IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TRANS- MITTING MOTIVE POWER "
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Robertson of Govan in the County of Renfrew,
Engineer for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TRANS-
MITTING MOTIVE POWER
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Robertson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th September 1883.
JAMES ROBERTSON, of Govan, in the County of Renfrew, Engineer, " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING MOTIVE-POWER."
This Invention relates to the transmission of motive-power by the agency of
wheels, pulleys, discs and cones by frictional contact, and chiefly for high speeds,
and it consists mainly in modes and means of placing, shaping, fixing, and tightening
on ropes on their peripheries, rims, or acting faces, so as to form an elastic, adhesivo,
durable and noiseless rolling or contiguous driving surface to roll or act by contact
and transmit motive-force or power to corresponding metallic or hard surface wheels,
pulleys, dises, or cones or similarly covered wheels, pulleys, discs or cones, and in
suitable dispositions bearings and incans of connecting and disconnecting same.
The improvements are applicable to most of the general forms of wheels, pulleys,
discs and cones commonly used for transmitting motive-power by toothed wheel gear,
or by frictional acting surface wheel gear with plane or wedge and grooved frictional
surfaces. The ropes to be used for this purpose are by preference ordinary fibrous ropes
of flax, hemp, cotton or grasses or other vegetable or mineral fibrous substances, such
as asbestos, or composites of these, and they may be prepared dry or with pitch,
tar, gum, or gelatinous substances or preparations of these, or with adhesive
powdered mineral substances such as powdered chalk; but wire ropes or composite
ropes of wire and vegetable or mineral fibrous substances or ropes of leather
thongs, or composite ropes of leather thongs, and the before nained materials may.
be used.
For spur or parallel wheels or pulleys in one form adapted for rolling driving
contact, the rim is formed with plain surfaces having narrow collars or enlarge-
ments of its diameter at its outer edges about half the thickness or diameter of the

page_text: ropes to be used for forming the frictional driving surface. The rope is fixed at
one end close to the collar at one side or edge of the rim and then wound on
spirally, tightly, and closely set together until the entire surface between the collars
is covered and filled by the rope. The after end of the rope, or a point within its
length, is provided with a means of drawing or holding on the rope tight as it
becomes flattened, abraided, clongated, or stretched by the action of the wheel,
pulley, disc or cone with which it is rolling in contact, for the purpose of trans-
initting motive power, or of having motive-power transmitted to it. The mode
and means for accomplishing this necessary condition to the efficiency of this mode
of transmitting motion is an important part of this Invention, and is effected in a
variety of ways suited to the varying forms and applications of the wheels, pulleys,
discs and cones to which this transmitting frictional surface is applied. The most
suitable sizes, thicknesses, or diameters of rope for spur wheel purposes, will generally
vary from about half an inch to about two inches in diameter.
An important point to be observed in carrying out this Invention is to have the
diameter or thickness of the rope used large, so as to form a thick tyre or rim of
rope for rolling against and transmitting motion to the metallic or hard surface
pulley or wheel with which it is geared; which pulley for the purpose of obtaining
high angular velocities is generally of small diameter and easily made to run truly.
In rolling the larger wheel with the thick rope tyre in contact with the plain
pulley or wheel, the rope is rolled and compressed so that it runs truly (although
the seat of the rope tyre should not be true) without unduly compressing the rope
at the thinnest part of the rope tyre, thus enabling the rope covered wheels,
particularly for large sizes to be cast and hung sufficiently true on the rim for this
purpose, without turning the metallic surface pinion or pulley, particularly so long
as it is driven by the rope surface wheel which should be the general arrangement,
having a tendency to produce and maintain a true running periphery or surface on
the rope covered wheel. It will nevertheless be an advantage to turn the rope
seats or surfaces truly, as the more uniformly the rope is compressed by the metallic
pinion the more durable it will be. Instead of being wound on spirally, the rope
acting surface may be formed of one or more ropes fastened and-tightened up as
described, and when two or more are used, they inay be wound on parallel to each
other; but in broad wheels this modo of forming the rope surface becomes cumber-
some, and in wheels with surfaces formed of only one rope, it has the disadvantage
of having the continuity of its surface broken by the necessary arrangements of
fastening and tightening at the ends, which require to be filled up by wedge
pieces.
A simple and efficient means of fastening the leading end of the rope on or to the
rim of a wheel is by having a hole large enough to allow the rope to pass through,
cored or bored through its rim close to the outside rope collar or guard on the
wheel, and fixing it by a knot or enlargement on the rope inside the rim, or by a
screw gland or otherwise. The most generally suitable means of putting on or
winding on the rope thereafter, is to impart a slow motion to the wheel and causo
the rope to pass through a gland or bore arranged to keep a certain degree of
resisting friction in the gland, against the pulling action of the wheel on the rope
as it passes through it, so that the rope may be wound on tight. The gland or
bore may be of a square or partially square form, to give the rope a partially square
forin, to cause it to be packed or be laid in a closer mass on the rim of the wheel,
than if left in the round form.
One mode of securing the after end and tightening up the same as it becomes
slack or elongated, is to have a hole formed through the rim at the opposite side of
the rim from the leading end of the rope, and immediately inside the retaining
collar or guard (which keeps the rope on the rim and prevents it spreading) and
attaching or connecting to it a means of drawing or tightening it up which may be
done by a screw or screws, roller or lever, or other devices or apparatus connected
to the rim, arms, or boss of the wheel. It will tend to retain the rope tight on the
rim if the direction of the motion of the wheel is the same as that of the course

page_text: lending to the following end of the rope, so that the transmitting frictional forco
will constantly tend to draw up the slack to the tension of the fastening and
tightening devices or apparatus. In large wheels a convenient arrangement for
effecting this is to have a snug formed on the arm, rim, or boss of the wheel, and
to attach to this an ordinary rope tension link with right and left screw, the one
screw fastened to the end of rope and the other to the snug or eye formed on
the arm, rim, or boss of the wheel. A simple eye screw bolt and nut or a tube
screwed outside and nut on same, fastened to the rope and passed through an eye
on the arm, boss, or, rim of the wheel, will generally answer for this tightening
purpose. Instead of fastening the tightening apparatus to the end of the rope, the
after end of the rope may be fastened, and the eye of the tightening bolt, hook, or
wire may be fastened in a bight in the rope anywhere in the length of the rope,
and be passed through an opening formed in the rim of the wheel. The portion of
the rope as it is drawn through the opening by the action of the tightening
apparatus forms a loop, and the screw or other incans used to tighten up the rope
thereby draws through double the length of the rope to the distince the screw or
screws pass through their nuts. In very broad surfaced wheels, two or more sets of
tightening screws or other equivalent tightening apparatus may be connected, but
for plain surface wheels, one screw will generally be sufficient to effect and regulate
this necessary rope tightening operation. Instead of screws, rollers, levers, or
wedges, may be used for effecting this tightening action, and also slide rope guards
may be used at the after end side of the wheel, and the following or after end of
the rope may be attached to it, the slide guard being provided with a screw or
other means of drawing it round on the rim of the wheel, so as to tighten up tho
rope.
For wheels or pulleys of small diameter such as are most conveniently cast
without arins, the guard at the forward end of the rope is formed along with the
eye and rim, bored out to fit its spindle, keyed on same and turned for the seat of
the rope.
The guard at the following after tightening up side of the rope is cast
or formed in a separate disc and bored out to fit the shaft, but left free to turn
round with the after end of the wound-on rope, it being attached thereto by an
eye or otherwise. This separate disc guard may be provided with a means of
giving the guard disc rotative motion by applying a lever, or be provided with a
screw, small toothed pinion and worm placed in a recess in the body of the pulley,
and provided with slot bolts for holding it tight to the pinion at any position it
may be required to be set for tightening up the rope. This tightening up guard
may also be bored out to a larger diameter than the axis or shaft on which its
pulley is keyed, and made to turn round for tightening up the rope on a seat for it
forined on the boss of the wheel or pulley with similar means to that just described,
for revolving it and tightening up the rope. In this way plain surface frictional
wheels or pulleys of small size can easily be constructed at much less cost than
plain surface frictional wheels or pulleys of leather, paper, or compressed washers
such as commonly made to secure an effective smooth and noiseless driving ation
or "bite," with a small amount of force to hold it in contact with the wheel with
which it is geared. This system or description of transmitting wheel frictional
surface, has also the advantage of wearing nothing out in the body or expensive
part of the wheel, and of being easily and at small cost replaced when the acting
surface does become worn out.
The apparatus as described for tightening on the rope on the rims of the wheels
or pulleys is mostly required when they are first used. The rolling and compressing
action gradually diminishes the tendency of the rope to elongato, and after a time,
or by the use of well stretched ropes the tightening apparatus is little required.
By employing suitable means of fastening the after ends or intermediate tightening
oops by set screws, glands, or wedges, the rope tightening apparatus may be of a
ortable description although it is an advantage to have it constantly applied and
n tension. A spiral or other spring can be used on the adjusting screws to assist
be elasticity or tension of the rope, and assist the driving action of the rope surface

