IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND MACHINERY FOR PREPARING INDIA-RUBBER AND OTHER SIMILAR GUMS FOR INSULATING TELEGRAPHIC WIRES, AND IN MACHINERY FOR LAYING OR APPLY- ING STRIPS OF INDIA-RUBBER AND OTHER SIMILAR GUMS, OR STRIPS OF FIBROUS OR TEXTILE MATERIAL ON TO TELEGRAPHIC WIRES
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Miller, of Fossaway, in the County of
Perth, North Britain, Millwright, Engineer, and Engineering Draughts-
man, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND
MACHINERY FOR PREPARING INDIA-RUBBER AND OTHER SIMILAR GUMS FOR
INSULATING TELEGRAPHIC WIRES, AND IN MACHINERY FOR LAYING OR APPLY-
ING STRIPS OF INDIA-RUBBER AND OTHER SIMILAR GUMS, OR STRIPS OF FIBROUS
OR TEXTILE MATERIAL ON TO TELEGRAPHIC WIRES."
Sealed the 10th October 1861, and dated the 15th April 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Miller at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 15th
April 1861.
I, THOMAS MILLER, of Fossaway, in the County of Perth, North Britain,
Millwright, Engineer, and Engineering Draughtsman, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND
MACHINERY FOR PREPARING INDIA-RUBBER AND OTHER SIMILAR GUMS FOR INSULATING
TELEGRAPHIC WIRES, AND IN MACHINERY FOR LAYING APPLYING STRIPS OF INDIA-
RUBBER AND OTHER SIMILAR GUMS, OR STRIPS OF FIBROUS OR TEXTILE MATERIAL ON
TO TELEGRAPHIC WIRES," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates, first, to the mode of and machinery for the pre-
Price 8d1

page_text: paration of india-rubber and similar gums for the covering of wire for
telegraphic and other purposes.
The second part of my Invention relates to improved machinery for
laying india-rubber, india-rubber and its compounds, and similar gums,
fibrous and other materials, on the wire.
The improvements under the first head of my Invention consist in preparing
the india-rubber and similar gums in such mannerthatafter beingcut,thelines,
marks, or corrugations madebythe cutting knife or other instrument shall run
in a longitudinal direction, or nearly so, on the strips of the india-rubber or
material so cut, instead of being across the strips,asatpresentpractised. This
I effect by means of a cutting machiue,having its knife set or placedandcutting
in a longitudinal direction with the block of material from which the sheet or
strips is or are to be cut. The knife may either be made toadvancetotheblock
when cutting, or vice versa. The reciprocating knife may be either the whole
length of the block of rubber or other gums or any portion of its length; if of
the whole length, the framing which supports the knife with itsdrivingappa-
ratus when cutting will have no longitudinal, traversing, or reciprocating
motion; but when the reciprocating knife is only a portion of the length of
the block, the frame which supports or carries the knife will have so much of a
traversing or reciprocating motion as will make the knife cut freely over both
ends of the block. Or the knife may be an irregular-shaped oval or a circular
revolving one fixed on a spindle running flush over end, and mounted in a
traversing frame similar to that last described. These knives mayeithermake
a cut vertically or horizontally. When making vertical cuts from the blocks
set on edge, I secure such blocks to the platform by atmospheric pressure by
pumping the air from under the block by means of an air-pump, operated in
any convenient manner. These sheets are then wound on a mandril and cut
into strips by means of a knife mounted in a self-acting slide rest, which has
traversing and to-and-fro motion alternately. Another method I make use of
to get the cut lines, marks, or corrugations to run in a longitudinaldirection, or
nearly so, with the strips of rubber or other material, and to get these strips
as long as possible, is this:-After the rubber or rubber with itscompoundshas
been thoroughly and efficiently masticated, I take one or more blocks of the
same, and place them in an annular space in a heated press, and by pressing
the block or blocks together with a heated follower, or otherwise in the said
annular space, a solid ring is produced. This ring, which I prefer to be of a
rectangular cross section, is mounted in a cylinder ring or pulley fixed on a
shaft and set to turu or revolve in bearings or on centres, and driven at
the required speed in any suitable manner. This annular block may likewise

page_text: be secured on to a cylinder or ring, which may be made hollow by atmo-
spheric pressure in a similar manner to that before described. If I want
a strip equal to the circumference of the ring only, I mount a suitable knife
in a self-acting slide rest in such a manner that the requisite thickness of
strip or ribbon is taken off the circumference to the width required; a
second knife fixed in a slide on the above-mentioned slide rest, and set at
or about right angles to the former knife, is made to cut the proper width
of ribbon or strip; either of the cuts may be made first as may be found
necessary. These slides with their corresponding knives are actuated by
cams, screws, and levers, which are so timed and formed that they will give.
the proper cuts in such a way that the knives will not interfere with or
run counter to each other. As the ribbons or strips are cut, the knives are
placed in such a position the cams, screws, and levers, as to allow the
strips to be thrown back off the revolving block, from which they are cut
by a suitable guide, which along with the slides and kuives is self-acting.
If I want strips or ribbons of a greater length than the circumference of
the ring of rubber, I place two hoops in the annular space in the press;
these hoops are made of tapered material; the thickness of the material of
which these hoops are made is such as to correspond to the breadth of the
strips required. I place these hoops one in the outer and the other in the
inner circumference in the annular space in the press in such manner that
the thickest parts of the hoops shall be opposite each other, or nearly so,
but lying in reverse directions; when the rubber is moulded with these
hooks in the press, external or internal indents will be formed in the rubber
ring or block of the same depth as the strips to be cut; this will cause
the strips to be of an equal breadth throughout when cut spirally. I set
the knives in the slides at right angles to each other, or nearly so, and
make them cut the strip or ribbon spirally. I make the stroke of radial
traverse of both the knives to be equal to the depth, or nearly so, of the
ring or block of rubber or other material to be cut, that is, from the
outer circumference towards the centre or inner circumference, or vice
versa. This 1 effect in the following manner - The knife which cuts
the breadth of the strip spirally on the side of the block or ring of rubber I
actuate by a disc having a spiral formed on its face to correspond to the
cut required; this spiral groove or projection lays hold of a pin or roller
connected to the slide. The disc is centred on the shaft spindle or arbor
(on which the block or ring of rubber or other material is centred) in such a
position that the entrance of the spiral will coincide with the notch or recess
in the outer circumference of the block of rubber, so that the knife will be

