Improvements in Ropes for the 'Transmission of Power, and in the Manufacture thereof.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Aug., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Dec., 1892-Accepted, 18th Feb., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ropes for the 'Transmission of Power, and in the
Manufacture thereof.
We, JOHANN HEINRICH BEK, Manufacturer, and JACOB HEINRICH BEK,
Engineer, both of Schaffhausen, Switzerland, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
Ropes for the transmission of power are usually twisted like ordinary ropes
and have a circular section. This formation of such ropes has the following
disadvantages :-
The rope twists itself around its own axis, it is worn out at its whole surface and
the latter becomes smooth so that no face is formed advantageous to adhesion or
frictional contact.
If several ropes run beside each other, they are often worn out at a different
ratio which results in the sliding of one rope as compared with another.
In order to avoid these disadvantages and to obtain further advantages for the
transmission of power, this invention consists firstly in that the rope is not twisted
or spun as an ordinary round rope but it is made as a rectangular preferably square
rope of plaited laces. Such a plait has the following advantages over the ordinary
round rope.
1. The plaited rope is more flexible and requires therefore less power to adapt
itself to the deviations in its path, and further, for this reason smaller sheaves or
pulleys are permissible than for round ropes.
2. The, plaited rope has no tendency to turn or twist itself, therefore the same
part of the surface is always in contact with the pulley; in consequence the angle
formed or enclosed by the contact surface of the rope becomes smaller by the
wearing out of the rope the result being that the rope is forced further into the
groove. Therefore the wedge angle of the groove may be larger than for round
ropes. The manufacture of the pulleys is therefore more simple and less expensive.
3. The rope can be turned when part of its surface is worn out, & in con-
sequence fresh contact surface is brought into action having all the advantages of
a new rope.
4. The rope can be much more easily connected by splicing than a twisted rope,
the splicing is stronger, the alteration in the section of the rope is less and the
length of the splicing is also less.
The rope is made, according to my invention, of eight twisted laces, of which
four are twisted left and four right in such a manner that the groups of four laces
each cross each other under a common point of plaiting. As each lace with its
bobbin completes a whole spiral and is therefore twisted 360°, the laces of one
group are untwisted and of the other are further twisted. If this twisting &
untwisting were permitted, the product obtained would be uneven and useless,
because the rope would be of different density at certain parts of its surface. To
prevent this, each bobbin while running its particular way is twisted contrary to
the direction of its movement.
In the manufacture of these ropes a plaiting machine may be used with advantage
which has the following improvements.
The bobbins are driven by cross pieces of which two are always situated
vertically above one another and touch the bobbins at two points. The connec-
tion with the cross pieces is effected by providing the collars or bushes in which
the bobbins rotate with rims over which engage levers situated pivotably against
spring pressure on the cross pieces.
At the crossing points the disengaging from one cross piece and the coupling

page_text: with the next cross piece is effected by means of fixed regulating rods which lift
the lever of one cross piece until it frees the rim of the bush or collar and allows
the other lever to reach so far over the rim of the bush or collar as to couple the
bobbin to the cross piece.
Dated this 20th day of August 1902
FELL & WILDING,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ropes for the Transmission of Power, and in the
Manufacture thereof.
We, JOHANN HEINRICH BEK, Manufacturer, and JACOB HEINRICH BEK,
Engineer, both of Schaffhausen, Switzerland, 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 :-
Ropes for the transmission of power are usually twisted like ordinary ropes
and have a circular section. This formation of such ropes has the following
disadvantages.
The rope twists itself around its own axis, and thus is worn over its whole
surface, the latter becoming smooth so that no face is formed advantageous to
adhesion or frictional contact.
If several ropes run beside each other, they are often worn out at a different
ratio which results in the sliding of one rope as compared with another.
In order to avoid these disadvantages and to obtain further advantages for the
transmission of power, we carry out certain constructional improvements by our
invention, which consists, firstly in that the rope is not twisted or spun as an
ordinary round rope but it is made as a rectangular rope of plaited laces or
strands. Such a plaited rope has the following advantages over the ordinary round
rope.
1. The plaited rope is more flexible and requires therefore less power to adapt
itself to deviations in its path.and further for this reason smaller sheaves or pulleys
are permissible than for round ropes.
II. The plaited rope has no tendency to turn or twist itself therefore the same
part of the surface is always in contact with the pulley, in consequence the angle
formed or enclosed by the contact surface of the rope becomes smaller by the
wearing out of the rope the result being that the rope is forced further into the
groove.
Therefore the wedge angle of the groove may be larger than for round ropes.
The manufacture of the pulleys is therefore more simple and less expensive.
III. The rope can be turned when part of its surface is worn out and in con-
sequence fresh contact surface is brought into action having all the advantages of
a new rope.
IV. The rope can be much more easily connected by splicing than an ordinary
twisted rope, the splicing is stronger the alteration in the section of the rope is
less and the length of the splicing is also less.
According to our invention the rope is preferably made of eight laces or strands
of which four are twisted right and four left so that the position of the fabrics in
relation to the axis of the rope shall be symmetrical.
The plaiting is effected in such a manner that the laces or strands divided into
two groups of four laces or strands each cross one another under a common point of
plaiting. As each lace or strand with its bobbin completes a revolution to make a
plait over its neighbour and is therefore twisted 360° on its axis, the laces or
strands of one group would under ordinary circumstances tend to be untwisted,
and of the other would be further twisted.
If this twisting and untwisting of the laces or strands on their own axis were
permitted, the product obtained would be uneven and useless, because the rope