page_text: by drawing up in an automatic way the slack of the rope. Narrow flat rope may
be used, but round rope is most suitable for this purpose.
For conical or bevil plane surface wheels with the acting periphery formed at a
small degree of angle to its axis, the same spiral arrangement of building and
tightening on of the rope, as is described in connection with spur or parallel wheels
or pulleys is suitable, but for bevil wheels or face wheels with acting faces formed
at a large degree of angle to their axis, concentric dove-tail channels are formed to
a depth of about two thirds of the diameter of the rope used, and the rope is
driven in tight into same. The ends of each concentric piece of rope, are secured
and tightened up as described in connection with spur or parallel wheels or by
being driven in very tight, and will by this dove-tail arrangement of groove be
held in their place securely. The rolling or abrading action causing a tendency of
the rope to broaden out and elongate to jam itself the more tightly in the dove-tail
recesses or grooves. Such wheel faces are formed of one or more concentric pieces
of rope. One recess may contain two pieces of round rope side by side in this
arrangement, by preference with their abutting ends placed at different places in
the periphery of the dovetail shaped rope channel or groove; or for this purpose a
narrow flat rope can be used with advantage. This arrangement of dove-tail
channeling without tightening up appliances, is also suitable for internal bevel
wheels, or for internal parallel or spur wheels or pulleys.
For plain wheels, pulleys, discs, and cones transmitting power, not by rolling
action but by contiguous or simple contact, known as frictional clutching action,
similarly forined rope surfaces acting in conjunction with metallic or hard surfaces
obviates the great drawback experienced with the use of turned metallic surfaces,
of cutting up and fastening if not carefully attended to with oil or other suitable
lubricant.
The rope surface though acting better for this purpose when partially lubricated
with oil, water, or other lubricant, may be left entirely dry, and will not cut up the
metallic surface it is pressed against, nor will the dry metallic surface injure the
rope surface materially, and thereby fastening is obviated.
With the rope surface applied and tightened on as described in connection with
spur or parallel wheels or pulleys, all the ordinary arrangements of frictional
metallic gland straps and hinged concave pieces for clutches and slip couplings can
be readily applied to these rope surface wheels and pulleys and to conical clutches
formed as usually done with acting surfaces at a small degree of angle to their
axis, the external cone being suitable for having the rope frictional surface applied.
For clutching face plates with acting faces at right angles to their axis, and for other
clutches with acting faces formed at less though large degrees of angle to their
axis, the modes and incans of fixing and of tightening on the rope surface described
in connection with conical or bevil wheels is suitable. All the ordinary modes and
means of connecting and disconnecting clutches by forks, slide pieces, eccentric
bushes and levers are more or less suitable for rope surface clutches formed in this
way as well as for being combined with cog-gear, bevel wheel reversing motions or
spur-wheel reversing motions, such as are used for rolling mills, and they may be
wrought by hand, automatically, or by steam, or by hydraulic cylinders for large
sizes.
For rolling frictional wheel gearing with ridge grooved frictional surfaces
analogous to the metallic wedge and grooved frictional gearing for which I obtained
Letters Patent of the United Kingdom, dated the 9th September 1856 and
numbered 692; and also Letters Patent of the United Kingdom dated the
31st January 1859 and numbered 276; and for spur or parallel wheels or pulleys in
their simplest form, the acting surface may consist of a single rope ridge or wedge,
the rope being placed on to a plain surface or grooved wheel or pulley, and fixed
and tightened up as described in connection with plain surface parallel wheels.
For greater breadth of surface and transmitting power, additional ridges or wedges
as may be required in the same way may be used, and where two or more wedges
are used, the ends are secured at different points in the periphery of the wheel, so

page_text: as to have the joints to overlap by a continuous adjacent rope ridge or wedge.
Two wedges however may be formed of one continuous piece of rope, the end
joints being made to overlap each other by passing the ends from the inside of the
rim through openings formed at the width or pitch of the wedges across the rim of
the wheel from each other and winding on around the rim and fastening the ends
inside the rim. The bight or loop of the rope inside the rim is available for
fastening in the tightening up apparatus as described in connection with plain
surface frictional wheels. The form of the rope ridges thus fixed and tightened
on to the rims of the wheels will be determined by the forms of the grooves in the
metallic pinions with which they are made to transmit force, or to have force
transmitted to them. V shaped grooves for example give a wedgo shape to the
ropes, but semi-circular grooves in the metallic wheels by retaining the round rope
more nearly to its normal shape will be the shape most adapted for the durability
of the rope ridges. Instead of plain surface rims in which the ropes are retained
and made to run truly sideways by the groove or grooves in the metallic wheels
alone, seats may be turned in the rims of these to about a depth of one fourth
part of the diameter of the ropes, to keep the rope ridges in their position, this
being necessary particularly for conical bevil gear wheels or pulleys of this form.
Instead of the ridgos or wedges being formed in the rope surface wheels, the
ridges or wedges may be formed in the metallic wheels, and rope surface grooves.
formed by placing two ropes side by side in dove-tail grooves, and the ropes driven
in tight into these. One or more grooves in each wheel may be formed in this
way, and the metallic ridge, wedge or wedges may be made to act into the grooves
formed by the two ropes so placed in the dove-tail channels. The acting faces of
bevil and face wheels may also be adapted to transmit motive-power in this way.
The main or best application of this description of wheel gearing will generally
be to place a rope surface wheel on the crank shafts of steam or gas engines, and
from their smooth action small risk of fracturing and ready means of disconnecting
they are peculiarly suitable for most high circumferential speeds such as for the
screw propellers of twin screw-boats, high speed rolling mills, dynamo machines,
fans, circular saws, thrashing machines and other similar machines. In such
applications, it will generally be an advantage to have the counter or high speed
shafts placed in the same frame, or bound to the frame of the motive-power engine,
and as the bearings of the counter shafts have to be made adjustable to maintain
the driving contact, it will generally with advantage be best coupled to the shaft
or machine to be driven by a drag link or elastic or inovable couplings. For the
adjustable coupling and disconnecting of the axial bearings, all the forms of
adjustable eccentric and compensating axis bushes shown by me in my system of
wedge and groove frictional gearing in the Specifications of the Patents above
referred to, as well as the bearings for metallic plain surface wheels in common use,
are more or less suitable for axial bearings for these new and improved wheels,
pulleys, discs and cones for transmitting motive power.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
k
the said James Robertson in the Patent Office on the 27th March 1884.
JAMES ROBERTSON, of Govan, in the County of Renfrew, Engineer IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING MOTIVE-POWER"
My said Invention of Improvements in apparatus for the transmission of
motivo-power by tho agency of wheels, pulleys, discs, and cones, is designed
to transmit power by frictional contact, and is best suited for high speeds. It
consists mainly in modes and means of placing, shaping, fixing and tightening
on ropes on their peripheries, rims, or acting faces, so as to form an elastic, adhesive,
durable and noiseless rolling or contiguous driving surface to roll or act by contact,
and transmit motive force or power to corresponding metallic or hard surface
wheels, pulleys, discs, or cones or similarily covered wheels, pulleys, discs or concs,
and in suitable dispositions, bearings and means of connecting and disconnecting
same.
The improvements are applicable to most of the general forms of wheels, pulleys,
discs, and cones commonly used for transmitting motive power by toothed wheel
gear, or by frictional acting surface wheel gear with plane or wedge and grooved
frictional surfaces. Tho ropes to be used for this purpose are by preference
ordinary fibrous ropes of flax, hemp, cotton or grasses, or other vegetable or
mineral fibrous substances, such as asbestos, or composites of these, and they may
be prepared dry, or with pitch, tar, gum or gelatinous substances, or preparations
of these, or with adhesive powdered mineral substances such as powdered chalk;
but wire ropes or composite ropes of wire and vegetable or mineral fibrous
substances or ropes of leather thongs or composite ropes of leather thongs and the
before named materials may be used.
For spur or parallel wheels or pulleys in one form adapted for rolling, driving
contact, the rim is formed with plain surfaces having narrow collars or enlarge-
ments of its diameter at its outer edges about half the thickness or diameter of the
ropes to be used for forming the frictional driving surface. The rope is fixed at
one end close to the collar at one side or edge of the rim and then wound on
spirally, tightly, and closely set together, until the entire surface between the
collars is covered and filled by the rope. The after end of the rope, or a point
within its length, is provided with a means of drawing or holding on the rope
tight as it becomes flattened, abraded, elongated, or stretched by the action of the
wheel, pulley, disc, or cone, with which it is rolling in contact for the purpose of
transmitting motive-power, or of having motive-power transmitted to it. The
mode and means for accomplishing this necessary condition to the efficiency of this
mode of transmitting motion is an important part of this Invention, and is effected
in a variety of ways, suited to the varying forms and applications of the wheels,
pulleys, discs, and cones to which this transmitting frictional surface is applied.
The most suitable sizes, thicknesses, or diameters of rope for spur wheel purposes,
will generally vary from about half an inch to about two inches in diameter.
An important point to be observed in carrying out this Invention is to have the
diameter or thickness of the rope used large, so as to form a thick tyre or rim of
rope for rolling against and transmitting motion to the metallic or hard surface
pulley or wheel with which it is geared; which pulley for the purpose of obtaining
high angular velocities is generally of small diameter and easily made to run truly.
In rolling the larger wheel with the thick rope tyre in contact with the plain
pulley or wheel, the rope is rolled and compressed so that it runs truly (although
the seat of the rope tyre should not be true) without unduly compressing the rope

