Improvements in Clench-blocks, Holders, or "Stoppers" for Ropes, Towing Hawsers, and the like.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 27th June, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 27th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 12th May, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Clench-blocks, Holders, or "Stoppers" for Ropes,
Towing Hawsers, and the like.
I, JAMES THOMAS SELBY of Oakleigh, Hermon Hill, Snaresbrook, Essex,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:―
This invention relates to certain improvements in means for holding and releasing
ropes, hawsers and the like.
In carrying the same into effect there is to be provided a foundation plate having
at one end two upstanding bearings jaws or cheeks in which is mounted and borne
a cross pin or axis carrying an edge-cam block arranged so that the lower edge of
the cam will bear upon the rope or hawser passed through a space left between the
said edge of the cam and that part of the foundation plate between the two side
bearings jaws or cheeks.
The cam will be so placed that the larger radius of the curved edge thereof will
take effect when the cam is pressed down to clench upon the rope or hawser and
when once the frictional action takes effect the tighter will become the clench or
bite of the cam upon the rope yet if slack has to be taken in the rearward pull upon
the rope or hawser will take off the clench or bite immediately.
The side bearing arms of the foundation plate will have a strap or cross bearing
bolted thereon and a set screw will be passed through a female threaded hole in
said cross strap so that the initiatory clench upon the rope can be positively
effected by the foot of the screw or a shoe thereon pressing down upon the top of
the edge-cam.
A sliding wedge may be applied to work in the foundation-plate-clear-way below
the edge of the cam so that the more the rope is drawn upon the more surely and
powerfully will the cam act supplemented by the wedge action.
Dated this 27th day of June 1893.
HUGHES, ELI, & HUGHES,
76, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Clench-blocks, Holders, or "Stoppers" for Ropes,
Towing Hawsers, and the like.
I, JAMES THOMAS SELBY of Oakleigh, Hermon Hill, Snaresbrook, Essex,
Gentleman 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 :-
This invention relates to Improvements in Clench Blocks, Holders, or Stoppers,
for Ropes, Towing Hawsers, and the like, and has for object to provide a simple,
strong, and effectual mechanical means for promptly arresting the progress of a
rope when being paid out or hauled in, and for holding the rope firmly as and when
required.
Means or devices for such purposes have previously been employed but their

page_text: action has been unsatisfactory for instance they have not operated quickly enough,
and frequently the grip or hold was not at all effectual. These disadvantages by
this my invention are entirely overcome, and in order that the same may be fully
understood and readily carried into effect I will proceed to describe the invention
with reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings upon which
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a clench block constructed in accordance therewith,
Fig. 2 an end elevation and Fig. 3 a plan of the same.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the cam clench or wedge separated from the
carriage or block.
In each of the figures similar letters of reference indicate like parts of the
apparatus.
Now in carrying my invention into effect I have a suitably shaped metal bed or
foundation a having at its forward end bolted thereon, or cast or otherwise formed
therewith, two vertical cheeks or standards bb, bored so as to form bearings for the
cross pin d. This cross pin d is the axis or spindle upon which works the cam e.
The rope is passed between the standards bb and when it is desired to clinch or
hold it the came is caused to fall upon same when it occupies the position shewn in
full lines, Figs. 1 and 2. The dotted lines Fig. 1 represent the came in its raised
position allowing a free travel to the rope or line. To facilitate opperations the
upper surface of the bed plate a may be formed with a longitudinal groove a' therein,
as seen particularly in plan view Fig. 3, and end view Fig. 2, and the bearing
surface of the cam rim may also be formed with a groove or channel e¹ therein as
seen in Fig. 2, and in dotted lines Fig. 4. A socket or recess is formed in the
rim of the came in which a bar or lever is inserted as required for operating the
cam (see Figs. 4 and 5). When the cam e is pressed down upon the rope fto
clench same the frictional action arising from the travel of the rope will automatically
tighten the bite or clench of the cam e, yet if slack has to be taken in upon the
release of the lever the clench or bite will immediately be taken off.
The bed or foundation a may be fitted at its rear end with a ring or eye shackle
to enable the clench block to be lashed or otherwise attached to any portion of the
deck of the vessel, to the bulwarks or other fixed part. This gives a portable
clench block.
For heavy work the clench block may be bolted down by a headed standing bolt
or stud upon which it may be free to turn so as to allow of a central fixing of the
block upon the deck and permit of the tow line being carried out on either side of
the stem of the vessel. Again for heavy work the standards or bearings 6 6 may
be provided with a cross strap or plate h see in dotted lines Fig. 2 and through a
tapped aperture therein may pass a set screw i so that the initiatory clench upon
the rope can be positively effected by the end of the screw i or a shoe thereon pressing
down the top of the cam e.
A sliding wedge piece k working in the foundation or bed a may be provided
when desired (see in dotted lines Figs. 2 and 3) which wedge piece when the rope
is drawn through will have a tendency to travel with the rope and thus supplement
the clench action of the cam and the more securely and powerfully bite or hold the
rope, hawser or line.
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 :-
1. The improvements in clench blocks, holders or "stoppers" for ropes, towing
hawsers, and the like substantially as herein before set forth and shewn in the
accompanying drawings.
*
2. In clench blocks, holders, or 'stoppers" for ropes, towing hawsers, and the
like the arrangement and combination of foundation or bed plate a standards or
bearings band cam e substantially as shewn and described.
3. The combination with the clench block constructed and arranged as claimed

page_text: in Claim 2 herein of the sliding wedge piece k substantially as and for the purposes
hereinbefore described and shewn.
4. The combination of bed plate or foundation a standards or bearings b, cross
pin d, cam e sliding wedge piece k, cross strap or plate h and screw i forming a
clench block, holder, or stopper, for ropes, towing hawsers, and the like substantially
as herein before described and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 27th day of March 1894.
HUGHES, ELI & HUGHES,
76, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.