IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN TOWING AND ALSO IN ANCHORING SHIPS AND VESSELS, PART OF WHICH INVENTION IS APPLICABLE ALSO TO WINDLASSES, CAPSTANS, WINCHES, AND CRANE BARRELS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Munton Bullivant, of 59, Fenchurch Street, in
the City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO
BE USED IN TOWING AND ALSO IN ANCHORING SHIPS AND VESSELS, PART OF
WHICH INVENTION IS APPLICABLE ALSO TO WINDLASSES, CAPSTANS, WINCHES,
AND CRANE BARRELS."
aled the 23rd June 1876, and dated the 19th April 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Munton Bullivant
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th April 1876.
"
WILLIAM MUNTON BULLIVANT, of 59, Fenchurch Street, in the City of London.
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN TOWING AND ALSO IN ANCHORING
SHIPS AND VESSELS, PART OF WHICH INVENTION IS APPLICABLE ALSO TO WIND-
LASSES, CAPSTANS, WINCHES, AND CRANE BARRELS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus to be used in towing
and also in anchoring ships and vessels, part of which Invention is applicable also
to windlasses, capstans, winches, and crane barrels.
For the purpose of anchoring ships and vessels, and for towing and for other uses
on ship board, I have recently introduced steel wire rope in lieu of chain cables and
hempen hawsers.
According to my present Invention I employ the apparatus herein-after described
to carry and store such rope, to wind it in, to pay it out, and to sustain the strain
on the rope when riding or towing.
The apparatus consists of a frame fixed to the deck of the vessel in a convenient
position either fore or aft according as it is intended to be used mainly for anchoring
or for towing. The frame carries a horizontal axis, and there is a drum on the axis
on which the wire rope is wound. The drum is connected with the axis by means
of a coiled spring or springs in its interior, and the axis can at pleasure be locked
fast to the frame. When this is done any strain coming on the rope is transmitted
through the spring to the fram, and the spring yields to any momentary and ex-
cessive strain, allowing the rope to pay out, and as soon as the excessive strain
ceases the spring winds back the slack of the rope. On one of the flanges of the
drum there is a brake flange, and by a brake strap gripping this flange the drum
can be held independently of the spring. On the other flange of the drum there is
a ring of spur teeth, and a pinion gears with these teeth. The pinion is on another
axis carried by the frame, and it receives crank handles, by which it can be turned.
[Price 6d.]

page_text: Or the drum may, to obtain greater purchase, be driven through an intermediate
wheel and pinion, or steam power may be applied. The axis of the drum to which
the springs are made fast has an arm fixed upon it. When the rope is running
out freely the axis turns, carrying this arm with it, but the arm and axis can be
stopped at any time by raising a lever into the path of the arm, and then the strain
upon the rope is transmitted through the springs as already explained. In order
to prevent corrosion of the springs enclosed in the interior of the drum I put oil
into the cavity of the drum.
Although this apparatus is especially intended to be used with steel wire rope, it
may be used with hempen ropes or with chains, and it is very well adapted to
windlasses working chains, as by means of the springs the sudden jerks and strains
so fatal to chains are prevented, the springs applying the heavy strain gradually to
the chain.
Barrels having springs and heaving and brake grear combined with them are
applicable also to windlasses, winches, and cranes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said William Munton Bullivant in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th
October 1876.
WILLIAM MUNTON BULLIVANT, of 59, Fenchurch Street, in the City of London.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN TOWING AND ALSO IN ANCHORING
SHIPS AND VESSELS, PART OF WHICH INVENTION IS APPLICABLE ALSO TO WIND-
LASSES, CAPSTANS, WINCHES, AND CRANE BARRELS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus to be used in towing
and also in anchoring ships and vessels, part of which Invention is applicable also
to windlasses, capstans, winches, and crane barrels.
For the purpose of anchoring ships and vessels and for towing and for other uses
on ship board, I have recently introduced steel wire rope in lieu of chain cables and
hempen hawsers.
According to my present Invention I employ the apparatus herein-after described
to carry and store such rope, to wind it in, to pay it out, and to sustain the strain
on the rope when riding or towing.
The apparatus consists of a frame fixed to the deck of the vessel in a convenient
position either fore or aft according as it is intended to be used mainly for anchoring
or for towing. The frame carries a horizontal axis, and there is a drum on the axis
on which the wire rope is wound. The drum is connected with the axis by means
of a coiled or other spring or springs in its interior, and the axis can at pleasure be
locked fast to the frame. When this is done any strain coming on the rope is
transmitted through the spring to the frame, and the spring yields to any momentary
and excessive strain allowing the rope to pay out, and as soon as the excessive strain
ceases the spring winds back the slack of the rope. On one of the flanges of the
drum there is a brake flange, and by a brake strap gripping this flange the drum
can be held independently of the spring. On the other flange of the drum there is
a ring of spur teeth, and a pinion gears with these teeth. The pinion is on another
axis carried by the frame and it receives crank handles, by which it can be turned.
Or the drum may, to obtain greater purchase, be driven through an intermediate
wheel and pinion, or steam power may be applied. The axis of the drum to which
the springs are made fast has an arm fixed upon it. When the rope is running out
freely the axis turns, carrying this arm with it, but the arm and axis can be stopped
at any time by raising a lever into the path of the arm, and then the strain upon
the rope is transmitted through the springs as already explained.
Although this apparatus is especially intended to be used with steel wire rope,
it may be used with hempen ropes or with chains, and it is very well adapted to
windlasses working chains, as by means of the springs the sudden jerks and strains

