Improvements in and relating to Bollards for Securing Wire or other Ropes for Ships, Docks, Harbours, and other purposes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Dec., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Sept., 1890-Accepted, 15th Nov., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Bollards for Securing Wire or
other Ropes for Ships, Docks, Harbours, and other purposes.
I, JAMES FOSTER, of Baltic Chambers, Sunderland, in the County of Durham,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to and comprises improvements in the construction of
and connected with bollard posts or pillars for use in securing the ends or other parts
of hawsers or other ropes in ships, docks, harbours, and other places where such is
required, specially designed as a powerful clip or gripper for securing wire hawsers
or other ropes nearly in the direction of their length so as not to require to bend them
in the act of or while securing them; which improvements may be constructed as a
new or improved bollard, or be applied to the present bollard posts, and render such
bollard posts more generally convenient, especially for the said wire or other stiff
ropes which are not easily bent round such posts to secure them.
The nature and novelty of the invention consist all as follows:-
In forming a vertical slot or groove in the top of the bollard post, or it might be
laterally in the side of said post, and wide enough to take in the largest wire hawser
or other rope desired to be secured by the new or improved clip or gripping mechanism,
and three or four inches deep, the groove being rounded at the top and ends for the
free admission or throwing in of the rope to be gripped without injuring same while
sliding through the groove. The improved mechanism of this gripping clip, according
to one arrangement, consists in mounting a lateral moving gripping jaw or block in
a lateral recess in one side of the groove two or three inches deep, or nearly the whole
depth of the groove, having the front face forming or filling up nearly the whole of
one side, and forming the gripping surface for fixing the rope against the other
stationary face of the slot, which gripping surfaces may be nearly flat or curved, that
is, the gripping surface of the moving block would preferably be convex, while the
fixed gripping surface might be concave of nearly the same curve or vice versa to grip
the parallel rope between them, the ends of both being considerably rounded for the
free passing of the rope into and out of the groove in either direction, and gripping
it, as will hereinafter be explained, firmer the greater the pull upon the rope. Behind
the centre of this moving gripping block, a vertical eccentric spindle would be mounted,
with the eccentric acting in a curve or eye formed and fitted at the back of this block,
the lower end of the spindle working in a bearing in the bollard post, having a steel
or other plate screwed or otherwise secured to the top of the post over the gripping
block and its actuating eccentric, so as to enclose these and guide them in their
reciprocating and rotating action, the spindle of the eccentric passing up through the
plate and pillar as a top journal bearing for a lateral hand lever to be keyed or otherwise
mounted on it, with a notched ratchet or other pawl secured or swivelling on it, to
take into a notched segmental retaining rack below it, either formed on the plate or
on the top of the fixed part of the post beyond the plate, for keeping the eccentric to
whichever side it was turned to grip the rope between the gripping block on the fixed
side of the slot, according to the direction the rope was led through the slot, the
eccentric being turned to the rear end of the rope, so that the pull upon the rope
would tend rather to increase the eccentricity and grip upon it; and the ends of the
gripping block might be angled towards the segmental part or eye on which the
eccentric acted, to allow of the free action of the block in laying up to and gripping
different sizes of ropes between it and the fixed gripping jaw of the slot. A short
lever would be fitted to oscillate loose on a vertical stud secured in the centre fixed
top end of the bollard post, which after the rope was inserted in the gripping groove

page_text: could be swivelled to one side or the other over the groove, having its free end brought
up against a stop pin in the top plate over the gripping block, or under a notch in
such pin; or two such levers might be similarly fitted at opposite ends of the slot, so
as to prevent the rope flying up out of the slot, in whichever direction it was drawn
through it.
