IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SUBMARINE AND OTHER TELEGRAPH CABLES, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Walter Claude Johnson and Samuel Edmund Phillips, of
Victoria Works, Victoria Road, Charlton, in the County of Kent, Engineers
and Electricians, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF SUBMARINE AND OTHER TELEGRAPH CABLES, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED
THEREWITH"
Sealed the 6th March 1877, and dated the 8th September 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Walter Claude Johnson and
Samuel Edmund Phillips at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
8th September 1876.
•
Walter Claude JOHNSON and SAMUEL EDMUND PHILLIPS, of Victoria Works,
Victoria Road, Charlton, in the County of Kent, Engineers and Electricians.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SUBMARINE AND OTHER TELEGRAPH
CABLES, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH."
This Invention relates to the method of manufacture of an improved form of
external or internal protective serving for telegraph cables or any of the component
parts of a telegraph cable. The basis of this material consists of a light species of
canvas or other similar woven fabric, preferably that which is usually called
"Hessian,"
The fabric may be cut into strips and applied either as a packing for the core or
externally over the sheathing wires or yarns or both, and it may be used either
compounded, as herein-after described, or undressed with any preservative
compound
As an external serving it is prepared as follows:-The fabric is about forty inches
in width, and is made in continuous lengths of about 200 yards evenly and lightly
wound upon spindles or wooden boxes, through which a spindle may be afterwards
introduced. From this spindle it is rewound on another spindle of similar length
but of peculiar construction. Between these spindles is placed a dipping bath filled
with preservative compound, and fitted with a dipping roller placed beneath the
surface of the compound, and above the surface of the compound are a series of
heated edge scrapers
As the fabric is led to and rewound on the second spindle it is passed under the

page_text: dipping roller, where it is saturated with compound, and through the edge scrapers,
by which means the superfluous compound is removed and is returned to the bath.
The dipping bath, scrapers, and rollers are kept warm throughout the process by
being steam jacketted or otherwise.
The compounded fabric as it passes from the scrapers is cooled, preferably by
means of jets of water, which impinge upon its surface, after which it is rewound on
the second spindle, which is constructed as follows:-This spindle consists of a
stout iron bar about 2" diameter, which is caused to revolve by means of suitable
gearing, so as to draw the fabric through the bath and scrapers and rewind it. On
this bar are placed a number of wooden cores or bosses which are threaded on from
one end and secured by means of a nut at one end, which presses them into close
contact with each other and firmly against a circular ion plate which remains a
fixture at the other end of the bar, and serves as a guide for the edge of the fabric
whilst winding. The cores are also prevented from revolving on the bar by means
of a raised key or feather extending the full. length of the serios of cores
cores have short raised pins on their circumference to sieze hold of the first layer of
the compounded fabric
The
The first end of the fabric having been led from the aforementioned scrapers to
the core spindle the gear is set in motion, and the whole length of the compounded
fabric is wound on the cores, which constitutes the first process. The spindle cores
and roll of compounded fabric are now transferred to another machine to be cut.
This machine is similar in most respects to a screw cutting lathe. The afore-
mentioned spindle is placed between centres and caused to revolve; a knife of
peculiar form (herein-after described) is then made to cut the roll into a number of
thin discs, commencing with that portion of the roll which is farthest from the
circular iron plate The width of the required strip of serving being determined
upon the knife is made to enter from the circumference of the roll, cutting inwards,
.until the cores are reached, taking care that the point of the knife shall always
meet the point of juncture between two of the cores. (The edges of these cores are
bevilled so as to allow the knife to pass between them for a short distance) If the
nut be now removed the first disc of serving with its core can be separated from the
roll, and it forms a compact mass of compounded tape of an even width and the full
length of the fabric. The remaining portion of the roll is then proceeded with in a
similar manner, until the whole is cut into a number of discs, corresponding with
the number and width of the cores, as originally threaded on the bar. These discs
are used in the cable coreing machine without further preparation, the cores being
removed from the cable coreing machine and used again, as described.
The "knife of peculiar form" consists of a strong steel tapering blade, in length
about equal to about half the diameter of the roll to be cut, sharp at the point and
for a short distance on its upper edge near the point.
The depth of the blade is about two or three inches, that side of the-blade which
is nearest the uncut portion of the roll is made flat or slightly concave, except very
near the point where the knife becomes convex on this side. That side of the blade
which is nearest the cut portion of the roll is made convex so as to cause the disc
whilst it is being cut to be pushed on one side as the cut advances, thus clearing
itself from the uncut portion of the roll.
The knife is fixed at a slight angle to the roll's axis; but the point of the blade
is made to advance towards the axis at right angles to it.
The rolls may be cut either with or without any lubricant, but a little oil may be
used with advantage.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Walter Claude Johnson and Samuel Edmund Phillips in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 8th March 1877.
WALTER CLAUDE JOHNSON and SAMUEL EDMUND PHILLIPS, of Victoria Works,
Victoria Road, Charlton, in the County of Kent, Engineers and Electricians.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SUBMARINE AND OTHER TELEGRAPH
CABLES, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH."
