621 
Report  on  Implements  at  York. 
out,  that  whilst  a soft  material  like  hemp  must  be  twisted  in 
opposite  directions,  in  order  that  the  particles  may  cohere 
together,  the  rigid  character  of  steel  renders  this  unnecessary. 
In  looking  at  the  two  ropes,  it  must  be  evident  that  in  Lang’s 
Patent  there  is  a much  larger  wearing  surface,  and  that  more 
equally  exposed  to  friction.  Again,  under  the  ordinary  twist, 
the  strands  of  the  rope  and  the  rope  itself  are  “ laid  ” in 
opposite  directions,  and  the  wires  are  worn  on  the  crown  of  the 
strand  ; a small  part  only  of  the  rope  being  thus  exposed  to 
Lang’s  Patent  Wire  Rope. 
Ordinary  or  Old  Construction. 
friction,  the  wires  on  each  side  of  the  worn  part  retain  their 
full  strength.  The  result  is  that  many  ropes  have  to  be  taken 
off,  consequent  upon  the  wires  breaking  upon  the  crown  of  the 
strands  when  otherwise  only  slightly  worn.  This  is  seen  in 
Fig.  25  ; all  the  broken  parts  being  on  the  crown  of  the  strands. 
By  Lang’s  Patent  the  strands  and  the  rope  are  laid  in  the  same 
direction.  There  is  thus  a much  larger  surface  exposed  to 
friction,  and  the  cause  of  wires  breaking  upon  the  crown  of  the 
strand  is  removed.  The  working  of  the  rope  round  drums, 
pulleys,  and  curves,  bends  the  wires  obliquely,  and  thus  the 
greatest  possible  amount  of  wear  is  secured,  since  the  wires  will 
not  break  until  they  become  too  weak  for  their  work. 
Messrs.  Cradock  exhibited  at  York  : — 
No.  1.  A reel  containing  a piece  of  worn  rope  made  on  the 
old  system,  which  had  been  in  use  1 year  and  5 months,  and  a 
piece  of  worn  rope  made  upon  Lang’s  Patent,  in  use  2 years 
and  months,  both  having  been  employed  upon  similar 
work.  This  was  a most  valuable  illustration  of  comparative 
durability. 