page_text: would be of different density at certain parts of its surface. To prevent this, each
bobbin while running in its own particular direction is twisted successively twice
180° each time contrary to the direction of its movement.
In order that our invention may be the better understood, we now proceed to
describe the same reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon.
According to the drawings the bobbins are guided by crosses A, Figures 1 and 2
rotated by cog wheels :. In order to afford secure guidance to the bobbings, the
crosses are arranged in duplicate, at a short distance apart, embracing the bobbin
spindle below the bobbin.
For the reception of the bobbins the crosses end in segmental receivers P into
which fit the bosses in which the bobbins revolve. The hooked ends of two
double levers pivotted on the crosses engage over the protruding rim of the
bosses h so as to secure the bosses and bobbins in place during rotation; the position
of the levers k being ensured by spiral springs acting on the ends of the levers
opposite to the hooks.
The levers are placed vertically above one another, and they are connected by
rods g having at their lower ends rollers g' which in connection with fixed inclined
planes serve as regulating devices.
Of the eight bobbins numbered consecutively, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, those bearing
the uneven numbers 1, 3, 5, 7, move in the direction indicated in Figure 5 by the
arrows, while those bobbins bearing the even numbers 2, 4, 6, 8 move in the
direction indicated by the arrows y y.
In order to change at the crossing points of the lines of travel, the bobbins from one
cross to another, it is necessary to disengage the bobbin from the levers of the first
cross and to connect it with the levers of the 2nd system. For this purpose we
arrange segmental regulating or guiding bars s¹, s², s³ etc. t¹ t³ ³ etc. near the changing
points of the bobbins on a frame forming a fixed part of the machine. The ends of
these regulating or guiding bars form inclined planes see Figure 4.
In consequence of the before mentioned division of the bobbins into two groups it
is necessary to provide corresponding arrangements as regards the regulating or
guiding bars 1, s², s³, etc. t' t t etc. which is effected by their varying radial
distances.
For instance when the bobbin 1 which travels in the direction a comes near the
crossing point, the roller g' coming into contact with the inclined plane so of the
regulating bars the corresponding lever hooks of the cross I are disengaged.
The levers of the cross II which are to engage with the bobbin have already been
lifted by the regulating bars and the corresponding roller g, and drop at the
moment when the bobbin is in the central position. The further movement of the
bobbin is regulated by the bars s³, s, etc. in the same manner.
If the bobbin 2 cross II which travels in the direction y y comes near the crossing
point, the lever holding it is disengaged by the bar t2, while the bar 3 compels the
lever of the next cross 1 to engage with the bobbin and so on.
The length of the bars is such that the disengaged lever when descending cannot
again grip the boss of the bobbin which has travelled on.
In order to give to the bobbins the contrary or backward rotation of 360°
mentioned herein before, each bobbin is provided with a cog wheel which during
one travel or revolution of the bobbin engages with two toothed segments
arranged in the circuit of the bobbin opposite to each other and each wheel on
the bobbin is turned 180° by each segment.
Figure 6 is a view of the plaited rope, and
Figure 7 shows in section the position of the rope on the pulley.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
:-
1st. The method of manufacture of power transmission ropes by plaiting two

page_text: groups
of laces or strands onto one another, the laces of one group being twisted to
the right, and the laces of the other group being twisted to the left, each group of
bobbins carrying the laces, being arranged to turn in reverse directions respectively
through 360 degrees about the axis of the laces at each translating revolution of the
bobbin in order to neutralize the twisting or untwisting of the laces or strands on
their own axis whilst being plaited together.
2nd. A machine for carrying out the above claimed method of manufacture in
which
(a) The connection or coupling of the bobbins with the driving crosses A. is
effected by levers & which at the crossing points of the lines of travel are
lifted or raised by regulating bars sss³ etc. t', 12, t³, etc. in such a manner
that the bobbin passing the crossing point is disengaged from one cross and
connected to an adjacent cross.
(b) The backward rotation of the bobbins is effected by a cog wheel attached
to the bobbin in connection with cogged segments ¹ fixed to the frame,
substantially as described.
Dated this 22nd day of December 1892.
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, E.C., Agents for the Applicants.