Improvements in Machines for the Manufacture of Rope or Cord.
Year: 1887

page_text: Improvements in Machines for the Manufacture of Rope or Cord.
I, THOMAS BROWN DOOLEY, of the City of Boston, County of Suffolk and State
of Massachusetts, United States of America, Inventor, 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 relates to machines for making cords and ropes or cables; and has
for its object to provide an improved means whereby strands to form cords may be
twisted together under uniform tension and the cords may be in like manner laid up
into the complete cord or rope, as well also to give a uniform twist to the cord or
rope throughout its entire length, to avoid the liability of the "kinking" of the
completed cord or rope, as will be hereinafter described and subsequently set forth in
the claims.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 represents a side view, partially in section of the upper portion of my
improved rope-making machine.
Figure 2 is a like view of the central portion of the machine, and
Figure 3 a side view of the lower portion of the machine.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the spool or bobbin shafts or spindles.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a sleeve designed to be slipped upon the part
represented in figure 4.
Figure 6 represents a spool and its immediately associated parts and
Figure 7 is a vertical longitudinal section of the part represented in figure 6, the
spool shaft being in elevation.
Figure 8 is a diagrammatic plan view of the gearing for revolving the fliers.
Figure 9 is a sectional detail on the line x, x Figure 2, hereinafter described and
referred to.
Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in all the figures.
In carrying out my invention 1 provide a suitable frame A, consisting of upright
posts united by cross or tie-beams in any convenient manner, which frame is adapted

page_text: to support the various parts or devices comprising my machine, the construction and
operation of which I will now proceed to set forth.
B represents the main shaft journalled at one end in bearings secured to the frame
of the machine, and at the other end in a bearing formed in a bracket or hanger
depending from the lower tie or cross-bar of the frame. On the outer end of the
main shaft is a pulley C (a portion only of which is shown in figure 3) designed to
receive a belt, driven by any prime motor. Secured to shaft B just inside of the
point at which it is journalled in the frame, is a bevel-gear D, which meshes with
another bevel-gear E, secured to the lower end of an upright shaft F, termed by me
the "flier driving shaft," having suitable bearings in the cross-bars of the frame as
shown. Just above the lower support of shaft F and secured to the latter is a gear-
wheel G, meshing at one side or point with a gear-wheel H, secured to the lower end
of an upright sbaft I, also having suitable bearings and supports in the frame, and
at the other side, or at another point meshing with a gear-wheel J secured to the stud
or journal of a coiling or receiving can K.
At the end of main shaft B opposite to that at which the pulley is attached
thereto; is secured a bevel wheel L meshing with a similar wheel M, secured to
the lower end of another upright shaft N journalled and supported in the frame
similar to shafts F and I.
The flier driving shaft F extends above the frame of the machine, and has
secured to its upper end a gear wheel O, which meshes with another wheel P, secured
to and revolving with a short shaft Q, supported and having its bearings in the top
of the frame. To the lower end of said short shaft Q is secured a gear-wheel R, which
meshes at different points with gear wheels S, S, S, secured at the upper spindles T
of the fliers a. Said spindles T turn in suitable boxes or bushings U, secured in the
top of the frame. The fliers a are provided at their lower ends with journals or
arbors adapted to turn and be supported in boxes or bushings V, set in a cross-bar or
portions of the frame A.
The fliers a are similar in form to devices of the same name employed in certain
well known types of spinning frames, and have oblong, or it may be square open
notches formed in their sides, as represented at a to receive the correspondingly
shaped ends of the spool-shafts b, this construction being for the purpose of preventing
the spool-shafts from turning in the sides of the fliers.
Each spool-shaft is provided with a split-sleeve one edge of which is secured
to the shaft, while the other edge (which is free) when the sleeve is in its normal
position will spring away therefrom, so that the sleeve will nearly surround the shaft
without touching it excepting on the line where it is secured thereto, all as clearly
represented in figure 4, of the drawings.
