Improvements in Drive Chains.
Year: 1891

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Drive Chains.
I, ANSON PARKER MERRILL of 26 Elm Street, Fall River, Bristol County,
Massachusetts, Baggage Master, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to certain improvements in drive chains.
The object of the invention is to provide an improved drive-chain exceedingly
strong, durable, and simple in construction and noiseless and not liable to slip or
kink, and wherein the links are united by detachable joints.
These objects are accomplished by and this invention consists in certain novel
features of construction and in combinations of parts more fully described herein-
after, and particularly pointed out in the claims.
Referring to the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is an edge view of a section of a chain, a wheel adapted for use with
this chain being shown partially in section.
Figures 2 and
chain.
are, respectively, a top and bottom plan of a section of the
Figure 4 is a detail perspective of the link.
Figure 5 is an edge view of two links, showing them turned up into position to
be detached from each other.
In the drawings, a, indicates a wheel having an inturned annular flange b, pro-
vided with the transverse similar apertures c, extending completely through the
flange and located an equal distance apart.
The chain is composed of the links d, each link being formed integral and com-
posed of the solid flat metal body provided on its inner face with the centrally-
located stud, lug, or sprocket e, formed integral with the link and preferably semi-
spherical in shape. The apertures c, are formed to receive and correspond to these
sprockets e. One end of each link has the neck f, extending centrally therefrom
with a slight upward inclination and having the cross-bar or journals g, g, integral
therewith and extending laterally parallel with the edge of the link-body. The
inner longitudinal sides 1, 1, of said journals are rounded, as shown, to form the
bearing surfaces, said surfaces being preferably rounded from the same center.
The outer sides 2, 2, of the journals are flattened as shown, so as to form journals
somewhat elliptical in cross section. The opposite end of the link is provided with
the two similar parallel hooks 3, 3, extending out from opposite sides of the end of
the link, leaving a space 4 between them sufficient to receive the neck f, as shown.
These hooks are closed on the under side and turn up on the upper side and extend
back, so as to open on the upper surface of the link. The inner bearing surfaces 5,
of the hooks are rounded to form bearings, and the inner opening forms more than
one-half of a circle, so that a completely round bar fitted in said bearing could not
be removed therefrom through the opening 6, of the hook. The journals 9, 9, are
formed to snugly fit and turn in said bearings formed by hooks 3, so that the links
cannot be separated when they lie substantially parallel with each other or have
their inner faces bent in toward each other, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 for when
in these positions the flat sides 2, of the journals are substantially opposite the
contracted openings 6, of the hooks. When it is desired to separate the links, they
should be swung up so that their outer faces approach each other, and when the
two links are substantially at right angles to each other the journals can be slipped
from hooks 3, out through openings 6, as is clearly obvious, and over the top face of
the link or in the longitudinal line of the link. Each link is formed in any suitable
manner, preferably, entirely integral.

page_text: This invention bears no resemblance to and I do not herein claim a cog-link
drive-chain-that is, a chain having a closely arranged series of cogs or ribs
extending completely across the inner faces of the links from end to end and
meshing with a corresponding series of cogs on the wheel-nor do I claim a chain
composed of a series of hollow metal balls loosely connected by bolts, nor does such
a chain at all resemble my peculiar construction. As the apertures c, are open at
both ends, they cannot clog up with dirt, &c.
This chain, while being adapted for many uses, is particularly adapted for use on
safety bicycles.
This chain reduces wearing points and surfaces, and hence the friction is a
minimum. No lubrication is required. Hence the chain does not clog and gum up
with dirt and soil the clothing. It is almost noiseless, and there is no "backlash,"
nor does the chain "kink."
What I claim is :-
1st. A drive-chain composed of detachable links, each link composed of the body
having an open hook or bearing socket at one end and a bearing bar or journal at
the other end, the hearing surface of the hook being circular and the bar or journal
elliptical in cross section, the opening into the hook or socket being greater in
width than the shortest diameter of the bar, but less than the longest diameter of
said bar, as and for the purposes set forth.
2nd. The herein described drive-chain, composed of links each link being integral
and having a neck projecting from one end with an upward inclination, the lateral
journals from the ends of said neck curved or rounded on their inner sides to form
bearing surfaces and flattened on their outer sides, the other end of the link having
the two separated open hooks projecting therefrom provided with the rounded
bearings, the opening into the same being greater than the smallest and less than
the greatest diameter of said journal.
3rd. The drive-chain composed of the herein described pivotally-united links,
oach link consisting of a flat solid metal plate having the single rounded lug on its
under side and integral therewith and centrally located between the sides and ends
thereof, as set forth.
4th. The herein described drive-chain.
Dated this 7th day of Sentember 1891