IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CORDS OR ROPES FROM STRANDS OF FIBROUS MATERIAL OR WIRE, AND IN THE MACHINERY EMPLOYED IN SUCH MANUFACTURE
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Guest, of Great Saffron Hill, Farringdon
Road, in the County of Middlesex, Machinist, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CORDS OR ROPES FROM STRANDS OF
FIBROUS MATERIAL OR WIRE, AND IN THE MACHINERY EMPLOYED IN SUCH
MANUFACTURE."
Sealed the 3rd May 1867, and dated the 7th December 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Guest, at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with bis Petition, on the 7th
December 1866.
I, WILLIAM GUEST, of Great Saffron Hill, Farringdon Road, in the County.
of Middlesex, Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention.
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CORDS OR ROPES FROM STRANDS OF
FIBROUS MATERIAL OR WIRE, AND IN THE MACHINERY EMPLOYED IN SUCH MANU-
FACTURE," to be as follows:-
This Invention bas for its object the manufacture of cords or ropes of.
a novel character by plaiting or interweaving the strands or threads composing.
the cord or rope in a particular manner as herein-after described, whereby
great strength is obtained, together with very novel and ornamental effects.

page_text: In carrying out my Invention I employ machinery arranged in a simmar
manner to that known and employed for the manufacture of braids and plaits,
but in place of causing the series of threads, strands, or wires (herein-after
called strands) to twist or plait with one another, or in pairs or sets, I cause
two opposite strands of a series to cross together in opposite directions and
thus divide the other part of the series of strands employed in forming a cord
or rope according to my Invention. The two strands which thus cross in
opposite directions between the two half sets of strands forming the remainder
of the series may be compared to two weft threads passing in opposite directions
between an equally divided set of warp threads in weaving a fabric. Two
opposite strands of a series are caused to pass under half of the remaining
number of strands forming the series (the order in which such opposite strands
cross depending upon the number employed) thus forming a solid centre to the
cord bound up by successive crossings of opposite strands in opposite directions.
In order to produce cords or ropes of round section it is necessary that the
number of strands forming the series employed should be even, after deducting
the two strands which are in the act of crossing, so that the number left may
be equally divided, thus, if six strands only are employed then each opposite
strand as it crosses will pass under two or divide the other four strands, and if
the whole series of strands number sixteen the two crossing strands will each
pass under seven or act to divide the other fourteen strands, and in like manner
with other suitable numbers of strands composing a series.
In arranging machinery suitable for manufacturing cords or ropes according.
to my Invention three revolving heads or plates are employed, the central plate
being formed with as many openings in its periphery as there are spindles,
bobbins, and strands employed to be moved or actuated in forming a cord or rope
according to my Invention, the two smaller revolving plates which are placed on
opposite sides of the central plate being formed with half the number of openings
in each of their peripheries to those in the central plate for receiving the spindles
carrying the bobbins which cause their strands to cross or divide the remainder
of the series from time to time as may be required, tappets or conductors
being arranged and actuated in combination with the revolving heads or plates
for this purpose; the axis of the central plate revolving therewith is formed
hollow, the cord or rope as it is formed passing away down the hollow axis
to suitable take up apparatus actuated by the rotation of the central axis or
otherwise. The cord or rope as it is delivered is either wound upon a reel
or bobbin or conducted away through a central tube or passage as may be
found most convenient. The bobbius upon which the series of strands are

page_text: wound are weighted to put a proper amount of tension upon each strand as
is well understood in the construction of ordinary braiding and plaiting
machinery, suitable let off apparatus being also applied to each bobbin.
When manufacturing cords or ropes with metal wire according to my
Invention the wire is wound upon weighted bobbins or reels carried by
horizontal axes mounted upon the rotating tubes and spindles in order that
the weight may act directly endwise upon the wire in place of suspending
it in a loop thereon as is the case where strands of fibrous material aro
employed. By varying the colors of the series of strands employed in
manufacturing a cord or rope according to my Invention, highly ornamental
effects may be produced suitable for blind or picture cords, trimmings, or
for other purposes. Machinery such as above described, may be employed
for covering telegraph cables or other cords or ropes by passing the same
down the central axis to form a core to the strands as they are interwoven.
around it...
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed.
by the said William Guest in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th June 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
GUEST, of Great Saffron Hill, Farringdon Road, in the County of Middlesex,
Machinist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Guest, Her special licence that .I; the said William Guest,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
William Guest, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland;
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF CORDS OR ROPES FROM STRANDS OF FIBROUS MATERIAL OR
WIRE, AND IN THE MACHINERY EMPLOYED IN SUCH MANUFACTURE," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Guest, my executors or

page_text: administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Guest, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object the manufacture of cords or ropes of
a novel character by plaiting or interweaving the strands or thread composing
the cord or rope in a particular manner as herein-after described; whereby
great strength is obtained together with very novel and ornamental effects.
In carrying out my Invention I employ machinery arranged in a similar
manner to that known and employed for the manufacture of braids and plaits,
but in place of causing the series of threads, strands, or wires, (herein-after
called strands) to twist or plait with one another or in pairs or sets, I cause
two opposite strands of a series to cross together in opposite directions, and
thus divide the other part of the series of strands employed in forming a cord
or rope according to my Invention. The two strands which thus cross in
opposite directions between the two half sets of strands forming the remainder
of the series may be compared to two weft threads passing in opposite directions
between an equal divided set of warp threads in weaving a fabric. Two
opposite strands of a series are caused to pass under half (or between the two
halves) of the remaining number of strands forming the series (the order in
which such opposite strands cross depending upon the number employed), thus
forming a solid centre to the cord bound up by successive crossings of opposite
strands in opposite directions.
In order to produce cords or ropes of round section it is necessary that
the number of strands forming the series employed should be even after
deducting the two strands which are in the act of crossing, so that the
number left may be equally divided, thus if six strands only are employed
then each opposite strand as it crosses will pass across two or divide the
other four strands, and if the whole series of strands number sixteen the two
crossing strands will each pass under seven or act to divide the other fourteen
strands, and in like manner with other suitable uumbers of strands comprising
a series.

