IMPROVEMENTS AS APPLIED TO THE REGULATION OF MACHINERY FOR COVERING TELEGRAPH CABLES, WIRES, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Nathaniel John Holmes, Gentleman, of 32, Park
Road, Haverstock Hill, Hampstead, Middlesex, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS AS APPLIED TO THE REGULATION OF MACHINERY FOR COVERING
TELEGRAPH CABLES, WIRES, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES."
Sealed the 22nd July 1864, and dated the 29th January 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Nathaniel John Holmes
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 29th January 1864.
I, NATHANIEL JOHN HOLMES, Gentleman, of 32, Park Road, Haverstock
Hill, Hampstead, Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS AS APPLIED TO THE REGULATION OF MACHINERY
FOR COVERING TELEGRAPH CABLES, WIRES, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES," to be
as follows:-
My Invention consists in an improved method of regulating machinery and
apparatus connected therewith for covering of telegraph cables, wires, and
other purposes, whereby a uniform lap is secured on the wire, rope, or other
substance irrespective of the variable speed of the machine, and which
regulation of the lap can be adjusted to the greatest accuracy by a peculiar
motion while the machine is in action and without stopping the process.
I am aware that machines have been used for similar purposes, and adjusted
by changing the driving and other gear, but my improvements as applied to
machinery for covering do not require any change or alteration of driving
gear, and remain intact and an essential part of the machine.
This inprovement, as applied to the regulation of covering apparatus and
i

page_text: machinery, consists in the introduction of a revolving disc or cone of suitable
diameter, and suitably geared with that part of the machinery carrying the
bobbin frames, so that an increase or decrease of speed in that part of the
apparatus is likewise transferred to this aforesaid disc or cone; against this
wheel or disc, and working over its surface by friction contact, is a second
disc or cone of suitable diameter capable of receiving a traversing motion
while rotating, so that its rolling point of contact can at will be changed from
the centre to the circumference of the face of the disc-wheel, thereby increasing
or diminishing the speed of this contact or friction disc or cone in proportion
as the radius of the contact point is increased or diminished from the centre,
the speed of the first disc or cone wheel remaining the same. To the axis of
this adjustment disc or cone is connected the carry-off apparatus of the
covering machine, and which is therefore influenced in the speed of its motion
by the adjustments before named, and consequently the fixed relation of the
speeds of the several parts of the machine having been once adjusted to
perform the required lap or covering process, the same will be continued
irrespective of the increase or decrease in the speed of the machine.
What I claim as my Invention is the application to covering machines of a
circular disc or cone over the surface of which a friction roller is made to
traverse, and by which movement the speed of the drawing-off machinery is
accurately adjusted, while the machine is in motion without any addition to
the existing gearing or stoppage of the machine. I do not confine myself
to a metallic disc or cone, as I can perform the same operations with any
other hard substances, such as wood, gutta percha, or vulcanite.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Nathaniel John Holmes in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 27th July 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, NATHANIEL
JOHN HOLMES, Gentleman, of 32, Park Road, Haverstock Hill, Hampstead,
Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Nathaniel John Holmes, Gentleman, of 32, Park Road,
Haverstock Hill, Her special licence that I, the said Nathaniel John Holmes,

page_text: Gentleman, of 32, Park Road, Haverstock Hill, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Nathaniel John Holmes, Gentleman,
of 82, Park Road, Haverstock Hill, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should in 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 AS APPLIED TO THE REGULATION OF MACHINERY FOR COVERING
TELEGRAPH CABLES, WIRES, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Nathaniel John Holmes, Gentleman, of 32,
Park Road, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their bands and seals, 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 date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Nathaniel John Holmes, Gentleman,
of 32, Park Road, Haverstock Hill, do hereby declare the nature of my said
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 consists in an improved method of regulating machinery and
apparatus connected therewith for covering of telegraph cables, wires, and
other purposes, whereby a uniform lap is secured on the wire, rope, or other
substance irrespective of the variable speed of the machine, and which regu-
lation of the lap can be adjusted to the greatest accuracy by a peculiar motion
while the machine is in action and without stopping the process. I am aware
that machines have been used for similar purposes, and adjusted by changing
the driving and other gear, but my improvements as applied to machinery
for covering do not require any change or alteration of driving gear, and
remain intact, and an essential part of the machine.
This improvement as applied to the regulation of machinery and apparatus
for covering cables, or any other process wherein a regular and progressive
lay or twist is required, consists in the introduction of a revolving disc or cone
working on an axle, and of suitable diameter. This disc or cone, by means
of gearing or friction wheels, is placed in connection with that part of the
machinery carrying the bobbin frames, so that any motion communicated to
the bobbin frames will also be transferred by means of the aforesaid gearing
or friction wheels to the disc or cone, and which will therefore either increase
or decrease its speed according to the increase or decrease in the revolutions

page_text: of the bobbin frames; against this wheel or disc, and working over its surface
by friction contact, is a second disc or cone of suitable diameter and mounted
upon an axis. This second disc or cone is capable of receiving a traversing
motion while rotating, so that its rolling point of contact can at will be
changed from the centre to the circumference of the face of the first disc
wheel, thereby increasing or diminishing the speed of this second contact or
friction disc or cone in proportion as the radius of the contact point is
increased or diminished from the centre, the speed of the first disc or cone
wheel remaining the same. To the axis of this adjustment disc or cone wheel
is connected by suitable gearing the carry-off apparatus of the covering or
laying up machine, and which is therefore influenced in the speed of its motion
by the adjustment disc or wheel before named, and consequently the fixed
relation of the speeds of the several parts of the machine (the bobbin frames
and the draw-off apparatus) having been once adjusted by means of the regu-
lation of the speed of the traversing disc or cone to perform the required lap,
lay, twist, or covering process on the cable or wires, the same regularity will
be maintained irrespective of any increase or decrease in the general speed of
the machine.
What I therefore claim as constituting the novelty of my Invention is the
application to covering and lapping, or twisting, and laying machines of two
contact rubbing disc or cone wheels, with adjusting motion to vary the speed
of the carry or draw off motion of the machine during the covering, lapping,
or laying process, and so ensure uniformity and regularity in the lap, lay, twist,
or covering process on the cable or wires without changing the gearing or
arresting the motion of the machine.
In witness whereof, I, the said Nathaniel John Holmes, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this the Eleventh day of July, in the
year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
Witness,
R. N. REID.
NATH¹. J. HOLMES. (L.S.)