A NEW MODE OR ART OF MAKING GREAT CABLES AND OTHER CORDAGE, SO AS TO ATTAIN A GREATER DEGREE OF STRENGTH THEREIN, BY A MORE EQUAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE STRAIN UPON THE YARNS
Year: 1793

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
HUDDANT, of Islington, in the County of Middlesex, Esquire, send greeting.
WHEREAS I, the said Joseph Huddart, did, by my Petition, humbly
represent unto His present most Excellent Majesty King George the Third,
that I had, by great study and application, found and invented a new mand-
facture (to wit), "A NEW MODE OR ART OF MAKING GREAT CABLES AND OTHER
CORDAGE, SO AS TO ATTAIN A GREATER DEGREE OF STRENGTH THEREIN, BY A MORE
EQUAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE STRAIN UPON THE YARNS," that I was the first and
true Inventor thereof, and that the same had not theretofore been used or put
in practise, and that the said Invention will be of great public utility; I therefore
most humbly prayed that His said Majesty would be graciously pleased to grant
unto me, my executors, adiñior's, and assigns, His Royal Letters Patent for the
sole use and benefit of my said Discovery and. Invention, within that part of
His said Majesty's Kingdom of Great Britain called England, His Dominion
of Wales, Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in His Colonies and Plantations
abroad, for the term of fourteen years pursuant to the Statute in that case
made and provided; and His said Majesty being willing to give encouragement
to all arts and inventions which might be for the public good, was graciously
pleased to condescend to my request, and therefore by His Royal Letters
Patent, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-fifth day of April, in the year
of Our Lord One thousand seven hundred and ninety-three, of His especial
grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, did, for Himself aud His successors,

page_text: give and grant to me, the said Joseph luddart, any exors, adñiors, and
assigns, His especial licence, full power, sole privilego and authority, that 1. the
said Joseph Huddart, my executors, administrators, and assigns, and every of us,
by myself and themselves, or by my and their deputy or deputies. servants or
agents, or such others as I, the said Joseph Eluddart, my exors, adiiors, or
assigns, should at any tinica agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully
might use, exercise and vend ny said Invention, within that part of His Majesty's
said Kingdom of Great Britain called England, His Dominion of Wales, and
Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and also in all IIis Colonies and Plantations
abroad, in such manner as to me, the said Joseph.Huddart, my exors, adiìiors, and
And that 3,
assigns, or any of us, should in my or their discretion seem meet.
the said Joseph Huddart, my executors, adñiors, and assigns, should and
lawfully might have and enjoy the whole profit, benefit. commodity and
advantage from time to time coming, growing, accruing, and arising by reason
of the said Invention, for and during the term of years therein mentioned, to
have, hold, exercise, and enjoy the said licence. powers, privileges and advan-
tages therein-before granted or mentioned to be granted unto me, the said
Joseph Huddart, my executors, administrators, and assigns, for and during and
unto the full end and term of fourteen years from the date of the said Letters
Patent next and immediately ensuing, and fully to be compleat and ende
according to the Statute in such case made and provided; in which said Letters
Patent is contained a proviso that if 1, the said Joseph IIuddart, should not
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of my Juvontion, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, and cause the same to be enrolled in His said Majesty's Eligh
Court of Chancery within one calendar month next and immediately after the
date of tho said Letters Patent, that; then, the said Letters Patent, and all
liberties and advantages whatsoever. thereby granted, should utterly cease.
determine, and become void, anything herein-before contained to the contrary
thereof in anywise notwithstanding, as, in and by the said Letters Patent,.
relation being thereunto had, may more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that 1, the said Joseph Huddart, in compliance with the:
said proviso, do hereby describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention,
and declare that the Plan thereof, heroto annexed is composed of the following
particulars (that is to say):
No. 1, a spindle and bobbin, in which A, B, represents the spindle; C, D,
the bobbin (with the yarn upon it from c to D); E, F, the axis which carries

