and forward, which moves the uprights or standards
which support the tooth wheels for the spindle, on which they are fixed
to be turned round according to which end is to be placed in the socket
of the spindle they are to heave the strain or purchase on, and to slide
in the groove toward the spindle they are to act with in turning it to or
from it to clear it therefrom, when wanted to put the other end in, as the
one end throws with the sun, and the other against the sun, according to the
terms of ropemaking, &c. The notched or toothed wheels K 1 and K 2 aro
placed on the spindle, which spindle is square at each end with a groove
turned at each side of the wheel K 1 and K 2, to turn round in the uprights
H1 and H 2. and another groove toward each end, but close to the groove
that acts in the uprights; in the inside of each square on which the catch or
tooth wheels are to be placed is another groove for the other part of the
upright, and another groove on each inside of the groves to let into the uprights
to receive the movement of the lovers. See the side view of the spindle or
axletree on which the catch or tooth wheels K 1 and K 2 are to be fixed.
See the side view in F 1 of Fig. 3 and 4 in its form that F 3 and F 4 in L 1
and L 2 stands on the outside grooves in the spindle or axletree K 3 stands,
which is made of iron. The supporters 3 and 4 to L 1 and L 2 are made of

page_text: iron to be placed on the spindle carrying the tooth or notch wheels one leg
on cach side of the standards or uprights. See the side view of F 1 and
angular view of 3 and 4 in L1 and L2. 5 and 6 in L are two strong pieces
of iron crossing the supporters of L1 the lever and L 2, and are bolted to
the middle of 3 and 4, as on the angular view of 3 and 4. The side view of
5 and 6 points out the hinge work in the pressure P1 and P 3, which pressure
is to be made in a form to press into and down on the notches or teeth of
K and K 2 by the pressure of L1 and L2 the levers. P 2 and P 3 are
catch pauls in the teeth of the notch wheels K 1 and K 2, which pull or turn
the wheels as the lever presses down P1 and P 3. W is a wheel fixed on
two standards or uprights W 1 and W 2 in the other side of the view, which
wheel is placed at the side, and under the levers that pull the tooth wheels K 1
and K2 upward when the two levers are both horizontal by a line or band
being put round the wheel W and each end of it made fast to the short end of
the levers at N 1 and N 2 bearing the strain of each lever when in a horizontal
position, then by pressing or pulling down on the long end of one lever to turn,
the catch or tooth wheel K I rises, the long end of the other lever again
pressing or pulling down; on the lever so pressed upward rises the other end
of the lever in rotation, without fatiguing the man or men at the levers with
lifting the levers upward to give the wheels their revolutions, which turns the
spindle with a great power to lay or close the strands of rope, or give a great
purchase when required. The three lines drawn from the ends of each lever
represent three bell ropes, if the levers reach above the convenient reach of
the man or men's hands. 61 and 62 are two machines, placing and keeping
in order the rope yarns when stretched along the ground to form the strands
to be laid into rope, in which are three circles with as many round holes as
there are to be threads or rope yarns in each strand, and face the head of the
rope ground at A, their back fronting the bottom of the ground at B. 3 and
4 are the front view of the beds of 0 1 and O 2, and 5 and 6 in the side view
of 01 and O 2 is a view of the side of the beds of O 1 and 0 2.
5 and 6 are
the front view of the standards or uprights of O 1. 7 and 8 are the front
view of the standards or uprights of 02. 7 and 8 are the side view of the
standards or uprights of O 1 and O 2, which uprights are tenented into 5 and
6, the beds on each side of the frame, and supported by spur shores or
angular stantions 9, 10, 11, and 12, inside view, see side views of the beds
of 1 and O 2, where there is to each two wheels or rollers, which are fixed
in a mortice of a lever with an iron pin, as the sheave and pin of a tackel
block. For each of the levers is a bolt drove into the bed, and letting it project
six inclics outside. By placing the hook point of the lever under the bolt, and

page_text: pressing down on the other end, and fasten it down to the hook on the side of
the bed, it lifts the bed off the ground; if only one end is required to be
lifted off the ground for case in moving it, or transporting it from place to
place, use one on each side, whichever end is wanted; if the whole body is
required to be moved off the ground to use four of those wheels and levers, it
is then suspended on four wheels or trucks off the ground.
In this manner
any part of the work that may be required to be removed is to be taken off
the ground by the levers, and their wheels and rollers R is to be placed toward
the bottom of the ground to lay the strands of shroud or harser or cable-layed
rope.
on.-1 and 2 are two strong
6, and 7, are five strong
9 and 10 is a piece of
Explanation of the bed for R to be fixed
pieces of oak, eleven feet and a half long. 3, 4, 5,
pieces of oak laid across and dovetailed into 1 and 2.
oak let down half and half, and bolted to the ends of 1 and 2. 11, 12, 13, 14,
15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22, are spur shores to prevent hoisting. 23
and 24 are two strong pieces of oak dovetailed into 5 and 6. 25 is an
opening to receive the spindle H 5 of the purchase, which spindle in diameter
is equal to the breadth of the opening 25, the length of which is to let the
spindle slide toward or from the purchase, as may be required, to change the
squares of the spindles into the socket of the spindle of R for laying the
rope; when the frame is put together and covered with plank, laid across
and nailed to 1 and 2, it will be sufficiently strong. T, T, are two ledges, to
project above the planks about four inches on each side, and well secured to
the plank, in order to be a guide to all the work that is to stand on this
bed. The hole for the spindle E 5 is to be continued through the planks.
26 is the side view of the bed R, into the sides of which are four round-
headed bolts to work four levers with wheels, if wanted to move or transport
it. 27 is the lower part of the frame of the spindle for closing and laying
the strands. This frame 27 is composed of two pieces of oak, four feet long
and one foot square. 28 is the upright or standard which the spindle is to
act in and on, which is to be about three feet and a half in length and twelve
inches square, with a tenant to each of ten inches square. In the two pieces
of oak 27 are two notches in each, so that when the two are put and bolted
together the four notches form two square mortices to receive the two
tenants 29 and 29 of the uprights or standards of 28 and 28. The standards,
when their tenants 29 and 29 are placed in the mortices in the bed become
uprights. There are then two strong pieces of oak, see 30, placed on 27, and
the bottom rabited into the upper part of 27, and rabits of two inches to
receive the uprights. 28 and 28; then drive the needful bolts. to-fasten

