IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WIRE CABLE CANAL TOWING STEAMERS AND MACHINERY THEREFOR
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frank John Meyer and William Wernigh, of B12,
Exchange Buildings, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WIRE CABLE CANAL TOWING
STEAMERS AND MACHINERY THEREFOR."
Sealed the 15th May 1877, and dated the 18th November 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frank John Meyer and
William Wernigh at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th
November 1876.
FRANK JOHN MEYER and WILLIAM WERNIGH, of B 12, Exchange Buildings,
Liverpool, in the County of Lancashire. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF WIRE CABLE CANAL TOWING STEAMERS AND MACHINERY THEREFOR."
Our Invention relates to certain improvements in the design and construction of
wire cable towing steamers for towing upon canals and narrow waterways, by
means of which the smallest dimensions of steamer are attained, the wear and tear
of the cable to a considerable degree prevented, and the varying strains and the
differences in speed they occasion during work compensated and regulated, and the
apparatus employed therefor made self-acting.
As shown in the accompanying Drawing, in carrying out our improvements we
construct the vessel's hull of the necessary dimensions to contain the boilers, engines,
and machinery destined to effect the vessel's movement either by means of a drum
or drums or by any other appliance placed in any position in or upon the ship; but
we prefer to use our system of conical drums. We take the cable on to and pay
it off from the steamer by means of special apparatus (B) placed at either extremities
of the vessel. These apparatus each comprise two hollow guiding drums (A) and
two circular discs (C) placed vertically or horizontally at the stem and stern of the
steamer. These discs are furnished at their peripheries with movable teeth of
the necessary form in accordance with the kind of work or towing to be done.
These teeth, working on india-rubber-rings, bear on their outer surfaces the impress
of the strands of the wire cable. The discs are coupled together by means of
toothed wheels (D) of equal diameters to ensure their working at the same speeds,
and they are driven from the engines, the power being preferably transmitted
to them by means of wire ropes working from a drum (E) on the engine shaft (F)
Pning G1

page_text: to friction wheels (G) working on one of the shafts carrying the toothed wheels (D) by
which the discs are driven at equal speeds. By this means the motion of the taking
in and paying out apparatus can be maintained at the necessary speed, greater or
less than that of the engines, and at the same time the varying strains on the cable
during work which may be caused by currents, curves, differences in depth,
obstructions, or any other cause, are compensated for by the friction wheels (G) in such
a manner that the working strains on the cable and the machinery can never
exceed a certain and safe limit. Friction of the cable is hence greatly prevented.
The movable teeth allow of the cable being held firmly between the circular discs
without gripping it injuriously. By means of the taking in and paying out
apparatus the cable does not come into contact with any fixed parts of the steamer
and friction is thereby prevented.
By using dynamometrical indicators between the tow ropes and the points where
the latter are fastened to the towing steamer, the captain of the steamer can always
see what his strains are upon both the cable and the tow ropes, and can thus control
them by working the engines or brakes accordingly.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent and of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor, filed by the said Frank John Meyer and
William Wernigh in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th June 1877.
FRANK JOHN MEYER and WILLIAM WERNIGH, of B 12, Exchange Buildings,
Liverpool, in the County of Lancashire. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
"
OF WIRE CABLE CANAL TOWING STEAMERS AND MACHINERY THEREFOR."
Our Invention relates to certain improvements in the design and construction of
wire cable towing steamers for towing upon cannels and narrow waterways, by
means of which the smallest dimensions of steamer are attained, the wear and tear
of the cable to a considerable degree prevented, and the varying strains and the
differences in speed they occasion during work compensated and regulated, and the
apparatus employed therefor made self-acting.
As shown in the accompanying Drawing, in carrying out our improvements we
construct the vessel's hull of the necessary dimensions to contain the boilers, engines,
and machinery destined to effect the vessel's movement either by means of a drum
or drums, or by any other appliance placed in any position in or upon the ship;
We take the cable on to and
but we prefer to use our system of conical drums.
pay it off from the steamer by means of special apparatus (A) placed at both
extremities of the vessel. These apparatus each comprise two hollow guiding
drums (B) and two circular discs (C) placed vertically or horizontally at the stem
and stern of the steamer. These discs are furnished at their peripheries with
moveable teeth of the necessary form in accordance with the kind of work or towing
to be done. These teeth, working on india-rubber rings, bear on their outer
surfaces the impress of the strands of the wire cable. The discs are coupled
together by means of toothed wheels (D) of equal diameters, to ensure their
working at the same speed, and they are driven from the engines, the power being
preferably transmitted to them by means of wire ropes working on a drum (E) on
the engine shaft (F) to friction wheels (G) working on one of the shafts carrying
the toothed wheels (D) by which the discs are driven at equal speeds. By this
means the motion of the taking in and paying out apparatus can be maintained at
the necessary speed, greater or less than that of the engines, and at the same time
the varying strains on the cable during work, which may be caused by currents,
curves, differences in depth, obstructions, or any other cause, are compensated by
the friction wheels (G) in such a manner that the working strains on the cable and
the machinery can never exceed a certain and safe limit. Friction of the cable is
Jience greatly prevented. The moveable teeth allow of the cable being held firmly

page_text: between the circular discs without gripping it injuriously. By means of the taking
in and paying out apparatus the cable does not come into contact with any fixed
parts of the steamer and friction is thereby prevented.
By using dynamometrical indicators between the tow ropes and the points where
the latter are fastened to the towing steamer, the captain of the steamer can always
see what his strains are upon both the cable and the tow ropes, and can thus control
them by working the engines or brakes accordingly.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
In employing wire cable for towing purposes it is necessary that it should be
perfectly secured from friction, and hence the use of special apparatus for taking it
on to and paying it off from the steamer. Inasmuch as space is limited in boats
designed for canal work the present Invention secures the object in view; and in
order that our said Invention, and the manner of performing the same, may be
perfectly understood, we hereunto append a Sheet of explanatory Drawings.
Fig. I. on the Sheet of Drawings is a vertical section; Fig. II., a horizontal
section at height of the deck; and Figs. III. and IV., vertical cross sections at H
and J, respectively, illustrating our improved arrangements.
The taking in and paying out apparatus marked A, placed vertically or horizon-
tally at each end of the steamer, comprise a pair of hollow guiding drums B and two
circular discs or wheels C furnished with movable teeth at their periphery, between
which they hold the cable firmly without however crushing or cutting it. To ensure
their working at the same speed they are coupled together by means of two toothed
wheels D. These discs are driven by motive power transmitted from the engines
by means of an endless wire or leather band applied to the large pulleys E and G,
of which E works on the main shaft of the engines and G on that one carrying the
upper disc C and the upper toothed wheel D. By virtue of this arrangement any
differences in speed which may arise during work, between the engine speed, the
speed of the vessel's movement, and the momentary speed of the cable on to and off
from the steamer are compensated for by means of the friction pulleys. The
adhering surfaces of the friction pulleys can be screwed tighter or more loosely, as
may be requisite, and thus a safe strain on the cable be always assured. The whole
of the apparatus A, for taking in and paying out the cable, is so placed that the
cable does not come into contact with any portion of the steamer even in rounding
the sharpest curves.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention, we would have it understood
that we do not limit ourselves to the details represented on the Drawing, as these
might be varied to suit different cases without departing from the principles
embodied in our Invention.
In witness whereof, we, the said Frank John Meyer and William Wernigh,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-sixth day of April, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
ALBERT MÜLLER.
FRANK JOHN MEYER. (LS.)
WILLIAM WERNIGH.
(L.S.)