The yarns from the " bobbin-banks '' are divided so as to form 9.9 many strands as are required for the rope to be manufactured. One register-grid suffices for all, whilst an assortment of register-plates is usually required : one for single strands of large diam., having only one series of oireles ; one for 3 strands with 3 series of circles ; one for 6 and one for 12 strands. Each strand has a separate tube. Large strands are usually made singly, but those of moderate dimensions are made 3-12 at a time.
After passing the strand-tube, the yarns for each strand axe immediately attached to the hooks of the traveller. The " traveller," Fig. 1201, consists of a powerful iron frame a a, in which are mounted a series of wrought-iron hooks I), attached to the ends of steel spindles c, driven by means of appro priate gearing,, the speed at which they revolve being regulated by change-wheels. By means of clutches the direction of their revolution can easily be reversed. Motion is communicated to tbe traveller by means of an endless driving-rope, which extends from one end of the rope-walk to the other, and passes round the grooved pulley d on the shaft e ; this through the bevel-gearing f, actuates the shaft g, which again, through the gearing It and shaft i, revolves the large central hook k in the traveller-breast. The shaft e, through suitable means, also actuates the shaft 77L, carrying the sheave or grooved wheel n, round which, passes a ground rope or chain, which is also attached to the " foreturn '' machine, and extends the length of the rope-walk. The whole of this machinery is mounted on a stoutly-made carriage, composed of very strong materials, having powerful brakes, and running upon a rail or tram-car.
Assuming that it is a 3-strand hawser which is being made, the three sets of yarns, on leaving the strand-tubes, are attached to three hooks of the traveller. The endless rope passing round the grooved wheel d actuates the different pasts, including the ground rope sheave n, the revolution of which causes the " traveller " to run down the walk, drawing the strand-yarns with it through tho tubes, which, at the same time, are being twisted by the revolving hooks on the traveller to which they are attached. The strands, as they come from the hot tubes, are quite smooth, round, and polished.
It is now that the " foreturn" is required. This machine, Fig. 1200, is a strong massive frame, mounted with a series of revolving hooks, corresponding to those of the traveller, and actuated in a similar manner. It also possesses a winch a, for tightening the ground rope or chain. It receives
its motion, like the traveller, from the endless rope or chain that passes over the grooved wheel b. This endless rope is the means by which motion is transmitted from a large grooved pulley on the main line-shaft of the works, and which is ordinarily placed under ground. A friction-box is connected with it, in order to ease the starting of the rope-laying machinery.
In order to form the three strands made on the traveller into a rope, their ends are cut near tho " foreturn," and attached to three of its hooks, corresponding to those of the traveller. The latter are then made to revolve, in order to " temper," or put into the strands just the amount of twist required. The ends of the strands attached to the three hooks of the traveller aro then transferred to one hook : its centre hook, if the rope to be laid is a heavy one. The " top," or longitudinally grooved cone of woocl, is then inserted between the three strands, with its smaller end towards the traveller, and the process of laying is commenced. The top is usually mounted on a small bogie or carriage, placed on the rails on the front of the traveller ; and as the twist is put in by tho central hook of the traveller in its revolution, the bogie starts away from it, and travels slowly towards the foreturn-machine at the head of the walk, being impelled by the closing of the strands. The rope is twisted in a direction opposite to that of the twist of the strands, but the quantity of tbe latter is preserved by the continued revolution of the hooks of the foreturn, to which their opposite ends are attached, and which revolve so as to give compensation for the twist being taken out by the traveller. A looped rope made of hair or coir is placed upon the newly-formod rope, and attached to the bogie; this acts as a polisher, smoothing and laying the fibres.
As the twist is being put into the rope, the length is greatly shortened, which draws tho traveller up the walk. In order, however, to stretch the rope thoroughly, this draught is resisted as much as possible by the application of powerful brakes to every wheel. When tho bogie carrying the top has reached the head of the walk, the rope is finished, and is coiled by power on an adjustable coiling-machine, which can be altered to make any size of coil. The traveller is brought up the walk to the foreturn by means of a brake, which prevents the revolution of the first motion shaft, and the rope, gripping the wheel, causes the traveller to run up the walk at the same rate as the driving-rope.