By a slightly modified arrangement, the segmental moving gripping block might
be cut in the centre, and each be pushed out by a separate connecting rod, secured to
them by a pin at its free end, the inner acting ends of these rods being connected to
eccentric pins or eccentrics secured on the said vertical spindle behind the moving
blocks, the free ends of the connecting rods working in eyes and recesses in the inside
of the blocks, to take the strain off the pins connecting them to the blocks, both blocks
being pushed out to increase the gripping action in the direction the rope was pulling
and the spindle was turned. And although this eccentric has been so far described as
mounted on a vertical spindle, it might be mounted on a horizontal spindle behind
the block, and actuated in an equivalent manner, and have a segmental vertical notched
rack, instead of a horizontal one, secured on the top of the post, and either actuate the
moving block in the vertical slot, or over the lateral slot in the side of the post. And
although lateral sliding eccentric actuated blocks have been described, it will be
understood that radial oscillating segmental blocks might be fitted in one or both
fixed sides of the post instead of the reciprocating sliding blocks, either on eccentric
fulcrums with true radial segmental blocks, or with blocks having a rolling inclined
wedge acting surface on the rope, so that as oscillated by the pulling action of the
rope, they would tighten the grip, whether actuated by one eccentric and hand lever
at their back fulcrum axis, or by separate links and eccentric pins to one spindle and
lever when two oscillating blocks were used, which lever and pins might actuate the
fulcrums of the rolling segments. Or these rolling inclined segmental blocks might
be fitted and used to roll on the back surface of a gripping block, which would act
and grip direct on the rope instead of the rolling wedge surface of the oscillating
blocks. In some cases, as where no great differences of the size of rope to be gripped
within the slot is required, inclined wedges might be fitted, inserted from either end
of the slots on one side, so as to act direct on the rope on their front face, their back
acting on corresponding inclined or wedge acting surfaces in the back of their slot
on the top of the fixed bollard post, with outer end stops to prevent them being drawn
out, these wedges being actuated by the short arms of a hand lever or levers, on top
of post, and so connected to the opposite wedges that when the handle threw one wedge
into action it would take the other out, according to the direction the rope was passed
through the gripping slot, making the pull on the rope tend to draw in its own
tightening wedge, which would be rounded on the outer ends not to chate the rope ;
and the wedges might be made to roll on balls or rollers on their wedge acting
surfaces within the slot. Any or all of these equivalent arrangements may be fitted
on the vertical or on the lateral slots of the bollard posts, and capable of being applied
to any of the ordinary fixed single or double constructions of bollard posts. Or
otherwise, these improvements may be applied to posts of a new construction and
action, mounted and made to oscillate or rotate on a strong fixed centre or standard
projecting up from a strong base plate with antifriction balls or rollers mounted in
grooves in their basement sole plates, or in the lower bearing flange of the post, or
partly in both, so that the new gripping slots and mechanisin in these posts would
automatically turn to the straight line of the pull upon the rope through them, and
not require the ropes to be bent or get the strain thrown on them laterally, as would
bé the case sometimes with fixed bollard posts.
Dated the 20th December 1889

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Bollards for Securing Wire or
other Ropes for Ships, Docks, Harbours, and other purposes.
I, JAMES FOSTER, of Baltic Chambers, Sunderland, in the County of Durham,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying sheet of
drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:
1-
My invention has reference to and comprises improvements in the construction of,
and connected with bollard posts or pillars for use in securing the ends or other parts
of hawsers or other ropes in ships, docks, harbours, and other places where such are
required, specially designed as a powerful clip or gripper for securing wire hawsers
or other ropes nearly in the direction of their length so as not to require to bend
them in the act of or while securing them; which improvements may be constructed
as a new or improved bollard, or be applied to bollard posts of the present general
form, and render such bollard posts more generally convenient, especially for the
said wire or other stiff ropes which are not easily bent round such posts to secure
them.
And in order that my said invention, and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended
an explanatory sheet of drawings, in which the same reference letters are used to
indicate corresponding parts in the different figures where shown.
Figure 1 is an end elevation, and Figure 2 a plan of a double bollard post, the posts
A, A, being much of an ordinary construction and connected by a strong basement
flange A', such as used for screwing to the deck frames at the sides of ships, or to the
jetties of harbours and the sides of docks, and shown as fitted on the top with one
fixed construction and arrangement of my new improvements.
Figures 3 and 4 are side views and plans detached of the gripping block B' and
its actuating eccentric or cam spindle C, (, C, and
+
Figure 5 shows a side and end view and a plan of the lever E detached, for retaining
the rope in its gripping groove.
