718 



ROPE-MAKING 



His improvements consisted, first, in the application of three or more tubes, two of 

 which are shown in fig. 1732, placed in inclined positions, so as to receive the strands 

 immediately above the press-block a, a, and nearly in a line with A, the point of 

 closing or laying the rope. B' and B s are opposite side views ; B 2 , an edge view ; 

 and B, a side section of the same. He did not claim any exclusive right of patent 

 for the tubes themselves, but only for their form and angular position. 



Secondly, in attaching two common flat sheaves, or pulleys, c, c, fig. 1732, to each 

 of the said tubes, nearly round which each strand is lapped or coiled, to prevent it 

 from slipping, as shown in the section B'. The said sheaves or pulleys are connected 

 by a crown or centre-wheel, D, loose upon b, b, the main or upright axle ; E, E, is a 

 smaller wheel upon each tube, working into the said crown or centre-wheel, and fixed 

 upon the loose box i, on each of the tubes. 



F, F, is a toothed or spur-wheel, fixed also upon each of the loose boxes i, and 

 working into a smaller wheel, o, upon the axis 2 of each tube ; H is a bevel-wheel 

 fixed upon the same axis with G, and working into another bevel-wheel, j, fixed upon 

 the cross axle 3 of each tube ; K is a spur-wheel attached to the same axis with j, at 

 the opposite end, and working into L, another spur-wheel of the same size upon each 

 of the tubes. By wheels thus arranged and connected with the sheaves or piilleys, as 

 above described, a perfectly equal strain or tension is put upon each strand as drawn 

 forward over the pulley o. 



Thirdly, the invention consists in the introduction of change-wheels, M, M, M, M, 

 fig. 1732, for putting the forehard or proper twist into each strand before the rope is 

 laid ; this is effected by small spindles on axles, 4, 4, placed parallel with the line of 

 each tube B. 



Upon the lower end of each spindle the bevel-wheels N, N, are attached, and driven 



1732 



by other bevel-wheels, o, o, fixed immediately above each press-block, a, a. On the 

 'top end of each spindle or axle, 4, 4, is attached one of the change-wheels, working 

 into the other change-wheel fixed upon the bottom end of each of the tubes, whereby 

 the forehard, or proper twist in the strands for all sizes of ropes, is at once attained, 

 by simply changing the siies of those two last-described wheels, which can be 

 very readily effected, from the manner iu which they are attached to the tubes B, B, 

 and 4, 4. 



From the angular position of the tubes towards the centre, the strands are nearly 

 in contact at their upper ends, whore the rope is laid, immediately below which the- 

 forehard or proper twist is given to the strands. 



Fourthly, in the application of a press-block, r, of metal, in two parts, placed 



