An Improved Method of and Means for Making Ropes Buoyant.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 20th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left. 8th. Jan., 1890-Accepted, 15th Feb., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Means for Making Ropes Buoyant.
I, DONALD NICOLL, of the National Liberal Club Whitehall in the County of
London, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be. as
follows:-
the ropes
:
To effect the above objects, I firmly attach to ordinary ropes, at suitable distance's
from each other, cases, or buoys, composed by preference of a waterproof substance
known as Nicollian Fabric, consisting of imperishable elastic bitumen, in combination
with fibrous substances, as set forth in my patent No. 13,971, dated 28th Sep-
tember 1888,-these cases or buoys, may be filled either with gas, or air, but by
preference I fill them with cork, pith of canes, or rushes, these cases or buoys.I
cause to become component parts of the ropes which pass through their centres, and
thus fishing nets and other objects are more securely kept afloat in water, and for night
or dark weather service, I coat the said ropes or buoy's wholly or partially with any
approved phosphorescent preparation, these cases or buoys I form by, preference oval in
shape, and pass
to which they are attached, through their centres, thus giving a
firm grip for quickly hauling in of nets, or other objects, and being of great strength,
they will not break away, or perish in the manner to which lumps of uncovered cork,
or bladders are now liable, when used for similar purposes.-When these ropes' are
used for life saving purposes, on embankment walls, or within river, or canal locks,
and are thus liable to much attrition, I strengthen their surfaces in any suitable
manner, and when used as fenders on the gunwales of boats to prevent stoving in,'I
attach them stem and stern with running nooses, so that they can be readily unbooked
and thrown to drowning persons, but when their luminous qualities are required to
provide against danger at night on quays, wharves, harbours, piers, or for other and
similar purposes, 1 cause the said ropes to be arranged so as to best serve for the
protection of life, when unusual buoyancy is required, especially for open sea
bathing, the casing hereinbefore described, may either extend over the entire surface
of the ropes, or the exterior part made sufficiently strong to act as life buoys, of any
approved length or shape, and for such purposes I prefer to plait over the entire
surface a protecting fibrous covering, and I use for that purpose machinery,
described by a drawing filed with my specification to a Patent No. 694 dated 11th
March 1867.
DONALD NICOLL.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Means for Making Ropes Buoyant.
I. DONALD NICOLL of The National Liberal Club Whitehall, Civil Engineer, 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 —
I firmly attach to ordinary ropes at suitable distances from each other cases or
buoys composed by preference of a waterproof substance known as Nicollian Fabric
consisting of an imperishable elastic bitumen in combination with fibrous substances
as set forth in ny patent No. 13,971 dated 28th September 1888 these cases or buoys
may be filled either with gas or air bat by preference I fill them with cork pith of
canes or rushes these cases or buoys I cause to become component parts of the ropes
which pass through their centres and thus fishing nets and other objects are more
securely kept afloat in water and for night and dark weather service I coat the said
Price Adl

page_text: ropes or buoys wholly or partially with any approved phosphorescent preparation
these cases or buoys I form by preference oval in shape and pass the ropes to which
they are attached through their centres thus giving a firm grip for quickly hauling in
of nets or other objects and being of great strength they will not break away or
perish in the manner to which lumps of uncovered cork or bladders are now liable
when used for similar purposes! When these ropes are used for life saving purposes
on embankment walls or within river or canal locks and are thus liable to much
attrition, I strengthen their surfaces in any suitable manner and when used as fenders
on the gunwales of boats to prevent stoving in I attach them stem and stern with
running nooses so that they can be readily unhooked and thrown to drowning persons
but when the luminous qualities are required to provide against danger at night on
quays wharves harbours piers or for other and similar purposes I cause the said ropes
to be arranged in any suitable way so as to serve for the protection of life. When
unusual buoyancy is required especially for open sea bathing the casing herein before
described may either extend over the entire surface of the ropes or the exterior part
mado sufficiently strong to act as life buoys of any approved length or shape and for
such purposes I prefer to plait over the entire surface a protecting fibrous covering and
I use for that purpose machinery described by a drawing filed with my Specification
to a patent No. 694 dated 11th March, 1867.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
Substantially the attachment of waterproof cases or casing to ropes filled with cork
or cuttings and other waste of cork or of canes or rushes so that the said ropes may
act as life buoys and fenders for the sides of boats locks or similar constructions and
for the support of fishing nets the said ropes being made luminous at night
by the application of any phosphorescent compound to any part or the whole
.thereof.
Dated Oth Tonno 1900
DONALD NICOLL.