page_text: made to enter there, and continue its spiral course towards the inner circum-
ference where the cut will end exactly at the notch in the inner circumference
of theblock, and so causethe ribbon or strip to be of equal breadth throughout.
The knife which cuts the proper thickness of strip may be actuated in a
similar manner, or a revolving circular knife may be employed, and the strip
wound on to a bobbin carried by a revolving arm as fast as it is cut. In this
mode I sometimes also make use of atmospheric pressure to keep the ring of
rubber or other material firmly in its place when being cut. To preserve the
strip or ribbon from injury when being parted from the block, it is wound on
to the bobbin or reel before-mentioned, which revolves on a spindle mounted
on an arm or disc, which arm or disc has its centre of motion concentric with
the main spindle on which the block or ring is mounted. The bobbin or
reel and arm or disc are driven by suitable ineaus, and so timed that the
bobbin or reel spindle in the arm or disc shall travel round at such a speed
as to keep close to the point of severance in the block of rubber or other
gum, that is, where the cuts of the knives intersect each other. The reel
or bobbin at the same time receives the required motion in any suitable
manner so as to wind on the strip or ribbon as fast as it is cut. After the
ribbons or strips are cut, they are laid out evenly on long trays, open or
otherwise, with rows of small rollers mounted horizontally and vertically
in their bottoms. They are then taken to a water bath or baths of corre-
sponding length heated to the necessary temperature, and are there cleansed
from dust and other extraneous matter which may have adhered to them.
After being sufficiently cleansed and ready to be taken from the bath, one
end of each strip or ribbon is taken or laid hold of and passed through a series
of rollers or pairs of rollers, each succeeding roller or pair being driven at
a greater speed than that or those preceding it, thus stretching the strip or
ribbons gradually. After the ends of the strips or ribbons have passed the
last roller or pair, they are attached to a roller, drum, or reel by a suitable
fastening and wound thereon; the drum roller or reel receives a rotatory motion
sufficient to keep the requisite tension or strain on the strips or ribbons
of rubber, or rubber and its compounds, while they are being wound on, at
the same time a longitudinal motion is imparted to the same, so that when
the strips or ribbons are being wound on they will not overlap each other.
When fully or nearly wound on, the last ends are fastened to the drum roller
or reel by any sufficient fastening: The drum or reel is made by preference
of thin metal, such as tin plate, iron, or zinc, and can be shipped and un-
shipped on and from off its shaft or axle at pleasure. After the strips or
ribbons have been fastened on the reel, other reels are shipped on over the

page_text: others und filled with strips in a similar manner. These cylinders or reels
have a projection at each end of such a depth, the one internally and the
other externally, that when they are passed over each other sufficient space
will be left between them to preserve the strips from injury. When the
requisite number have been placed the one over the other and filled with
strips, they are taken off their shaft in a piece and placed on one of a series
of shafts, which I prefer being upright and mounted so as to revolve, if
required, in a drying chamber, fitted up with a series of heating pipes at
bottom and a fan in the top to drive off the moist vapour. After the
cylinders and strips have been kept in this drying chamber a sufficient
length of time, they are taken off the shafts and placed outside until their
temperature has been sufficiently reduced; they are then placed on other
shafts, spindles, or studs, and the strips wound off them on to suitable
bobbins for placing on the wire covering machine.
The wire covering machinery referred to in the second part of my Invention
consists in mounting one, two, or more hollow spindles on end, over and
concentric with each other, and made to revolve on hollow studs or bearings,
each spindle carrying a disc arm or arms, with a bobbin or reel and spindles
in each; these bobbin or reel spindles are hinged or jointed to the discs or
arms, so that they may be set by a screw at any desired angle to correspond
to the angle of the rubber strips when beiug lapped round the wires. The
strips are guided on to the wires by small rollers mounted on the arms or
discs. On each of the bobbin or reel spindles one of the before-described
reels or bobbins is secured by springs, washers, and nuts. The wire to be
covered is wound on a drum below the under end of the hollow stud or
spindles. This drum is kept steady in its motion by a friction brake. The
end of the wire is passed upwards through the hollow stud or spindle, where,
when it passes a convenient distance, it gets a covering or coverings of rabber
or any material cut or formed into strips from off a bobbin or bobbins attached
to the inner hollow spindle, and in succession one or more layers are laid
ou from the bobbin or bobbins attached to the disc or arms of the next
hollow spindle,and so on in succession from the next inner spindleif required.
The hollow spindles are driven at different speeds if required. The wire
then passes through between guide rollers or pulleys, and between a pair
of small pulleys centred on and carried by a pair of levers free to oscillate
on their centres or pivots, the use of which will be hereafter explained. The
wire is then carried up over a leading pulley which is fixed on a shaft,
which shaft and pulley receive motion through suitable gearing from one
of the hollow spindles through which the wire has been passed. Round

page_text: this pulley the wire is passed once or oftener to ensure its taking a proper
bite or hold. After the wire has passed this pulley it is carried under a
pulley, which is placed in the bottom of a small but deep cistern containing
water or other liquid, and then carried upwards over one or more guide
pulleys, after which it may be wound on a drum. This drum is driven
by friction in any suitable manner. The wheels, pulleys, or other gearing
must be so proportioned that the drum shall always be inclined to have
more surface motion than the leading pulley over which the wire passes
after being covered, so that the wire will not get slack, but always bite
sufficiently so that it may be held tight and carried through the machine.
I make the drum on which the covered wire is wound to have a traversing
motion, longitudinal or parallel with its axis, in such proportion that each
round of the covered wire will be regularly laid on without overlapping.
The apparatus whereby this traversing motion is effected can be so adjusted
as to suit any thickness of covered wire.
These machines Imake entirely self-acting after the following manner:-The
proper insulation of the wire being of the first moment, the apparatus to stop
the machine when a flaw or fault takes place in the insulation will be first
described. This is performed by means of an electric current being passed
through an electro-magnet or magnets attracting an armature or armatures,
which by the interposition of proper levers, rods, or catches, cause the machine
to be thrown out of gear and sound an alarm gong or bell. The end of
the covered wire is in connection with a battery, and so long as there is
no flaw in the insulation there is no current passing through the covered
wire, but when a flaw or fault in the wire covering enters the water it
completes the circuit between the poles of the battery through the magnet
coils by another wire, the end of which terminates in the water and the
other at the opposite pole of the battery. When one of the strips of rubber
or other material is being laid on the wire, it is kept in a state of tension,
and while it revolves it touches a lever, which lever has a hook or catch
formed on one end; this lever is centred on the arm of another lever which
is in connection with the stopping or striking gear of the machine; so long
as there is rubber or other material being paid off the bobbin on the wire,
so long will the lever be kept back out of gear, but should the strip or strips
of the material which the wire is being covered with break or run out, then,
as there is nothing to strike the lever back, it is pushed gently further
forward by a slight spring; to catch on the opposite end of the lever takes
into a notch formed in a quadrant on the end of a vibrating lever, which
throws the machine out of gear. The before-mentioned small pulleys centred

