Improvements in Driving Chain and Chain Wheels for Velocipedes, and in an Appliance to be Used in Connection therewith.
Year: 1885

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PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Driving Chain and Chain Wheels for Velocipedes,
and in an Appliance to be Used in Connection therewith.
I, WILLIAM MORGAN, of Cannon Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
DRIVING CHAIN AND CHAIN WHEELS FOR VELOCIPEDES, AND IN AN APPLIANCE
TO BE USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH to be as follows:-
IN
My invention relates principally to means whereby the joints of adjacent chain
links are made to roll or have à universal motion about their points of contact, in
virtue of which, friction and wear is reduced to a minimum, and further in means
of producing roller teeth for chain wheels.
My improvements in chain consists in interposing between the joints or points
of contact of adjacent links, ball or cone and-socket bearing surfaces, thus I take
a link widened out at one end, and within the inside end of the said widened out
part, socket caps or seats are formed, and into or within these socket seats, spheres
or balls are placed; and surrounding these balls, the connecting loop of each
adjacent link passes, and so on forming a length of chain, with ball bearing surfaces
interposed between the adjacent links of the series of links constituting the chain.
A chain thus constructed is capable of moving with great freedom in its course of
travel in passing over chain wheels in communicating motion or power to a
distance. In applying my invention to rectangular chain links, two ball bearing
surfaces are disposed in a widened out part of each link. The balls instead of
being loose between the points of contact of the adjacent links, they may be
substituted by their equivalents in the form of a fixed hemispherical or cone
surface made with the link or loop of the chain. This hemispherical or cone
bearing, seats itself within the socket or sockets of each adjacent link in the same
way and acting in the same manner as before described with respect to a loose
sphere. The bearing surfaces of the parts are made preferably of hardened steel,
and in order to reduce the wear, a ring or washer may be interposed between the
working parts. The closing of the links when worn is effected by an appliance
consisting of a suitably shaped bed upon which the link is placed, and a contracting
tool provided with taper or pointed sides; a set screw depends from the tool for
determining the amount of contraction of the link.

page_text: My improvement in chain wheels consists in employing roller or movable teeth
instead of rigid teeth as heretofore; that is to say, the wheel consists of a series
of brackets or arms disposed around the periphery of the wheel; and connected to
each bracket or arm is a roller or sheave which turns upon a pin or axis. The
roller of each tooth may if necessary-be-made-in halves which embrace the arm
coming between them.
By constructing chain wheels with roller teeth as described, the chain in its
travel, noves with great freedom in communicating motion.
Dated this twentyeighth day of February 1885.

page_text: Improvements in Driving Chain and Chain Wheels for Velocipedes,
and in an Appliance to be Used in Connection therewith.
I, WILLIAM MORGAN, of Cannon Street Birmingham in the County of Warwick,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
"
IN DRIVING CHAIN AND CHAIN WHEELS FOR VELOCIPEDES, AND IN AN APPLIANCE
TO BE USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITHI and in what manner the same is to be
perforined, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My invention relates principally to means whereby adjacent chain links are
made to roll or have a universal motion about their points of contact, in virtue of
which, friction and wear is reduced to a minimum.
My improvements in chain consist in interposing between the joints or points
of contact of adjacent links, ball or cone and socket bearing surfaces; thus, I take
links of any desired form, and within the inside ends of the said links, cupped
sockets or seats are formed, and into or within these socket seats, spheres or balls
are placed; and surrounding these balls the connecting loop of each adjacent link
passos, and so on, forming a length of chain with ball bearing surfaces; that is,
balls are interposed between the adjacent links of the series of links constituting
the chain-A chain thus constructed is capable of moving with great freedom in
its course of travel in passing over chain wheels in communicating motion or power
to a distance-In applying my invention to rectangular chain links, two ball
bearing surfaces are disposed in a widened out part of each link. The balls instead
of being loose between the points of contact of the adjacent links, may be sub-
stituted by their equivalents in the form of.a fixed cone or knife edge made with
the link or loop of the chain. This cone or knife edged bearing, seats itself within
the socket or sockets of each adjacent link in the same way and acting in the same
imanner as before described with respect to loose spheres. The bearing, surfaces of
the parts are made preferably of hardened steel, and in order to reduce the wear,
a ring or washer may be interposed between the working parts. The closing of
the gapped or open finks when worn is effected by an appliance consisting of a
suitably shaped bed upon which the link is placed, and a contracting tool provided
with taper or pointed sides; a set screw depends or hangs from the advancing
tool for determining the amount of contraction to be given to the link gaps.
The links are put together by contracting or reducing the breadth or depth of
the sides of the interinediate links, so that these narrowed or reduced parts can
readily pass through the open ends or gaps of the links, and which said gaps are
partially closed by the tool or appliance hereinbefore described.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings the
manner in which the same is to be performed.
Figure 1 is an underside plan of a ball bearing chain constructed according to
one of several arrangements of any invention. Figure 2 is a side elevation of, the
same showing the alternate links respectively gapped and the intermediate links
reduced in breadth at or about their middles, in order to facilitate the, putting
together of the links to form the chain. Figure 3 is a part horizontal section of

