Improvements in the Manufacture of Ropes for Marine and other Uses.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 29th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 28th Feb., 1890-Accepted, 12th Apr., 1890
PROVISIONAL DIBUITIVATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Ropes for Marine and other
Uses.
I MARK HORATIO TOMKINS of Pier Cordage Works, Millwall in the County of
Middlesex, Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of this invention is to utilize to the utmost the special qualities of
European Hemp and Manilla Hemp in the manufacture of a compound Rope ;-
Russian Hemp, (for example), if of the best quality, being equal, if not superior in
strength, to Manilla Hemp, whereas the latter is capable of resisting friction in a
manner superior to European Hemp.
In constructing strands according to this invention, I treat the Manilla Hemp with
saponified fish oil as it comes from the breakers, and the Russian Hemp I saturate
with good fish oil.
In combining the yarns of these two kinds of hemp to form strands, I use two
guide plates set at, say, 5.feet apart, through which the yarns are threaded on their
way to be twisted into a strand. The strands I form with a close covering of Manilla
and a core of European Hemp. The guide plates are formed with concentric rings
of holes set round a central hole of comparatively large diameter. Suppose the
innermost ring to contain 22 holes for as many yarns, and the next adjoining ring
23 holes, I lead the Russian hemp yarns through the inner ring of holes, and the Manilla
Hemp yarns through the second ring of holes. I then collect the group of Russian
Hemp yarns of which the core is to be formed, and pass them bodily through the
central hole of the second plate; thence through an adjacent fixed tube, and so on
to the ordinary twisting mechanism. The Manilla yarns from the first plate I pass
through a ring of holes in the second plate, and gather these into the adjacent tube,
leading them, together with the core yarns, to the spinning or twisting machinery,
where they will be subjected to the usual drawing and twisting action.
By this disposition of the two kinds of yarns, I ensure a perfect covering of the
core yarns with the Manilla Hemp, the friction to which the Manilla Hemp yarns
are subjected, on entering the tube, serving to spread them and put in them a certain
twist, which will produce a good face upon the work.
Strands thus manufactured may be laid together in any desired number to
produce ropes of any required strength, according to the work for which they are
designed.
A
11
3011 1
C
1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Ropes for Marine and other
Uses.
I, MARK HORATIO TOMKINS of Pier Cordage Works, Millwall in the County of
Middlesex, Manager, 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:—
It is generally admitted that Russian hemp of the best quality is little, if at all,
inferior in strength to Manilla hemp, and that the latter is capable of resisting
friction in a manner superior to Russian and other European hemp.

page_text: Now the object of this invention is to utilize to the utmost the special qualities
of these two kinds of hemp in the manufacture of a compound rope, and this I do
by forming the strands which are to compose the rope, of a core made from yarns
of European hemp, overlaid with yarns of Manilla hemp, which will completely cover
the core.
In constructing strands according to this invention, I treat the Manilla hemp with
saponified fish oil before it comes from the breakers, and the Russian hemp I saturate
with refined fish oil or vegetable tar.
In combining the yarns of these two kinds of hemp to form strands, I use two
guide plates, through which the yarns are threaded on their way to be twisted into
a strand. These guide plates are set at, say, 5 feet apart, or more or less, according
to the amount of twist required to be put into the core, and will constitute an integral
part of the well known strand twisting machine which I use in carrying out my
improved manufactnre.
In the accompanying drawing,
Fig. 1 shews in side elevation the strand twisting machine fitted with two guide
plates A B. These plates are shewn in face view at Figs. 2 and 3, on an enlarged
scale, the plate A being pierced with lines of holes surrounding a central hole of
comparatively large diameter, and the plate B having also a central hole surrounded
by concentric rings of holes. It is through these plates that the yarns which are
intended to constitute a strand are threaded, on their way to the twisting mechanism.
The central hole in the plate A serves to lead into the machine the tarred or oiled
yarns a which are to constitute the centre of the core. Upon these yarns I lay other
yarns of Russian hemp a, prepared with oil or tar, in such number and of such
weight as will constitute, with the yarns a¹, the requisite strength of core desired.
These yarns a¹ are threaded through holes in the plate surrounding the central hole,
and all these yarns a, a, are collected and passed through the central hole of the
plate B, and thence to the tube or former C, situato in line with the axis of motion
of the twisting mechanism. The draught put upon these yarns by the twisting
mechanism, will unite them into one compact body, the twist they receive running
back through the plate B within a short distance of the plate A.
The Manilla yarns b. I thread through holes in the plate A, and thence through a
ring of holes in the plate B, leading them thence to the tube C, into which they pass
with the twisted core of Russian hemp.
By friction of contact with tube C, these Manilla yarns b will be smoothed down as
the core continues to be drawn & twisted, & thus a strand will be produced with an
even coating of Manilla hemp.
The weight of the core and covering yarns will vary according to the require-
ments of the manufacturer, but in all cases it will be necessary so to proportion the
Manilla yarns to those which form the core, that there shall be a perfect coating of
Manilla hemp laid upon the core.
In some cases I use a double set of Manilla hemp yarns, in order to thicken the
covering of the core. This will be of service in making large ropes, where the cores,
of the strands are proportionately large. In such case, 1 thread the two sets of
Manilla yarns through separate rings of holes in the plate B, as indicated at b¹,
figures 2 & 3, and in dotted lines at Fig. 1.
It will be understood that the friction to which the Manilla hemp yarns are subjected
on entering the tube, will not only serve to spread them, but will ensure their receiving
a proper twist from the twisting mechanism. Thus a good face, suitable for resisting
wear, will be put on the work. Strands thus manufactured may be laid together in
any desired number to produce ropes of any required strength, according to the
service for which they are designed.
Compound rope manufactured according to my invention, while possessing a
strength equal, if not greater than the solid Manilla rope, which is a costly manufac-
ture, is, like that rope, free to slip laterally on the capstan, and by reason of its core
being prepared to resist the water, it will not be so subject to contraction or decay,
when wetted, as the solid Manilla rope.

page_text: Having now particularly described & 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 :-
The manufacture of ropes from compound strands prepared from different qualities
of hemp in the manner and for the purpose above set forth.
Dated this 90th day of February 1890
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.