page_text: at the thinnest part of the rope tyre, thus enabling the rope covered wheels,
particularly for large sizes to be cast and hung sufficiently true on the rim for this
purpose, without turning the metallic surface pinion or pulley, particularly so long
as it is driven by the rope surface wheel which should be the general arrangement,
having a tendency to produce and maintain a true running periphery or surface on
the rope covered wheel. It will nevertheless be an advantage to turn the rope
seats or surfaces truly, as the more luniformly the rope is compressed by the
metallic pinion, the more durable it will be. Instead of being wound on spirally,
the rope acting surface may be formed of one or more ropes fastened and tightened
up as described, and when two or inore are used, they may be wound on parallel to
each other; but in broad wheels this inode of forming the rope surface becomes
cumbersome, and in wheels with surfaces formed of only one rope, it has tho
disadvantage of having the continuity of its surfaco broken by the necessary
arrangements of fastening and tightening at the ends, which require to be filled up
by wedge pieces.
A simple and efficient means of fastening the leading end of the rope on or to
the rim of a wheel is by having a hole large enough to allow the rope to pass
through, cored or bored through its rim close to the outside rope collar or guard on
the wheel, and fixing it by a knot or enlargement on the rope inside the rim, or by
a screw, gland or otherwise. The most generally suitable means of putting on or
winding on the rope thereafter, is to impart a slow motion to the wheel, and cause
the rope to pass through a gland or bore arranged to keep a certain degree
of resisting friction in the gland, against the pulling action of the wheel on
the rope as it passes through it, so that the rope may be wound on tight. The
gland or bore may be of a square or partially squaro form, to give the ropo
a partially square form, to cause it to bo packod or be laid in a closer mass on the
rim of the wheel, than if left in the round form.
One inode of securing the after end and tightening up the same as it becomes
slack or elongated, is to have a hole formed through the rim at the opposite side of
the rim from the leading end of the rope, and immediately inside the retaining
collar or guard (which keeps the rope on the rim and prevents it spreading) and
attaching or connecting to it a means of drawing or tightening it up, which may
be done by a screw or screws, roller or lever, or other devices or apparatus
connected to the rim, arms or boss of the wheel. It will tend to retain the rope
tight on the rim if the direction of the motion of the wheel is the same as that of
the course leading to the following end of the rope, so that the transmitting
frictional force will constantly tend to draw up the slack to the tension of the
fastening and tightening devices or apparatus. In large wheels a convenient
arrangement for effecting this is to have a snug formed on the arm, rim, or boss of
the wheel, and to attach to this an ordinary rope tension link with right and left
screw, the one screw fastened to the end of rope and the other to the snug or eyo
formed on the arm, rim, or boss of the wheel. A simple eye screw bolt and nut or
a tube screwed outside and nut on same, fastened to the rope and passed through
an eye on the arm, boss, or rim of the wheel, will generally answer for this
tightening purpose. Instead of fastening the tightening apparatus to the end of
the rope, the after end of the rope may be fastened, and the eye of the tightening
bolt hook or wire may be fastened in a bight in the rope anywhere in the length
of the rope, and be passed through an opening formed in the rim of the wheel.
The portion of the rope as it is drawn through the opening by the action of the
tightening apparatus forms a loop, and the screw or other means used to tighten up
the rope thereby draws through doublo the length of the rope to the distance the
screw or screws pass through their nuts. In very broad surfaced wheels, two or
more sets of tightening screws or other equivalent tightening apparatus may be
connected, but for plain surface wheels, one screw will generally be sufficient to
effect and regulate this necessary rope tightening operation. Instead of screws,
rollers, levers, or wedges may be used for effecting this tightening action, and also
alide rope guards may be used at the after end side of the wheel, and the following

page_text: or after end of the rope may be attached to it, the slide guard being provided with
a screw or other means of drawing it round on the rim of the wheel, so as to
tighten up the rope.
For wheels or pulleys of small diameter, such as are most conveniently cast
without arms, the guard at tho forward end of the rope is formed along with the
eye and rim, bored out to fit its spindle, keyed on same, and turned for the seat of
the rope. The guard at the following after tightening up side of the rope is cast
or formed in a separate disc and bored out to fit the shaft, but left free to turn
round with the after end of the wound on rope, it being attached thereto by an
eye or otherwise. This separate disc guard may be provided with a means of
giving the guard disc rotative motion by applying a lever, or be provided with a
screw, small toothed pinion and worm placed in a recess in the body of the pulley,
and provided with slot bolts for holding it tight to the pinion at any position it
may be required to be set for tightening up the rope. This tightening up guard
may also be bored out to a larger diameter than the axis or shaft on which its
pulley is keyed, and made to turn round for tightening up the rope on a seat for it
formed on the boss of the wheel or pulley with similar means to that just described,
for revolving it and tightening up the rope. In this way plane surface frictional
wheels or pulleys of small size can easily be constructed at much less cost than
plane surface frictional wheels or pulleys of leather, paper, or compressed washers,
such as are commonly made to secure an effective smooth and noiseless driving
action or "bite" with a small amount of force to hold it in contact with the wheel
with which it is geared. This system or description of transmitting wheel
frictional surface has also the advantage of wearing nothing out in the body or
expensive part of the wheel, and of being easily and at small cost replaced when
the acting surface does become worn out.
The apparatus as described for tightening on the rope on the rims of the rims or
pulleys is mostly required when they are first used. The rolling and compressing
action gradually diminishes the tendency of the rope to elongate, and after a time,
or by the use of well stretched ropes the tightening apparatus is little required.
By employing suitable means of fastening the after ends or intermediate
tightening loops by set screws, glands, or wedges, the rope tightening apparatus
may be of a portable description, although it is an advantage to have it constantly
applied and in tension. A spiral or other spring can be used on the adjusting
screws to assist the elasticity or tension of the rope, and assist the driving action
of the rope surface by drawing up in an automatic way the slack of the rope.
Narrow Hat rope may be used, but round rope is most suitable for this purpose.
For conical or bevel plane surface wheels with the acting periphery formed at a
small degree of angle to its axis, the same spiral arrangement of building and
tightening on of the rope, as is described in connection with spur or parallel wheels
or pulleys is suitable, but for bevel wheels or face wheels with acting faces formed
at a large degree of angle to their axes, concentric dove-tail channels are formed to
a depth of about two thirds of the diameter of the rope used, and the rope is
driven in tight into same. The ends of each concentric piece of rope are secured
and tightened up as described in connection with spur or parallel wheels, or by
being driven in very tight, and will by this dove-tail arrangement of groove be
held in their place securely. The rolling or abrading action causing a tendency of
the rope to broaden out and elongate to jam itself the more tightly in the dove-
tail recesses or grooves. Such wheel faces are forined of one or more concentric
pieces of rope. One recess may contain two pieces of round rope side by side in
this arrangement, by preference with their abutting ends placed at different places
in the periphery of the dovetail shaped rope channel or groove; or for this purpose
a narrow flat rope can be used with advantage. This arrangement of dove-tail
channeling without tightening up appliances, is also suitable for internal beve!
wheels, or for internal parallel or spur wheels or pulleys.
For plain wheels, pulleys, discs, and cones transmitting power, not by rolling
action, but by contiguous or simple contact, known as frictional clutching action,

