Improvements in Chains and Chain Wheels for Bicycles and Velocipedes.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Chains and Chain Wheels for Bicycles and
Velocipedes.
I, WILLIAM WANLISS, Engineer, of Johannesburg, South African Republic, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The nature of my invention consists of an improved sprocket chain for bicycles
and other velocipedes in which great strength and firmness of grip combined with
lightness of construction are the chief points.
In carrying out my invention I use a chain composed of single links formed either
out of the solid metal or stamped in halves out of fine steel, the two halves being
subsequently rivetted together, as shewn in plan and section by Fig. 5. on the
drawings.
These links are all of the same pattern and are formed with a fork at one end, the
other end being left plain to fit into the fork of the next succeeding link, a rivet passing
through the two holding them together and completing the joint. The two sides of the
fork are formed in the shape of circular cheeks or jaws and are made of slightly larger
diameter than the single ends of the links which fit into them. The inner surfaces of
the jaws are each recessed to a depth equal to half the thickness of the link so that when
two halves are rivetted together the jaws meet on top and bottom of the joint and form
a close box in which the single end of the next link can work through a space formed
in front of the hub and which enables the joint to move in an arc equal to a similar
are formed by the periphery of the smallest sprocket. The joint is thus protected
from dust and dirt except in a small portion of the above named front opening.
The outer faces of the jaws being formed with a shoulder each forms a solid flat
disc or hub made to fit in the notches in the flanges of the sprockets into which
they fall in regular order. I use steel pins for joining and rivetting up the links to
form the chain.
....
The sprockets are made with two flanges in their peripheries, the grooves (G)
between them being equal in width to the thickness of the bar of the links of the
chain which travels in them, the rounded ends of the cheeks which, when rivetted up
form bosses or hubs, fit into semicircular notches cut or formed in the edges of the
flanges as shown on drawings at (F. F). The channels or grooves (G) between
the flanges must be deep enough to receive the bar of the links so that the bosses
or hubs may fall to the bottom of the notches on the flanges and thus establish a
firm grip between the chains and sprockets, the edges of the grooves (G) are slightly
bevelled so as to form an easy guide for the bars of the links to fall into their
proper places.
The advantages which 1 claim for my chain are: firmness of grip excessive
lightness, simplicity of construction, cheapness of manufacture, (as each link may be
stamped out of sheet metal in two sections which, as hereinbefore described m..
be rivetted together) and ease with which the chain may be shortened.
DESCRIPTION OF DRATENA

page_text: rivets which, when the links are formed from stamped metal, hold the two sections
together. (F. F) are the notches on the flanges. Fig. 3 shows the sprocket in section
with the two side flanges (A) and the groove to receive the bars of the links of
the chain.
Fig. 4. show's the small sprocket in elevation and in' section. (C) being the teeth
between the notches (F) on the flanges, the flanges being shown at (A). (B) is the
flat bar of the links of the chain and (E) the boss or hub on each joint of the latter.
(F. F) are the notches on the flanges.
Fig. 5. shows the. construction of the chain in detail, both in plan and section. (B) is
the flat bar of the link (a. a) the rivets holding the two sections (when made from
stamped metal) together. (b. b) are the rivets for joining the links together, (c. c) are
the forked ends of the links showing the shouldered boss or hub, (d. d) shows the
recess on inner face of jaws, in which the. straight end of the next succeeding.
link works.
Dated this 31st day of July 1896.
J. E. EVANS-JACKSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Chains and
Chain Wheels for Bicycles and
Velocipedes.
I, WILLIAM WANLISS Johannesburg South African Republic, Engineer, 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 tlio "following
statement
The nature of my invention consists of an improved sprocket chain for bicycles and
other velocipedes in which great strength and firmness of grip combined with lightness
of construction are the chief points.
In carrying out my invention I use a chain composed of links formed either out of
the solid metal or stamped in halves out of fine steel, the two halves being subsequently
rivetted together. These links are all of the same pattern and are formed with a fork
at one end, the other end being left plain to fit into the fork of the next succeeding
link; rivets passing through the two holding them together and completing the joint.
The sides of the fork are formed in the shape of circular cheeks or jaws and are made
of slightly larger diameter than the single ends of the links which fit into them. The
inner surfaces of the jaws are each recessed to a depth equal to half the thickness of the
link so that when two halves are rivetted together the jaws meet on top and bottom of
the joint and form a close box in which the single end of the next link can work through
a space formed in front of the hub and which enables the joint to move in an are equal
to a similar are formed by the periphery of the smallest sprocket. The joint is thus
protected from dust and dirt except in a small portion of the above named front
opening.
The outer faces of the jaws being formed with a shoulder each forms a solid
flat disc or hub made to fit in the notches in the flanges of the sprockets into
which they fall in regular order. I use steel pins for jointing and rivetting up the
links to form the chain.
The sprockets are made with two flanges on their peripheries the grooves between
them being equal in width to the thickness of the bar of the links of the chain which
travels in them, the rounded ends of the cheeks which when rivetted up form bosses or
hubs, fit into semicircular notches cut or formed in the edges of the flanges as shewn
on drawings. The channels or grooves between the flanges must be deep enough to

page_text: receive the bar of the links so that the bossos or hubs may fall to the bottom of the
notches on the flanges and thus establish a firm grip between the chains and sprockets,
the edges of the grooves are slightly bevelled so as to form an easy guide for the bars
of the links to fall into their proper places.
The advantages which I claim for my chain are:-firmness. of grip, excessive
lightness, simplicity of construction and cheapness of manufacture.
In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will now refer to the annexed
drawing in which :-
Fig. 1. shews the sprocket and chain in position.
Fig. 2. side elevation of same.
Fig. 3. shews the sprocket in section.
Fig. 4. shews plan view of chain to enlarged scale.
Fig. 5. side elevation of same.
Fig. 6. section through line -y Figs. 4 & 5.
Referring to Figs. 1 to 6, a are the teeth between the notches on the flanges A,
6 being the flat bars of the links of the chain and e the bosses or hubs. a', a', are the
rivets which, when the links are formed from stamped metal, hold the two sections
together. is the flat bar of the links of the chain and e the boss or hub on each joint
of the latter. B, B, are the rivets for jointing the links together and c, c, are the
forked ends of the links shewing the shouldered boss or hub. The inner faces of the
jaws are recessed at d, d, and in which the straight end of the next succeeding
link works.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combined construction and arrangement of the various parts substantially as
described and shown.
2. An improved sprocket chain, composed of single links formed either from the
solid or stamped in sections from steel or any other suitable material each link having
a jaw at one end to receive the plain end of the next succeeding link, substantially as
described in the foregoing specification and on the accompanying drawings.
3. In combination with a chain substantially as described a sprocket wheel with
notched flanges and a groove between the latter, substantially as described in the
foregoing specification and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
4. In chains links of the class herein described, a recess formed upon the inner
surface of the jaws substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 21st day of April 1897.
E. EATON,
Agent for Applicant.