page_text: altogether, and place a plank on each side of the bed 27, about three inches
thick, which will then fill up the frame or bed; it is to be fixed on and spur
shored, see 31. At the top of the uprights 28 and 28 are strong inetal cogs
let into them for the spindle 32 to act in. Place II 5 of the side views of F
into the mortice 25, and slide into the square socket of 32, the end of the
spindle of the wheels of K 1 and K 2, which of the ends are required to lay
or close the strand; if shroud or hawser-layed rope, then place a bar across
each end of the frame, and lash it down on each end of the bar to the ring
bolts in the beds. To prepare the yarns for laying the strands, place them on
the racks, as customary; then reeve a yarn or thread through each hole in the
circles in O 1, after which in O 2, the circles fronting B, the bottom of the
ground, the chucks 18, 20, and 22 being fixed on the spindle with a small
bolt through them, and the spindle place, and the yarns regular on the chucks
as they come through the circle with an overhand knot on each yarn, and
bind them fast with a scasing round the chuck. Then pass 1 down
to R at the bottom of the ground, and put weights of iron or stone or
sand bags to ballast it in its position, or put stoppers from the bed of R
to keep it in its place. To bring all the yarns to an equal bearing,
haul each yarn streight by hand, from the chuck at the cog wheels, then
when one is in that state put the stretching vice on it that the weight
may bring it to a certain tightness, then put a pin or plug in the hole
to jam the yarns in which the yarns are through, and half-hitch the yarn
over the pin or plug, or secure it with either holes or hooks, which 'hooks
may have their revolutions to harden the yarns, treat every yarn in like
manner, and they are prepared to be twisted to the state of the three strands;
then cast off the stopper from R, and take off as much ballast from the bed of
01 as will admit of its approaching the head of the ground as the hoisting or
heaving the strands will draw it accordingly; then place O2 at a proper
distance from the chucks on the three inside spindles of the cog wheels, and
work the cranks or other purchase to twist or heave the strands, and by letting
O2 approach towards the bottom of the ground, as the wheels twist the
strands it will make every yarn in the strand be of an equal length, and bear
an equal strain, when the rope is made. When 02 is at the botom of the
ground, past the stopper post of which there must be on each side, then place
through the iron clasps a strong piece of timber from post to post between the
strands as one will be under, and two above, and stopper the strands to the beam
or pieco of timber; then take away to a side the beds, carrying 01 and O 2,
and bring the three strands to spindle R, receiving two ends through the hole
of it one way, and the other the contrary, will bring the three strands in a

page_text: triangular form, then place the tap as customary between the three strand
and heave on the purchase of the cog wheels, which will all move equally
twisted, and when twisted hard enough, then heave on the purchase at R,
and let the top approach to the head of the ground in such pace as will be
required, according to the choice of a long, or middling, or a short-layed rope;
as the tap slides along the strands the purchase at both ends is to be kept at
work, that on the cog wheels to keep hardening the strands, as that at B is
laying them; when the top reaches the chucks on the spindle of the cog wheels,
the shroud rope is layed; when laying the rope, if it is needful to rise the bed
by the wheel levers off the ground, to let it follow up as the rope shortens by
laying or twisting, it must be done.
The preparation for laying the three strands into a hawser or cable.-If
the purchase of F1 is on the spindle of the cog wheels, and the cranks on
ditto, slide the bed of the cranks of F 1, then slide F 1 from the spindle of the
cog wheels, and turn the opposite ends of the spindle of the catch wheels to
the spindle of the centre cog wheel, which gives the three triangular cog
wheels their motion, and place the square of the spindle of the catch wheel
into the spindle of the cog wheel and secure it there; if the purchase of the
cranks is likewise wanted to it, slide them back to the spindle of the catch
wheels again; see side view of them. Prepare in the same manner at R,
which must be done on account of that twisting or heaving the strands of
shroud-layed ropes. To make a hawser-layed rope is the contrary way to that
of hoisting the yarn into strands, and in course is the same at R; inclosing the
strand into a hawser or cable as the twist in laying the shroud, and laying the
hawser or cable are contrary ways. To lay a hawser or cable, make first the
intended three strands to the three triangular spindles of the cog wheels, and
bring all of an equal length, reeve two of the strands in the hole or ring of the
spindle R, and the other the contrary way, bring them in a triangular form,
then place the tap and heave on the cog wheels, which will twist the strands
sufficiently bard, and continue when heaving the spindle R in order to keep
the strands bardened, and let the tap approach the cog wheels according to
choice of a long, or a short, or middling layed rope. As the bed is weighty, and
lays on the ground, ease it. off the ground with the levers as may be required,
that it may give way to the shortening of the strands as the rope is made.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Syeds, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fifteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seven.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Fifteenth day of July, in the
year of our Lord 1807, the aforesaid John Syeds came before our said Lord
the King in His Chancery, and acknowleged the Specification aforesaid,
and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above
written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stampt according to the
tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.