page_text: on levers are likewise connected with the striking or stopping gear in such
manner that should the wire covering be unequally laid on the passing of
the inequalities between the pulleys, the pulleys open or close, and in either
case through the levers throw the striking apparatus in gear and sound an
alarm. Each set of spindles is arranged around one central upright shaft
on which the main wheel for driving the spindles is placed; on the same
shaft is fixed an eccentric for working the striking apparatus by a connecting
rod to each set of spindles, the upright shaft is driven through bevel wheels
from a lying shaft underneath, which inay receive its motion from any prime
mover. This lying shaft may be common to any number of sets of machines.
By arranging any number of sets of spindles round a central upright shaft
free access is obtained to each spindle, whereby I am enabled to dispense
with the greater part of the attendance necessary when working with the
old machines where they have only one spindle, the axis of which is set.
horizontally, and when one attendant is necessary to wait on each machine,
I sometimes set as many spindles round the central shaft as is necessary
to make up the cable at one time. In this case lead the covered wires
from the leading pulley upwards angularly until they meet in a guide piece
which they pass over or through, and are then twisted into a cable by a
twisting apparatus. Between the guide piece and twisting apparatus the
covered wires may be made to pass through a spindle or sets of spindles,
with stopping gear similar to those previously described, by means of which
one or more coverings of vegetable fibre may be laid on. The cable drum
has three motions; these are a horizontal motion to twist the cable, a
vertical motion to wind the cable on the drum, and a longitudinal traversing
motion in the direction of its axis to lay the coil on helically and regularly.
If a core is necessary for the cable strands to be wound over, the centra
shaft and guide piece require to hollow. When desirable the sets of spindles
may be mounted in long parallel frames similar to the mounting of spindles
in spinning frames, that is, a row of spindles on each side of the frames,
whereby free access is had to each spindle as in the first arrangement.
The iudia-rubber coverings of the wires are rendered homogeneous by exposing
them to heat after the usual manner of some classes of india-rubber goods,
either by exposing them in single covered wire, or after two or more of
them have been twisted or laid parallel together in a cable or otherwise.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Miller in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
15th October 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
MILLER, of Fossaway, in the County of Perth, Millwright, Engineer, and
Engineering Draughtsman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Thomas Miller, Her special licence that I, the said Thomas Miller, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas
Miller, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF
AND MACHINERY FOR PREPARING INDIA-RUBBER AND OTHER SIMILAR GUMS FOR
INSULATING TELEGRAPHIC WIRES, AND IN MACHINERY FOR LAYING OR APPLYING
STRIPS OF INDIA-RUBBER AND OTHER SIMILAR GUMS, OR STRIPS OF FIBROUS OR
TEXTILE MATERIAL ON TO TELEGRAPHIC WIRES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Thomas Miller, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE that I, the said Thomas Miller, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
that is to say:
My Invention relates, first, to the mode of and machinery for the pre-
paration of india-rubber and similar gums for the covering of wire for
telegraphic and other purposes.
The second part of my Invention relates to improved machinery for
laying india-rubber, india-rubber and its compounds, and similar gums,
fibrous and other materials, on the wire.

page_text: The improvements under the first head of my Invention consist in pre-
paring the india-rubber and similar gums in such manner that after being cut,
the lines,marks,or corrugations made by the cutting knife or other instrument
shall run in a longitudinal direction, or nearly so, on the strips of the india-
rubber or material so cut, instead of being across the strips, as at present
practised. This I effect by means of a cutting machine having its knife set
or placed and cutting in a longitudinal direction with the block of material
from which the sheet or strips is or are to be cut. The knife may either be
made to advance to the block when cutting, or vice versa. The reciprocating
knife
e may be either the whole length of the block of rubber or other gums, or
any portion of its length, if of the whole length, the framing which supports
the knife with its driving apparatus when cutting will have no longitudinal
traversing or reciprocating motion, but when the reciprocating knife is only a
portion of the length of the block, the frame which supports or carries the
knife will have so much of a traversing or reciprocating motion as will make
the knife cut freely over both ends of the block, or the knife may be an
irregularshapedoval or a circular revolving one fixedon a spindle running flush
over and mounted in a traversing frame similar to that last described. These
knives may either make a cut vertically or horizontally.
When making vertical cuts from the blocks set in edge, I secure such
blocks to the platform by atmospheric pressure by pumping the air from
under the block by means of an air pump operated in any convenient
manner. These sheets are then wound on a mandril and cut into strips by.
means of a knife mounted in a self-acting sliderest, which has a traversingand
to-and-tro motion alternately. Another method I make use of to get the cut
lines, marks, or corrugations to run in a longitudinal direction, or nearly so,
with the strips of rubber or other material, and to get these strips as long as
possible is this fter the rubber or rubber with its compounds has been
thoroughlyandefficientlymasticated, I take one or moreblocks of the same, and
place them in an annular space in a heated press, and by pressing the block
or blocks together with a heated follower or otherwise in the said annular
space, a solid ring is produced. This ring, which I prefer to be of a rectan-
gular cross section, is mounted in a cylinder ring or pulley fixed on a shaft,
and set to turn or revolve in bearings, or on centres, and driven at the required
speed in any suitable manner. This annular block may likewise be secured on
to a cylinder or ring, which may be made hollow by atmospheric pressure in a
similar manner to that before described. If I want a strip equal to the cir-
cumference of the ring only, I mount a suitable knife in a self-acting slide
rest in such a manner that the requisite thickness of strip or ribbon is

page_text: taken off the circumference to the width required; a second knife fixed in a
slide on the above-mentioned slide rest, and set at or about right angles to the
former knife, is made to cut the proper width of ribbon or strip, either of the
cuts may be made first; as may be found necessary. These slides with
their corresponding knives are actuated by cams, screws, and levers, which
are so timed and formed that they will give the proper cuts in such a way
that the knives will not interfere with or run counter to each other. As the
ribbons or strips are cut, the knives are placed in such a position by the cams,
screws, and levers as to allow the strips to be thrown back off the revolving
block, from which they are cut by a suitable guide, which along with the
slides and knives is self-acting. If I want strips or ribbons of a greater
length than the circumference of the ring of rubber, I place two hoops in the
annular space in the press; these hoops are made of taperedmaterial thethick-
ness of the material of which these hoops are made is such as to correspond
to the breadth of the strips required; I place these hoops one in the outer
and the other in the i mer circumference in the annular space in the press, in
such manner that the thickest parts of the hoops shall be opposite each other,
or nearly so, but lying in reverse directions; when the rubber is moulded with
these hoops in the press external and internal indents will be formed in
the rubber ring or block of the same depth as the strips to be cut; this
will cause the strips to be of an equal breadth throughout when cut spirally
I set the knives in the slides at right angles to each other, or nearly so,
and make them cut the strip or ribbon spirally; I make the stroke of
radial traverse of both the knives to be equal to the depth, or nearly so, of
the ring or blocks of rubber or other material to be cut, that is, from the
outer circumference towards the centre or inner circumference, or vice versa.
This I effect in the following manner :-The knife which cuts the breadth of
the strip spirally on the side of the block or ring of rubber, I actuate by a
disc having a spiral formed on its face to correspond to the cut required, this
spiral groove or projection lays hold of a pin or roller connected to the slide.
The disc is centred on the shaft, spindle, or arbor (on which the block or ring
of rubber or other material is centred) in such a position that the entrance
of the spiral will coincide with the notch or recess in the outer circum-
ference of the block of rubber, so that the knife will be made to enter there,
and continue its spiral course towards the inner circumference, where the cut
will end exactly at the notch in the inner circumference of the block, and
so cause the ribbon or strip to be of equal breadth throughout. The knife
which cuts the proper thickness of strip may be actuated in a similar
manner, or a revolving circular knife may be employed, and the strip wound on
1

