Improvements in Drums for Holding Electric Cables.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Aug., 1898-Accepted, 27th Aug., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Drums for Holding Electric Cables.
I, THOMAS OXLEY, of Tudor Works, Pendleton, Salford, 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 :-
My invention consists in improvements in drums for holding electric cables for
purposes of carriage or transport.
It is very desirable that the barrels of drums for holding electric cables for
purposes of carriage or transport shall be large in diameter in order that cables and
especially cables of large diameter may be wound thereon and unwound therefrom
without being subjected to injurious bending or being liable to have "kinks"
formed in them in being unwound from the drums on which they may have been
wound.
The principal objects of my invention are the provision of drums for holding
electric cables for purposes of carriage or transport which though furnished with
barrels of large diameter shall be of large capacity so as to be capable of being made
to hold cables of any length which it may be requisite to wind thereon and while
being of adequate strength shall be sufficiently light to be moved and handled with
the convenience requisite, and the provision of means to enable drums for holding
electric cables to be moved and handled more conveniently than the drums hitherto
constructed for the said purpose.
According to my invention, I form the barrels and cheeks or flanges of drums
for holding electric cables of steel or iron and form the cheeks or flanges
with openings approximately equal in diameter to the barrels of such
drums and thus render such drums lighter than if the plates forming
their cheeks or flanges extended to the central parts of the ends
thereof. In order to enable the drums so formed to have cables wound upon
them I may provide such drums at or near their ends with central discs
adapted to receive axles by which the drums may be supported and connect such
discs to the said drums by means of spokes of suitable form or instead of pro-
viding spokes and central discs in the drums I may so arrange the machines by
means of which cables are to be coiled upon drums constructed according to my
invention that they may support such drums by means of the barrels thereof or
by means of the inner edges or other suitable parts of or connected to the cheeks
or flanges of such drums. In order that drums for holding electric cables for
purposes of carriage or transport may be moved and handled with the requisite
readiness and convenience when in use I provide handles on the cheeks or flanges
of such drums.
As my invention may be carried into effect in various ways, I have in
Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the accompanying drawings in
all which figures the same letters of reference are employed to indicate correspond-
ing parts, shown some, modes of carrying my invention into effect by way of
illustration.

page_text: In the said figures, Fig. 1 is a side elevation and Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken
on the plane indicated by the line (A) (A) of Fig. 1 illustrating one form of drum
constructed according to iny invention.
In the drum illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2, the plates forming the cheeks or flanges (a)
are formed with holes of a diameter equal to that of the interior of the barrel (b).
The cheeks or flanges (a) are secured to the barrel (b) by being rivetted to angle
rings (c) rivetted to the barrel (b) in a manner analogous to that described in the
complete specification filed with my application for Letters Patent filed July 30th, 1898
and numbered 16602 of 1898 and the said cheeks or flanges (a) are provided with
wood linings (d) and with T angle rings (e) on their outer edges in one of the inodes
described in the said complete specification. Some of the rivets employed to
connect the cheeks or flanges (a) to the angle rings (c) that is to say the rivets (f) and
some of the rivets employed to connect the cheeks or flanges (a) to the T rings (e)
that is to say the rivets (g) are employed to secure spokes (h) to the cheeks or
flanges (a). Each of the spokes (h) is rivetted to one of two discs (i) one of which is
provided at each end of the drum. Each of the discs (i) is furnished with a central
opening to receive the axle by means of which the drum is supported while a cable is
being coiled thereon. The discs (2) are made of somewhat greater thickness in their
central parts in order that bearing surfaces of sufficient size may be provided to bear
upon the said axle. The discs illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 simply present plane
surfaces for the spokes to be secured against but if considered desirable in any
case discs provided with ribs or channels to embrace or receive the parts of the spokes
which are to be secured thereto may be employed. Each of the spokes (h) is provided
with a flat part (h) in which are formed the holes through which are passed the
rivets () by which such spoke () is secured to the disc (i) to which it is connected
and with flat parts (h²) (h³) in which are formed the holes through which are
respectively passed the rivets (f) (g) by means of which the said spoke (h) is secured
to the flange or cheek (a) to which it is connected. The part (4) of the said spoke
which is between the flat parts (h³) (h²) thereof is curled or coiled or bent transversely
into a form approximating to that of a cylindrical or oval tube with a slit along one
side so as to be stiffer than if left, flat and the part (h) of the said spoke (h) which
extends between the flat parts (2) (h³) thereof is curled, coiled or bent transversely
into a form approximating to that of a tube with a slit along one side so as to he
stiffer than if left flat and is also as is clearly indicated in Fig. 2 so bent that
its central part being at a suitable distance from the flange or cheek (a) to
which the said spoke (h) is connected shall serve as a convenient handle for use
in the turning and handling of the drum. In order to stiffen the drum in the
direction of its axis and to some extent radially, stays (k) are rivetted to the discs (2)
and to the internal surface of the barrel (b) at the middle of the length thereof.
