Year: 1888

page_text: Telegraph or other Cables.
WO ALEXANDER WILSON of Addington House, Bow Road, London, E. Engineer
and JOHN FORWOOD TAFE of No. 23 Regency Street Westminster, S.W. Secretary to
Messrs. Latimer Clark Muirhead & Company Limited do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows :-
This invention relates to improvements in machinery for raising and lowering
submarine telegraph or other cables or grappling ropes in connection therewith and its
object is to so arrange and construct such machinery as to lessen the possibility of
break-down and to provide conveniences for working which render the machinery
superior to the forms of equal weight and power at present in use and for other
purposes.
According to our invention we generally construct the machinery between the two
decks of the ship and with frames of steel plate and angle steel or iron strengthening
to take the necessary bearings and stresses coming upon it. The machinery contains
two drums which are placed either at each end of and overhanging the whole
machinery, or within the frames and nearly in the centre of the ship but so that the
shafts carrying the drums are not in the same vertical plane. By the latter arrange-
ment, forming what we call a " tandem-gear,"
." better leads for the bow-sheaves are
obtained.
We employ two separate and independent steam engines or other motors to drive
the machinery, and the machinery is so designed that by simple combinations of parts
the power of either engine can be directed to revolve either one or both drums in the
same or opposite directions at varying speeds, or the power of the two engines can be
concentrated on either drum.
The parts of the machinery for the purpose of guiding and directing the turns of
cable or grappling rope on the drums known as the "knives" are constructed so as
to guide the first turn of cable or grappling rope to lie close to the flange of the
drum and then to guide the next turn to such a distance from the first that the

page_text: shackles or eyes in the second turn will not ride or jam the adjacent turn. The
"knives" are almost rigid and exceedingly strong and light being so designed that
by the simple removal of a key any "knife" can be removed from its place and thus
allow the turns of rope or cable to be easily taken from the drum.
We improve the form of the dynamometers used in connection with the machinery
by greatly reducing the distance from the centre of the cylinders to the centre of the
sheave and we obviate any "biting" action which ensues at the top and bottom of
the outer sleeve round the cylinder by means of rollers which alter the sliding and
biting friction to a rolling friction.
We likewiso improve the form of the bow-sheaves and checks used in connection
with the machinery by continuing the surface of the sheaves so as to form the sides
of the cheeks and not as in existing cheeks which alter the direction of the line and
thus form a shoulder which damages the cable during the operation of paying out or
picking up.
We also obtain a straighter run for the cable by using one or more spider wheels
moving horizontally and by dispensing with the use of the aft dynamometer. The
lead pulleys are differently arranged, each carriage having four rollers which guide
the cable in whichever direction it tends to run.
•
Dated this 31st day of March 1888.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Raising and Lowering Submarine
Telegraph or other Cables.
We ALEXANDER WILSON, of Addington House, Bow Road, London, E. Engineer
and JOHN FORWOOD TAFE, of No. 23 Regency Street Westminster S.W. lately
Secretary to Messrs. Latimer Clark, Muirhead & Company Limited, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in machinery for raising and lowering
submarine telegraph or other cables or grappling ropes in connection therewith and
its object is to so arrange and construct such machinery as to lesson the possibility
of breakdown and to provide conveniences for working which render the machinery
superior to the forms of equal weight and power at present in uso.
According to our invention we generally construct the machinery between the
two decks of the ship, as shown in figures 1 and 4 of the accompanying drawings,
and with frames of steel plate and steel angle or iron strengthening to take the
necessary bearings and strosses coming upon it.
Figures 1 and 4 show longitudinal elevations, figure 2 shows a transverse elevation,
and figures 3 and 5 shew plans of the two forms in which we generally prefer to
construct the machinery. The machinery is provided with two drums, D and D¹,
which are placed either at the two extreme ends of the shafts carrying them and
having their axes in one line as shewn in figures 2 and 3, or within the frame of the
machinery, with their axes in two parallel vertical planes, and nearly in the centre
of the ship, as indicated at. X, X, in figure 5. This latter arrangement of the drums
is advantageous for the leads of the cable from the gear, as it throws much less
strain upon the bow sheaves and intermediate guide pulleys.