page_text: to a bobbin carried by a revolving arm as fast as it is cut. In this mode
I sometimes also make use of atmospheric pressure to keep the ring of
rubber or other material firmly in its place when being cut.
To preserve
the strip or ribbon from injury when being parted from the block, it is
wound on to the bobbin or reel before mentioned, which revolves on a
spindle mounted on an arm or disc, which arm or disc has its centre of motion
concentric with the main spindle on which the block or ring is mounted. The
bobbin or reel and arm or disc are driven by suitable means, and so timed that
the bobbin or reel spindle in the arm or disc shall travel round at such a speed
as to keep close to the point of severance in the block of rubber or other gum,
that is, where the cuts of the knives intersect each other; the reel or bobbin
at the same time receives the required motion in any suitable manner so as
to wind on the strip or ribbon as fast as it is cut. After the ribbons or strips
are cut they are laid out evenly on long trays, open or otherwise, with rows of
small rollers mounted horizontally and vertically in their bottoms. They are
then taken to a water bath or baths of corresponding length heated to the
necessary temperature, and are there cleansed from dust and other extraneous
matter which may have adhered to them. After being sufficiently cleansed
and ready to be taken from the bath, one end of each strip or ribbon is taken
or laid hold of, and passed through a series of rollers or pairs of rollers, each
succeeding roller or pair being driven at a greater speed than that or those
preceding it, thus stretching the strip or ribbons gradually; after the ends of
the strips or ribbons have passed the last roller or pair, they are attached to a
roller, drum, or reel by a suitable fastening, and wound thereon; the drum,
roller, or reel receives a rotatory motion sufficient to keep the requisite tension
or strain on the strips or ribbons of rubber, or rubber and its compounds,
while they are being wound on, at the same time a longitudinal motion is
imparted to the same, so that when the strips or ribbons are being wound on
they will not overlap each other. When fully or nearly wound on, the last
ends are fastened to the drum, roller, or reel by any sufficient fastening. The
drum or reel is made, by preference, of thin metal, such as tin plate, iron, or
zinc, and can be shipped and unshipped on and from off its shaft or axle at
pleasure. After the strips or ribbons have been fastened on the reel, other
reels are shipped on over the others, and filled with strips in a similar manner.
These cylinders or reels have a projection at each end of such a depth, the one
internally and the other externally, that when they are passed over each other
sufficient space will be left between them to preserve the strips from injury.
When the requisite number have been placed the one over the other and
filled with strips, they are taken off their shaft in a piece and placed on one of

page_text: a series of shafts, which I prefer being upright, and mounted so as to revolve,
if required, in a drying chamber fitted up with a series of heating pipes at
bottom and a fan in the top to drive off the moist vapour. After the cylinders
and strips have been kept in this drying chamber a sufficient length of time,
they are taken off the shafts and placed outside until their temperature has
been sufficiently reduced; they are then placed on other shafts, spindles, or
studs, and the strips wound off them on to suitable bobbins for placing on the
wire-covering machine.
On
The wire-covering machinery referred to in the second part of my Invention
consists in mounting one, two, or more hollow spindles on end, over and con-
centric with each other, and made to revolve on hollow studs or bearings,
each spindle carrying a disc arm or arms with a bobbin or reel and spindles in.
each. These bobbin or reel spindles are hinged or jointed to the discs or arms
so that they may be set by a screw at any desired angle to correspond to the
angle of the rubber strips when being lapped round the wires. The strips are
guided on to the wires by small rollers mounted on the arms or discs.
each of the bobbin or reel spindles one of the before-described reels or bobbins
is secured by springs, washers, and nuts; the wire to be covered is wound on
a drum below the under end of the hollow stud or spindles. This drum is
kept steady in its motion by a friction brake. The end of the wire is passed
upwards through the hollow stud or spindle, where, when it passes a con-
venient distance, it gets a covering or coverings of rubber or any material cut
or formed into strips from off a bobbin or bobbins attached to the inner hollow
spindle, and in succession one or more layers are laid on from the bobbin or
bobbins attached to the disc or arms of the next hollow spindle, and so on in
succession from the next inner spindle, if required. The hollow spindles are
driven at different speeds if required. The wire then passes through between
guide rollers or pulleys, and between a pair of small pulleys centred on and
carried by a pair of levers free to oscillate on their centres or pivots, the use
of which will be hereafter explained. The wire is then carried up over a
leading pulley which is fixed on a shaft, which shaft and pulley receive motion
through suitable gearing from one of the hollow spindles through which the
wire has been passed; round this pulley the wire is passed once or oftener to
ensure its taking a proper bite or hold. After the wire has passed this pulley
it is carried under a pulley which is placed in the bottom of a small but deep
cistern containing water or other liquid,and then carried upwards over one or
more guide pulleys, after which it may be wound on a drum. This drum is
driven by friction in any suitable manner. The wheels,pulleys, or other gearing
must be so proportioned that the drum shall always be inclined to have more

page_text: surface motion than the leading pulley over which the wire passes after being
covered, so that the wire will not get slack, but always bite sufficiently so that
it may be held tight and carried through the machine; I make the drum on
which the covered wire is wound to have a traversing motion longitudinal or
parallelwith its axis in such proportion that each round of the covered wire will
be reglarlylaid on without overlapping. The apparatus whereby this traversing
motion is effected can be so adjusted as to suit any thickness of covered wire.
These machines I make entirely self-acting after the following manner:--
The proper insulation of the wire being of the first moment, the apparatus to
stop the machine when a flaw or fault takes place in the insulation will be first
described. This is performed by means of an electric current being passed
through an electro-magnet or magnets attracting an armature or armatures,
which by the interposition of proper levers, rods, or catches cause the machine
to be thrown out of gear, and sound an alarm gong or bell. The end of the
covered wire is in connection with a battery, and so long as there is no flaw in
the insulation there is no current passing through the covered wire, but when
a flaw or fault in the wire covering enters the water it completes the circuit
between the poles of the battery through the magnet coils by another wire,
the end of which terminates in the water, and the other at the opposite pole of
the battery. When one of the strips of rubber or other material is being laid on
the wire, it is kept in a state of tension, and while it revolves it touches a lever,
which lever has a hook or catch formed on one end. This lever is centred on
the arm of another lever, which is in connection with the stopping or striking
gear of the machine. So long as there is rubber or other material being paid
off the bobbin on the wire, SO long will the lever be kept back out of gear,
but should the strip or strips of the material which the wire is being covered
with break or run out, then, as there is nothing to strike the lever back, it is
pushed gently further forward by a slight spring. The catch on the opposite
end of the lever takes into a notch formed in a quadrant on the end of a
vibrating lever, which throws the machineout of gear. The before-mentioned
small pulleys centred on levers are likewise connected with the striking or
stopping gearin such manner that should the wire covering be unequally laid,
on the passing of the inequalities between the pulleys the pulleys open or close,
and in either case through the levers throw the striking apparatus in gear,
and sound an alarm. Each set of spindles is arranged around one central
upright shaft, on which the main wheel for driving the spindles is placed. On
the same shaft is fixed an eccentric for working the striking apparatus by a
connecting rod to each set of spindles. The upright shaft is driven through
bevelwheels from a lying shaft underneath, which may receiveits motion from

