Improvements in Wire Ropes or Hawsers.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 7th Oct., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wire Ropes or Hawsers.
I, ROBERT ALPHONZO HAMMOND, residing in County Street, in the Town of
Sandwich, in the County of Barnstable, in the State of Massachusetts, United
States of America, Master Mariner, 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 has for its object to improve the construction of wire rope,
whereby it is rendered more flexible, durable and convenient to handle than
beretofore; and to this end my invention consists in a rope formed of a series
of wire strands laid or twisted together, each strand being composed of a series
of wires twisted tightly together, and said strands being each covered with a
twisted strand of hemp or other fibrous material which is served around the
same to form an outer elastic covering therefor, a suitable number of strands so
formed being afterward twisted together, with or without a core, to form a rope or
hawser, as hereinafter more fully described.
In the accompanying drawings:-
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66
27
Figure 1 is a view of a piece of wire rope embodying my invention, one end
being untwisted to better illustrate the construction and arrangement of parts.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section on the line 2, 2, of Fig. 1.
In the said drawings, A represents a piece of wire rope or hawser, which is
composed of any suitable number of strands in the present case six-which
are laid or twisted together, as shown. around a core c, which I prefer to employ
when the rope is composed of an even number of strands, but this core may be
dispensed with, if desired. Each of the strands b is composed of a plurality of
wires d which are twisted tightly together, after which the wire strand so formed
is firmly and closely wound or wrapped in one direction by "serving" it with a
single twisted strand e of hemp or other suitable fibrous material, preferably
tarred to prevent rust or corrosion, which thus forms a soft and elastic outer
covering or cushion for the said wire strand and also serves to protect the wires
from wear. In practice the twisted strand of hemp is served around the group
of wires in the same machine in which said wires are twisted together, the hemp
wrapping being applied to the outside of said group of wires as they are being
twisted.
The nautical difference between serving and the ordinary spiral twisting of the
hemp covering-strands is very great, since the strands of a served covering will
lie close together almost transversely of the wire strands, as shown at e, Fig. 1,
and when the rope is bent the coils of serving will not open and admit water,
while a spirally twisted covering will stretch and open as the rope is bent, thus
exposing the wires beneath to the action of water. In the operation of serving,
the hemp covering strands or coils are tightly compressed or jammed one against
the other, and thus when the rope is bent the coils of serving will expand on the
outer side of the curve in the direction of their diameters, leaving no chance for
the water to enter, and on the inner side of the curve the coils will be jammed
together even tighter than when first wound, making the rope more resilient,

page_text: which is another advantage. Still another point is that the serving being freshly
tarred when put on, the tar will exude and form a coating on the wires under
the serving, and thus additionally protect them. By doing away with hempen
cores in the wire strands b, I can put one more strand in a rope without
increasing its diameter and greatly increasing its strength for a given diameter
over a rope having hempen cores.
By firmly and closely winding each group or series of wires which form a
strand with hemp or other fibrous material, as above described, the friction or
rubbing of the wires of one strand against those of another, as is the case in all
wire rope hitherto constructed, is entirely avoided, while the individual wires are
also prevented from rubbing against the covering and wearing the same, thus
greatly increasing the durability and life of the rope. Furthermore, the outer
fibrous wrapping of each of the strands 6 forms an elastic cushion covering, which
renders a rope or hawser composed of such strands exceedingly flexible and
resilient, and as no wires are exposed on the outside of the rope it may be safely
handled without injury to the hands from slivers or splinters from the wire,
which forms a serious objection to the use of wire rope as hitherto constructed.
Wire rope constructed as above described is particularly well adapted for use
for ships' rigging, hoisting-rope, towing-hawsers, &c., for the reason that it will
not become corroded by exposure to the weather or salt water.
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. A wire rope or hawser composed of a series of wire strands laid or twisted
together, each strand being composed of a plurality of wires twisted tightly
together, and said wire strands being each provided with a twisted strand of
hemp or other fibrous material "served" around the same in substantially
transverse coils to form an outer elastic covering or cushion therefor, substantially
as described.
2. The combination is a wire rope or hawser, of a series of wire strands laid or
twisted together, each strand being composed of a plurality of wires twisted
tightly together in direct contact with each other, and said wire strands being
each provided with an outside wrapping composed of a twisted strand of tarred
hemp or other fibrous material "served" spirally around the same in sub-
stantially transverse coils to form an elastic covering or cushion which also forms
the outer surface of the rope or hawser, substantially as described.
Dated this 10th day of August 1899.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.