Improvements in or relating to the Draught Ropes of Steam Trawlers and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Draught Ropes of Steam
Trawlers and the like.
1, WALTER BADGER BROWN of Globe Works, Bankhall, Liverpool in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
In steam trawling under the new system of self expanding nets two draught
ropes are used and in order to attach the bridles to these at the right point, links
are placed in the two ropes at intervals. There are many disadvantages connected
with the use of these links, first the main links with its two attaching links are
bulky and interfere greatly with the winding on the windlass causing much wear
and tear, secondly, the double splicing entailed by each set of links is a source of
weakness and danger.
Now my invention is designed to do without these links and splicing and to use
a continuous rope. It consists in rigidly attaching to the ropes ferrules or lugs at
the requisite distance and clips holding on to the rope inmediately beyond these
ferrules or lugs or holding on to the ferrule or lug itself. I prefer to use a ferrule
and a clip holding on to the rope immediately beyond and abutting on to the ferrule.
The ferrule is formed with a hole just fitting the rope which is however coned out at
each end and hollowed out internally in the centre the coning and hollowing out
being preferably joined or formed of gentle curves. The ferrule is provided at
the centre with a diametric hole of sufficient size to admit a stout spike and the
hollowing out of the centre of the ferrule is sufficient to enable the strands of the
rope displaced by such a spike to lie therein. One or preferably two other holes
are perforated in the ferrule near the thickest part. The mode of attaching this
ferrule is as follows:-The ferrule being threaded on to the rope and placed at the
right point a spike is driven through the central diametric hole and the rope.
The conical ends of the ferrule are plugged up with clay and white metal is run
through the other hole or holes. The spike is now withdrawn and its place filled
with white metal. The object of the cones at each end is to enable the rope to
bend gradually instead of suddenly as it would if the hole were parallel. Almost
any kind of clip that can he quickly and safely attached to a rope without
injury to itself and the rope will do for attaching the bridles. Two or three
plans however which I have more or less worked out appear to be better
than others. The first plan consists in forming a clip in two halves hinged or
otherwise tightly encircling the rope and locked together in any convenient manner.
Another plan consists in forming the clip somewhat in the form of a pair of tongs
having hollowed out jaws and the fulcrum in the centre. The rope is then attached
to the two bandles or free ends, and a little device used for locking the handles
together when the jaws tightly hold the rope. A third plan consists in forming
the clip in two halves dove-tailed together and sliding on each other's dove-tails.
The bridle in such case is fastened to one or both parts. In thus describing my
invention I wish it to be understood that I do not bind myself to a ferrule, as once
give the idea of firmly fixing an abutment on a continuous rope and other methods

page_text: of doing this can be easily worked out such as for instance casting the abutment solid
on the rope. Most and probably all these ways however will be found inferior to
a simple ferrule such as herein described. Further other materials than white
metal for holding the threads of the rope distended after the spike has been with-
drawn can be used white metal or easily fusible metals generally are however to be
preferred.
Dated the 8th day of June 1896.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in or relating to the Draught Ropes of Steam
Trawlers and the like.
I, WALTER BADGER BROWN, of Globe Works, Bankhall, Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, 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:-
In steam trawling under the new system of self expanding nets which is commonly
known as the Otter gear, two draught ropes or trawl ropes are used and in order to
attach the bridles to these at the right point, links are placed in the ropes at
intervals so that the ropes are made up of sections joined together at the links.
There are many disadvantages connected with the use of these links, first, they are
bulky and interfere greatly with the winding on the windlass causing much wear
and tear, secondly, the double splicing entailed by each set of links is a source of
weakness and danger.
Now my invention is designed to do without these links and splicing, and to use
a continuous rope, while accomplishing what the links and splicing were intended
to perform. It consists in rigidly attaching to the ropes or warps, ferrules or lugs
at the requisite distance, and metallic clips holding on to the ferrule or Jugs
themselves. The ferrule is formed with a hole, just fitting the rope, but it is coned
out or trumpet mouthed at each end, and hollowed out internally in the centre, the
coning and hollowing out being preferably joined or formed of gentle curves. The
ferrule may be provided at the centre with a diametric hole of sufficient size to
admit a stout spike, and the hollowing out of the centre of the ferrule is sufficient
to enable the strands of the rope displaced by such a spike, to lie therein.
One or preferably two other holes are perforated in the ferrule near the thickest
part.
The mode of attaching the ferrule by this arrangement is as follows:-
The ferrule being threaded on to the rope and placed at the right point, a spike
is driven through the central diametric hole and the rope. The conical ends of
the ferrule are plugged up with clay, and white metal is run through the hole or
holes. The spike is now withdrawn and its place filled with white metal. The
object of the cones at each end is to enable the rope to bend gradually instead of
suddenly as it would if the hole were parallel. Almost any kind of clip that can
be quickly and safely attached to a rope without injury to itself and the rope, will
do for attaching the bridles. Two or three plans however which I have more or
less worked out appear to be better than others. The first plan consists in forming
a clip in two halves hinged or otherwise tightly encircling the rope and locked
together in any convenient manner. Another plau consists in forming the clip
somewhat in the form of a pair of tongs having hollowed out jaws and the fulcrum