page_text: similarly formed rope surfaces acting in conjunction with metallic or hard
surfaces obviates the great drawback experienced with the use of turned metallic
surfaces of cutting up and fastening if not carefully attended to with oil or other
suitable lubricant.
The rope surface though acting better for this purpose when partially lubricated
with oil, water, or other lubricant, may be left entirely dry, and will not cut up
the metallic surface it is pressed against, nor will the dry metallic surface injure
the rope surface materially, and thereby fastening is obviated.
With the rope surface applied and tightened on as described in connection with
spur or parallel wheels or pulleys, all the ordinary arrangements of frictional
metallic gland straps and hinged concave pieces for clutches and slip couplings can
be readily applied to these rope surface wheels and pulleys and to conical clutches
formed as usually done with acting surfaces at a small degree of angle to their axes,
the external cone being suitable for having the rope frictional surface applied.
For clutching face plates with acting faces at right angles to their axes, and for
other clutches with acting faces formed at less though large degrees of angle to
their axes, the modes and means of fixing and of tightening on the rope surface
described in connection with conical or bevel wheels is suitable. All the ordinary
modes and means of connecting and disconnecting clutches by forks, slide pieces,
eccentric bushes and levers, are more or less suitable for rope surface clutches
formed in this way as well as for being combined with cog gear, bevel wheel
reversing motions or spur wheel reversing motions, such as are used for rolling
mills, and they may be wrought by hand, automatically, or by steam, or by
hydraulic cylinders for large sizes.
For rolling frictional wheel gearing with ridge grooved frictional surfaces,
analogous to the metallic wedge and grooved frictional gearing for which I obtained
Letters Patent of the United Kingdom, dated the 9th September 1850 and
numbered 692; and also Letters Patent of the United Kingdom dated tho
31 January 1859, and numbered 270; and for spur or parallel wheels or pulleys
in their simplest form, the acting surface may consist of a single rope ridge or
wedge, the rope being placed on to a plane surface or grooved wheel or pulley, and
fixed and tightened up as described in connection with plane surface parallel wheels.
For greater breadth of surface and transmitting power, additional ridges or wedges
as may be required in the same way may be used, and where two or more wedges are
used, the ends are secured at different points in the periphery of the wheel, so as
to have the joints to overlap by a continuous adjacent rope ridge or wedge. Two
or more wedges however may be formed of one continuous piece of rope, the end
joints being made to overlap each other by passing the ends from the inside of the
rim through openings formed at the width or pitch of the wedges across the rim of
the wheel from each other, and winding on around the rim, and fastening the ends
inside the rim. The "bight" or loop of the rope inside the rim is available for
fastening in the tightening up apparatus, as described in connection with plano
surface frictional wheels. The forin of the rope ridges thus fixed and tightened.
on to the rims of the wheels will be determined by the forms of the grooves in the
metallic pinions with which they are made to transmit force, or to have force
transmitted to them. V shaped grooves for example give a wedge shape to the
ropes, but semi-circular grooves in the metallic wheels by retaining the round rope
more nearly to its norinal shape will be the shape most adapted for the durability
of the rope ridges. Instead of plane surface rims in which the ropes are retained
and made to run truly sideways by the groove or grooves in the metallic wheels
alone, seats inay be turned in the rims of these to about a depth of one fourth
part of the diameter of the ropes to keep the rope ridges in their position, this
being necessary particularly for conical bevel gear wheels or pulleys of this form.
Instead of the ridges or wedges being formed in the rope surface wheels, the
ridges or wedges may be formed in the metallic wheels, and rope surface grooves
formed by placing two ropes side by side in dove-tail grooves, and the ropes driven
in tight into these. One or more grooves in cach wheel may be formed in this way,.

page_text: and the metallic ridge, wedge, or wedges may be made to act into the grooves
formed by the two ropes so placed in the dove-tail channels. The acting faces of
bevel and face wheels may also be adapted to transmit motive power in
this way.
The main or best application of this description of wheel gearing will generally
he to place a rope surface wheel on the crank shafts of steam or gas engines, and
from their smooth action small risk of fracturing and ready means of disconnecting,
they are peculiarly suitable for most high circumferential speeds, such as for the
screw propellers of twin screw boats, high speed rolling mills, dynamo machines,
fans, circular saws, thrashing machines and other similar machines. In such
applications, it will generally be an advantage to have the counter or high speed
shafts placed in the same frame, or bound to the frame of the motive power engine,
and as the bearings of the counter shafts have to be made adjustable to maintain
the driving contact, it will generally with advantage be best coupled to the shaft
or machine to be driven by a drag link or elastic or movable couplings. For the
aljustable coupling and disconnecting of the axial bearings, all the forms of
adjustable eccentric and compensating axis bushes shown by me in my system of
wedge and groove frictional gearing in the Specifications of the Patents above
referred to, as well as the bearings for metallic plane surface wheels in common
use, are more or less suitable for axial bearings for these new and improved wheels,
pulleys, discs and cones for transmitting motive-power.
For the purpose of explaining the manner in which I carry out my Invention, I
append two Sheets of Diagrams, illustrating the various forms of these wheels,
pulleys, discs and cones, and the mode in which the ropes which form the frictional
acting surfaces are placed or applied and secured on their rims, peripheries, or
acting surfaces. In describing my Invention by the aid of these Diagrams, I use
throughout the following Description the same letters or figures and numerals in
referring to like parts, in order as far as possible to avoid needless repetition in
describing the various modifications shown.
Figure 1 is an end elevation, Figure 2 a front elevation, partly in section, and
Figure 3 an external front elevation of a pair of wheels, on the larger one of
which A an acting driving rope surface is formed by winding a rope on spirally on
its rim, and the other wheel B, shown in gear with it, to which the power is to be
transmitted, having a plain surface. The forms and proportions of these wheels
are as regards their bosses and arms, and so far as the thickness of the rims also
are concerned, much the same as are ordinary cast-iron toothed-gear wheels
designed to transmit a like amount of power, the breadth of surface of the rin
being about 1 times that of toothed wheels. As a inaterial for their construction,
cast-iron is also preferred, although where lightness is required, they may be cast
or formed of steel or other material, or built of wrought iron, with more or less
advantage in all or most of the forms of toothed and frictional wheels and belt
pulleys now made such as those in common use for belt pulleys, having cast-iron
bosses, and wrought iron arms or discs and rims. The proportion of the axis C of
the rope surface wheel A, and of the axis D of the plain surface wheel B, are also
about the same as required in the use of toothed wheels for transmitting an equal
amount of power, though it is an advantage, and it is preferred to have the axis
necks longer than is commonly used. Figure 2 shows the plain surface cast-iron
wheel B in cross section, and portion of the rim and one arm of the rope surface
wheel A also in cross section, showing the rope seat or channel A' formed by a
plain bottom surface, and the side collars or guards A³, A³, by preference formed
or cast in one piece with the wheel, in height about half the diameter of the rope
used, and in breadth about the third of the diameter of the rope used for forming
the transmitting surface. The rope E shown applied in this example is 14 inches
in diameter, and the transmitting surface composed of ten coils E to E from a
rope in one piece wound around or placed in the rope seat A' of the wheel. The
forward end of the rope E' is secured to the rim, in this example, by passing it
though a hole A in the rim of the wheel A cored or bored out to about the

