IMPROVEMENTS IN CABLE-STOPPERS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark of the firm of A. M and
W Clark of 53 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex Fellow of
the Institute of Patent Agents for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN
CABLE-STOPPERS Communicated to him from abroad by John Baptist Lynch,
of the City of Leadville in the County of Lake and State of Colorado, United
States of America Carpenter
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st January 1883.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of the firm of AM and W. Clark of 53 Chancery
Lane in the County of Middlesex Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CABLE STOPPERS" [A communication to me from abroad by
John Baptist Lynch, of the City of Leadville in the County of Lake and State of
Colorado, United States of America Carpenter]
This Invention relates to cable-stoppers for handling anchors on shipboard; and
the Invention consists of a door for the hawse-hole formed of two pieces or sections
hinged together, one of which is secured to a shaft having means for oscillating
the same, and the other is provided with a flaring slot in its free end for the anchor-
chain and is adapted to be raised and lowered by the oscillation of the former
piece to allow the chain to pay out, or to stop the same at any desired position.
The door is combined with a frame bolted to the bow of a vessel and having an
opening at the centre, which registers with the hawse-hole and is closed by said
door which is secured upon the shaft at the upper end of the frame. The door is
formed with a piece or section, which is secured to the shaft and is provided with
a recess in its under surface, in which is hinged the other piece or section whose
free end is provided with the slot. This slot is made narrow at its upper end with
parallel sides and broadly flaring at its lower end with its edges bevelled on the
inner side.

page_text: The frame is provided with vertical guides on each side of the lower section of
the door by which the movement of the latter is confined to a direct line, and
increased strength is given to the said section. The shaft is provided with suitable
bearings at the upper end of the frame and is provided with a lever by which
power is to be applied to operate the door. The frame is braced by stay-rods
which extend to the deck of the vessel.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th July 1883.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of the Firm of A, M, and W, Clark of 53 Chancery
Lane in the County of Middlesex Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CABLE-STOPPERS." A communication to me from abroad by
John Baptist Lynch of the City of Leadville in the County of Lake and State of
Colorado, United States of America, Carpenter.
This Invention relates to cable-stoppers for handling anchors on ship-board and
the Invention consists of a door for the hawse-hole formed in two parts or
sections hinged together, one of which is secured to a shaft having means for
oscillating the same, and the other is provided with a flaring slot in its free end
for the anchor-chain and is adapted to be raised and lowered by the oscillation of
the former part to allow the chain to pay out, or to stop the same at any desired
position.
The Invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is
a front elevation of the Invention showing the door in position for holding the
chain, and Figure 2 is a vertical section of the same taken on line x x of Figure 1
showing the door in position for allowing the chain to pay out.
A designates a frame, to be bolted to the bow of a vessel and braced to the deck
by stay rods K. This frame has an opening B at the centre which registers with
the hawse-hole B' and is closed by a door Č secured upon a shaft D at the upper
end of the frame. The door is formed with a part E which is secured to the
shaft D and is provided with a recess F in its under surface, in which is hinged
the other part G of the door having its free end provided with the slot H. This
slot is made narrow at its upper end with parallel sides and broadly flaring at its
lower end with its edges bevelled on the inner side. The frame A is provided
with vertical guides I on each side of the lower part G of the door by which the
movement of the latter is confined to a direct line, and increased strength is given
to the said part G. The shaft D is provided with suitable bearings at the upper
end of the frame A and is connected to a lever J by which power is to be applied
to operate the door.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of

page_text: performing the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected
by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is
1st The combination with a suitable frame of a door made in sections having a
knee joint connection with each other, and which is provided with a flaring slot in
its free end for holding a chain passing through a hawse-hole, substantially as
hereinbefore set forth.
2nd The combination with a suitable frame of the door consisting of the
section E secured to the shaft D and the section G hinged in a recess in the under
side of the section E to form a knee joint connection and having the slot H formed
in its free end, substantially as shown and described.
3rd The combination with a suitable frame having guides I of the door formed
of two sections binged together, one of which is secured to a shaft having a lever
for operating the same, and the other is provided with a flaring slot in its free end
and is adapted to move between the said guides, substantially as herein before
specified.
In Witness whereof I the said Alexander Melville Clark have hereunto set
my hand and seal this thirtieth day of July, A.D. 1883.