An Improved Cable Grip.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 19th June, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 17th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 18th Apr., 1896
[Communicated from abroad by HERBERT KINGSFORD, of Lima, Peru, South
America, Telegraph Engineer.]
An Improved Cable Grip.
I JAMES MARSHALL ALLEN PONCIA of Deal in the County of Kent Solicitor
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In repairing submarine cables it is usual, when the cable has been raised to the
ship's bows, to secure each side of the bight of the cable and to then cut the bight.
The cable is generally secured by the use of chain stoppers. The process of
stoppering sometimes takes a considerable time and if it be not properly done the
cable is liable to slip through the stoppers and be lost. To save time and to ensure
against slipping I propose to use an automatic grip and prefer what I term a clutch
link, and wedge, which is shewn in the accompanying drawing.
In the accompanying sketch
Fig. 1 shows the clutch in elevation in which OO is the clutch link.
Fig. 2 is a view of the back of the clutch link;
Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the upper portion of such clutch link.
Fig. 4 a like section through the lower portion.
LL are two links of a chain which are fastened into the sides of the clutch link
in the manner shown on the accompanying sketch and which are moveable in the
clutch link at the points M and N. C is the cable or rope. The clutch link has a
hollow rounded core rather wider at the top than the bottom with an opening in
front wide enough to allow the passage of the rope. E is a semi-circular gouge-
shaped wedge fitting into one side of the hollow in the clutch link.
One end of the chain attached to the clutch link as above described is secured on
the ship-the wedge is held against the cable and the clutch link then passed round
the cable and the lower part of the wedge and then slid upwards until by the action
of the wedge the cable is jammed in the clutch link when a blow is given to the
head of the wedge to make all tight; the ship then heaves on the chain thus heaving
the cable inboard.
The clutch link shown allows of the suspension from it of a chain by which the
ordinary stoppering can be carried out if desired, as an extra precaution, or a second
clutch link attached. The clutch link and wedge are preferably of iron.
Dated this 19th day of June 1895.
J. M. A. PONCIA.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Cable Grip.
I, JAMES MARShall Allen PONCIA formerly of Deal but now of Ashford
in the County of Kent Solicitor 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 :-
In repairing submarine cables it is usual, when the cable has been raised to the
An improveu po
I, JAMES MARSHALL ALLEN PONCIA formerly of Deal but now of Ashford
in the County of Kent Solicitor 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 :-
In repairing submarine cables it is usual, when the cable has been raised to the

page_text: ship's bows, to secure each side of the bight of the cable and to then cut the bight.
The cable is generally secured by the use of chain stoppers. The process of
stoppering sometimes takes a considerable time and if it be not properly done the
cable is liable to slip through the stoppers and be lost. To save time and to ensure
against slipping I propose to use an automatic grip and prefer what I term a clutch
link, and wedge, which is shewn in the drawing filed with my Provisional
Specification.
•
Fig. 1 shows the clutch in elevation in which O O is the clutch link.
Fig. 2 is a view of the back of the clutch link.
Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the upper portion of such clutch link.
Fig. 4 a like section through the lower portion.
LL are two links of a chain which are fastened into the sides of the clutch link
in the manner shown in the accompanying sketch and which are moveable in the
clutch link at the points M and N. C is the cable or rope. The clutch link has a
hollow rounded core rather wider at the top than the bottom with an opening in
front wide enough to allow the passage of the rope. E is a semi-circular gouge
shaped wedge fitting into one side of the hollow in the clutch link.
One end of the chain attached to the clutch link as above described is secured
on the ship the wedge is held against the cable and the clutch link then passed
round the cable and the lower part of the wedge and then slid upwards until by the
action of the wedge the cable is jammed in the clutch link when a blow is given to
the head of the wedge to make all tight; the ship then heaves on the chain thus
heaving the cable inboard.
The clutch link shown allows of the suspension from it of a chain by which the
ordinary stoppering can be carried out if desired, as an extra precaution, or a second
clutch attached. The clutch link and wedge are preferably of iron.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what
I claim is :-
The device described for the use and purpose set forth and generally for the
purpose of automatic gripping.
Dated this Seventeenth day of March 1896.