page_text: so fatal to chains are prevented, the springs applying the heavy strain gradually to
the chain.
Barrels having springs and heaving and breaking gear combined with them are
applicable also to windlasses, winches, and cranes.
In order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect, I have shewn in the Drawings hereunto annexed apparatus constructed as
above described, and to be used in towing and in anchoring ships, and also various
arrangements of winding drums or barrels combined with springs to act in the
manner above described.
The
Figure 1 is an end view, and Figure 2 a side view of apparatus to be used for
winding up and storing wire rope to be used for towing or anchoring ships. a, a, is
the frame to be fixed to the deck of a vessel in any convenient position. b is a
horizontal axis, having mounted upon it the drum c, on which the wire rope is
wound. On one of the flanges at the ends of the drum is a ring of open teeth d,
into which gears a pinion e; upon the axis of this pinion are crank handles f, by
which it can be turned, or the drum may, as before stated, be driven through an
intermediate wheel and pinion, or steam power may be applied to drive it.
other flange of the drum is formed to receive a friction strap around it, as shown.
On the axis b is fixed an arm g; h is a lever stop, which when raised comes into a
position to stop this arm, and so prevent the axis from turning. Between the drum
and the axis is interposed a spring, by preference in the manner shown at Figures 3.
The spring is composed of alternate blocks of vulcanized india-rubber & and metal
plates; they are contained within a cylinder m, which is fast on the axis.
end of the series of blocks rests against a radial stop n on the axis, and the other
end of the series against a tooth o, carried by the drum. In the cylindrical case m
there is a slot through which the tooth o passes; this slot is long enough to allow
the drum to turn a distance, and the tooth o to bear continuously against the india-
rubber spring whenever the axis b is prevented from turning and there is any strain
upon the rope which is wound around the drum.
One
In place of the india-rubber spring, l, being carried only partly around the
axis b, as in the arrangement shown at Figures 3, it may be ranged in a spiral form
around the axis, as shown at Figures 4. In this case the spiral groove is shown to
be formed around the interior of the drum. The spring rests at one end against a
stop at the end of the groove, and at the other against a tongue or tooth, which
enters within the spiral groove. When this arrangement is employed the axis b
must be mounted in such a manner that it is free to move endwise in its bearings
and also through the arm which is upon it.
Another spring arrangement is shown at Figures 5. In this arrangement coiled
metal springs are interposed between a collar on the axis and one end of the drum,
whilst a screw thread on the collar engages with a screw thread on the interior of
the drum. When the axis is locked and prevented from turning, and the drum is
turned by any strain upon the rope wound around it, the shaft is moved endwise
and compresses the springs.
In place of employing springs within the drum, as in the arrangements above
described, springs may be used in combination with the drum, in the manner shown
at Figures 6 and 7. In the arrangement shown at Figure 6 the axis of the drum
has mounted upon it a lever arm p; one arm carries a pawl q, which can be turned
over into a position to engage with ratchet teeth formed upon the periphery of one
of the flanges of the drum. The other arm of the lever is connected to a rod r,
having at its end a collars, which bears against the end of a series of springs t;
these springs may either be coiled metal springs, as shown, or they may be composed
of discs of vulcanized india-rubber separated one from the other by metal discs, or
other suitable springs may be employed. When the pawl q engages with the
ratchet on the drum all strain upon the rope is then transmitted through the
lever p to the springs.
In the arrangement shown at Figures 7, the lever p, in place of being connected
directly to the rod ", is formed with a toothed quadrant to gear into a pinion u,

page_text: and this pinion is caused to gear with a rack on the end of the rod 7, as shown.
v, v, are friction rolls supporting the rack.
As before stated, barrels having springs and leaving and brake gear combined.
with them are applicable also to windlasses, winches, and cranes.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I would have it understood that I claim-
First. The combination of springs with drums used for winding up and storing
wire or other rope or chain employed in towing or anchoring ships, substantially as
herein described.
Second. The combination of springs with the barrels of windlasses, capstans,
winches, and cranes, substantially as herein described.
Third. The combined arrangements of apparatus to be used in towing and
anchoring ships, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Munton Bullivant, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
W. M. BULLIVANT.
(L.S.)