page_text: the spindle a; G, H, an arın of wood fixed upon the square part of the spindle, and
which goes round with it, part of which G, II, may be of wire, with a hole at H,
or a friction wheel or pulley to receive the rope yarn, which from thence is to
be led through a hole in the end of the spindle at B. At K a spring is fixed to
the wooden arm by means of a screw and nails or otherwise; the screw works
the square part of the spindle, by means of which the spring may be made.
stronger or weaker as requisite, the other end of which, resting upon the globular,
part of the head of the bobbin formed for that purpose to regulate the tension
of the yarn in drawing it from the bobbin whilst the spindle is turning in,
registering the strand. This spindle and bobbin is carried by the axis E, F;
the smaller end of the spindle A is square or triangular, and fits into the end
of the axis at E, which axis is carried by a band going round the pulley (or
pinion if carried by a wheel with teeth) at e, f. The spindle and bobbin is
casily shifted by lifting the end at B out of the notch which it runs in, and
drawing it of the axis at E. No. 2, another spindle and bobbin, in which
I, L, M, N, O, K, represent a spindle continued into a square frame of iron to
revolve upon the pivots I, K. The pivot at I is perforated in order to receivo
the rope yarn from the bobbin which runs at right aangle to I, K, upon the
spindle or axis P, Q. This bobbin is adjusted by a screw in the same manner
as the first mentioned, or by two springs and screws, a & y, one at the head P,
and the other at Q, having two globular or nearly parallel parts at each
end of the bobbin for that purpose. The bobbin is soon shifted by taking
out the spindle P, Q, which is done by shoving it towards P, against the
spring p, P, till the end at Q in the square frame is relieved; the spring p, P,
is to keep the spindle in its place while the whole is carried round upon
the pivots I, K, by tooth and pinion or band round the pulley R, S, and at the
same time supplied the yarn as before mentioned whilst the strand is register-
ing. No. 3, the machine which carries the spindle in horizontal ranges, and
ought to be constructed according to the size of the largest ropes the manufac-
turer has occasion to make. Figure 1 represents an elevation or section
whose plane is perpendicular to the axis and spindles and the circles projected
thereon, the large end of the bobbins which are placed in horizontal ranges,
cach range supported upon the horizontal railing and rise higher, front towards
the back part of the machine. No. III., Figure 2, represents a profile or a
section parallel to the axis of the spindles, and perpendicular to the horizon.
No. III., Figure 3d, the horizontal plane, which is also parallel to the axis of
the spindles. In these three Figures the same letters are used in each to

page_text: denote the same part of the machinery; the number of spindles to be employed
in this machine may be increased or diminished as occasion may require.
The base of this machine consists of three pieces of timber to lay upon the
ground, or near it, mark't A in Figure 1, and A, a, in Figure 2d and Sd; and
at right angles to these are bolted two piecos B, b., over the ends of the former,
and a third may be added midway between if necessary, to secure the whole,
and must extend over the piece A, a, on one side a convenient length to
receive the pillars which support the long axis, &c., Figure 3d, which long axis
when turned by the handle G gives motion to all the spindles by the commu-
nication of a band to every range of spindles. In this machine there is allowed
one foot of room for the diameter of the bobbin, and eighteen inches for the
length of the spindle marked y; the spindles are carried by an axis marked x,
(as represented in spindle and bobbin No. 1) and will therefore require threo
rails or ranges of boards for each range of spindles, two of which support the
pivots of the axis a, and are marked D, d, No. III., Figure 1st, and the third
the front end of the spindle, in which there is a notch to drop the spindle into
when the bobbin is shifted; those are supported by the pillars E, e. No. TIL,
Figure 2d; each range is fixed higher than the one before it, and it is also
necessary to have a rail F for each range, to lead the yarns clear of the
foremost bobbins, which rail has a notch cut in it for each yarn to lead
through; upou the long axes, &c., which is carried by the handle G, are as
many pulleys as there are ranges of spindles. In this Drawing they are seven
in number, and are marked K; the band going round these pulleys passes
over the friction wheel II, and thence round every pulley in that particular
range, and over the friction wheel h, and returns again into itself at the pulley
K, which with the pulleys upon that range must be equal in diameter, in
order that one turn of the handle may give one turn to each spindle, and the
same must be attended to in every range. The machinery for the spindle and
bobbin No. 2 differs from that of No. 1, in this respect only, that it is
necessary to allow more room in the breath for each bobbin, aud conse-
quently there will be fewer bobbins in each range when the breadth
of the machine is the same. The machine will require but two rails
to support the spindles, as they require no seperate axis to carry them, tho
pulley being fast to the spindle, and always remaining in the machine, for
the sinal iron rod only which the bobbin runs upon is taken out to shift the
bobbin. In these machines there is a space left between the first and second,
the third and fifth, and the sixth and seventh ranges of spindles as mark' M,
ju No, III, Figure 2d and 3d, and to allow a person to pass between, and shift