Only four of the spokes (h) and two of the stays (k) employed in the drum illustrated
by Fig. 2 are indicated in such figure the others being omitted in order that the
said figure may be as simple as possible.
Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings is a side elevation illustrating a portion of a
drum of another form constructed according to my invention and Fig. 4 is a vertical
section taken on the plane indicated by the line B B of Fig. 3 and Fig. 5 is a side
elevation of a portion of a drum of another form constructed according to my
invention and Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section taken on the plane indicated by the
line CC of Figure 5, Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a portion of a drum of another form
constructed according to my invention and Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section taken on
the plane indicated by the line D D of Fig. 7 and Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a
portion of a drun of yet another form constructed according to my invention and
Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section taken on the plane indicated by the line EE of
Fig. 9. Figs. 3 and 4, Figs. 5 and 6, Figs. 7 and 8 and Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate
spokes of forms different from that of the spokes illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 but
capable of being used instead thereof. The spoke (h) illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 in
so far as the part (h³) between the flat part (2) through which the rivet (f) is
passed and the flat part (h³) through which the rivet (g) is passed is concerned is similar

page_text: to each of the spokes (h) illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 but is simply left flat in the part (h)
between the flat part (2) and the flat part (h') through which the rivets (j) (1) are
passed. The spoke (h) illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 like that illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4
is flat in the part between the flat part (2) through which the rivet (f) is passed and
the flat part (h), through which the rivets (j) (j) are passed and is, except for being
in part somewhat reduced in width and bent so as to serve as a convenient handle
as is clearly indicated by Fig. 6, also flat in the part between the flat part (2)
through which the rivet (f) is passed and the flat part (3) through which the
rivet (g) is passed. The spoke (h) illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 is flat throughout its
length except in so far as at the outer end it is bent so as to bear against one side of
the web and against one of the flanges of the T ring (e) secured to the flange or
cheek (a) to which such spoke is connected. The spoke (h) illustrated in Figs. 7
and 8 besides being secured to the said flange or cheek (a) by means of rivets (f) (g)
which are passed respectively through the angle ring (c) and T ring (e) used with
the said flange or cheek (a) is secured to such flange or cheek (a) by means of other
rivets (m).
The spoke (h) illustrated by Figs. 9 and 10 is similar to that illustrated by Figs. 7
and 8 except in that it is made to simply extend outwards to the web of the T ring (e)
upon the flange or cheek (a) to which it is secured instead of being made to bear
against one side of the web and against one flange of such T ring.
Fig. 11 of the accompanying drawings is a side elevation of a drum of another
forin constructed according to my invention and Fig. 12 is a longitudinal section
through such drum taken on a plane indicated in part by the line F F of Fig. 11.
In so far as the form and arrangement of the barrel (6) flanges or cheeks (a) angle
rings (c), rings (e) and wood linings (d) are concerned, the drum illustrated by
Figs. 11 and 12 is similar to the drum illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2 but instead of
spokes rivetted to the discs (i) and to the flanges or cheeks (a) spokes (n) each
rivetted at one end to one of the discs (i) and at the other end into a hole formed
in the barrel (b) of the drum are employed and the handles (o) though similar in
form and corresponding to and secured to the flanges or cheeks (a) in the same
manner as the outer ends of the spokes (h) illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2 and Figs. 3
and 4 are separate from the spokes (n) employed in the drum to which they are
applied. In the drum illustrated by Figs. 11 and 12 each of the stays (k) is rivetted
at one end to one of the discs (i) and the other end to the inner surface of the
barrel (b) of the drum. Only four of the spokes (n) and four of the handles (0)
and two of the stays (c) employed in the druin illustrated by Fig. 12 are indicated
in such figure the others being omitted in order that the said figure may be
as simple as possible.
Instead of spokes of the forms illustrated in the accompanying drawings spokes of
other forms which may be convenient or desirable and made solid or hollow in part or
throughout as may be considered desirable in any case may be employed. Instead of
employing rings and angle rings such as those illustrated in the accompanying
drawings I may form the outer edges of the flanges or cheeks of druins constructed
according to my invention and connect the flanges or cheeks and barrels thereof in
any other manner which may be considered suitable. In some cases with or without
employing stays such as are illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, Figs. 7 and 8 and Figs. 11
and 12 I may provide a central tubular stay connected in any suitable manner to the
discs to which the spokes are connected or having the spokes secured to it in any
other suitable manner and in some cases also in constructing drums in accordance
with my invention I dispense with the use of stays in the interior of the barrel of
such drums.
In some cases as hereinbefore mentioned I may dispense with spokes in the con-
struction of drums according to my invention and in such cases the machines by
ineans of which cables are to be coiled upon drums constructed according to my
invention will be arranged to hold such drums by means of the barrels thereof or in
any other suitable manner. Provided that they be so formed as to be readily
attached by means of rivets or bolts or screws to the flanges or cheeks of the drums

page_text: to which they are applied, the handles provided in accordance with my invention may
be made of different forms and solid or hollow in part or throughout as may be
desirable in different cases, though I prefer to employ handles of the forms illustrated
in Figs. 1 and 2, Figs. 3 and 4 and Figs. 11 and 12.