page_text: any prime mover. This lying shaft may be common to any number of sets
of machines. By arranging any number of sets of spindles round a central
upright shaft, free access is obtained to each spindle, whereby I am enabled to
dispense with the greater part of the attendance necessary when working with
the old machines, where they have only one spindle, the axis of which is set
horizontally, and when one attendant is necessary to wait on each machine,
I sometimes set as many spindles round the central shaft as is necessary to
make up the cable at one time. In this case I lead the covered wires from
the leading pulley upwards angularly until they meet in a guide piece, which
they pass over or through, and are then twisted into a cable by a twisting
apparatus. Between the guide piece and twisting apparatus the covered wires
may be made to pass through a spindle or sets of spindles with stopping gear
similarly to those previously described, bymeans of whichone or more coverings
of vegetable fibre may be laid on. The cable drum has three motions; these
are a horizontal motion to twist the cable, a vertical motion to wind the cable
on the drum, and a longitudinal traversing motion in the direction of its axis
to lay the coil on helically and regularly. If a core is necessary for the cable
strands to be wound over, the central shaft and guide piece require to behollow.
When desirable, the sets of spindles may be mounted in long parallel frames
similar to the mounting of spindles in spinning frames, that is, a row of
spindles on each side of the frames, whereby free access is had to each spindle,
as in the first arrangement. The india-rubber coverings of the wires are
rendered homogenous by exposing them to heat after the usual manner of
some classes of india-rubber goods, either by exposing them in single covered
wire, or after two or more of them have been twisted or laid parallel
together in a cable or otherwise.
In order to shew clearly the manner in which I carry the same into effect,
I will now proceed to describe the same more fully, and with reference to the
Drawings hereunto annexed.
With regard to the first part of my Invention, which is in the preparation
of india-rubber and similar gumsor their compounds, after the samehave been
thoroughly masticated, I cut of sheets from a compressed block of the same
in such manner that the lines or corrugations on the sheets shall run in a
longitudinal direction with the sheets or strips, as represented in Figure 1,
Sheet 1, instead of being across or transverse in the usual way, as repre-
sented in Figure 2. In Figure 3, I have shewn one of the usual strips
elongated or drawn out; the corrugations made by the knife are of course
merely thick places and thin alternately, which when drawn out assume the
form shewn in Figure 3. These thick and thin places are drawn out or

page_text: stretched irregularly in relation and proportion to the difference in the thick-
nesses, the thin portions being easier drawn out than the thick, stretch more,
and consequently become so weak that they give way at the indentations,
or the weakest of them, before the thick parts are drawn down to the proper
size, and finally break in a ragged manner, as shewn at a. By having the
cuts to run in a longitudinal direction, or nearly so, this irregular drawing
or stretching out at one place more than another is avoided, on account of
the strips or sheets being equally strong lengthwise.
Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, are modifications of machinery for cutting sheets or
strips according to my improvements.
In the various Figures so much of the machinery as is necessary to shew
the improvements only is shewn, and similar letters and figures refer to
similar parts.
Figure 4 is a plan of a cutting machine, with its kuife A of such a length
as to cut along the block of rubber A¹, clear over both ends, the block being
brought up against the knife A, in the direction of the arrow, by means of
screws, racks, chains, or other convenient manner; the knife being driven at
the proper speed through the connecting rod A2, from a crank or eccentric on
the cone or fly wheel shaft A³. The box in which the rubber block A¹ or
blocks of other gums or their compounds are placed, have proper sliding.
surfaces formed on its under side, which slide in properly formed guides or
grooved ways formed in or on the sole plate of the machine. After a slice
or sheet has been cut off, the box, with its block of rubber A', is made to
traverse along the guides in a reverse direction until clear of the knife,
when the block A' is raised sufficiently for another thickness of sheet by
any well-known mechanical means.
Figure 4, as in the before-described Figure; A is the knife; A', the
block of rubber; A2, the connecting rod; and A³ is the fly wheel or
cone shaft. In this case the driving cone, with its shaft and fly wheel,
the connecting rod, and knife are all mounted in a moveable frame A*,
which is made to traverse in a longitudinal line with the rubber block A¹, on
guide bars A5, which bars are fixed to the framework of the machine in any
suitable manner; the knife in this case is shewn much shorter than the block
of rubber A', but to make up for the deficiency in length the frame A4 (with
all the moving or working parts attached) is caused to traverse fore and aft
along the rods or bars A5, such a distance that when the kuife is at either end
the cuts will be given right over the block of rubber A¹; motion is given to
the knife by the connecting rod, crank, cone, and shaft, as before described,

page_text: but a peculiar arrangement is necessary to give motion to the cone in the first
instance, which cone with the other working parts and frame are (when
cutting sheets) constantly traversing along the rods or bars. Motion is given
to the cone by an endless belt, strap, or band A, which passes over one of
the cone speeds, and under two drums or rollers A7, and over two pullies
or drums A8, seen in Figure 6, one at each end of the machine; on the shaft
of one of these drums a fast and loose pulley may be mounted, which may
receive motion from any convenient driving shaft. The method of mounting
the endless band is seen in side view in Figure 6, which Figure shews the
same method applied to Figure 7, about to be described.
In Figure 7, a similar traversing frame, cone, endless belts, drums, and
pullies are made use of. A is the frame; A, the guide bars, but the knife A
is mounted on a flange or disc fixed on the cone shaft, which knife may either
be circular, oval, or any other irregular figure; the block of rubber or other
material to be cut is enclosed in the box A9, which box is lying on its side,
with the face of the block towards the knife, the frame with its knife are
caused to traverse from end to end of the block by any suitable means; at the
same time, or when the knife is over the block and clear of it, the box A¹.
with its block, is made to rise a sufficient distance to be enough for a cut
when the frame and knife makes the next traverse along the face of the block;
when a sheet has been cut off, the box and block are lowered so far as to allow
the knife to pass over the block for the next cut, and the block is also advanced
so far under the knife as to correspond to the thickness of sheet to be cut.
This is effected by worms on the shaft gearing into worm wheels, which
actuate screws through the bottom of the box A9. These screws propel or
withdraw at pleasure a false bottom in the inside of the box, and to which false
bottom I mean to fix the block by atmospheric pressure. The false bottom
may be formed with a small ridge all round, or any numbers of ridges running
in various directions, but in such a manner that a pipe attached to the false
bottom, and in communication with an air pump, which when worked will
exhaust the air from between the block and false bottom, and so cause the
block to adhere thereto; or, in place of a great number of ridges, I sometimes
make use of one only, which runs all round the false bottom, and within the
ridge I place felt, cloth, or any suitable porous material to fill up the space to
be flush with the ridge, and place the block on the same, and exhaust the air, as
before described. A small fine stone A10 is fixed on a spindle and mounted in
a bracket attached to the traversing frame, which of course travels along with
it and the knife.
This stone is driven at any required speed by an endless.

page_text: band on the pulley, which is secured on the stone spindle. The side of the
stone is caused to bear slightly up against the bevelled edge of the knife,
so as to keep up a proper edge on the same.
To cut the sheets into strips of the proper width, I wrap one or more of
them or any number of them cemented together round a mandril, and
place the same on suitable bearings in a machine, where it is cut into strips
by knives operated by self-acting machinery.
Figure 8, Sheet 2, is a plan of so much of a machine as is necessary to shew
the Invention, and Figure 9 is a sectional elevation of the same. B is the
mandril round which the sheet or sheets are wrapped. This mandril or roller
is mounted on a shaft which turn in bearings, not shewn. B¹ is a portion of
the bed of the machine, which is supported and secured to the brackets or
standards B2, B3 is a slide rest constructed so as to be capable of receiving a
motion in the direction of the length of the bed or mandril, and another in a
direction towards the centre of the mandril. This rest may have a leading
screw to set it to any required position on the bed B¹. B4 is the cutting knife
properly secured in the upper portion of the rest by the capstan headed set
screws, as shewn. The upper portion of the rest in which the knife is fixed is
caused to traverse in a longitudinal direction by means of the screw B5, on the
end of which a small pinion is fixed, which is geared into bya wheel 136, which
wheel has a pinion secured to it, both of which are mounted and revolve on a
stud. The last-mentioned pinion isgeared intobya toothed rack B, whichrack
isjointed at one end to the slotted connecting rod B8. B9 is a crank on a shaft
(part of which shaft is seen), the pin of whichworks in theslotintheconnecting
rod Bs. This crank with the described attachments are forgiving the required
longitudinal traverse to the knife to correspond to the breadth of the strip;
this takes place when the knife is free of the material on the mandril, in which
position it is represented in the Drawings; the crank is shewn about thepoint
when it lays hold of the slotted connecting rod. When the crank is on the
centre,that is, when theconnectingrodhas received all themotiouthatthecrank
can give it, the knife has been shifted by the gearing and screw to thedistance
requisite fora fresh cut, which is to the breadth of the required strip. When
the knife has been shifted, a cam on the upper end of the shaft B comes into
play, and by means of the sides of the properly shaped groove formed in its
upper face, which lays hold of a pin fixed in the slide rest, the slide rest with
the knife is advanced up to the material, and cuts clean through tothemandril.
If necessary, water must be kept running on the material at the point of
operation. When the cut is made to the proper depth, the cam throws the
slide rest with its gearing and knife back from the material on the mandril,