This Invention relates to the method of manufacture of an improved form of
external or internal protective "serving" for telegraph cables or any of the
component parts of a telegraph cable. The basis of this material consists of a light
species of canvas or other similar woven fabric, preferably that which is usually
called Hessian.
The fabric may by cut into strips and applied either as a packing or protection for
the core or externally over the sheathing wires or yarns or both, and it may be used
cither compounded, as herein-after described, or undressed
As an external serving it is prepared as follows:-The fabric is about forty
inches in width, and is made in continuous lengths of about 200 yards, evenly and
tightly wound upon spindles or wooden boxes, through which a spindle may be
afterwards introduced. From this spindle it is rewound on another spindle of
similar length, but of peculiar construction. Between these spindles is placed a
dipping bath filled with preservative compound (preferably containing a large
proportion of silica) and fitted with a dipping roller or steam heated bar placed
beneath the surface of the compound, and above the surface of the compound are a
series of heated edge scrupers.
As the fabric is led to and rewound on the second spindle it is passed under the
dipping roller or bar, where it is saturated with compound and through the edgo
scrapers, by which means the superfluous compound is removed and is returned to
the bath.
The dipping bath scrapers and rollers are kept warm throughout the process by
being steam jacketted or otherwise.
The compounded fabric as it passes from the scrapers is cooled, preferably by
means of jets of water, which impinge upon its surface, after which it is rewound on
the second spindle, which is constructed as follows:-This spindle consists of a
stout iron bar about 2" diameter, which is caused to revolve by means of suitable
gearing, so as to draw the fabric through the bath and scrapers and rewind it. On
this bar are placed a number of wooden cores, cops, or bosses, which are threaded
on from one end and secured by means of a nut at one end, which presses them
into close contact with each other and firmly against a circular iron plate, which
remains a fixture at the other end of the bar, and serves as a guide for the edge of
the fabric whilst winding The reels, bosses, or cores are also prevented from
revolving on the bar by means of a raised key or feather extending the full length
of the series of cores. The cores have short raised pins on their circumference to
seize hold of the first layer of the compounded fabric.
The first end of the fabric having been led from the afore-mentioned scrapers to
the reel or core spindle, the gear is set in motion, and the whole length of the
compounded fabric is wound on the cores, which constitutes the first process. The
spindles, cores, and roll of compounded fabric are now transferred to another
machine to be cụt
This machine is similar in most respects to a screw cutting lathe. The afore-
mentioned spindle is placed between centres and caused to revolve. A knife of
peculiar form (herein-after described) is then made to cut the roll into a number of
thin discs, commencing with that portion of the roll which is farthest from the
circular iron plate. The width of the required strip of serving being determined
upon the knife is made to enter from the circumference of the roll, cutting inwards,
until the cores are reached, taking care that the point of the knife shall always

page_text: meet the point of juncture between two of the cores. The edges of these cores are
bevilled, so as to allow the knife to pass between them for a short distance. If the
nut be now removed, the first disc of serving with its core can be separated from
the roll, and it forms a compact mass of compounded tape of an even width and
the full length of the fabric. The remaining portion of the roll is then proceeded
with in a similar manner until the whole is cut into a number of discs corres-
ponding with the number and width of the cops, reels, or cores, as originally
threaded on the bar. These discs are used in the cable coreing machine without
further preparation, the cores being removed from the cable coreing machine and
used again, as described.
The "knife of peculiar form" consists of a strong steel tapering blade, in length
about equal to about half the diameter of the roll to be cut, sharp at the point and
for a short distance on its upper edge near the point.
The depth of the blade is about 2 or 3 inches. That side of the blade which is
nearest the uncut portion of the roll is made flat or slightly concave, except very
near the point, where the knife becomes convex on this side. That side of the
blade which is nearest the cut portion of the roll is made convex, so as to cause
the disc while it is being cut to be pushed on one side as the cut advances, thus
clearing itself from the uncut portion of the roll.
The knife is fixed at a slight angle to the roll's axis, but the point of the blade
is made to advance towards the axis at right angles to it.
The rolls may be cut either with or without any lubricant, but a little oil may be
used with advantage.
As a core serving we apply a fabric cut into discs, as previously described, the
fabric being either compounded or not, or we place next the core a tape, cut prefer-
ably from a thiner fabric, such as a coarse kind of calico, which has been treated
with a compound, preferably of pine oil and silica, and dressed with dry silica as it
leaves the dipping bath.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, we declare that we claim as our Invention of " Improve-
ments in the Manufacture of Submarine and other Telegraph Cables, and in
Apparatus connected therewith,”-
Firstly. The preparation of "serving " for the core or other parts or exterior of a
telegraph cable in the manner herein-before described, namely, by cutting a
compounded or uncompounded fabric into discs.
Secondly. We claim the employment of bosses, reels, or cops mounted and secured
upon a bar capable of rotation in a lathe or similar machine, upon which reels or
cops, canvas, previously coated or otherwise, can be wound in sheet and be then
cut into discs, as and for the purposes set forth.
Thirdly. We claim the preparation of a highly silicated serving, in the manner
herein-before described, to be used as a protection for the core of the cable.
In witness whereof, we, the said Walter Claude Johnson and Samuel Edmund
Phillips, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Seventh day of March,
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.