IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR RECEIVING AND PAYING-OUT SUBMARINE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH CABLES
Year: 1864

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Joseph Rodney Croskey at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 22nd
April 1864.
I, JOSEPH RODNEY CROSKEY, of Saint Michael's House, Cornhill, in the
City of London, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR RECEIVING AND PAYING-OUT
SUBMARINE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH CABLES," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of improved machinery or apparatus whereby electric
telegraph cables may be taken or received on board a vessel direct from the
works without the necessity of coiling such cables in the hold, as is at present
done, and whereby the cable. may subsequently be paid out at any required
rate, and without the possibility of undue strain or kinking.
I propose to construct a large winding air-tight reel or drum of iron or
other metal, or wood and iron, or other metals combined. The shaft of this
reel is to be set in bearings in suitable standards or blocks on a foundation in
a water-tight compartment of the hold of the vessel, especially to be arranged
for that purpose; on the shaft or on the rim of the reel suitable toothed or
other gearing is to be fixed.or.keyed, in order to receive motion from a steam
engine or other power. In most cases this reel will project above the deck of

page_text: the vessel, which will have an opening sufficiently large for that purpose.
The cable end is to be brought on board and attached to the reel, which is then
to be set in motion, whereby the cable will be gradually wound on to the reel,
being aided by suitable reciprocating lateral guides in order to ensure a series
or succession of even coils. I propose to make the reel of such diameter as
may be sufficient to carry the whole cable for the entire line in one unbroken
length. When the entire cable has been received on board, the vessel may
proceed to the place of departure station, when the end being secured on
shore the vessel may commence her outward voyage, the reel being unwound,
and allowing the cable to run out as desired... I propose to set this reel in a
water-tight compartment in the hold of the vessel, which compartment will
then be filled with water, so that the reel which is air-tight will float, and
thus prevent any extraordinary pressure on the bearings, and enable it to
rotate with tolerable facility, or in case of very long cables where the water in
the compartment may not be sufficient to float the reel so as to prevent the
pressure on the bearings, then I propose that this compartment of the vessel
should have large and adequate openings at the bottom and sides, so that the
reel may be assisted in its being floated by the water outside the vessel. The
cable would be in either case kept moist during the period of its reception
and delivery, an important desideratum in the process. The power to actuate
the reel might be derived from the engine of the vessel, if desired, or a
supplementary engine might be employed in order to regulate the speed,
although probably it might be found that the speed of the vessel and the
rapidity of the paying-out being proportional, the propelling engine would in
all cases suffice. Disconnecting gear should also be employed, so that at any
time the reel might be released from the power of the engine, and other
appliances now in use may be made available as circumstances may require.
In order to maintain constant communication with the departure station
during the process of paying out, the first end received on the reel is to be
brought in contact with an insulated wire let in a dovetail or groove in the
shaft, and passing out beyond the reel, whereby connection with a telegraphic
dial or index may continually be effected and signals made, or other suitable
contrivance may be actuated. As the cable becomes exhausted from the reel,
and the diameter of the coil is thus lessened, it would probably be found that
the weight of the suspended cable would suffice to unwind itself from the reel
without the aid of any extra power, but in order to avoid this strain I should
prefer to actuate the reel by independent power. A break may be applied to
check any undue rapidity.
.r

page_text: By this Invention it will be evident that the cable will be received and
paid out without any twist or kink, such as must necessarily occur by the
present system.