Figure 6 shows a plan and side elevation detached of the segmental lever D for
retaining the eccentric or cam spindle C in its tightened up position.
Figures 7 and 8 represent a section al elevation and plan respectively of a single
bollard post A3 as formed with a single square basement Hange A, for screwing it to
any suitable strong foundation, as fitted on top with a swivelling arrangement of my
improved fittings for gripping wire hawsers or other ropes, and more particularly
applicable for being fitted at wharfs, quays and docks.
Figure 9 is a sectional plan as taken on the line 1-1 in Figure 7, to show the
swivelling spindle B and its retaining blocks d.
Figure 10 shows a side and end view and plan respectively of the lever C and
ratchet pawls D³ detached from the arrangement shown in Figures 7 and 8 for
retaining the eccentric or cam spindle C, C¹, and gripping block B² in their tightened
up position, and
Figures 10 to 15 are details of other arrangements of these improvements which
will be hereinafter described.
Referring to Figures 1 to 5 of these drawings, the improvements consist :-In
forming a vertical slot or groove B in the top of the bollard post A, preferably above
the projecting head A2, that is, with projecting heads B¹ B' on opposite sides, the
former B¹ as a fixed gripping jaw, and the latter Bll as a recessed jaw for containing
the moving gripper B2, and wide enough to take in the largest wire hawser or other
rope desired, indicated by a circle at z in Figure 1, to be secured by the new or
improved clip or gripping mechanism, the groove being about from two to four
inches deep and rounded at the top and ends for the free admission or throwing in
of the rope z to be gripped without injuring same while sliding through the groove B.

page_text: The improved mechanism of this gripping clip, according to this arrangement.
consists in mounting a lateral moving gripping jaw or block B2 Figure 3, in a lateral
..recess B³, in the projecting part B of the groove B, nearly the whole depth of the
groove B, as seen particularly in the lower part of Figure 2, having the front face 62
forming or filling up nearly the whole of one side of this recess B³, and forming
the gripping surface for fixing the rope against the face 6' of the slot B, and
stationary ripper B₁, which gripping surfaces may be nearly flat or curved, that is,
the gripping surface 62 of the moving block B2 would preferably be convex, while
the fixed gripping surface b' might be of a corresponding concave shape of nearly the
same curve, or vice versa, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, to grip the parallel rope
between them, the ends of both being considerably rounded for the free passing of
the rope into and out of the groove B in either direction, and gripping it, as will
hereinafter be explained, firmer the greater the pull upon the rope. Behind or
within the centre of this moving gripping block B2 a vertical eccentric or cam
spindle C, C, Figure 4 is mounted, with an eccentric or cam part C¹ formed on it
in this case as rather more than a half eccentric acting in a corresponding curve or
eye c' formed in the back of this block B, the lower end of the spindle working in
a bearing c in the bollard post A, and the block B2 reciprocating by feathers 6 on
its under side working in grooves in the recess B³, and having a steel or other
plate B screwed or otherwise secured to the top of the projection B of the post A
over the gripping block B2, and its actuating eccentric C, and through which
plate B the top end C" of the spindle C passes as a top journal, all so as to enclose
the spindle and block and guide them in their reciprocating and rotating action.
