Untitled record

E.JlB

Bp EloBfraprt

JP30, 533, Patented Odt.36, /366.

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AM. PHOT0-L1THO.CO.N.Y.(OSBORN£'S PROCESS))

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE MACK, OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY.

MACHINE FOR STRETCHING THE STRAPS OF SHIPS’ BLOCKS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 30,535, dated October 30, 1860.

To dll whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Eugene Mack, gunner in the U. S. Navy, stationed at the navyyard at Kittery, in the State of Maine, have invented an Improvement in Stretching Block-Straps.for Naval and other Purposes where Rope may be Used; and I do hereby declare that the same is fully described and represented in the following specifications and the accompanying drawings.

The figure is a side view of my screw and wedge with accompanying apparatus.

The split fid A with a strap B on it shows the operation of the wedge.

The mechanism consists of a screw and wedge combined by means of which straps are stretched.

In stretching straps the plan heretofore in use in the navy and in rigging lofts is to use a solid or split fid and to drive the strap down over the fid until it is supposed to be sufficiently stretched which is frequently done at the expense of cutting or breaking the yarns of the rope by hammering. The great difficulty with this method is the damage done to the rope by hammering with the mallet or maul, the noise caused by the hammering and the slow manner in which the work is performed; also in the uneven manner in which the work was finished, 30 some straps being pounded until stretched too much and weakened while others would not be stretched enough..

In carrying out my invention and improvement I arrange on the fid A my strap 35 B and (by the arms or levers attached) turn the screws attached to the wedge C until the graduated marks in the wedge coincide with a mark on the fid which signifies that the strap is stretched to its proper 40 size.

The main advantages of my improved plan of stretching straps are, 1st, the saving of labor, one man being able to work alone and to do in one day the work of two; 2d, the 45 perfect neatness with which a job of work can be done without injury to the rope and the rapidity with which it can be finished.