We employ two separate and independent steam engines or other motors to drive
the machinery, as shewn at E and E, and the machinery is so constructed that the
power of either one or both of the engines can be applied to either one or both of
the drums driving them in the same or opposite directions and at the same or
varying.speeds.
Figures 1, to 5 inclusive illustrate the manner in which this result is attained.
Referring to figures 1, 2, and 3, when quick speed is required, the drums, D, D¹,
can be driven from the engine, E, by putting the pinions 1 and 3 into gear with
wheels 2 and 4. When slower speed is required, pinions 1 and 3 are thrown out of
gear, pinion 5 is put into gear with wheel 6 and pinions 7 and 8 into gear with
wheels 2 and 4. The engine, E¹, can have its power similarly conveyed to the drums
through the pinions and wheels 9, 10, 2, 4, 11, 12, 13, and 14. The power of
both engines can obviously be conveyed to either drum by combinations of the
above arrangements. Referring to figures 4 and 5, when quick speed is required
the drum, D, can be driven from the engine, E, by putting the pinion 15 into gear
with whool 16 or the drum D' can be driven from engine, E¹, by putting pinion 17

page_text: into gear with wheel 18. When slower speed is required, pinions 15 and 17 are
thrown out of goar and pinion 19 or 20 is put into gear with wheel 21, or where
large power is required the pinions 19 and 20 combined are put into gear with
wheel 21. To drive the drum, D, singly at the slower speed, pinion 22 is geared
with wheel 16, and to drive the drum D₁ singly, pinion 23 is geared with
wheel 18.
.
According to this invention the parts of the machinery for the purpose of
guiding and directing the turns of cable or grappling rope upon the drums
technically called the "knives," aro made very light, rigid, and strong. Figuro 6
shews a sectional elevation, figure 7 an end view, and figure 8 a plan of one of
the knives. The knife, N, which is of cast iron, swings on the pin, M, carried
in the cradle, L, and it is held in position by the koy, K. Its outer edgo is
made to accurately fit the circumference of the drum and it is provided with
a steel plate, O, at the position of greatest wear, which can be easily replaced
when worn.
The shape of the knife is an improvement on existing forms, it
having a gentle curve at both ends of its working face as shown in figure 7 and
it has an incline indicated at, I, figure 8. The first turn of cable or grappling
rope is guided to lie close to the flange of the drum, F D, and when it has inade
about three-fourths of a turn round the drum it is brought into contact with the
knife which gradually forces it to such a distance from the flange of the drum
that any shackle or eye of the grappling rope is laid or slid on to the body of
the drum without jamming or riding any adjacent turn. Upon withdrawing the
key, K, the knife can be easily swung back on its centre, M, thus allowing of
the ready removal of the turns of cable or grappling rope from the drum.
Figures 9 and 10 show sectional elevations of the improved dynamometer wo use
in conjunction with the machinery, and figure 10 gives a diagram of the method
of using it. The dynamometer is provided with two cylinders, C, C, a crosshead, T,
and a crosstail, T; two piston-rods, S, S, moving in the cylinders, C, C, are
attached to the crosshead, T; a spindle, U, which carries a sheave, V, provided
with weights, F, is attached to the crosstail, T¹. The dynamometer is fixed in
such a position that the lower surface of its shoave is midway between two guide
pulleys, Gi, (figure 10*), and at a distance equal to the length of the stroke of the
cylinders below the level of the upper surfaces of the guide pulleys. The cable or
grappling rope is carried over the two guide pulleys, Gi, and under the dynamo-
meter sheave, V, the under side of the sheave being normally the lowest point of
passage of the cable or grappling rope between the guide pulleys, Gi. Upon the
occurrence of any strain on the cable or grappling rope, that portion between the
guide pulleys will have a tendency to be drawn into a straight line which will be
partially resisted by the weight of the moveable parts of the dynamometer. Upon
the strain overcoming this resistance the sheave, V, will be raised carrying with it the
two piston-rods, S, S, and other parts attached thereto, the amount of strain being
indicated by the pointer, Y, attached to the crosshead, T, moving along the scale, J.