page_text: or replace any particular bobbin that may have the yarn expended; and it is
also to be observed, that those machines may have the spindles carried by
wheels and pinions instead of bands and pulleys, if required. I have repre-
sented in No. III. Figure 2, the yarn from each of the seven ranges of spindles
passing over the rail F, and from thence to the posts marked I, in which thero
are as many rails as ranges of spindles. There are cleats upon each post to
support the rails, and each rail has as many notches in the upper side as there
are spindles in a range. I have represented one of those rails, No. III.,
Figure 3, and the yarns leading from the front range of spindles. This railing
may be either in the middle of the ground or carried along one side as in the
No. III., Figure 3d, the distance between them such as may be thought
necessary for supporting the yarns and keeping them seperate the wholo
length of the strand, and may be made of various constructions, No. ⚫ (a),
rails will be intelligible upon inspection of the Drawing, where B, b, represent
the rails. The register is calculated to form the strand into shells of yarns,
and therefore they must be made of different sizes, and with more or fewer
holes, according to the intended size of the cable or rope. In the Drawing
No. IV., marked Register, the front A, a, B, b, made of wood, perforated with
circular ranges of holes, which may be about two inches asunder, through
which all the yarns in the strand are to pass, and this brings them into a
proper form to go through a smaller and similar plate, D, D, having in it as
many holes a, A, a, B, b. This plate may be made of wood or metal, the
plane of the front of which must be parallel to A, a, B, b, and fastened to it
by three or four bars of wood or iron; the holes in D, D, must be so near
together at the side next F, as only just to free them clear of each other, and
if made of wood bored diagonally to extend further asunder towards A, a, B, b,
except the center hole, which must be perpendicular to the center hole in A, a,
B, 6; this disposition of the yarns is necessary previous to their passing through
the cylindrical tube of metal in which the strand is compressed and formed.
This tube compressing the yarns and confining the outer shell to its proper
figure, which outer shell compressed the next, and so on to the center, there
cannot be any crossing of yarns or change in situation, but the whole strand
formed close and compact, and no more yarn required from the bobbins than is
necessary, according to the situation of the shells or their distance from
the center. The tube is made in two parts longitudinally of thin steel,
of a spring temper, marked F, (No. IV.) and is secured to D, D, by a
plate of metal G, 9, and three or four bars or rods, with screws to adjust it,

page_text: and give it the best position.. The cylinder has a projection at the fore
end, which is larger than a hole in G, g, to receive the tube, and therefore brings
it forward in-registering the strand; and the plate G, g, is also made in two
parts, by which means: both the plate and, the tube may be taken from the
strand and applied to it again, or repaired, if it should happen to be broken
during the operation; each part of the tube marked F is more than a semi-
circle of the size of the strand which is to be registered, in order that the thin
edges may overlay each other, and being a spring temper is compressible by a
wire or thong going round it several times, and fastened to the jaws of a heaver,
marked No. VI., E, E, F, in which E. E, represent the jaws to which the
thong or wire is made fast, and move between the checks upon the bolt at H,
which may be set further asunder by shifting the bolt at E, so as to have the
handle F at a proper distance for, the man who registers to lay hold off'; and
by this heaver compressing the tube by a constant force, the tube will expend
or contract, in case the general rim of the yarns be thicker or smaller in
different parts of the strand, and will form, as was said before, a compact
strand and free from hollows, which might otherwise be occasioned by crossing
of yarns over each other.. N, V, register gauge. It is as follows: A, B, is
the stock or thick part of the gauge, in which there is a groove or slit for the
tongue and index D, d, to move in. Upon the centre i, on the side d, is fixed
to the stock A, B, a semicircle, upon which are two gradunted arcs of circles
consenteric with i, one of which is marked L (laying), the other R (regis.
tering); those two arcs are graduated, answering to the mean stretching of the
yarns, founded upon experiments. To use it, the stock of the gauge must be
applied to the side of the strand parallel to the axis, and the tongue to lay over
parallel to that part of the shell of outside yarns where it touches the strand,
which shows the angle made by the outside shells of yarns, and a line on the
surface parallel to the center of the strand, and the corresponding graduation
must be used in registering and when the strands are laid into a rope.
Having described the various parts of the machinery and implements to be
used, I shall now enter upon the operation:-The bobbins being all wound full of
yarn, which
may be done by a machine to fix them upon, with a handle to it)
and put upon the spindles, and the ends of the yarns led through the holes H,
and ends of the spindles, B, Figure No. 1, the end of the spindle A is put into
the end E of the axis.(which always remains ready for use), and the fore end of
the spindle B dropped into the notch in the rail; then draw off some yarn, and
regulate the springs, if:wanted, till an equal force and sufficiently tight, draw off
the yarns, leaving the yarn from the bobbin long enough to reach the fore part