page_text: while the crank motion has been so timed through its gearing to arrive at the
position shewn ready to shift the knife, as has been already described. The
upright shaft B10 receives motion through the bevel or mitre wheel fixedouits
lower end. The groove in the cam may be so shaped that while cutting itmay
at times stop the advance, or cause the knife to be slightly withdrawn tocaseit
in cutting if the cut is to be made to any great depth. These strips when
taken from the mandril will have their cuts running longitudinal, but in
some instances to arrive at the same result or nearly so, I make use of an
annular press, which is jacketed and heated by steam or hot air or inany con-
venient manner to the temperature required. Figure 10 is an elevation of
such a press; Figure 11 is a plan of the under portion; Figure 12 is a plan
of the top part, shewing the manner of actuating the screws simultaneously by
means of gearing; Figure 13 is a sectional elevation of the under portion or
base of the press in which the chamber for moulding the blocks is formed.
C, C, C, C, are a set of capstan bars or levers fitted into sockets formed in a
flange which is mounted on a short shaft, on which the pinion C¹ is seen in
dotted lines, firmed secured. This pinion gears into the spun wheels C², C²;
C2, C2, which wheels are mounted on the ends of the screws 03, C3, 03, 03;
plates or ribbed flanges C4, C', are placed one on each side of these wheels,
and firmly secured at the proper distance asunder by means of studs, bolts,
and nuts as shewn. In these plates or Hanges proper bearings are formed for
the pinion axle and for the ends of the screws, which are plain where they
pass through the plates and wheels; C³, C5, are strong nuts through which
the screws C3 work. These screwed nuts are strongly secured in or may be
formed in the cross-head, which in the present case is of an X-shapeimplan, in
each arin of which one of the screwed nuts issecuredorformed. Ontheextreme
ends of the cross-leads bosses with holes are made to fit the ends of therodsor
stays C, C, C, C, where they are firmly securedbystrong nuts. Theotherends
of these stays are firmly secured in the bed or base of thepress byuuts as shewn,
or by any other well-known means; CT is a follower, sinker, or plunger, of
an angular form, and rectangular in section, and formed hollow for thepurpose
of being heated by steam, hot air, or other means. The base or bed of the
press is likewise formed hollow or jacketted,soas tobe heated bysimilarmeans.
The plunger or sinker C is secured to the ends of the screws so that it will
either rise or fall with them; a hollow circular chamber is forined in the bed
or base of such a size ag to allow the annular sinker or plunger to move freely
therein; C³ is an annular plate or ring made to fit the chamber freely, and
which is placed in it and above the lower or horizontal portious of the
glands C. These glands fall into or are placed in recesses formed in thesides

page_text: and bottom of the chamber to receive them; when it is required to mould an
annular block on the press, the sinker or plunger is raised sufficiently to allow
the material to be properly placed in the chamber. The temperature of the
jacketed bed and sinker having been raised to the required degree, power being
applied to the capstan bars or levers, and through them by means ofthe central
pinion, which actuates the spun wheels fixed on the ends of the screws, the
sinker or plunger is forcibly pressed upon the material, which being softened
by the heat is consequently moulded into shape. The pressure may be
renewed from time to time according as the block gets consolidated. When it
is necessary to remove the block from the press, plates are passed over the
screwed ends of the glands, and over the plunger or sinker, and secured by
nuts C10, C10. The screws and plunger or sinker are then raisod, bringing with
them the glands, plate, and moulded material C1,C,so far as to allow bars to
be placed across the bed plate or base of the press on which the sinker or
block plates and glands now rest. The plates are then taken off the glands,
which are again dropped into their respective recesses, the sinker or plunger is
raised still further to allow the block to be drawn out, when the press is now
ready for another charge. Inlet and outlet pipes are fixed in the sinker and
base of the press, with proper taps fixed thercon. Although four screws are
shewn, by which the pressure to the block is given, one only may be employed,
by fixing a cross-licad or beam to the sinker, and bringing the screw to bear
on its centre, or any convenient number of screws may be employed; I also
form the press with one or more chambers, or with one chamber divided
by a cylinder, the sinkers or plungers to which must be shaped to correspond
thereto.
To form blocks for another modification of my strip-cutting machinery, I
place two bent tapered flat bars, of sufficient length to correspond to the cir-
cumference of the chamber, and of sufficient breadth for its depth, one of which
is to fit the side next to the centre,and the other to fit that side furthest off;
these are placed in the chamber in their respective places; the under side of
the sinker corresponds in shape to the space left between them, the block is
now formed as before described; but this block, instead of being perfectly
circular, will in plan be similar to a volute formed by a strip of the breadth
wanted, which strip is bent spirally round on its flat, so that the inner end of
the strip will be opposite to the outer end, or nearly so.
The thick euds of
the bent bars correspond to the breadth of strips wanted.
Figure 14 shews one of these last-described blocks in plan; the dotted lines.
represent where the cuts forming the edges of the strips are to be made....
Figure 15,shews a modification of my strip-cutting machinery in plan for

page_text: cutting up annular blocks; D is the block to be cut, mounted on to a cylinder
or disc, which is secured on the shaft D', which revolves in bearings on the
framework of the machine'; the block may be secured to the cylinder or disc
by partly forcing the same on, or it may be secured by atmospheric pressure,
as before described, by exhausting the air from under it through the pipe D2,
which is inserted in the shaft in which the whole is mounted, and which shaft
is made hollow for that purpose. Fast and loose pullies D3, D3, as shewn, are
mounted on the shaft for receiving motion from a strap from any convenient
prime mover; 14, D5, are slide rests for holding and actuating the cutting
knives. The sole portion of these slide rests have a longitudinal motion to the
shaft on a bed 16, but the rests with their respective knives have a motion
at right angles to each other; these rests have each an independent motion
from each other, and are actuated by means of revolving cams D7 on the same
shaft, or otherwise, and which receives motion by any well-known means; but
these cains may revolve at different rates; these cams are so formed that their
action through the levers air rods give the knives the necessary advance
and retreat motions to separate the required strips, the knife in the rest I cuts
in a direction towards the centre, while the other cuts in a direction parallel
with the line of the shaft, either of the knives can cut the breadths or edges
of the strips at pleasure. The proper feed motion or shifting of the rests with
their sole plate on the bed De is given through the screw D³, by a similar
arrangement to that represented in Figures 8 and 9.
Figures 16 represents the machine arranged to cut blocks into strips spirally
so that the length of strips may be any number of times the circumference
of the block. The same description with the letters refer to the same parts
as before, but in this the movements are slightly different; for instance, the
rest D5, with its knife, is made to advance up to the flat surface or side of
the block, and enter the block at the shoulder D7; it then receives a motion
towards the centre through the rod D³, from a spirally-grooved cani D°, and
proceeds towards the centre until the end of the rod D8 is touched by a pin or
projection on the side of the cam D, which throws the pin the rod Ds back
from the face of the cam D³, and the pin on the opposite side is thrown into
a groove in the cam D10, which is formed the reverse to that in D, the effect
is to throw the slide with its knife into its first position ready for another
spiral cut. The other rest D4, with its knife set at right angles to that in D5,
is brought into play, and slices off the strip to the proper thickness. When-
ever the outer end of the strip is free it is wound on to a bobbin D1 on a
spindle ona balanced arm, which is mounted loosely on the shaft; this bobbin
is carried round by the arm at a proper speed so as to wind on the strip at
'