page_text: may
diameter of the rope, and rounded off at its end edges to prevent it from cutting
the rope. In small sized wheels where cords or ropes of small diameter are used, a
simple knot made upon the end of the rope on the end inside the rim, serves to
retain the end neatly and efficiently, but when ropes of large size are used, as in
this example, the knot becomes clumsy, and an ordinary bolted gland F, such as is
here shown, is used for securing the forward end of the rope inside the rim of the
wheel. Figure 4 is a side elevation of this device, and Figure 5 a plan showing
the end E of the rope E grasped by the halves of the gland F and F', which are
secured by the two bolts F and F³. Another device of a similar nature for the
same purpose, which is more convenient for some forms of wheels (hereinafter
described and shown in diagrams) is shown to a larger scale in Figures 6 and 7.
In this example, a portion of the rim of the wheel is mado to serve as one half of
the rope-grasping gland. Devices of this sort (suited for this purpose) that is of
the gland and thumb screw fashion, can of course be made in many ways, but
those mentioned and the simple knot are all I have chosen, or have thought
necessary to show applied for this purpose. The end of the rope E' is thus secured
inside the rim of the wheel by being inserted through the hole A to a position in
the line of the first coil of rope E³, and forward on the rim a short distance; and
at the opposite sido of the rim at a point just inside the rope side gland A³ in line
with the after or last coil of the rope E10, the after end E₁ of the rope is passed
through a similar holo A5 in the rim and there secured. The best means of placing
the rope on its seat or channel A' after the end E is thus secured, is to rotate the
wheel at a slow speed, which can be done in the easiest way while it is still in the
lathe after it has been bored or turned. The rope may be made to pass through
a gland or eye bolt placed in the tool holder of the lathe slide rest which bo
made adjustable, and of a size to keep a sufficient degree of resisting force on the
rope in passing through it, to wind it on to its seat tightly; and the gland or bolt
eyelet may be made with advantage of square or partially square form to shape
the rope and to pack the coils of the rope closely together, as the closer they are
packed side by side, and the tighter they are wound on their seat A¹ the better.
The rope is not wound on in a true spiral on its seat throughout, as by doing this
between the parallel collars which is most conveniently made, the successive coils
would not build on compactly; and hence, as shown the spiral disposition of the
rope in the rim is between the fixing holes A and A' on the rim. This does not
interfere with uniformity of the rope driving frictional surface. The rope is
wound on as indicated by the arrows shown on it, and the best direction of motion
to be given to the wheel for hauling on the rope while in action is in the reverse
direction to that in which the rope is wound on, as indicated by the arrows on the
rim of the rope surface wheel, and on the collars A3 and A³ on same, as seen in
Figures 1 and 2. The winding-on of the rope being thus accomplished, the after
end E¹ is passed through the hole A³ and is attached in this example to an
ordinary rope tentering right and left screw link G which has on its rope end a
right handed screw G₁ with a gland device G similar to that shown by Figures 4
and 5 for grasping and holding the end of the rope E. The other or left handed
screw bolt G has an eye end, and is attached by a pin or bolt to a snug A
formed or fixed on the boss of the wheel B. By this rope tightening link, the rope
may be hauled up at pleasure, or as may be required, and when the tightening up
of the link screw is expended, it can be unscrewed and the rope shortened to tako
a fresh hold by the gland G2, and the tightening screw G¹ re-applied. In this way
all the conditions necessary for securing and maintaining an effective rope driving
frictional surface is obtained.
As herein before described the ropes may be variously made and of any suitable
shape or materials as they are now formed, or by combinations of these. It is
important that they be made with as little tendency to elongate as possible, and on
the other hand to have a good deal of elasticity to side or contact driving pressure
as this is one of the features which gives to this rope transmitting surface
advantages over metallic surface frictional wheels, as this rope surface provides

page_text: the elastic media necessary for holding all kinds of frictional wheels in gear,
immediately behind the transmitting surface, whereas in the use of inetallic surface
frictional driving wheels, this necessary elastic contact pressure can be provided
only or mainly through the body or mass of the wheels at the axis bearings. The
rope therefore will for this end be best kept most elastic to side pressure by having
its strands woven or plaited in a dry state. Pitch, tar, or other resinous matter
incorporated in the body or mass of the rope, having too great a tendency to harden
by the rolling transmitting action and to obtain adhesive transmitting action, a top
dressing only of resinous or adhesive transmitting matter may be used. For the
preservation of the rope against wet or its immersion in water, oleaginous matter
may be incorporated in the body of the rope, which does not materially harden or
destroy the side elasticity of the rope, and one substantial means which secures this
very effectively is to soak the rope in melted paraffin before or after it is wound on
the wheels. Resinous or other adhesive transmitting substances in the form of a
top dressing to give increased transmitting action can be afterwards applied. It
will be an advantage to use ropes with strands interlaced or woven in the manner
of ordinary window blind cords, and particularly for small sizes of wheels, but
ordinary ropes with plaited strands answer sufficiently well and are less expensive,.
and can be more generally and readily obtained than woven cords or ropes.
Another great advantage of this form of frictional wheel over metallic plain surface
or wedge and grooved frictional surface driving wheels is freedom from injury by
slipping action at sudden starting, so long as the rope surface wheel or soft surface
wheel is kept as the driver, a slight amount of slipping action of the rope surface
over the quiescent metallic surface of the driven wheel causing no injury to it,
Whereas slipping action taking place with metallic or hard surface frictional wheels
grinds off or abrades the surface of the driven quiescent wheel; and to avoid this it
is necessary to give about double the adhesive pressure to the bearings which is
actually required to produce the degree of contact pressure to transinit the power
necessary when given out to the driven wheel in full motion. The same thing also
happens to frictional wheels made of paper, leather, wood, or other soft substances
to prevent noise, and to get increased adhesion, when the smallest and usually the
driven wheel to avoid great expense is made of these soft substances. By making
the larger or rope covered wheel the driver, and which is easily and inexpensively
done, this draw back is avoided, as the soft face of the rope wheel may slip round
considerably at starting its driven wheel, without doing itself or the driven wheel
any injury, aud hence saving in power is effected by reduced pressure on the
bearings in driving an equal amount of power as compared with other forms of
frictional wheels, as well as the avoidance of noise and other drawbacks incident
to the use of toothed gear and other forms of frictional wheels, and to the use of
belt gear.
Figure 8 is a sido elevation, Figure 9 a front elevation partly in section, and
Figure 10 an external plan of a pair of similar wheels, but of lighter proportions
than that just described. The external plan shows the disposition of the rope on
the rim of the wheel better than as shown by Figures 1, 2 and 3, the forward end
of the rope being fastened to the rim of the wheel at the hole A' through it, by a
gland similar to Figures 6 and 7, and the after end of the rope E12 shown hauled
up by a screw G placed in a snug A" formed on the arm of the wheel, which is bored
out to receive a neck on the screw at the end towards the centre of the wheel, the
other end of the screw being set in a small bearing G³. A collar G' holds the screw
in its place, and a square is formed on it to operate the screw by a screw key.
A gland F having a hole in it screwed to receive and fit the screw and holding the
end of the rope A¹ as described in reference to Figures 4 and 5 completes the
arrangement of tightening up the rope. Otherwise the form of this wheel is
the same as that described with reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3. The direction in
which the rope is wound on is indicated by the arrows placed on it, and the best
direction of the motion of the wheel for tightening on the rope, is indicated by the
arrows placed ou its rim.