page_text: of the machine, where it is to be knotted to the yarns of the strand; having
fixed as many bobbins as intended yarns in the strand, or in the three strands
if the machine will carry so many, for though I shall only speak of regis
tering one strand, yet the three strands may be registered.all at the same
time, the bands (if bands are used, and not wheel-work) should also be
made tight to carry the axes, which is done by a.screw, d, adjusting the friction
wheel H; the strand is then to be run and-laid upon the rails or supporters,
each yarn in its proper notch; and, for expedition,, one of the rails may be
used for seperating the yarns and laying-them in the rails; dropping a whole
range into the notches at once, which being-done, the yarns of the strand are to
be smooth knotted to the respective yarns from the bobbins, and the machine
is ready for use. The yarns at the other end. of the strand are then to be put
through the register, taking off the tube and plate, if not already done; it is
best to take the centre yarn from the railing or middle yarn of the middle rail,
which put through the center hole of the register, & then select the yarns
from the railing, to lead clear of each other when stretched to the holes in the
register; the holes in the register being completed with yarns, let the ends be
collected together upon a stretch, and made fast to the hook which turns the
strand in registering, and slide the register back near to the hook, if not so
before; then put on the tube and plate, and adjust it by the screws when
upon the strand. Lastly, put round the tube the thong or wire, and make
it fast to the jaws of the heaver, and leave it right. If the handles of the
heaver are too near or too far from each other for the convenience of
the man that registers the strand' after the bolt till it is right, and all
is ready to begin to register the strand, the foreman having determined how
hard he will lay the rope, suppose No. 10, in the register gauge-fix the
index (d) of the gauge to 10 on the arc R, and taking a few turns with the
hook (keeping the heaver tight to compress the tube), try the gauge and
regulate the registering according to, as it is found to vary, till the outside
yarns correspond with the tongue D of the gauge, and make the required
angle; and which may be repeated as often as it is thought necessary, through
the registering of the strand. If the three strands are registering together, it
must be a triple register in one frame, and there is no necessity to try but one
strand with the gauge, if the yarns are of the same kind. The three strands (or
four if a four-strand rope) being registered, must be made fast to the hooks in
the common way, equally tight for laying, the index of the gauge being altered
from 10 on the arc R to 10 on the arc L; or whatever the number was
intended to be, the corresponding numbers must be used; then turning the

page_text: hooks of the strands till the outside shell of the yarns correspond with the
tongue of the gauge, and begin to lay the rope. It is to be understood that in
registering, a sufficient weight is laid upon the hook to prevent its being drawn
towards the machine.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Huddart, have hereunto set my
hand and scal, this Twenty-fourth day of May, in the thirty-third year
of the reign of His said most Excellent Majesty George the Third,
by the grace of God of Great Britain, France, and Ireland King.
Defender of the Faith, &c., and in the year of our Lord One thousand
seven hundred and ninety-three.
Inrolled the Twenty-fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord 1798.