In order to reduce any frictional tendency in the moveable parts, three rollers are
attached to the crosstail, T¹; one, R, larger than the others, to take the motion parallel
to the line of centres of the cylinders, and two smaller ones, R1 and R2, to take the
motion at right angles to the line of centres. The cylinders, C, C, contain a mixture
of water and oil or other fluid suitable for retarding the motion of the pistons, and for
the purpose of allowing the flow of the fluid between the top and bottom of the
cylinders, connection is made between them by a pipe, P, into which a regulating
cock, W, is inserted in order that the rate of motion of the pistons may be varied.
Inasmuch as the cable or grappling rope runs over the guide pulleys, Gi, and under
the sheave, V, it is evidont that the position of the pointer, Y, besides being varied by
the amount of strain, will be affected by the thickness of the cable or grappling rope
in use; that is to say, the position of the pointer on the scale will be a distance equal
to the diameter of the cable or grappling rope above the amount of actual strain
desired to be indicated. In order to obviate this incorrectness of reading we vary the
zero" of the scale in accordance with the size of the cable or grappling rope in use.
6.

page_text: use.
According to our invention the scale, J, is mounted above a block, Z, (shewn in
figures 9 and 10 and in plan in figure 10) which is cut into steps of various heights
corresponding to the different diameters of cables and grappling ropes generally in
When it is required to adjust the scale, the block, Z, is slid until the step of the
height corresponding to the diameter of the cable or grappling ropo to be used, is
under the centre of the scale; the arrangement being then secured by tightening the
nuts, n. The distance from the centre of the sheave to the line of centres of the
cylinders is much less than in the existing forms, the objectionable transverse strain
being proportionately reduced. This together with the adjustable scale and the sub-
stitution of the rolling friction as above described for the existing and faulty sliding
and jamming friction, produces greatly increased accuracy of indication.
Figure 11 shows a longitudinal elevation, figure 12 a sectional transverse elevation,
and figure 18 a plan of the improved form of bow shoaves we use in conjunction with
the machinery. In existing forms of bow sheaves a shoulder, as shewn in dotted lines
at G, H, figure 13, is formed which is liable to chafe and otherwise damage the cable.
According to our invention the outer edge of the cheeks form a continuation of the
line of the sheaves as shewn at, A, B, figures 12 and 13, thereby giving no definite
point to damage the cable. The upper faco of the cheeks are completely closed thus
preventing jamming or other accidents which are liable to occur with existing bow
gears.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to bo performed, we declare that what wo
claim is :-
1. In machinery for raising and lowering submarine telegraph or other cables in
which two independent engines are employed, the construction and combination of
parts whereby the power of either one or both of the engines can be applied to either
one or both of the drums, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The two drums, D, D³, placed within the machinery, with their axes in two
parallel vertical planes, and nearly in the contre of the ship, as shewn in figures 4
and 5 of the accompanying drawings, and substantially as heroinbefore described.
3. The improved form of "knife" and the arrangement for the easy removal of the
samo, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
4. The improved dynamometer having two cylinders, adjustable scalo, reduced
leverage, and rolling friction, substantially as hereinbefore described.
5. The improved form of bow sheaves substantially as hereinbeforo described.
6. The improved arrangement and combination of parts constituting our improved
machinery for raising and lowering submarine telegraph or other cables substantially
as herein before described.
Dated this 21st day of December 1888