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Ground-rope Apparatus. A machine or apparatus for connecting or disconnecting a train with a ground-rope whilst the rope is in motion. Figure 1 is a side view’, and Figure 2 a front view. C is the cable or rope. A, the forewheels of the leading carriage, B, the framing of the carriage. A stage is fixed to the front of the carriage, upon which is erected the of i - standard or frame ff a vertical bar oT iron D is connected with the train by the link g, and suspended to the frame by the chain g', which coils round the barrel i; the lower part of the bar is formed into a kind of broad hook, the under side being formed like a latch, and the face rounded longitudinally, and hollowed to receive the rope ; when the rope is detacned, it occupies the position shown' by the dotted lines, and the bar D, when about to hook up the rope, occupies the position shown by the dotted lines in Figure 1; then by turning the handle h, the bar is lifted up, and brings the rope with it, which is then tightly held or jammed, as in clams, between the broad hook of the bar, and the pieces e fixed to the framing; at first the rope slides through the clams and prevents concussion, but as the train gets into less and less, until the train attains the full motion, the sliding is velocity of the rope; a ratchet is placed upon the axle of the windlass, so as to hold up the bar, but in order instantaneously to disengage the rope, a bar K is provided, which works on a joint I, so that at any moment the bar D may be thrown on one side, as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 2, when the rope drops down, and the velocity of the train is checked by the drags or brake in the usual way ; the fingers p, p, are placed in order that the rope may be prevented following the hook of the bar D, when the rope is required to be thrown down; the upper part of the standard F is formed rounding in such way as to allow full play to the upper end of the bar D. No. 27-—Vol. II.—December, 1839