IMPROVE- MENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN CONNECTION WITH CABLES, ROPES, OR CHAINS FOR MOORING, TOWING, AND THE RIGGING OF SHIPS, TO SECURE THEM FROM THE RISK OF BREAKING WHEN EXPOSED TO SUDDEN STRAIN OR TENSION
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Evelyn Liardet, of Waverley, near the
City of Sydney, in the Colony of New South Wales, now residing
at Ranworth Cottage, Walham Green, Fulham Road, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN CONNECTION WITH CABLES, ROPES, OR
CHAINS FOR MOORING, TOWING, AND THE RIGGING OF SHIPS, TO SECURE
THEM FROM THE RISK OF BREAKING WHEN EXPOSED TO SUDDEN STRAIN OR
TENSION."
Sealed the 3rd October 1871, and dated the 31st July 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Evelyn Liardet
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 31st July 1871.
I, JOHN EVELYN LIARDET, of Waverley, near the City of Sydney,
in the Colony of New South Wales, now residing at Ranworth Cottage,
Walham Green, Fulham Road, in the County of Middlesex, Gentle-
man, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN CONNECTION WITH CABLES, ROPES, OR CHAINS

page_text: THEM
FROM THE
FOR MOORING, TOWING, AND THE RIGGING OF SHIPS, TO DECURE
RISK OF BREAKING WHEN EXPOSED TO SUDDEN STRAIN OR TENSION," to be as
follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus to be
used in connection with cables, ropes, or chains for mooring, towing,
and the rigging of ships, to secure them from the risk of breaking when
exposed to sudden strain or tension.
The improved apparatus consists of a spring link which is inserted
into or connected with the cable, rope, or chain. The link consists of
an open cylindrical cradle formed by uniting two plates or discs of
metal by means of metallic rods or bars, of such thickness and placed
at such intervals from each other as will secure to the cradle the same
amount of strength as that of the cable, rope, or chain into which it is
to be inserted or with which it is to be connected, and as will also
allow for the compression, expansion, and reaction between them of
elastic discs within the cradle and herein-after described. Through the
centre of each of the plates or discs so united as aforesaid there is
inserted a metallic rod or piston fastened by nuts forelocked or other-
wise, so as to prevent the pistons coming in violent contact with each
other on a sudden reaction, in length about half the length of the
cradle. The inserted extremities of these rods or pistons meet in the
centre of the cradle, and are each terminated within the cradle by a
metal plate or disc and nuts as aforesaid into which the extremities
of the rods or pistons are fastened. The end of each rod or piston
outside the cradle is furnished with a head, and by means of a hole or
aperture in which the end of each piston can be attached to the cable,
rope, chain, or other similar article, into which the link is to be inserted
or shackled or with which it is to be connected. Upon each of the rods
or pistons are fitted within the cradle alternate discs of vulcanized india-
rubber or other similar elastic substance and of wood so as to secure the
full elasticity of each india-rubber disc sufficient in number to fill up
the space between the inside of the end plate or disc of the cradle
and the plate or disc at the extremity of each rod or piston. The
thickness of the discs of vulcanized india-rubber or other similar clastic
substance, and of wood will depend on the amount of strain or tension
which it is proposed that the like shall be capable of sustaining.
When the link thus described is inserted into or connected with any
cable, rope, or chain the liability of such cable, rope, or chain to

page_text: break in consequence of sudden strain or tension is diminished. The
effect of such sudden strain or tension is to draw the rods or pistons
apart from each other, thus giving an increased length to the cable,
rope, chain, or other similar article, and the elastic discs within the
cradle by changing their form according to the strain or tension applied
allow the rods or pistons to be thus drawn from each other, and when
the strain or tension is removed the rods or pistons resume their original
position. The cradle may be enclosed in a case or left unenclosed
according to circumstances.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Evelyn Liardet in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 31st January 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
EVELYN LIARDET, of Waverley, near the City of Sydney, in the
Colony of New South Wales, now residing at Ranworth Cottage,
Walham Green, Fulham Road, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said John Evelyn Liardet, Her special license
that I, the said John Evelyn Liardet, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Evelyn Liardet, 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 APPARATUS TO BE USED IN CONNECTION WITH CABLES, ROPES, OR CHAINS
FOR MOORING, TOWING, AND THE RIGGING OF SHIPS, TO SECURE THEM FROM
THE RISK OF BREAKING WHEN EXPOSED TO SUDDEN STRAIN OR TENSION," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Evelyn Liardet,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
one of their hands and seals, should particularly,
my, or their, or

page_text: 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 John Evelyn Liardet, 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 improvements in apparatus to be used
in connection with cables, ropes, or chains for mooring, towing, and the
rigging of ships to secure them from the risk of breaking when exposed
to sudden strain or tension.
The improved apparatus consists of a spring link which is inserted
into or connected with the cable, rope, or chain. The link consists of an
open cylindrical cradle formed by uniting two plates or discs of metal
by means of metallic rods or bars of such thickness and placed at such
intervals from each other as will secure to the cradle the same amount
of strength as that of the cable, rope, or chain into which it is to be
inserted or with which it is to be connected, and as will also allow for
the compression, expansion, and reaction between them of elastic discs
within the cradle and herein-after described. Through the centre of
each of the plates or discs so united as aforesaid there is inserted a
metallic rod or piston fastened by nuts, forelocked or otherwise, so as to
prevent the pistons coming in violent contact with each other on a
sudden reaction, in length about half the length of the cradle. The
inserted extremities of these rods or pistons meet in the centre of the
cradle and are each terminated within the cradle by a metal plate or
disc and nuts as aforesaid, into which the extremities of the rods or
pistons are fastened. The end of each rod or piston outside the cradle
is furnished with a head, and by means of a hole or aperture in which
the end of each piston can be attached to the cable, rope, chain, or other
similar article into which the link is to be inserted or shackled or with
which it is to be connected. Upon each of the rods or pistons are fitted
within the cradle alternate discs of vulcanized india-rubber, or other
similar clastic substance, and of iron, wood, or other rigid material, so
as to secure the full clasticity of each india-rubber disc sufficient in
number to fill up the space between the inside of the end plate or disc
of the cradle and the plate or disc at the extremity of each rod or piston.

page_text: ends of the bars A with their nuts C. Figure 3 is a transverse section
taken at the line A, A, Figure 1; Figure 4 shews one of the rods D with
its nut E; Figure 5 is a section on the line B, B, Figure 1; Figures 6
shew one of the pistons F; Figures 7 shew one of the india-rubber discs G;
Figures 8 shew one of the washers I.
In Figure 3 an index or pointer is shewn attached to one of the
pistons F to indicate the strain upon the link, it is also represented by
the Figures 9; it points upon a scale marked upon one of the bars A.
Figure 10 represents a manner in which the spring links may be
employed in connection with anchor cables.
'
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner of performing the same, I would have it understood that I claim
the construction substantially as described of spring links to be used in
connection with cables, ropes, or chains for mooring, towing, and the
rigging of ships to secure them from the risk of breaking when exposed
to sudden strain or tension.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Evelyn Liardet, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of January,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
two.
J. EVELYN LIARDET. (L.S.)