Patent GB-738465-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to chain making machines
IPC: B21L3/00
Filed: 1953-10-13
Abstract: 738,465. Making chains. ORSA KATTINGFABRIK AKTIEBOLAG. Oct. 13, 1953 [Oct. 13, 1952], No. 28117/53. Classes 83 (2) and 83 (4). In apparatus for making chains comprising machines M1, Fig. 1, for bending the links, M2 for welding' the ends together, M3, M4 for removing weld seams, M5 for calibrating and M6 for turning the links through 90 degrees for entry of the next link blank, the machines are arranged around a rotating circular platform 1 supporting the mass of finished chain and the end of each chain is carried from one machine to the next by gripping devices moving forward and back between adjacent machines. The devices are carried on radial arms T1-T6 attached to a vertical axle 2 and reciprocated between two positions by a hydraulic piston 4. Five of the arms T carry devices 46, Fig. 3, comprising clamping jaws 47, 48 operated by hydraulic rams 56, and carried on slides 39 movable radially into and out of position by hydraulic rams 43. The arms are also swung up to lift the chain into position by a hydraulic ram 37 and may be yieldably mounted on the horizontal plane to suit unequal spacing of the machines. The arm T6 carries tongs 168, Fig. 11, on a slide 162 adapted to hold the links at one side in the required vertical position for the insertion of the next link by the machine M1. The tongs are also adapted to engage the link when held at the top in a vertical position by a clamp 158, Fig. 10, on the link-turning machine M6 which turns consecutive pairs of links through 90 degrees in opposite directions. A series of pneumatically-operated valves 14-19 and 21-26 actuated by movement of the arms or by moving parts of the machines provide automatic sequential operation. The arms are moved forward when all machines have finished operating, are raised to lift the links into position when the machine work holders are retracted and are lowered to make the return movement when the chains are held by the work-holders in the machines. The circular platform 1 is rotatably driven so as to follow the movement of the chains and runs on rollers (not shown) under the action of an electric motor which is switched on automatically each time the arms T begin to move forward and automatically cuts off after the table has rotated through 60 degrees. Alternatively the table may be rotated as by a ratchet drive from the arms T or may be continuously rotated at the average speed of the chains. In operation straight blanks heated in a furnace U are bent in a machine M1 and engaged with the last link of the chain length, the ends are flash butt-welded in a welding- machine M2, the weld flash removed in machines M3, M4, the link is calibrated at the weld between pressing jaws in a machine M5 at which centre struts for the links may be added and the end links are finally turned through 90 degrees in the machine M6. Shearing.-The machine M3 for removing a portion of the weld seam from a link 65, Fig. 4, comprises a backing member 63 actuated by a hydraulic piston 67 through cams 66, and a clamping member 64 actuated by a hydraulic piston 69, both pistons 67, 69 being automatically actuated after a link 65 has been brought into position. The welding seam is then removed on two sides of the link by a double planing tool 72 actuated by a hydraulic piston 73. At the next machine M4 the link 132, Fig. 6, is enclosed between a pair of planing steels 133 which move longitudinally of the link to remove the remainder of the weld seam.