page_text: the point where the two cuts of the different knives meet. The proper
motion and speed is given to the arm and bobbins by suitable gearing, part of
which is shewn on the hollow spindle D mounted loosely on the shaft D¹.
After the strips have been cut, I place them in water heated to the proper
temperature in a long flat tray, Figure 17,Sheet 3, in which a number of small
rollers are mounted, as seen at E, where part of the tray is broken out for that
purpose. The strips are kept separate from each other by means of pegs or small
rollers on end; the ends of the strips are then passed through between the first
pair E¹ of rollers, then through between the second pair E, all of which are
weighted properly, and then attached to the drum or cylinders E3, all of which
rollers and drum or drums are driven by suitable gear. For instance, the
second pair of rollers are driven at a greater speed than the first, so that the
strips will be drawn out to a corresponding length; the drum or drums, in
winding them on, may elongate them still further. This drawing of the strips
serves two purposes, videlicit, to detect any flaw in them, and after the last
ends one secured to the drum or drums, they receive a permanent set. These
drums, when getting the strips wound round them, receive an end or longi-
tudinal motion by any well-known means, so that the coils of the strips will
not overlap, but be free of each other. These drums are so constructed that
they can be mounted the one over the other, as shewn in Figure 18. Each
of these drums have a ridge E4 on their insides, and another, E5, on the out-
side; suitable starting and stopping motion is provided for the machinë.
The drums are then taken from the machine, and placed in a drying
chamber, Figure 19, which is furnished with a set of heating pipes F, to
which steam or hot air is applied. The drums may either be mounted on
spindles and kept up from the floor, as at F', and made to rotate slowly so that
they will be regularly heated and dried. The vapour is drawn out of the
chamber, and driven off by means of the tau F2; when sufficiently dry, they
may be cooled to a certain temperature to give them a permanent set, when
they are filled on bobbins or reels, and placed on the wire covering machine.
Figure 20, Sheet 3, represents the greater portion of one of my wine-
covering machines in elevation; Figure 21, Sheet 4, is a sectional elevation
of the greater portion of the same; and Figure 22 on the same Sheet repre-
sents one of the columns or stansail with one of the drums for receiving the
covered wine, and with part of the apparatus for working the same.
Figure 2, Sheet 4, shews a plan of a portion of Figure 20, and Figure 24,
Sheet 5, shews a similar plan in section taken lower down. G, G, G, G, are
columns secured to a sole plate G', and to the rings G, G, G; which con-
stitute the general framework of the machine. G is the main driving shaft

page_text: The
which receives motion through one of the riggers G3, G3; on the main shaft
is fixed a cogged wheel G4, which gears into and gives motion to a bevel
toothed wheel G³, secured on the upright shaft Go; G7 is a spur toothed
wheel firmly fixed on the same shaft. From this spur wheel motion is given
out to a series of spur cogged pinions H, H, H, H, H, H, placed at regular
distances asunder round the spur wheel G, and gearing into the same. Each
of these pinions are loose on separate upright shafts ; friction clutches H³
are mounted on the same shafts, and fitted so as to slide thereon, but pre-
vented from turning independent of the shafts by means of fixed feathers in
the shafts. 1 hese clutches are coned on their lower parts so as to take into
internal cones or recesses in their pinions. The upper portions of the
clutches are likewise coned so as to fit internal cones formed in stationary
pieces H3, firmly secured to the general framework of the machine.
forked levers H4 for moving the clutches have one of their prongs prolonged to
serve as handles to throw them out and in gear; on the end of these handles
are jointed hanging rods, having stirrups formed on their lower ends, so that
the clutches can be thrown into gear by acting on the stirrups with the foot.
On the unright shafts H' are fixed a series of toothed wheels I, I, I, I, three
of which wheels gear into similar wheels J, J, J, bearing any required pro-
portion to each other. These three wheels J, J, J, are secured on separate
spindles, which are hollow, and placed one within the other on to stationary
tubes which pass upwards through them; the under ends of which are firmly
secured in the brackets I' by jam nuts b, b; the upper nuts are cupped out
in their upper sides to serve for a footstep for the inner hollow spindles to
revolve in. These spindles may have any necessary differential motion to
each other by proportioning their respective driving wheels, although in the
Drawings the inner and outer spindles are represented as having the same
speed, while the centre spindles between these have double either of the others.
These spindles revolve in suitable bearings J¹, formed in the rings G2, and kept
therein by caps and bolts. On the upper ends of these hollow spindles arms
K, K, K, are fixed; on these arms elbow pieces c, c, c, c, c, c, are jointed,
four of these elbow pieces carry sockets on which spindles or studs are formed,
and which studs or spindles the bobbins or reels d,d,d,d, are mounted. These
bobbings are held up against the shoulders of their respective spindles soas to
have the necessary amount of friction by nuts, washers, and springs, as shewn.
The two lower bobbins are similarly mounted on spindles formed on the
jointed elbow pieces. Any necessary amount of angle can be given to the
bobbins by loosening the nuts at the joints and moving them to the required
position, where they are secured by the screw nuts; capstan-headed screws are

page_text: tapped in the ends of the elbow pieces to keep the sockets with their studs
and bobbins in proper position, and also to be brought into use when putting
on fresh bobbins. Pinions K¹ on the upright shafts H' gear into intermediate
wheels K, which revolve on fixed studs secured in the framing. These wheels
again gear into wheels L fixed on the lower ends of upright shafts, on the
upper ends of which worms d are secured. These worms gear into worm
wheels d', on the sides of which grooved pullies are formed, round which pullies
the covered wires are passed once or twice, or more times, so that it may take
a firm hold of the pulley. Motion is given from the worm-wheel shafts
through bevel or mitre wheels L' and spur wheels L² to the discs L3, on which
discs the grooved pullies L', with their respective wire drums, rest, and which
pullies and drums are driven by friction between the discs and pullies; pins
on the upper sides of the pullies pass into holes in the undersides ofthedrums,
and serve as carriers to take the drums round with the pulli s. These last
parts are best seen in section in Figure 22, Sheet 4". Bands from these
pullies give motion to small uprightshafts by means of pullies e, fixed on their
lower ends. At the upper ends of these shafts a train of bevel wheels e', e², e³,
are mounted, which receive motion from the wheels el fixed on the upper ends
of the upright shafts. The two wheels e², e, have clutches formed on their
inner bosses, between which sliding clutches are mounted on feathers on the
shafts These clutches are thrown into either wheel by the forked levers f¹,
on the upper ends of which are quadrant, having projecting pieces formed
thereon, and between which the arms e of the tumbling levers work, and
throw the clutches from one wheel to the other by striking against them as
they tumble over their centres. To these levers slotted connecting rods are
jointed; these slots passover the centre pins or axles of the grooved pullies f3.
These pullies are mounted on swivelling and sliding brackets f4, supporting
in suitable bearings secured to the framework. The brackets are hollow,
through the lower portions of which the covered wires pass, then over the
pullies direct to the wire drums. The brackets, with their pullies, are
moved up and down by the screws f5, which work in nuts having bosses
formed on their sides, which are passed over the lower portions of the brackets
up to shoulders formed on the same. Motion is given to the screws by the
bevel wheels at top from the bevel wheels and clutches before described. By
the pullies being carried up and down the wires are laid regular upon the
drum. The motion of the screws, brackets, and pullies is reversed by the
axles of the pullies near the end of their traverse taking hold of the slotted
rods, and through them and the tumbling levers the cluiches are thrown into
the opposite clutches formed on the bevel wheels, as before described. The

