IMPROVEMENTS, for the Invention of THE CONSTRUCTION OF FLEXIBLE AND ELASTIC RODS FOR COMMUNICATING FORCE IN THE DIRECTION OF THEIR LENGTH, OR SUSTAINING STRAIN TRANS- VERSELY THERETO.”
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Woodford Pilkington, of Kent Lodge, Campbell Road, West
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
Croydon, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of
THE CONSTRUCTION OF FLEXIBLE AND ELASTIC RODS FOR COMMUNICATING
FORCE IN THE DIRECTION OF THEIR LENGTH, OR SUSTAINING STRAIN TRANS-
VERSELY THERETO.”
Sealed the 25th July 1876, and dated the 15th February 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Woodford Pilkington at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th February 1876.
WOODFORD PILKINGTON, of Kent Lodge, Campbell Road, West Croydon, in the
County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FLEXIBLE AND
ELASTIC RODS FOR COMMUNICATING FORCE IN THE DIRECTION OF THEIR LENGTH, OR
SUSTAINING STRAIN TRANSVERSELY THERETO."
My Invention relates to the construction of rods consisting of rigid portions
strung together with elastic or yielding portions interposed between them so as to
present throughout the length of the rod numerous yielding or springy joints,
thereby giving the whole rod elasticity and flexibility as in the vertebral column of
an animal. The particular form, construction, and material of the parts thus con-
nected depend in great measure on the purpose to which such a flexible or elastic
rod is to be applied. For example, when it is to be used for clearing out pipes,
tubes, or in channels, as in sweeping a chimney, the rigid pieces may be short
cylinders of wood strung like bugles on a core of steel or other suitable metallic;
wire or wire rope, with washers of caoutchouc interposed between the cylinders, and
the core wire or wire rope may be tightened by setting up screw nuts at either end,
so as to adjust the rigidity as required. One or more of the cylinders may be made
in two pieces screwed together. By unscrewing one piece from the other, so as to.
increase the length of the cylinder, more tension can be put on the core or more.
compression on the elastic washers; also wire or other elastic brushes can be clamped
between the two screwed parts of the cylinder. The flexibility of the rod thus
constructed may be made such that it can be wound on to or delivered from a drum.
At various points in the course of the said rod guide flanges or flanges armed with
wire or other elastic feelers or brushes may be fixed, so as to keep the rod in or
A like
nearly in the middle of the tube or channel into which it is introduced.
construction is applicable for communicating force or motion either by thrust or

page_text: tension from one point to another when the rod cannot be carried in a straight line
but has to bend round easy curves, as, for example, for the steering of a vessel, in
which case rods according to my Invention may be employed to communicate
motion from the steering wheel to the tiller, the course of such rods being bent to
suit the curves of the vessel along which they are led. On rods of this kind used
for conveying force by thrust I find it convenient to mount at intervals rollers to
diminish friction in tubes through which the said rods are guided.
-Each
When it is desired to give the rods flexibility, not only at the jointing, but also
in the portions between the joints, I construct them in the following manner :-
portion of the rod consists of two discs connected together by a couple of steel
blades, and the disc at the end of the one portion is connected to that at the end of
the next portion by a tubular rivet or short piece of tube passed through holes in
the centres of the two discs, and burred or rivetted over at each end, a caoutchouc
washer being interposed between the two discs. There is in this construction not
only the flexibility and elasticity arising from the yield of the caoutchouc washers,
but also that arising from the flexure of the steel blades connecting the discs, and
the tubular rivet connecting the discs permits the connected portions to revolve on
their common axis, and also allows the introduction of a core wire or rod throughout
the length of the compound rod.
Rods constructed according to my Invention are applicable also in cases where
force is applied to them transversely when it is desired that they should have a
certain amount of spring or elasticity, as for the shafts of a carriage or for the
masts or yards of a vessel. When the rod is of considerable size and requires
considerable rigidity, I prefer to employ several sets of core rods or core ropes
passing through holes in the rigid parts which they serve to connect. In construct-
ing a mast, yard, or bowspit, for example, I connect together a number of hollow
wrought-iron or steel plate cylinders having angle-iron in side flanges at each end with
caoutchouc or other elastic material interposed between the flange of each cylinder
and the flange of the next cylinder. At suitable intervals I fix within some of these
cylinders or between their flanges cross pieces having holes, through which are
passed several rods or wire ropes to hold the cylinders together, and at convenient
parts of the length I provide openings in the outer shell, through which access can
be readily got to the nuts that tighten the core rods or ropes, and thus the whole
structure can be readily taken apart or put together again.
Instead of or in addition to the core wires or ropes for holding together the rigid
portions of compound rods constructed according to my Invention, flexible or elastic
tubing, such as caoutchouc tube, may be applied externally to enclose the rigid
portions, and in many cases when this construction is employed the elastic washers
between the rigid pieces may be dispensed with, the outer coating giving the
required flexibility and elasticity.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Woodford Pilkington in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th August
1876.
WOODFORD PILKINGTON, of Kent Lodge, Campbell Road, West Croydon, in the
County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FLEXIBLE AND
ELASTIC RODS FOR COMMUNICATING FORCE IN THE DIRECTION OF THEIR LENGTH, OR
SUSTAINING STRAIN TRANSVERSELY THERETO."
My Invention relates to the construction of rods consisting of rigid portions
strung together with elastic or yielding portions interposed between them so as to
present throughout the length of the rod numerous yielding or springy joints,
thereby giving the whole rod elasticity and flexibility as in the vertebral column of
an animal.
The particular form, construction, and material of the parts thus con-