The upper end of the spindle C of the eccentric C₁ which passes up through this
plate B, is made square at C on top for a lateral hand actuating lever C², to be
keyed or otherwise mounted on it, for turning the eccentric C¹ round and pressing
out the gripping block B2 to grip the rope z in the groove B. As shown in Figures 1
and 2, and in Figure 6 detached, a segmental lever D is shown as mounted on the
square C, of the spindle C with a screw pin D projecting up from the plate B
through the segmental groove D' in the lever D, with a screw handle D³ mounted on
the upper end of the screw pin D" for gripping the segmental lever, and holding it
and the eccentric C', and block B2 in the gripped position they are set to by the hand
lever C2, to grip and retain the rope z between the gripping block B² and the fixed
side B of the slot B against the pull on it according to the direction the rope z was
led through the slot B. The back corners 3 of the gripping block B² might be
angled towards the segmental part to leave strength in the projecting head and
recessed eye B", in which the gripping block B2 and eccentric C¹acted, to allow of
the free action of the block B2 in laying up to and gripping different sizes of ropes z
between it and the fixed gripping jaw B₁ of the slot B. A short curved lever E,
shown detached in Figure 5, is fitted to oscillate loose on a vertical screw stud at E
secured over one end of the fixed projecting part B' of the bollard post A which after
the rope 2, was inserted in the gripping groove B could be swivelled to one side or
the other over the groove, having its free end brought up against and under a stop
projection E, in the top plate B over the gripping block B2; or as shown in
Figures 1 and 2, two such levers E, would preferably be thus fitted at opposite ends
of the slot B with two antifriction rollers e mounted on them so as to prevent the
rope z flying up out of the slot in whichever direction it was drawn through it, and
small antifriction rollers e¹, would preferably be fitted in the bottom ends of the
grooves B also, so that the rope would run between these rollers e and e¹.
Referring to the arrangement of my improvements shown in Figures 7 to 9 and
the details Figure 10, all the mechanism for gripping the rope z, on either side of the
slot B, that is the fixed gripping projection B', and box B", with the gripping
block B², and eccentric spindle C, C, C, mounted in it, are constructed substantially
the same as that described in reference to the former figures and lettered to correspond,
except that the gripping surfaces 12 of the fixed gripper B₁ and of the moving
gripper B are curved in reverse directions, and are all mounted in a strong disc
rotating bosshead B³, formed on a strong spindle B³ mounted in corresponding bored

page_text: bearings in the top centre of the bollard A³, so as to rotate on said spindle B and
thus bring the slot B and rope z in it in line with and by the pull of the rope itself
To retain this rotating spindle and bosshead B3, B4, in their working bearings in the
bollard as shown in Figure 9, two segmental screw blocks d are mounted to work in
a turned collar groove d' formed in the spindle B³, with the screw nuts of these
blocks d working in recesses a¹ in opposite sides of the upper part of the bollard A³,
with actuating screw spindles d2 projecting out through bosses at A' in the upper
part of the bollard, and with square heads projecting out beyond retaining screw
collar plates at d³ for putting turning handles on them to press in the retaining
bushes d. In this arrangement, instead of using the slotted segmental retaining
lever D, D¹, shown in Figure 6 and described in reference to Figures 1 and 2,
mounted on the square part C of the spindle of the eccentric or cam (for
retaining this in the position to which it is turned, the hand turning lever (2, as
shown in detail in Figure 10 has mounte loose on it a ratchet pawl or pawls D³,
which take into a segmental ratchet wheel D, mounted on the upper plate Bill, so
that when the hand lever C2 Figure 8. is turned in the direction of the arrow on it to
tighten up the eccentric cam C¹ and press out the gripping block B2 to catch the
rope it carries round with it the pawl or pawls D³ which fall into the ratchet teeth D*
and retain it where it is set. Or as shown in Figure 104, instead of the pawls D³,..
a loose eccentric cam D niay be used, with a hand lever for taking it out and in
gear, acting on the segmental surface D, which in this case need not have ratchet
teeth. Instead of making the top part and new fittings of the bollard rotato as
described, to bring the slot B and its gripping sides 61, 62, of the fixed an 1 movable
blocks B1, B2, in line with the pull of the rope z, the new gripping parts might
be fixed on the top of the bollard as described in reference to and shown in
Figures 1 and 2, and each single bollard A or A³ so fitted be made to revolve
on a strong fixed centre or standard post projecting up from a strong basement
sole plate, with antifriction balls or rollers mounted in grooves in the basement
soleplate below the supporting flange A', which in this case may be round, instead of
square, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, so that the new gripping slots and
mechanism B, B1, B2, would automatically turn to and by the pull upon the rope in
line therewith, and not require the ropes to be bent or get the strain thrown on them
laterally as might be the case when the pull of the rope did not come in line with the
gripping parts on the fixed bollard posts.