page_text: Figure 11 is an end elevation, Figure 12 a front elevation, and Figure 13 a plan
of a pair of wheels generally similar to those just described with reference to
Figures 1, 2, and 3, and Figures 8, 9, and 10, but indicating a somewhat different
mode of hauling up the slack in the rope, caused by the rolling action of its
corresponding plain surface wheel or pinion rolling upon it. In this example both
the forward end E¹ and after end E of the rope E are secured by glands, similar
to those shown in Figures 6 and 7, to the inside surface of the rim of the wheel,
and the necessary hauling up arrangement for the rope is effected through an
oblong hole A' in breadth about the diameter of the rope, and in length about
twice the diameter of the rope. The position of this opening A7, is near to the
hole A for the after end of the rope and opposite (in the breadth of the rim) to
the last coil of the rope. A snug A is shown formed on the arm of the wheel
through which a hook screw bolt G' is passed, and a screw nut is passed on same.
After the following end E¹ is secured, a piece of wire is passed over the rope
opposite the oblong opening and the loop or bight E3 is drawn by the screw
through the oblong opening A7, and thereafter the hook of the hook bolt G¹ is
placed as shown in the bight of the rope, and in this way a hauling up arrange-
ment is effected, and with the advantage of drawing up the rope double the
length traversed by the nut of the screw G¹. This rope tightening arrangement
has also the more important advantage of admitting of being placed anywhere
in the breadth of the rim of the wheel, and anywhere throughout the entire
length of the rope. Two or more of these tightening screws G₁ might be used,
as in wheels of great breadth it would be an advantage to have more than one to
keep a uniform tension and firm driving surface on the rope; otherwise theso
wheels are the same as those already described.
Instead of being wound on spirally, the rope acting surface may be formed of
one or more separate pieces of rope which may be fastened and tightened up as
described in connection with Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7; and where two or more
ropes are used, they may be placed parallel to the rope side guards A2, A3, through
the whole circumference of the rim of the wheel. Figure 14 is a side elevation,
and Figure 15 a front clevation having the rope surface composed of two separato
pieces of rope, placed and tightened on to the rim, parallel to each other, the rope
channel A being formed of a width to suit the diameter of two coils of rope. The
holes A and A in the rim of the wheel are formed oblong, and shown at opposite
points in the periphery of the wheel, through which, after the rope is wound on to
its seat, both ends of the rope E', E are passed through the rims, and thereafter
wound together tightly with wire and a piece of wire G fastened to them, and led
to a small roller or pin G, G5, titted in snugs A, A° which are an easy fit to admit
of the pins being turned round by a screw key applied to the squares on the ends
of same, when the nuts G* are loosened, to tighten up the respective ropes. The
small pins G³ are in this way turned round to tighten up the respective ropes to
which these are connected by the wires G, and the pins Gare held tight by again
tightening up the screws G³ on their axes. Wheels with rope channels A¹ of a
width to suit one coil of rope can be advantageously formed in this way, with only
one oblong hole formed in the rim for both ends of the rope, these wheels being
otherwise the same as in the foregoing figures. Figure 16 is a side elevation,
Figure 17 an external plan, and Figure 18 is likewise a plan, with the rope
removed, of a rope acting surface wheel, composed of two coils of rope and wound
on the seat externally parallel to the guards A2, A3 of same, and the coils are also
parallel to each other, but in this example they are composed of one piece of rope
only. Two oblong holes A7, A8, are formed in the rim near to each other opposite
each respective coil of rope as seen in Figure 18, the rope E which is wound on to
its seat A being first made fast at its forward end by the gland F, passed up
through the rin by the opening A7, thence wound on in one coil on its seat, then
passed again down through the rim by the same oblong opening A², crossed over
thereafter under the rim to its opposite side, then passed up through the opening A³
and the other coil then wound on its seat, the after end E being thence passed

page_text: down through the same opening As, the direction of its winding being as indicated
by the arrows placed upon it. Thereafter the after end E¹² is fixed inside the rim
by the gland F. The tightening up action is shown effected by the link G being
provided with a hook screw G¹, the hook end of same being laid over the "bight
or loop E¹³ of the rope underneath the rim, as described in connection with
Figures 11, 12, and 13. For the tightening on action on the rope surface in
performing its work, it is unimportant in which direction the rope surface wheels
are driven, when the ropes are disposed and fastened on in this way.
.
Figure 19 is an end clevation and Figure 20 a side clevation of a pair of wheels
having the rope surface of the wheel A formed of six parallel coils from one
continuous piece of rope with the single after end of the rope E tightened up by
the link G, the winding-on curve of the rope E after the forward end is fixed by
the gland F being as indicated by the arrows placed upon it. Figure 21 is an
elevation of the wheel A without the rope surface showing the disposition of the
several oblong holes in the rim A7, A8, A, A10, A11, and A. Wheels of great
breadth constructed in this way may have several rope tightening links G placed
in the loops E¹³ formed by the rope underneath the rim of the wheel. The mode
of winding on the rope E being similar to that described in connection with
Figures 16, 17, and 18, and the same letters of reference being used, no further
description is needed.
Figure 22 is a end elevation, and Figure 23 a sectional plan of a pair of plain
surface frictional wheels with a rope surface driving wheel A of small diameter
cast solid or without arins, the main piece A having formed on it the rope guard A²,
and being bored out to fit the axis C on which it is keyed. Part of this wheel A
is shown in section in Figure 23, from which it will be seen that on its inside face
is formed a T shaped concentric channel A¹³, shown also by the dotted concentric
lines in Figure 22. From a to b, lengthwise constitutes the main body of the
wheel A, and this part alone is keyed on its axis, the remaining part A¹ of the
wheel lengthwise from 6 to c on which the rope guard AS is formed, being cast in
a separate piece and likewise fitted on to the axis C, but left free to turn round
or be held in its place by two T headed bolts A15, A15, the T heads of which are
shown placed in the concentric T shaped slot A13, and bolts of same passed through
holes in the revolving guard and rope and tightening piece A" which is provided
with nuts for tightening and holding the periphery of this guard piece A¹ to any
circumferential position relative to the main body and periphery of the wheel A.
Figure 24 is a side elevation of this separate side guard A³ and rope end holding
piece in which is shown a recess for inserting the after rope end E12 and screw F
for holding same, as also two holes A16, A, for inserting a pronged lever for
turning this rope guard piece A round on its axis. To place the rope E, the
forward end of the rope is inserted in a hole A17 in the body of the wheel, and
fixed by the screw F and thereafter wound on upon same as indicated by the
arrows, the after end E¹² being fixed in the revolving guard piece A¹. On its being
turned round by a lever in the direction of the arrow, the rope is tightened up,
and thereafter the nuts of the bolts A are tightened up, the rope is held to the
required degree of tightness, and this arrangement is readily adapted to tighten up
the rope afresh as may be required. For very small sizes of wheels, the rotating
guard piece could be held with advantage in its position leugthwise in the same
way, and left free to rotate by simply being screwed on to its axis or on the body A
of the wheel and the setting slot bolts dispensed with, the general arrangement
remaining otherwise the same.
Figure 25 is a side elevation, and Figure 20 a sectional front elevation. of a
similar rope covered frictional wheel A of small diameter and without arms, and
also cast and finished in two pieces a main piece A, and a revolving rope guard and
after rope end tightening piece A¹. The rope is similarly disposed and fixed, but
in this example instead of the after guard piece A being made to revolve by a
simple lever, one of the tightening or holding bolts A15 of this guard piece A™ has
formed on its neck a small toothed gear pinion A16, and the internal surface of the