page_text: In the
ntre.
rope is
ос
cuus,
little device used for locking the handles together when the jaws tightly hold the
rope. A third plan consists in forming the clip in two halves dovetailed together
and sliding on each other's dovetails. The bridle in such case is fastened to one
or both parts.
In thus describing my invention I wish it to be understood that I do not bind
myself to a ferrule, as once given the idea of firmly fixing an abutment on a
continuous rope, other methods of doing this can be easily worked out, such as for
instance casting the abutment solid on the rope. This is the arrangement shown
in the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 is a piece of rope with its strands displaced ready for the abutment to
be cast on;
Figure 2, the abutment cast on in place;
Figure 3, a cross section through the middle of the abutment;
Figure 4, a view of the rope and clip with half of the latter removed to show
the abutment;
Figure 5, plan of the abutment with its clip open;
Figure 6, front elevation of the clip closed on the rope;
Figures 7 and 8, general views of the invention in use on a rope.
In these,
A are the ropes or warps, B one of the abutments or lugs rigidly attached
thereto at the required distance, C the metallic clips holding on to the abutments B.
The abutment may be of elliptical, cone shaped or any other suitable shape or
description so long as it presents the greatest possible resistance against the strain
applied. The abutment B is cast on the rope first by driving a stout spike between
the strands at the point or points where abutments are required, thereby displacing
and separating the strands to such an extent that the strands assume the appearance
shown in Figure 1. This portion of the rope with its displaced and separated
strands is then placed in a mould or pair of chills, and brass or other metal cast on
the rope, surrounding every wire and forming a solid compact piece B. The
clips C which are coupled to the bridles E may hold on to the abutment B itself,
or if desired onto ferrules B' fitting over and reinforcing the said abutment. These
ferrules are in two eylindrical parts, one of which overlaps the other, and the over-
lapping parts are then rivetted together by rivets c. The ferrules are by preference
of crucible steel, slightly trumpet mouthed at the end, so that the rope may bend
over the curve without damage in coiling, the centre of the ferrule being hollowed
out to admit of the abutment B which is formed to fit exactly into the hollowed
part of B. I find the casting on of the abutment B before the ferrule B' is put
on, is an important matter because it admits of careful examination as to whether
the casting is perfectly good and solid. Almost any kind of clip C that can be
quickly and safely attached to a rope without injury to itself and the rope will do
for attaching the bridle E. The plan which I find the best consists in making the
clip C in two halves C¹ C¹ tightly encircling the abutment B or its ferrule B'.
This clip is hinged together at one side at C and fastened on the opposite side by
a bolt F so fitted and slotted that when fixed it will not be likely to get displaced
during use. This clip by means of links G attached to the ears H each side of it,
is coupled to a steel socket I fitted upon the end of the bridle E. J is a slot in
the clip, K a stud on the bolt F sliding in the slot, and L a set pin in the clip
locking the bolt. It will be seen that the clip cannot disengage itself from the
abutment accidentally, as in order to disengage them, the set pin Linust be slackened,
the bolt F turned slightly to bring its stud K into the vertical part of the slot J;
not until then can the bolt be raised and the clip opened.
It must be understood that this invention may be used for purposes, other than
those applied to steam fishing, such as for endless rope haulage in mines, surface.
haulage etc. In such cases an abutment B is used with a metallic ferrule B
as described and shown on the drawings, and operated, by a clip as shown, but
modified in such a manner that it can be quickly attached or detached: or the

page_text: ferrule may be used for mine haulage without the use of the clip, the said ferrule
pressing against, or being pulled by, a suitable fork attached to the wagon or tram
to be operated.
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. In draught ropes for steam trawling, rope. haulage or the like, where the
rope has to be made fast to a bridle or its equivalent, the method of attaching
the rope to the bridle, which consists in using a continuous rope having one or
more abutments formed thereon or attached thereto, and in placing against or
around these abutments clips coupled to the bridles by links or otherwise, and so
arranged as to hold on or abut against the abutments on the rope substantially as
.described.
2. In draught ropes, the arrangement whereby a bridle or other device can be
attached to a continuous rope at any required point in its length, which consists in
rigidly attaching to or forming on the continuous rope, abutments at the requisite
distance, and in providing the bridles or other devices with metallic clips gripping,
holding or abutting on the abutments on the rope, whereby a continuous rope can
be used without links and splicing, substantially as described.
3. In draught ropes, the method of forming an abutment on a rope so as to
-obtain the greatest possible resistance against the strain applied thereto which
consists in displacing by means of a spike or other tool, the strands of the rope at
the point or points where the abutments are required and in casting brass or other
metal on to the rope at those points, in such a manner as to surround each strand
and form a solid and compact inass substantially as set forth.
4. In draught ropes having one or more metallic abutments formed thereon the
combination therewith of metallic ferrules B' on the rope, fitting over the
abutments B, the said ferrules being coned or trumpet mouthed at the ends in such
a manner that the rope in bending or coiling will bend over the curve without
damage, substantially as described.
5. The general combined arrangement and construction of parts substantially as
set forth, whereby a bridle or other device can be attached to a continuous rope at
.any required point in its length without the use of links and splicing.
Deted this 6th day of March 1907
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and London, Patent Agents.