A sleeve c as represented in figure 5 is provided, having a diameter adapting it to
fit snugly on split-sleeve when the edges of the latter sleeve are pressed together,
and when in this position said split-sleeve will in turn fit rather snugly around a
spool-shaft band at the same time exert considerable friction on the interior of the
sleeve e so that it will require some force to turn the latter sleeve on the former.
A collar d of sufficient depth or thickness to bring its periphery flush with the
outer surface of sleeve c is shrunk upon or otherwise secured to each end of spool-
shaft b, adjacent to the ends of the sleeves bc when the latter are in position on the
shaft to prevent their accidental removal.
с
e represents a spool provided with the usual discs or sides e¹ of any suitable size,
and having a hollow barrel e adapted to fit snugly over sleeve c which latter device
is provided at one end with a spline or stud c constructed to fit a groove e³ formed
in one end of the spool barrel 2 as is clearly shown in figures 6 and 7.
With this construction of the spool and its adjuncts and with the parts in their
operative position which is the position in which they are represented in figures 6
and 7, it will be seen that the spool cannot be turned independently of its shaft
without turning the sleeve c and the turning of the latter being as has been stated in
some degree resisted by the friction of split-sleeve b' the turning of the spool on its
shaft will of course be likewise resisted.

page_text: In the operation of forming a rope by my machine it is designed that each spool
shall be supplied with any desired number of strands of twine simultaneously wound
thereon, and the construction of the spool with respect to its shaft and the manner
of sustaining the latter in its flier as described, is for the purpose of placing the
strands under some tension in drawing them off from the spool though the
tension thus necessarily exerted on the strands is not sufficient to properly form cords
for a rope.
It may also be remarked in this connection that as the strands are always
drawn off in the same direction and to the same point whether the spools be full or
nearly empty, if no other provision were made than such as has been explained the
tension on the strands would vary in accordance with the amount of twine on the
spools. To provide for still further tension on the strands of the twine, and to
render the same uniform, I provide a device which I will now proceed to describe.
f represents a saddle constructed to rest upon the twine on the spool and fit
thereover when the same is full extending up from the saddle and through the hollow
spindles T of the fliers, is a stem or rod f¹ having a pin 2 secured therein a short
distance below its centre. Said hollow spindle T is provided with a sleeve or
bushing having a diameter sufficient to permit a spiral spring f* to loosely
surround the stem which spring bearing at its lower end on pin f' and at its
upper end against a shoulder or offset f on nut T¹ tends to press saddle f upon the
twine on the spool, thus exerting a tension on the strands as they are drawn off, but
as the bobbin becomes empty, the resilient force of the spring relaxes and the said
tension is lessened, compensating for the increased strain necessary to be exerted on
the strands to turn the spools, as the radius at which the draft is made varies with
the varying diameter of the yarn on the spools.
The twine drawn from the spools is carried once around guide spools g fitted to
turn between the lower ends of the arms of the fliers through the lower hollow
journals or arbors of the fliers turning in boxes or bushings V, to and as
many times as necessary around feed spools g' secured on shaft g? which is positively
driven by a worm-gear W secured thereto near one of its ends which gear W engages
worm X formed on the upper end of shaft I, which latter instrumentality as
has been seen, derives its motion from the main-shaft through the medium of
gears DEG.
a
It will be seen from the description thus far given that as the shafts F and I are
turned, fliers a will be rapidly revolved, and the strands of twine slowly drawn off
therefrom by the revolutions of feed-spools g' will be twisted into cords, and that the
feed being positive the twine will be drawn off and twisted at a regular rate,
corresponding with the speed at which the machine is operated resulting from the
positive operation of the fliers and feed-spools.
h represents the rope flier spool of the rotating head, to which the twisted cords
are led from the feed-spools g¹ and by which flier spool h they are laid up into a rope,
which latter is fed forward or drawn off by the flier spool as fast as completed.
The flier-spool h is rigidly secured to a shaft supported so as to turn in bearings h²
formed in the upper ends of two arms h³ ³ extending upward from the hub of
a gear wheel i arranged so as to be supported by and to turn on a short hollow
vertical shaft, sustained by the frame A in the centre of the machine. Gear wheel i
meshes with and is driven by a gear wheel k secured on upright shaft N near the
upper end thereof.