page_text: wires enter the machine under the pullies y, and pass upward through the
tubes into the centres of the spindles as shewn, and which is seen more dis-
tinctly in in Figure 21, Sheet 42, where the wire is receiving one coating only
from the bobbin. So long as the strip of material is being wound on, the strip
keep the balanced lever g up in the position shewn by means of the rod and
ring on its lower end, but whenever the strip breaks or is all wound on the
wire off the bobbin, the end of the lever drops into the position shewn by
dotted lines; the catch "g" formed on the lever lays hold of a similar catch
formed on a sliding bary, which bar is kept constantly in motion by means of
a connecting rod worked by an eccentric M on the shaft M'. The lever g is
centred on one arm of the bell crank M², which arm is now pulled towards
the centre of the machine, the other arm being forked lays hold of a loose
ring g³ on the rod 94, and pushes it down; a piece of elastic tubing g is
interposed between the loose ring and a tight cne g" on the same rod. The
rod g by being pushed down actuates a crank g', and throws a catch h into
catches on the sliding rod h¹. This rod is kept constantly in motion by the
eccentric or cam 2 fixed on the main upright shaft H; this eccentric or
cam is common to any number of machines placed round it. The catch is
balanced and centred on an arm h³ on the forked lever H4, so that whenever
the catches are thrown into each other the action of the cam and sliding rod
throws the friction clutch up out of gear and into the stationary cone H³,
which stops the machine which was driven by the upright shaft H. After the
wire is covered it passes upwards between two pullies i and; the pulley
is centred on the short end of a lever, the other pulley is centred on a
fixed arm. The pulley centred on the short end of the lever is kept
pressing up against the curved wire by means of spring it. If the covering is
being laid on the wire irregularly, the action of which when passing between
the pullies i and will be to move the long arm of the lever through
a considerable space, and through the rod j will push or draw the upright
arm of the double bell-crank lever, either horizontal arm j2, ja, of
which will depress the rod g, and stop the machine,as before described. After
the wire passes over the drawing pulley dit passes over a guide pulley j³, and
then enters a cistern or tank /, nearly filled with a liquid, it passes under a
guide pulley in a suitable frame in the bottom of the tank, and then over
the pulley 3, and finally wound on to the wire drum. The end of the covered
wire has been, before starting the machine) taken up through a hole in the
side of the drum, as shewn at 3. The end of the wire is made to abut against
the top of the metallic cup 3, which is held in a bracket 4, but having a piece
of insulating material 5 interposed between the bracket and the stem of the

page_text: cup, a wire & passes from the stem to a battery : From the other end of
the battery a wire 8 passes to an electro-meter 4, and in connection withthe
coils; a wire from the coils is carried into the tank, cistern, or trough through
which the wire in the process of covering is passing. The cistern and all the
parts necessary being insulated, the end of the wire from the which dips into
the water being bare and in contact with the water. Should the wire which
is being covered be insufficiently insulated with the covering, a current of
electricity will pass through the wires and coils of the electro-meter and
deflect the suspended needle, so that its points will come in contact with the
ends on the wires m, which counect a battery N with a magnet O, which
will attract the armatures on the lever P, the end of the lever down the
rod g4, by abutting on the fast collar Q; and throw the catch into gear,
and stop the machine, as already described.
Figure 25 shows in elevation a modification of the bobbins carrying discs
for the top of the spindles, principally used in laying on rubber.
Figure 26 is a plan of the same. The strip passes from the bobbin partially
round the rollers n, n, then round rollers o and p, and over the guide pulley 2,
and finally on to the wire; these pairs of rollers are geared together in such a
manner by a sun-and-planet motion that they draw the rubber from each other,
and stretch it at the same time sufficiently without depending on the friction
of the bobbin. R is a handle fixed on an eccentric placed in the columus, by
turning which it raises the rod S and likewise the wire drum from off the
friction discs, so that the attendant can turn the same round as desired.
These spindles may be mounted in rows instead of round a central shaft, as
before described. I sometimes place as many spindles round a central shaft
as make up a cable; after leaving the machine the wires are carried up over
a guide piece, where they are regularly laid, then through a set or sets of
spindles, or as many spindles as is necessary, similar to those alreadydescribed
for covering the single wires with; these spindles may be made to lay on any
covering on the strands, such as hemp, jute, tape, or any other material. The
strands or cable is then passed over a leading pulley and led away from the
machine. In this case any of the afore-described striking apparatus will stop
the whole machine instead of its own set of spindles. I prefer to have the
bell striking apparatus, attaches the battery or batteries, so that when the
bell is struck it will be known at once that the defect in the insulation is
the cause of the stoppage.
In making short pieces of cables if the strands or single covered wires
require to be twisted together. I mount the receiving draw on a platform or
frame revolving on a pivot or axis, and made to revolve by suitable gearing.

page_text: In this case the receiving drum has three motions, one round the pivot or
shaft of the platform by an end or longitudinal motion to lay the cable on
regular, and the other is a motion on its own axis.
I wish it to be distinctly understood that I do not mean to confine myself
exactly to the shape and construction of the different machines and appa-
ratuses so long as the principle of my Invention is not departed from.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First, the cutting of rubber sheets and similar gums or their compounds
from blocks, in such a manner that the knife cuts or corrugations shall run
in a longitudinal direction, or nearly so, with the sheet or strip, as described
and represented in the Drawings.
Second, the machinery for cutting sheet of rubber, or similar gums, or
their compounds, so that the knife cuts shall run longitudinally, or nearly
so, as described and represented in the Drawings.
Third, the apparatus for preparing the strips for the covering machines,
as described with reference to the Drawings.
Fourth, the wire-covering machines, whereby sets of hollow spindles are
placed, the one within the other, and driven at different speed and set on
end, as represented and described with reference to the Drawings.
Fifth, the drawing or stretching apparatus mounted on spindles, whereby
I am enabled to draw the rubber strips between rollers mounted on the
spindle heads, and thus act independent of the friction of the bobbin on its
spindle, as represented and described.
Sixth, the employment of the several methods herein-before described of
stopping the working of the machine on the breaking or non-winding on of
a strip or strips, or on the covering of the wire being irregular.
Seventh, the method hereiu-before described of causing
electricity to be established, and through appliances stop the working of
machiue when the insulation is imperfect.
current of
Eighth, the combination of the various improvements herein-before
described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Miller, have, hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of October, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-one.
THOMAS MILLER. (L.S.)