Besides being applicable to drums in which the flanges or cheeks do not extend
nearer to the axes of the drums than the interiors of the barrels, handles employed
in accordance with my present invention may be applied to drums constructed in
accordance with the invention described in the specification filed with my herein-
before mentioned application for Letters Patent dated July 30th, 1898 and numbered
16602 of 1898 in which the flanges or cheeks extend inwards beyond the barrels and
are simply provided with holes to receive an axle upon which they may be placed
while cables are being coiled upon such drums and also to drums of the kinds
hitherto provided to hold electric cables for purposes of carriage or transport.
Figs. 13 and 14 illustrate handles provided in accordance with my invention as
applied to a drun of one of the forms illustrated in the drawings accompanying my
herein before inentioned application for Letters Patent No. 16602 dated July 30th,
1898 and illustrate a drum in which each of the two cheeks or flanges is formed
with a groove to receive one of the ends of the barrel used therewith and the barrel
is secured to the cheeks or flanges by being made to enter the grooves therein and
secured in position by means of rivets or bolts extending through the cheeks or
flanges and through the interior of the barrel of the drum. Fig. 13 is a side
elevation of the said drum and Fig. 14 is a vertical section of such drum taken on
the plane indicated by the line GG of Fig. 13. Figs. 13 and 14 indicate how con-
veniently handles (o) provided in accordance with my present invention may be
secured to a drum of the kind illustrated in such figures by means of the bolts or
rivets used to secure the flanges or cheeks to the barrel and the rivets used to secure
to such flanges or cheeks the T rings connected thereto. In order that Fig. 14 may
be as simple as possible I have only indicated therein four of the handles provided in
accordance with my present invention, on the drum illustrated in such figure.
I have for convenience omitted from the accompanying drawings all rivets
employed in the drums illustrated which do not serve to secure the spokes and
handles employed according to my present invention.
Drums constructed according to my present invention can be made with barrels of
large diameter so that cables coiled thereon can be unwound there from without being
in danger of "kinking" or other injury and yet be of large capacity so that they
may hold cables of any length which it may be requisite to wind thereon and
sufficiently light to be moved and handled with the convenience requisite.
The provision of handles in accordance with my invention upon drums for holding
electric cables for purposes of carriage or transport renders such drums much more
convenient to move and handle as may be requisite from time to time in the use of
such drums than drums even of less capacity hitherto made without handles.
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. For holding electric cables for purposes of carriage or transport druns with
barrels and flanges or cheeks of steel or iron and having openings in the centre of
the flanges or cheeks approximately equal in diameter to the barrels of such drums
for the purposes herein before described.
2. In a drum for holding electric cables for purposes of carriage or transport,
handles of any of the kinds herein before described provided upon the flanges or
cheeks of such drum for the purposes hereinbefore described.
3. For holding electric cables for purposes of carriage or transport a drum with a
barrel and flanges or cheeks of steel or iron and having openings in the centre of the
flanges or cheeks approximately equal in diameter to the barrel of such drum and
furnished with spokes in any of the modes herein before described with reference to
Figs. 1 and 2, Figs. 3 and 4, Figs. 5 and 6, Figs. 7 and 8, Figs. 9 and 10 and Figs. 11

page_text: and 12 of the accompanying drawings for the purposes and substantially in the
manner herein before described.
4. For holding electric cables for purposes of carriage or transport a drum
with a barrel and flanges or cheeks of steel or iron and having openings in the centre
of the flanges or cheeks approximately equal in diameter to the barrel of such
drum and furnished with spokes and handles in any of the modes hereinbefore
described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, Figs. 3 and 4, Figs. 5 and 6, and
Figs. 11 and 12 of the accompanying drawings for the purposes and substantially
in the manner herein before described.
5. For holding electric cables for purposes of carriage or transport a drum with a
barrel and flanges or cheeks of steel or iron and having openings in the centre of the
flanges or cheeks approximately equal in diameter to the barrel of such drum and
furnished with spokes in any of the modes hereinbefore described with reference to
Figs. 1 and 2, Figs. 3 and 4, Figs. 5 and 6, Figs. 7 and 8, Figs. 9 and 10 and Figs. 11
and 12 of the accompanying drawings and furnished with a stay or stays in any of
the modes herein before described all for the purposes and substantially in the manner
herein before described.
6. For holding electric cables for purposes of carriage or transport a drum with a
barrel and flanges or cheeks of steel or iron and having openings in the centre of the
flanges or cheeks approximately equal in diameter to the barrel of such drum and
furnished with spokes and handles in any of the modes herein before described with
reference to Figs. 1 and 2, Figs. 3 and 4, Figs. 5 and 6 and Figs. 11 and 12 of the
accompanying drawings and furnished with a stay or stays in any of the modes
herein before described all for the purposes and substantially in the manner herein-
before described.
Dated this Eleventh day of August 1808
HOWARD
CHEETHAM,
Manchester, Agent for the Applicant.