page_text: description. The axes c¹, d', e¹, are caused to rotate in the directions indicated
by the arrows by the following means: -f is an axis (carried by suitable
bearings) to which motion is communicated either by hand or other motive
power is a bevilled pinion upon the axis f which communicates motion to
the bevilled wheel f* fixed upon the axis and motion is communicated from
the axis e¹ to the axes c¹ and d', by means of the toothed wheels e, c³, and d³,
fixed upon their respective axes.
In the arrangement shown in the Drawing there are sixteen spindles and
bobbins employed, although it is not essential that this number should be
chosen, as machinery of this description may be arranged for other suitable
numbers without departing from the nature of my Invention; 9 and h are
tappets or conductors oscillating upon pivots 9', h; upon the framing a.
The conductors 9 and h are so acted upon by the spindles b, b, during their
rotation as to select every third spindle of the series carried round by the
discs c, and guide it respectively into the discs d and e which carry such
spindles around into such a position that the conductors 9 and h return such
selected spindles into the series carried round by the disc c, the spindles so
selected always retaining the same relative position on opposite sides of the
axis c¹; 9* and h* are levers which reverse the position of the conductors g
and by the rotation of the spindles 6 in contact therewith. The necessary
motion is imparted to the conductors g and h by the rotary movement of the
spindles b, b, acting thereon as is well understood in machinery of this descrip-
tion. I would remark that in machines of this character where other
suitable numbers of spindles, and bobbins are employed the order of selection
from the central disc will have to be varied in accordance with such number,
so that the opposite threads of the series may cross in opposite directions over
the respective halves of the remaining series of threads or strands. Each
thread or strand in passing from its bobbin is conducted through an eye
in the arm b³, thence through the eye 6 in the same arm, and through the
eye piece hinged to the arm 63, the thread then passes through the weighted
hook or eye piece 6, which is suspended on the thread within the hollow
spindle b. Each thread passes out at the top of its hollow spindle to the top
of the central spindle c³, where the strands are woven together as previously
described, the weighted eye pieces acting to retain the strands at a suitable
degree of tension at the varying distances of the bobbins b' from the central
axis c during their rotation. The central axis c' being hollow the cord or
rope as it is formed, passes downwards through it to and around the taking-up
reel revolving on a spindle supported and carried by the rotating frame c

page_text: mounted on the lower end of the hollow central axis c¹, motion being com-
municated from the stationary pinion ; fixed on the tubular support through
which the cord may be conducted away if desired in place of being wound
upon the reel i.
By varying the colors of the series of strands employed in manufacturing
a cord or rope according to my Invention highly ornamental effects may be
produced suitable for blind or picture cords, trimmings, or for other purposes.
Machinery similar to that above described and arranged to work with a suitable
number of bobbins may be employed for covering telegraph cables or other cords
or ropes by passing the same down the central axis to form a core to the strands
as they are interwoven around it.
r
When manufacturing cords or ropes with metal wire according to my
Invention the wire is wound upon weighted bobbins or reels carried by
horizontal axes mounted upon the rotating tubes and spindles in order that
the weight may act directly end wise upon the wire in place of suspending it
in a loop thereon as is the case where strands of fibrous material are employed.'
Figure 7 shows a spindle b arranged to carry a bobbin 6 in a horizontal
position as above described. The bobbin revolves upon a pin b carried by
an arm 68 fixed upon the spindle 69 which moves up and down within the
hollow spindle b, such spindle 6 acting by its weight to retain the wire or
thread from the bobbin at a suitable degree of tension, and if necessary it
can be weighted, as shewn at Figure 6. The forked end of the arm b³ on
the spindle 6 is guided by the arm 610 upon the spindle 6, and the wire or
thread passes through the eye 6" formed in the arm 60 direct to the work, in
place of being passed through a series of guides, and having a loop formed in
it to support the tension weight as in the arrangement previously described.
As the wire or thread is worked up off the bobbin b', it and the spindle & rise
until the end of the lever arm or spring catch 1 comes in contact with the
fixed stop 6x on the arm 610, which thus releases the lever arm 6¹ from the
toothed ratchet wheel 613 fixed on the bobbin 6, the descent of which with the
spindle lets off sufficient wire or thread from the bobbin 6' from time to
time as required. I would remark that the arrangement of the bobbin 6' in
a horizontal position with let off apparatus as previously described is applicable
for the manufacture of cords or ropes from threads or strands of fibrous
material which are not capable of supporting the amount of friction to which
they would be subject in the arrangement of bobbin and let off apparatus first
herein described.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which

page_text: the same is performed or carried into practice, what I claim is, the improved
manufacture of cords or ropes from strands of fibrous material or wire by
means of machinery arranged according to my improvements so as to plait or
weave such strands or wire together into a cord or rope in the manner herein
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Guest, have hereunto set my
band and seal, this Twenty-third day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
WILLIAM GUEST. (L.S.)
Witness,
CHA³. J. GOOCH,
Clerk to Messrs. Tongue & Birkbeck,
34, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, W.C.