page_text: guard piece A Itself, is cast as an internal gear toothed wheel into which the
small toothed pinion, as shown on the neck of the bolt A15 is made to gear. The
main piece A of the wheel also extends out on the axis the full breadth of
the wheel, and has a boss A17 turned on it of the same external diameter as the
inside diameter between the points of the internal wheel teeth of the revolving
rope guard and rope end fixing piece A" and on which it revolves. The head of
the bolt A on which is fitted or formed the small toothed pinion A, is shown in
gear with the teeth of the guard piece A14, and has formed on it a square to which
an ordinary screw key is applied to rotate it, and the guard piece A on its boss,
at pleasure, and thereby to tighten up the rope by drawing round its after end
when required, the bolts A15 and A18 being tightened up by their nuts, and
thereafter holding by their frictional grasp the guard ring in the position required.
In the other parts, the letters of reference and numerals correspond to those given
in Figures 22, 23, and 24 just described.
Figure 27 is a side clevation, Figure 28 a plan, and Figure 29 a sectional
.elevation of a rope surface frictional wheel of small diameter, similar to that just
described in connection with Figures 25 and 26, but in this example the internal
surface of the rope guard and rope end tightening piece A¼ instead of being
operated by internal spur gear wheel teeth cast on it, is formed with worm screw
teeth and is fitted with a small worm A10 to actuate and revolve the guard and
rope tightening ring A", the small worm having shown cast on it a boss with holes
for actuating the worm A19 by a small lever to tighten up the rope when required.
The guard and rope tightening ring A", particularly for very small diameters, may
also be fitted, and left free to revolve on the boss of the wheel by the seat of the
ring being screwed and the ring being correspondingly screwed internally for this
rope tightening and fixing purpose. The side guards A2 A³ of such wheels may be
made to extend above the surface of the rope, in which case the plain surface wheel
should be made narrow to enter freely between the guards.
Frictional wheels of small diameter as just described, are particularly well
suited for slow motions, combined with frequent connecting and disconnecting
action, such as is required for hoists and cranes, power hammers or stampers and
the like.
Figure 30 is a side elevation, and Figure 31 a front elevation of a spirally rope
covered surface bevel wheel A and corresponding plain surface bevel pinion or
wheel B, the face of the rope surface wheel being formed at an angle of 25 degrees
to its axis which is about the limit of degree of angle at which spirally rope
covered surface wheels can be used, for the rope to hold on its seat with safety. The
rope is wound on spirally in the direction of the arrows shown upon it, as described
in connection with Figures 1, and 3.
Figure 32 is a face or front elevation, and Figure 33 a side elevation of a pair of
bevel wheels of flat disc form, having the rope surface of the wheel A formed of
two distinct coils of rope E³, E³. The channel A¹ seen in section in Figure 33
being formed of a depth of about two thirds the diameter of the rope used and of
dove-tail shape. In this arrangement, the outer coil of rope E2 is first laid in its
place, its abutting ends E' and E, being left of sufficient length to jam up hard
together at c¹. The inner coil of rope E³ is thereafter ramined in hard into the
remaining space left in the dove-tail recess A¹, and also left of sufficient length for
its ends E', E2, to jam on hard together, the ends terminating at a different or
opposite point e², of the circumference of the channel A¹ as shown, in order to have
the rope end abutment or joint overlapped by a continuous piece of its adjacent
companion rope. The ends may be secured by small wire loops with screwed ends
passed over the rope through holes to the opposite side of the rim, a short distance
from the ends, as shown by e¹ and e², and small screw nuts may be used to draw
in the ends and secure these firmly in their scats, or the same may be done at
other points of the circumference of the rope. Wire loops of this sort are shown
at the part in section in Figure 33, by the wire loop e¹, but this is not necessary if
the rope is tightly and properly rammed into its soat A' in the way described. As

page_text: •
in the case of the other forms of wheels described, the operation of putting on the
rope will be best effected while the wheel is in the lathe, and after the seat A¹ has
been turned out. After the rope has been set, it can be pressed in either by a
roller tool placed in the ordinary lathe tool slide rest, or by the use of a simple
pressing smooth surface tool, made to press in the rope hard into its seat, and to
smooth and cause the surface of the rope to run truly. The pinion or wheel B
should be made for this purpose to run very truly. As will be seen, a flat rope as
usually made of the woven type can be made to fill this dove-tail shaped channel
or rope seat A¹, and effect the same purpose more or less efficiently. The seat A'
can be adapted also for one coil of round rope only, or for a greater extent of
acting surface, two or more similar rope seats to the one shown may be used.
Figure 34 is a face or front elevation, and Figure 35 a side elevation of a face
plate rope surface wheel A, and a corresponding parallel metallic surface pinion B,
the wheel A being also without arms, or being of the plate wheel form. Two coils
of rope E and E³ are driven in singly and tightly in separate rope seats A¹, A',
as seen in section in Figure 35. Otherwise the form and mode of constructing
these wheels are very similar to that just described in connection with Figures 32
and 33. This arrangement of dove-tail channeling without rope tightening up
appliances is also suitable for internal bevel wheels, or for internal parallel spur
wheels or pulleys.
Figure 36 is a front elevation and Figure 37 a side elevation of an internal rope
surface bevel frictional wheel A also without arms and of the plate wheel form,
and a corresponding wheel B, the wheel A having an internal rope channel A¹
suited to receive the coils of rope E2, E³, a portion of the rim of the wheel being
broken off and part thereof seen in section, showing the rope surface and disposition
of the wheel acting in same. The rope is placed in its channel A' in the same
manner as described in connection with Figures 32 and 33.
Figure 38 is a front clevation, and Figure 39 a side elevation of a pair of plain
surface frictional internal parallel or spur wheels A, and corresponding external
surface wheels B, a portion of the rim of the wheel A being broken off in Figure 39
to show the channel A¹ of the rope surface and disposition of the wheel B acting
on same. The rope channel A is formed of a dove-tail shape, and the ropes E², E³,
placed in same, in the same way as explained in connection with Figures 32
and 33, and the same letters and numerals being used to indicate like parts, the
construction will be readily understood from saine.
Figure 40 is a front elevation, and Figure 41 a plan of a conical clutch
movement for giving motion to the toothed wheel I from the shaft C or vice versa.
An external conical clutch wheel A is shown carried on the shaft C with a long
boss, and having formed in it a channel seat A20 fitted with two slide pieces J and
fork lever K to move the conical wheel A along the shaft C on the feather C¹ C in
the way usually accomplished by an ordinary conical frictional clutch. The rope
channel seat and entire rim of the external wheel or clutch A is shown in section,
as also portion of its long boss, to show the disposition of its sliding feather ways,
and to show its rope formed surface which is composed of seven coils of rope
wound on spirally, as explained in connection with Figures 1, 2 and 3, and
Figures 30 and 31. There is very little tendency from its action for the rope to
elongate, and in this example the constant attached retentiveness of the tightening
apparatus may be dispensed with, the fixing glands F, F, only being shown applied.
The interual cone B which is turned out to the same taper as the cone A, works
loosely on its shaft C between the collars C³ and C, and on the rope surface cone A
being moved in contact with the internal cone B, by the fork lever K, motion is
communicated to the toothed wheel I which is shown broken off, and is keyed on
the boss of the wheel B, should the shaft C bo the driver; or on the other hand
the shaft C receives motion from the wheel I when the latter is the driver: and it
is released and its motion is correspondingly suspended, on the cone A being moved
away from the internal cone B by the fork lever, apart from the rope transmitting