Arranged on the hub of gear wheel i and so as to be turned thereon is a gear
wheel 1, having a less number of teeth (say by one) than the former wheel. Said
gear-wheel meshes with and is driven by a gear wheel m affixed upon the upper
end of shaft N which latter gear is provided with one tooth more than gear wheel k.
A bevel gear-wheel formed integral with or secured to gear-wheel 7 and arranged
thereabove so as to also turn on hub i¹ meshes with a bevel gear wheel of the same
size, secured on one end of shaft h¹ a balance-wheel 13 being secured on the other end
of said shaft.
n represents a gear wheel similar in construction and arrangement on hollow

page_text: shaft to gear wheel i; n' the hub of gear wheel n, n² n², arms depending from
said hub and provided with bearings n³ ³, for a short shaft n, having a drawing
spool no, secured thereon between bearing collars n³. o represents a gear wheel
similar to wheel arranged on hub n so as to turn thereon, and formed integral
therewith, or secured thereto, is a bevel gear wheel o' meshing with a like bevel gear
wheel o², affixed on the end of shaft n*.
Secured to shaft N below gear wheels m and k, is a gear wheel p, meshing with the
gear wheel n and just below said wheel p, and also secured to said shaft N is a gear
wheel pl, meshing with gear
The parts sustained by and rotated on hollow
shaft are those comprising what is termed by me the "head."
wheel o.
The construction and arrangement of the parts just described on the lower end of
hollow shaft j, is the same (except in the respect hereinafter noted) as those on the
upper end of said shaft, but the devices are arranged in reverse order, gear wheel n
having one more tooth than gear wheel p, by which it is driven, and gear wheel o has
one tooth less than gear wheel p¹, by which it is driven, this construction providing for
the driving of gear wheel o more rapidly than gear wheel n, as wheel / is revolved
faster than wheel i.
Secured on the end of shaft n' opposite bevel gear o³, is a toothed wheel q, meshing
with a like toothed wheel q' affixed on one end of a shaft q², turning in a bearing
formed in the lower end of a bracket or arm 93, attached to and supported by
one of the arms n². Secured to the end of the shaft q2 opposite toothed wheel q' is a
guide or drawing off pulley q, having a grooved periphery, and on a like shaft
projecting from a branch of said bracket q³ is another pulley q³, like in construction
to pulley q', the edges of the peripheries of which pulleys roll upon each other,
the rope or cord passing through the grooves between them, as shown in figure 9.
The rotation of the said pulleys serves to draw off the completed rope and guide it to
the receiving or coiling can K.
The operation of the machine is as follows. The several strands of twine leading
from each spool are twisted together to form cords by the revolution of the fliers a,
which cords as fast as properly formed are taken up and fed forward or downward
to rope flier spool of the rotary head, where they are laid up into a rope hy
the revolving head, having motion imparted to it through the medium of the gear
wheels on shaft N.
As the rope is finished it is necessary that it should be taken up and fed forward
or downward at a regular rate, and this is accomplished by winding the rope once
or twice or more times, if necessary, around feed or flier spool h, which is slowly
revolved with its shaft h¹ through the medium of gear wheels m, 1, 1 1. The
completed rope is led from the spool through hollow shaft j, to and around take up
spool no, which is revolved at the same rate of speed as rope flier spool h. The
rope is then led between and drawn off by guide pulleys 9, 95, on shafts 93, 92,
driven by toothed wheels q q' from the shaft n', to and laid or coiled in coiler
can K.
If the entire twist put into the rope by the revolution of the revolving head
were retained therein, the rope would "kink" or snarl" when laid in the coiler can
in a way well understood by those skilled in the art. To provide against this
happening I take out just enough of the twist put in where the cords are laid
up into the rope, to avoid the "kinking" of the rope, and this is accomplished by
providing the wheel p by which end wise revolution is imparted to take up spool n³
with one or more teeth less than wheel k, by which rope flier spool is in like manner
revolved, so that take up spool n' will be revolved endwise slightly slower than spool h,
and the rope between spools h and n will have a portion of its twist taken out or
removed before being laid into the coiler can.