Figures 11 and 12 show a sectional elevation and plan of a gripping block B2, and
of an actuating spindle and eccentric C, C, in which a different construction of
gripping block B2 is shown, with a full eccentric C¹ on its spindle C, working on a
separate hollow eccentric block c*, within the recess in the block B2, instead of the
eccentric eye
c' formed on the block B2, shown in Figure 3, so that the spindle C may
be turned in either direction to press out the gripping block B2, that is, turn it in
the direction the pull is upon the rope z, so that the harder the pull on the rope,
it would tend to increase the eccentricity and make the block B2 grip the tighter
in which case the small guide projections 6 are dispensed with in this modification.
"
Figures 13 and 14 show à sectional plan and sectional elevation respectively.
of the top of a bollard, as taken on the lines 2-2 and 3-3 each on the other
in which two gripping blocks B2 are mounted to reciprocate within fixed hollow
heads B with retaining plates B above, each block being actuated by separate
eccentric spindles C, C, mounted substantially as described in reference to Figures 1
to 4. In this arrangement however these spindles C, C, are actuated by two
levers mounted on their lower ends within recesses at A5, in the top of the
bollard and coupled by a double forked end link f', so that when the upward
projecting end of either spindle C is actuated, as by the lever C², both spindles
will be turned in the same direction, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 13, and
cause the eccentrics C to move out their respective gripping blocks B to grip the
rope z in the centre of the slot B, in the head of the bollard, and be retained in this
gripping position by any of the retaining arrangements of levers shown detached in
Figures 6 and 10. Although so far horizontal eccentrics C¹ on vertical spindles C, Cu

page_text: only have been described and shown for actuating the gripping blocks B2 this being
considered best it is to be understood that vertical acting eccentrics on horizontal
mounted spindles might be employed, fitted to act in an equivalent manner behind the
gripping blocks B².
Referring to Figure 15, this shows a sectional plan view of the top of a bollard A,
which may either be of the fixed character shown in Figures 1 and 2, or of the rotating
character shown in Figures 7 to 9, as fitted with a simple modification of my improve-
ments consisting of a slot B and fixed gripping projecting jaw B¹, and a hollow
projecting boss part B", in which is fitted a simple sliding gripping jaw B² actuated
by a screw and hand wheel C3 through the back of the hollow projecting boss part B
for screwing this gripper B2 out and in to grip the rope z within the groove B, the
actuating screw C3 being fitted with a hand screw lock nut C, for fixing the screw
and gripping jaw B2 in the tightened up position desired, or this might be a lock
hand screw wheel, instead of a lever, and have the antifriction rollers e, e¹, and the
retaining levers E, E¹, fitted in and over the grooves B, for retaining the rope =
within same all otherwise substantially the same as in the other arrangements
described and shown.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. The construction or arrangement and combination of the parts of bollards
formed with a vertical slot or groove to take in a wire bawser or rope secured by
a gripping block and moving mechanism, substantially as and for the purposes herein
described, in reference to and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Second. The constructing of bollards with a slot or groove on top to take in a
wire hawser or rope, secured between a stationary side of slot and a lateral sliding
gripping block or clip, or it may be two moving gripping blocks substantially as and
in the manner and for the purposes herein described, in reference to and shown in
the accompanying drawings."
Third. The constructing of bollards with an eccentric or cam and hand lever or
equivalent to operate a lateral sliding block which secures a hawser or rope in a slot
or groove on the top of bollard, substantially as and in the manner and for the
purposes herein described, in reference to and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Fourth. The constructing of bollards with a plate to enclose the gripping block
or mechanism, and with a swivelling or oscillating lever to prevent the hawser
or rope from escaping from slot or groove in bollard, substantially as and for
the purposes herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying
drawings.
Fifth. The constructing of bollards formed on top with a slot or groove for the
hawser or rope, and fitted with lateral sliding eccentric or cam actuated gripping
blocks, either to rotate or oscillate on the bollard, or the bollard to rotate with these,
substantially as and for the purposes herein described, in reference to and shown in
the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 10th Santamber 1800
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents: