Improvements in the Construction of Flexible Racks for Cable Tramways, also Flexible Ladders and Netting.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Aug., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 8th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 28th Nov., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Flexible Racks for Cable
Tramways, also Flexible Ladders and Netting.
1 WOODFORD PILKINGTON, Civil Engineer of 46, St. Johns Park, Blackheath
S.E. do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the construction of flexible racks, for cable tramways
and other purposes also for flexible ladders, and netting by intertwining them
together for torpedo defence & other purposes.
With these objects in view I employ hemp or, wire rope of steel, iron, or other
suitable material, the ends of rope being laced or passed through pieces of tubing
of length as required, the rope being made to fix or, jamb itself at the length of
link or distance by making a twist inside the tubes in succession. For making a
flexible ladder the tubing is cut in longer pieces forming the rungs and for making
the netting I intertwine the rope at each or either side, thus forming a complete
network as the lengths of flexible rack are so plaited together, to the length &
width necessary.
Dated this 15th day of August 1891.
WOODFORD PILKINGTON.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Flexible Racks for Cable
Tramways, Ladders, and Netting.
1, WOODFORD PILKINGTON of No. 46, St. Johns Park, Blackheath in the
County of Kent, Civil Engineer, 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 :-
This invention relates to the construction of flexible-racks, for gearing into
toothed wheels, for traction on cable tramways, also for the construction of flexible
rope ladders and netting by inter-twining them together for torpedo defence and
other purposes.
With these objects in view I use either wire-rope or hemp-rope of sufficient
flexibility as may be required.
The ends of the rope being laced or passed through pieces of tubing or rivetted
metal clips of the length required to form the rung the rope being made to cross
from side to side and so fix or jamb itself at the length of the link, or distance
required, by making a twist inside the tube or covering of metal & so forming a
rung or hauling bar, instead of using metal plates rivetted across for this purpose.
For making flexible ladders the tube or metal covering is cut in longer pieces
forming rungs of greater width. For making the netting I intertwine the rope at
each and either side, so forming a complete network as the lengths of flexible-rack
are so plaited together to the length and width necessary.
Fig. 1. of the accompanying drawings is a horizontal view of a flexible rack made
with rungs formed by rope passing and re-passing through, or enclosed in metal
tubes or covering.
Fig. 2. is a side sectional view shewing the wire rope passing in duplicate so
forming the rungs of rope enclosed in tubing of metal.
Fig. 3. shews an arrangement for forming a flexible ladder and Fig. 4. shews the
method of forming netting under my claim, as herein set forth, and
Fig. 5. shews a perspective view of a flexible ladder so formed.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
(1). The construction of flexible racks for rope traction, by forming the rungs
or link bars, by passing the rope across and through metal tubes or coverings of
metal, and thus forming the rack or pitch chain by intersections of the rope itself,
throughout.
(2). Also for making flexible ladders, with rungs of rope passed through tubes,
or metal covering of the length or width required, the sides of the ladder or
stringers being formed by passing the rope through them to the gauge of the length
of link foot tread or rise required.
(3). And for making netting by intertwining the rope at each and either side,
so forming a complete network as the lengths of the flexible rack are so plaited
together, to the length & width necessary substantially as described.
Dated this 27th day of August 1891.
WOODFORD PILKINGTON.