page_text: cone surface, the arrangement being the same as an ordinary frictional cone clutch.
Figure 42 is a end elevation and Figure 43 is a plan of a disc clutch with rope
plain frictional surface formed on the disc A in a similar manner to that described
in connection with Figures 34 and 35. As this clutching and disconnecting action
is obtained by direct motion of the surfaces to and from each other, very little
traverse is required to clutch and release the surface. An ordinary clutch eccentric
bush arrangement is shown for the shifting slide piece to which the lever K is
attached, the eccentric bush L being shown attached to the lever K, and the bush O
attached to the framework P; otherwise the arrangement is similar to that just
described in connection with Figures 40 and 41.
All or most of the usual combinations with toothed wheel or other wheel or
belt pulley gear for producing reversing motions, by other forms of frictional
clutches may be produced by means of this formn of clutch, and it is particularly
advantageous where there is great tear and wear and liability of the surfaces to
fasten and to get out of order, such as is experienced with ordinary clutch
reversing motions in large plate and other rolling mills, the rope where the surface
comes in contact being of great area as in this form of clutching or frictional
contact it has little tendency to wear.
Figure 44 is a end elevation and Figure 45 a sectional side elevation of a toothed
spur wheel reversing motion, for reversing rolling mills or for other purposes, of the
usual general arrangement, but having the rope surface applied to the external
cones A, A, as described in connection with Figures 40 and 42. The two cones A, A,
are shown cast in one piece, and worked by the rod K through the hollow shaft C
connected by the large cottar K to the long boss of the frictional cones A. The
toothed wheels I and I having motion communicated to them in reverse directions,
communicate reverse motion to the shaft C according to the motion communicated
to the internal cones B, B, with which the external rope two faced cones A are
thrown in contact.
Figure 46 is a side elevation, and Figure 47 a front elevation of a single ridge or
single wedge shaped surface wheel A, with wedge shaped rope E formed of ono
coil of rope placed on the plain surface of the wheel; and the ends of same secured
and means provided for tightening up same in this respect similar to that described
in connection with Figures 14 and 15 on Sheet 1 of the Drawings. This wheel is
shown gearing into a corresponding pinion B having a truncated wedge-shaped
groove B formed to take in about three fourths of the mass or area of the cross
section of the rope. This rope may be formed in a wedge form before it is placed
in and secured to the wheel, but this is unnecessary, the groove B' in the wheel B
shaping the rope by its rolling action to suit its form, and also causing the rope E
to revolve truly sideways and on its periphery without other means in the wheel A
itsolf than that provided, as shown, for securing its ends. Two or more coils of
rope may be placed on a plain surface wheel in this way, and corresponding grooves
formed in its corresponding wheel or wheels B, and in this way, wheels of this
form may be made to transmit any required amount of power. The ends of
the rope may also be secured by any of the other arrangements hereinbefore
described.
Figure 48 is a side elevation and Figure 49 a plan of a rope surfaco wheel A,
shown partly in section, on its rim, by having a portion of its rim shown broken
off. This wheel has two rope wedges E2, E³, placed and fixed upon it and a metal
wheel B having two corresponding grooves B2, B3, turned or formed on it, of a
size to take in about half the area of the cross section of the rope. These grooves
are also shown of a truncated wedge shape, but may be of a semi-circular or other
shape. The semi-circular shape, when the circular form is the normal shape of the
rope, will cause the rope to stand the wear best. In this example shallow grooves,
seen in section in Figure 49 are turned out in the rim to receive about one fourth
of the cross sectional area of the rope. The two rope coils are formed of one piece
of rope, and the two coils of rope wound on, and secured in their positions in tho
same way as described in connection with Figures 16, 17, and 18 on Sheet 1 of the

page_text: Drawings, the arrows placed on the two coils of the rope indicating the direction
in which it is wound on. In the same way, any required number of wedges or
ridges of rope, circular or of other shape, may be obtained from one continuous
piece of rope, by the modification of this method of applying and fixing the rope
shown by Figures 19, 20 and 21 on Sheet 1 of the Drawings.
Figure 50 is a side elevation, and Figure 51 a plan of a single groove rope acting.
surface wheel A, the grooved rope surface being formed by two coils of rope. The
rope channel A' is seen in section in Figure 51, where a portion of the rim is broken
off for the purpose of showing the form of the rope surface channel A, for this
modification of these wheels. The two coils of rope E are placed in the channel A',
secured and tightened up in the same way as described in connection with
Figures 16 17, and 18, on Sheet 1 of the Drawings, but in this case the channel A'
is formed out to a depth of about two thirds the diameter of the rope E used, and
dove-tail shaped on the second coil of the rope being wound on it, and is driven
tight into its channel, thereby securing compact surface with a small channel
between the two coils of the rope E², E³. A single wedge surface wheel B is
shown in gear with the wheel A, the annular wedge B formed on its periphery
being somewhat larger than the groove naturally formed by the two coils of rope
being placed side by side on the wheel A, but by the rolling action of the wheel B
on it, is speedily rolled out to the shape and size of the metallic wedge B on the
wheel B, the straight surface of the wheel B resting and rolling on the top surface
of the rope, preventing it mainly from going in too deep in the rope channel as
shown. Two or more rope surface grooves may be formed on the surface of the
wheel A, and corresponding metallic wedges or ridges formed in the wheel B, as
may be desired to transmit any required amount of power. The acting faces of
bevel wheels may also be adapted to transmit motive power in this way.
Figure 52 is a front elevation, and Figure 53 a side elevation of a rope single
groove surface bevel wheel A, and corresponding bevel metallic single wedge
surface pinion B, shown geared into it, the rim of the wheel B in Figure 53 being
shown in section. In this example, the two coils of rope shown forming the
groove, are secured in their position mainly by being driven tightly into the
dove-tail shaped seat A', same as described in connection with Figures 32 and 33
on Sheet 1 of the Drawings, the same figures and numerals referring to liko parts,
as also to the wedge and groove faces in the forms of wheel just described in
connection with Figures 50 and 52. In this form of wheel two or more rope
surface grooves in the rope surface wheel, and corresponding wedges in the wheel
or wheels, with wedges gearing into it may also be made.
Figure 54 is a side elevation, and Figure 55 a plan of a pair of wheels suitable
for transmitting a large amount of power, represented approximately by the
diameter of their axis, showing the proportions of wheels required equal in
transmitting capability to such axis. These Figures represent a pair of wheels
suitable for twin screw propulsion, the rope transmitting surface and framing of
the wheel A, being of the construction described in connection with Figures
1, 2, and 3 on Sheet 1 of the Drawings, are keyed upon the engine shaft of a
marine engine, which shaft may be extended to drive one screw, the other screw to
be driven from the wheel A through the plain surface wheel B by its axis D to
the other screw propeller, and where there is not room for sufficiently large wheels
to give the necessary distance between the axes of the propellers at the after ends
of the screw sbafts at the propellers, slightly conical wheels may be used to allow
the propeller shafts to spread out further apart from each other. An eccentrie
bush B, and its driver arrangement B7 being used for maintaining the contact
pressure, and when required for throwing the wheels out of gear altogether, without
either moving the driving or driven shafts as described in the Specification of my
Patent No 276 of 1865. For this purpose also, the engine shaft may not be
connected with either propeller, but a plain surface metal wheel on each propeller
shaft may be made to act on the rope surface wheel A. at each side of the
engine shaft,

page_text: Figure 56 is a side elevation, and Figure 57 a plan of another pair of wheels also
of the same general type as that described in connection with Figures 1, 2, and 3
on Sheet 1 of the Drawings, for the purpose of showing suitable bearings for the
connecting and disconnecting or clutching action of these wheels, as also bearings
with these arrangements, having nothing new but as applied to show one of the
best applications of these wheels, and their excellent adaptation for clutching
action. To carry out this action properly, the rope covered wheel A should always
be the driver, as when thrown suddenly into gear with its corresponding wheel B
in starting a frictional quiescent wheel, there is when the driver is in full motion
a certain amount of slip always taking place which injures the quiescent wheel
badly when the driver is a metallic or hard surface wheel; but with the rope
surface wheel, when thrown in gear thus suddenly, it does neither wheel material
injury. A common axis neck pillow block Q and screw slide connecting and
disconnecting pillow block R. set on a plate P, are shown used.
Figure 58 is a side elevation, and Figure 59 a plan of a steam engine with a rope
surface driving wheel A placed upon the crank shaft C, and the axis D of the
driven wheel B, placed in squaro set bushes R, R, having a small amount of
adjusting action, actuated by their screw bolts and placed in the same frame P as
the axis C of the wheel A. This arrangement of bearings is generally suitable for
driving high speed machines, driven by this gear, and has shown on the axis Da
drag link coupling S for compensating for the slight degree of lateral traverse
in the axis necessary for maintaining the driving contact between the wheels.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, I have to state that what I believe to be novel and
original, and claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The forming of a transmitting frictional surface for wheels, pulleys, discs,
and cones, by coiling thereon a rope or ropes, and fixing and maintaining same in
an efficient state for transmitting motive-power in the manner described.
Second. The various modes herein described and illustrated, of coiling on and
securing ropes or cords to the external, internal, bevil, or side driving surfaces of
wheels, pulleys, dises, and cones, as and for the purposes set forth.
Third. The various arrangements herein described and illustrated of securing and
tightening on coils of ropes or cords forming the frictional power transmitting
surfaces of wheels, pulleys, discs and cones.
In Witness Whereof, I the said James Robertson have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Twenty-fourth day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty-four.