page_text: the chain or chain links figure 1. Figure 4 is a vertical section of one of the
longer intermediate links separately, and figure is part horizontal section of
the said link, so as to exhibit the socket like ends wherein the spheres work, and
seat themselves. Figure 6 is a side view of one of the gapped links exhibiting
how the narrowed part of the intermediate longer link passes through the gap in
putting together the said links in the formation of a ball bearing chain. Figure 7
is a transverse section of the link figure 5 on the dotted lines A B. The said
section exhibits the inside end of the link showing the socket or seat bearing for
the ball. Figure 8 represents a section of one end of two adjacent links, wherein
the sockets are made angular or V form to allow the spheres to roll or move with
the least possible fractional contact.
12.
X
The same letters of reference.indicate corresponding parts in figures 1 to 7*both
inclusive..
are intermediate links thinned or reduced in depth and widened out in
breadth at their middles and marked a². bb are alternate links preferably uniform
in thickness, but provided with diagonal or straight cross gaps be through. which
the reduced part of the link a passes in the joining together of the links to form
a chain These adjacent links a and b have formed within their opposed inside
ends, sockets or seats a³ 63; wherein' spheres or balls care placed, which constitute
the bearing surfaces between the opposed inside ends of the adjacent links; thus a
length of chain is formed with ball bearing surfaces interposed between the adjacent
links of a series of links.
Ball bearing chain constructed as herein before described, are capable of moving
with great freedom in its course of travel, when applied to chain wheel for coin-
municating, or trans pitting motion or power to or from a distance; and further,
the wearing of the parts which come indirect contact is greatly reduced, in
consequence of the bearing surfaces resting upon rolling spheres.
i
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>
After the links have been put together with the balls in position, the gaps or.
openings in the intermediate links are partially closed, but leaving sufficient spaces
between the meeting edges to be still further closed, on the wear of the ball and
socket parts in contact; thereby admitting the links to be brought back, to their
original pitch Figure 9 is an elevation and, figure 10 is a section of another form
of intermediate link, the seat or recess wherein the ball works, follows, the inside
curvature of the said link. a are the links, and b is the intermediate link having
a groove or recess running within its inside edge-This link is turned up, or
mnade from channelled iron of the troughed section Figure 11 represents another
form of chain links, the intermediate links, of the chain being in, the form of a
roller which is gapped essentially the same as previously described in figure, 1-
The alternate links e are rectangular in forin with reduced or narrowed parts or
sides e so as to admit of the links being connected together, which, is effected by
passing the reduced part e, through the gap of the roller d when the respective
links are at right angles to each other is a spring linch pin, or cotter, preferably.
formed from sheet metal, and this said cotter is for the purpose of keeping the
balls within their places and up to their bearing surfaces, and also to prevent
rattling or shaking on the travelling of the chain Figure 12 is a side elevation of
figure 11 Figures 13 and 14 represent in section and plan, another form of chain,
provided with ball bearings-This form of chain is commonly-employed, for
transinitting motion or, power to or from a distance for various purposes but
without the ball
all and ball seats or sockets This chain is now sometimes, known
as the Ewart type, which consists of rectangular links with hooked ends, which
r having been passed through the middle of the links,, are bent or partially
closed; as represented Figure 15 shows a section of Morgan roller chain provided
with ball bearing surfaces-Figure 16 is a transverse section of the same—The
chain.consists of alternate rectangular links g g and intermediate-roller links h h
The inside ends of the links g.g have sockets or depressions 92, and within the
inside edge of the roller h is an annular groove 2, and between the seat of the
opposed annular
hular groove h², and sockets 20² are balls or spheres i i which roll
after
1.
S
HRVAT
s