In properly formed hawser laid rope, fifteen inches of cord are required to be laid
up into a rope to form one foot in length of the latter, and the parts of my machine
are so timed as to secure this end, and the feed and take up spools, as also the
twisting mechanism being all positively operated, and even tension on each strand

page_text: VIX
secured throughout.
If it should be desired to put more twist in the strands drawn from the spools
than the machine equipped as here shown is capable of accomplishing, it will be
necessary only to change the gears O and P, replacing the former with a larger gear,
and the latter with a smaller, and the operation of the other part of the machine can
be regulated in the same manner, in a way that will be readily understood by mechanics,
and need not be here described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. The combination in a cord and rope making machine, of a series of flier
frames each adapted to receive a spool with a plurality of strands, gearing for rotating
said frames to twist the strands carried thereby into cords, a head at which said cords
are formed into rope and provided with feed and take up spools, gearing for
imparting a double rotation to the said feed and take-up spools to effect an axial
and end wise rotation of the same, the end wise rotation of the take up spool
being at a slower rate of speed than that of the feed spool, substantially as
forth.
set
Second. The combination, in a cord and rope making machine, of a series of flier
frames each adapted to receive a spool with a plurality of strands, gearing for rotating
said frames to twist the strands carried thereby into cords, spools g' for receiving said
cords, means for actuating the said spools g', a head at which the said cords are formed
into rope and provided with feed and take up spools, gearing for imparting a double
rotation to the said feed and take up spools to effect an axial and endwise rotation of
the same, the end wise rotation of the take up spool being at a slower rate of speed
than that of the feed-spool, substantially as set forth.
Third. The combination of a shaft j, feed and take up spools, and gearing for
imparting a double rotation to said feed and take up spools, to cause them to rotate
axially and end wise, the end wise rotation of the take up spool being slower than that
of the feed spool, substantially as set forth.
Fourth. The combination in a cord and rope making machine, of a series of flier
frames each adapted to receive a spool with a plurality of strands, gearing for rotating
said frames to twist the strands carried thereby into cords, a revolving head comprising
mechanism substantially as described for laying up the cords into rope, mechanism
substantially as described for taking up the completed rope, and mechanism
substantially as described for imparting motion to the take up mechanism for taking
out a slight amount of the twist put into the rope to avoid kinking in the latter, as
set forth.
Fifth. The combination with take up spool n. and its revolving shaft, of the gear
wheel 7, gear wheel and peripherally grooved take up pulleys q, q, and means for
supporting said pulleys and last inentioned gear wheel, as set forth."
Sixth. The combination in a cord and rope machine, of a series of flier frames
each adapted to receive a spool with a plurality of strands to form cords, gearing
for rotating said flier frames, a shaft, a hub mounted thereon, bearings n², n²,
carried by said hub, a take up spool no, mounted in said bearings and upon which the
cords are laid in rope form, devices intermediate of said spool and frames for receiving
the cords, devices substantially as described, intermediate of said take up spool and
flier frames for feeding forward the cords, twisting the same into rope, and feeding
forward the rope as twisted, means for rotating said hub of said shaft j and devices
for rotating the take up spool in its bearings, gear wheels q q', peripherally grooved
take up pulleys q' 9°, a coiler can or receptacle and gearing for revolving the same,
substantially as set forth.
Seventh. The combination with the fliers a, having the square notches or holes a¹,
of the spool shaft 6 having square ends corresponding to said square holes a¹, split

page_text: sleeve ¹, sleeve c, spline c¹, and spool e provided with the hollow barrel e², having the
groove e³, as set forth.
Eighth. The combination in a cord and rope making machine, of a series of
flier frames each adapted to receive a spool with a plurality of strands, a hollow
spindle for each flier and having a gear wheel, gearing for revolving said gear wheel, 5
stem f¹ located in said spindle pin ƒ³, and nut T, and a saddle f, suspended on said
stem, and twisting and coiling devices, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 92nd day of November 1887
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.