page_text: nected depend in great measure on the purpose to which such a flexible or elastic
rod is to be applied. For example, when it is to be used for clearing out pipes,
tubes, or in channels, as in sweeping a chimney, the rigid pieces may be short
cylinders of wood strung like bugles on a core of steel or other suitable metallic
wire or wire rope, with washers of caoutchouc interposed between the cylinders, and
the core wire or wire rope may be tightened by setting up screw nuts at either end,
so as to adjust the rigidity as required. One or more of the cylinders may be made
in two pieces screwed together. By unscrewing one piece from the other, so as to
increase the length of the cylinder, more tension can be put on the core or more
compression on the elastic washers; also wire or other elastic brushes can be clamped
between the two screwed parts of the cylinder. The flexibility of the rod thus
constructed may be made such that it can be wound on to or delivered from a drum.
At various points in the course of the said rod guide flanges or flanges armed with
wire or other elastic feelers or brushes may be fixed, so as to keep the rod in or
nearly in the middle of the tube or channel into which it is introduced. A like
construction is applicable for communicating force or motion either by thrust or
tension from one point to another when the rod cannot be carried in a straight line
but has to bend round easy curves, as for example, for the steering of a vessel, in
which case rods according to my Invention may be employed to communicato
motion from the steering wheel to the tiller, the course of such rods being bent to
suit the curves of the vessel along which they are led. On rods of this kind used
for conveying force by thrust I find it convenient to mount at intervals rollers to
diminish friction in tubes through which the said rods are guided.
Rods constructed according to my Invention are applicable also in cases where
force is applied to them transversely when it is desired that they should have a
certain amount of spring or elasticity, as for the shafts of a carriage or for the masts
or yards of a vessel. When the rod is of considerable size and requires considerable
rigidity, I prefer to employ several sets of core rods or core ropes passing through
holes in the rigid parts which they serve to connect. In constructing a mast, yard,
or bowsprit, for example, I connect together a number of hollow wrought-iron or
steel plate cylinders having angle-iron inside flanges at each end, with caoutchouc
or other elastic material interposed between the flange of each cylinder and the
flange of the next cylinder. At suitable intervals I fix within some of thesc
cylinders or between their flanges cross pieces having holes, through which are
passed several rods or wire ropes to hold the cylinders together, and at convenient
parts of the length I provide openings in the outer shell, through which access can
be readily got to the nuts that tighten the core rods or ropes, and thus the whole
structure can be readily taken apart or put together again.
Instead of or in addition to the core wires or ropes for holding together the rigid
portions of compound rods constructed according to my Invention, flexible or clastic
tubing such as caoutchouc tube may be applied externally to enclose the rigid
portions, and in many cases when this construction is employed the elastic washers
between the rigid pieces may be dispensed with, the outer coating giving the
required flexibility and elasticity.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 represents partly in section and partly in elevation a flexible rod according
to my Invention, formed of cylindrical portions a, a, with intervening washers b, b,
of leather, caoutchouc, or other suitable elastic or compressible material, strung
together on a core of wire or wire cord c, c, which is rivetted, knotted, or wedged
over the end pieces. In joining two or more of such rods together an internally
screwed cylinder d' is screwed on the end piece d, and receives a screwed plug o
which is separate from its washer, so that when the piece d is screwed home the
farther turning of the rod will cause the plug e to travel along the cylinder d', and
thereby give greater tension and stiffness to the rod. Intermediate joints at g may
ha mada with laft hand

page_text: Fig. 2 is an elevation of the cylinder d¹ and adjoining parts where two rods are
coupled.
Fig. 3 is a cross section and elevation of one of the intermediate washers b,
which may consist of cupped metallic discs h constituting a spring washer, as shewn
in Fig. 4.
Fig. 5 is an elevation of a form of rod made up of barrel shaped pieces; and
Fig. 8 shews a rod made up of pieces widened out at the ends, whereby greater
stiffness in proportion to weight may be obtained.
Fig. 6 shews flexible rods as described above, joined together to form a driving
band.
Fig. 7 is an elevation of a tapering rod or boom, bowsprit, or shaft, where
the sub-sections are made wedge shaped so as to prevent them from turning on
the core.
Fig. 9 is a section, and Fig. 10 an elevation of one form of iron mast with inter-
mediate buckled plate washers, as shewn in section and plan in Figs. 13 and 14.
Figs. 11 and 12 shew in section and elevation another form of mast, where the
parts are let into one another like a spigot and faucet joint, the mast being stiffened
and held down by screw holdfasts and lock nuts.
Fig. 15 shews partly in section and partly in elevation one of the separate
portions of the mast shewn in Fig. 11, with its buckled washer, shewn in plan
in Fig. 16.
Fig. 17 is an elevation, and Fig. 18 a section of part of a spar having wedge
shaped sub-sections to resist torsion, or to prevent the parts of the spar from
revolving on each other.
. Fig. 19 is a section, and Fig. 21 a plan of a wrought-iron spar or mast with
wedge-shaped sections to prevent torsion, flanged collars i, i, being inserted through
the adjacent plates to prevent them from slipping_transversely, as shewn to an
enlarged scale in Fig. 20, which is an elevation, and Fig. 22, which is a section of
one of the said flanged collars.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, I claim, constructing flexible and elastic rods by stringing
together rigid portions with elastic or yielding portions interposed between them,
substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Woodford Pilkington, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
WOODFORD PILKINGTON. (L.S).