page_text: with the roller, so that the combined motion of both the roller, and the balls
between the roller and links, greatly reduces friction, and enhances the rolling
properties of the chain.
Figure 17 represents in section a chain having rollers instead of spheres
interposed between the bearing surfaces-a a are the alternate links, and his an,
interinediate roller link with rollers ;; interposed between the bearing surfaces-
Figure 18 represents the same form of chain as figure 17, other than with respect
to the intermediate links being gapped, and the sides of the said links being
reduced accordingly for passing through the gaps-Figure 19 shows double balls:
and sockets arranged at the bearing surfaces of the links, instead of employing
only single balls as in the preceding arrangements Figure 20 is a plan and
figure 21 is, a section of another form of chain or chain links, the ends of the
alternate links are provided with expanded ends wherein the ball seats are made-
The links are put together by passing the sides of the alternate links, through the.
gaps of the intermediate ones; and partially closing the gaps, but leaving sufficient
space between the parts; that on the chain becoming worn, the further closing of:
the gap or gaps brings the chain to its original pitch--Figure 22 shows how the
alternate links are introduced between the gaps of the intermediate links-
Figure 23 represents another form of link with an intermediate cross bar as in
figure 20, and of essentially the same construction as the preceding figure.
Instead of employing loose balls, spheres or rollers, between the points of contact
of adjacent links, I substitute therefor cone or knife edged bearings, made in one
piece with the link or loop of the chain-Figure 24 is a section and figure 25 is a
plan of this forin of chain provided with cone or knife edged bearing surfaces-kis
an open link and Z is a close link, the latter having cone or knife edged bearings 12 12
within the inside ends of the links, so that on the use or travelling, of the chain,
the least amount of friction is occasioned, in consequence of the links resting upon
points The adjacent, links. have reduced middles 3 to adinit of their passage i
through the gaps of the other links-Figure 26 is explanatory of the way in which
the links are put together-Figure 26A is a. modification where a gapped roller is:
used as the intermediate link-In figure 27 the points of contact are single cones 73
which work within a seat or socket,made in the inside ends of the links k, so
that the chain when in use gyrates or turns upon the point of the cone as centre:
Figure 28 represents a modification of the cone arrangement in which two icones
side by side are arranged instead of one as in the preceding figure-This form of:
link admits only of a motion in one direction Figure 29 is the intermediate. link.
of figure 28 showing the cone seats or recesses-Figure 30 is another form of chain
with cone or. knife edged bearing surfaces, the cone or knife edged formation.
constituting the bearing, is at one end only of each loop or link-Figure 31 is one
of the links separately-Figure 32 is another form of link of the type of figure 13,
and figure 33 is a plan of the same-m is the link and m2 is its hooked end,
and m³ the cone or knife edged bearing, which is enclosed by the loop of the closed..
hooked end-These links are put together by passing the end m, which is broader
than the opening at the bearing end of the link, through the part m³, when on the :
sliding of the hook to the narrow end, the links are locked or connected together.
Figure 34 is of essentially the same construction as the preceding figure other -
than with respect to the link opening-The connection being effected by a side
lateral motion of the hooked end-Figure 35 is a plan of the same-
--Figure 36
shows another modification or form of link in which a cone or knife edged bearing
is employed-The alternate links consist essentially of two angle bars nn with
loops n² ² and terminal ends n³ ³, with cone knife edged or ball bearings n no
and' intermediate rollers o-The formation of the alternate links is effected by
rivetting the terminal ends n³ ³ protruding through the sides of the loop -
Figure 37 is a longitudinal section of figure 36, and figure 38 shows the parts
separately Figure 39 represents a partially gapped intermediate link--Figure 40
shows how the links are put together on the making up of a chain-Figure 41
is an end view of figure 40, and figure 42 is a plan of figure 39; so that in

page_text: consequence of the only partial gapping of the intermediate link, the chain is
rendered stronger than in the preceding gapped forms herein before described.
Intermediate gapped links when required may be used as joining up links for
completing the continuity of an endless chain.
Figure 43 represents in front elevation an appliance for the closing of the gapped
links p is the link to be closed-q is the upper movable fraine having inclined
sides q² qr-r are adjustment screws with heads at their upper terminal ends;
so that by raising or lowering the screw the requisite amount of contraction is
given to the links is the base of the appliance having a curved seat 8² on which
the link rests during the closing operation.
The vertical descent of the block q, the inclined or taper sides q² q², gather in the
ends of the link, and contract the gap to the desired extent.
Instead of arranging the gathering in parts in a horizontal direction, the said
parts may be arranged vertically..
My improvement in chain wheels consists in employing roller or movable teeth
as heretofore The wheel consists of a series of brackets or arms disposed around
the periphery of the wheel; and connected to each bracket or arm is a roller or.
sheave, which turns upon a pin or axis-The roller of each tooth may if necessary
be made in halves which embrace the arın coming between them.
By constructing chain wheels with roller teeth as described, the chain in its
travel, moves with greater freedom in communicating motion..
!
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First. Interposing antifriction balls or rollers between the inside ends of the
adjacent links of chain to reduce friction and wear-The said balls or rollers lie or
rest within V or hemispherical seats, sockets or grooves formed in or out of the
metal of the links, substantially as described and illustrated in figures 1 to 22 both
inclusive of the accompanying Drawings..
Secondly-Making or forming on the inside ends of alternate links or upon one
inside end of each adjacent link of chain, conė, bulbous or knife edged bearing
surfaces; the cone, bulbous or knife edged bearing formations resting or acting
upon the plain inside edges of intermediate links, or within seats formed in the
said inside edges, substantially as described and illustrated in figures 24 to 42' both
inclusive of the accompanying Drawings.
Thirdly. The formation or making up of ball bearing chain and also cone
or. knife edged bearing: chain, of combined gapped alternate links, with close
intermediate links, the latter being reduced in thickness at or about their middles
The formation of the links, and the putting together to produce clain, being.
carried out in the manner, and for the purpose substantially as described and
illustrated.
:
Fourthly. The appliance for the closing or partial closing of the gaps of the
links substantially as described and illustrated in figure 43 of the Drawings.
Fifthly Making..chain wheels with. sheave roller teeth upon, which the drive
chain travels or moves in communicating motion, substantially as described. <
.
Dated this twenty fifth day of August 1885
WILLIAM
MORGAN...
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham,
Agent to the applicant.