Improvements in Shackles, Links, or Couplings for Harness and other purposes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 13th May, 1896
LA ALL Cab 1907 Accented 17th Anr. 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Shackles, Links, or Couplings for Harness and
other purposes.
I, JAMES RHODES of No. 1 Sandy Hill, Woolwich in the County of Kent
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to certain improvements in shackles, links or couplings for
barness and other purposes and has for its object the construction of a device
whereby a trace may be held firmly to withstand the full, or an intermittent strain
and yet be released at will, or any other strain, such for instance as the suspension
of a ships anchor from the cathead, or other adaptation in which the full strain
of the load may be readily applied and sustained and quickly released when
necessary.
In carrying my invention into effect I employ a link having an eye for the rear
attachment, and a hollow box formed upon or fixed to the end thereof. Said box
consists of two cheeks with a joining strip which does not complete the closure,
leaving an open portion facing the front of the link. A lug cast upon, or attached
to, the lower part of said link, (which may hereafter be termed the main link).
carries a short link pivotted or hinged thereon, and this in turn carries an hinged
pawl with a terminal projection, arranged to pass between the cheeks of the box
through the orifice before described, and engage with a similar projection upon the
interior surface of the connecting strip when said pawl is pressed upwards. This
upward pressure is effected by an eccentric cam mounted upon a stud spindle
between the cheeks, and having a short lever or handle by means of which it may
be revolved upon its axis, and caused to impose the requisite pressure, a slight
concavity upon the inner edge of the pawl assisting to retain the fixed position..
This is further effected by a stop upon the outer surface of the cheek nearest the
handle, which is sufficiently elastic, or sufficient play is allowed upon the spindle or
stud in a lateral direction, to admit of said handle being passed over it and held in
position, and easily released when desirable. Now, when so closed, the relative
positions of the main link, connecting link and pawl are such that the main link
and pawl form the two sides of a triangle and the connecting link the base thereof.
Therefore the strain imposed upon the whole in a direct line with the main link, is
carried by said connecting link and the pins coupling it to the pawl and main link,
and also upon the lower lug before mentioned and the projection upon the pawl,
and its engagement with the link. These are, where not direct, shearing strains.
When it is desired to release the load whether under tension or otherwise, the
handle or lever is cleared from the stop, and a semi-revolution of the cam releases
the pawl, which being disengaged, falls, with the connecting link and opens the
coupling. No part of the working strain is imposed upon the cam, its spindle
or the lever, the function of these being to lock or retain the closed position and to
release the same.
may modify the construction of the device according to my invention by
forming a swivel eye upon the end of the main link, and dispensing entirely with
the cheeks and cam with its accessories. The pawl in this case slips into a longi-
tudinal groove in the main livk, and the projection as before, inclines upwards. A
loose collar upon the shaft of the main link has a slot formed in it which coincides

page_text: with said groove, and enables the pawl to be slid beyond it. When the collar is
turned a semi revolution, the pawl is locked by reason of the projection aforesaid
engaging with the inner face of the collar, and is readily released when the latter
is turned back to bring the slot opposite the pawl again. Either position may be
fixed by a set screw or an equivalent device.
My invention is adapted to heavy harness, or other harness, for trace attachments,
slings trusses, anchor gear, releasing boats, life buoys, or rigging or any purpose
where an immediate attachment is required, to sustain a load, and release it in a
simple and effective manner.
Dated this 12th day of May 1906
FREDK. WALKER,
73, St. Stephen's Road, Upton Park, E., Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in Shackles, Links, or Couplings for Harness and
other purposes.
I, JAMES RHODES, of No. 1, Sandy Hill, Woolwich, in the County of Kent,
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
the following statement :-
My invention relates to certain improvements in shackles, links or couplings for
harness and other purposes, and has for its object the construction of a device
whereby a trace may be held firmly to withstand the full, or an intermittent strain,
such for instance as the suspension of a ship's anchor from the cathead, or any
other adaptation in which the full strain may be readily applied aud sustained, and
quickly released when necessary.
In order that my invention may be the better understood I have appended the
accompanying sheet of drawings, in which
Figure I is a sectional elevation of one form of the device, shown as closed, and
Figure II is an elevation of the same showing it in an open position. Figure III
is a part view of a modification thereof.
Figure IV is an elevation of a shackle especially adapted to naval and like
purposes,
Figure V is a part elevation of the shackle catch, and
Figures VI and VII show respectively the two positions of unlocking and
locking the shackle, being a section on the line 1-2 Figure IV.
Figure VIII shows a trace, or strap terminal with a swivel.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several
views.
In carrying my invention into effect I employ a link A, having a hinge or other
similar joint at a connecting it to a fixed projection B upon a hollow box C which
consists of two cheeks, or a hollow casting, openings bb being provided as shown
by Figure 1. The link A carries a hinged pawl D with a terminal projection c
arranged to pass between the cheeks or sides of the box C through the orifice b',
and engage with a recess, and against a similar projection formed upon the side of
the box C, when said pawl D is pressed upwards. This upward pressure is effected
by an eccentric cam F mounted upon a stud spindle E between the cheeks or sides
of the box C, and having a short lever or handle H by means of which it may be
revolved and caused to impose the requisite pressure upon said pawl D, forcing it
into the recess or concavity below the projection p in the case C. The effectual
locking of the device is effected by a stop S Figure II upon the outer surface of C

page_text: nearest the handle H aforesaid, which is itself sufficiently elastic to pass over and
be retained by, the stop S; or the stud spindle E may have sufficient lateral plav
to enable it to pass over said stop S, in either case the link A and pawl D.
being quickly released even when a strain is imposed upon it. The position the
parts assume when so released is shown by Figure II. A modification of this
arrangement is shown by Figure III, where the handle H is a simple crank
bearing upon the face of the box C, which is shaped to form a tapering projection
at d so as to lock the handle H when the pawl D is in place within the box C.
When so closed the relative positions of the link A, the projection B and the
pawl D are disposed so as to form a triangle of which A is the base and the box C
the apex. Therefore the strain imposed upon it in a direct line from the ring R
or other terminal is transmitted angularly from the link A through the projection B,
and the pawl D to its projection c, the pins forming the hinged joints carrying the
load as a shearing strain. When it is desired to release the load, whether under
tension or otherwise the handle or lever H is cleared from the stop S and a semi-
revolution of the cam releases the pawl D, which being disengaged falls, with.
the link A and so opens the coupling. No part of the working strain is imposed
upon the cam For the lever or handle H, the functions of these being to lock or
retain the closed position and to release the same.
I may use any kind of terminal clip or attachment in connection with the box C,..
such for instance as the strap link L Figure VIII with a swivel attachment t, a
fixed ring or loop R as in Figures 1 and 2, with or without a swivel, and con-
structed so as to be close to, or at a distance from the box C as may be required.
I may also employ a shackle R with or without a swivel as shown by
Figure III.
I may modify the construction of the device according to my invention, an.l.
dispense with the cam F and its accessories. An elevation of this modification_is
shown by Figure IV, where the link A is hinged as hereinbefore described to B,
a projection upon a stalk or butt G, which terminates in a swivel t and shackle R,
or any equivalent therefor as aforesaid. The pawl D is provided with a pro-
jection e, shown by the detached view, Figure V which drops into a slot in the
butt G between the cheeks A A' of a collar i loosely fitting said butt G. Figure VI
shows a plan view of the loose collar i and cheeks AA in the position of dropping
in place, the section being made upon the line 1-2 Figure IV. Figure VII
shows the collar i moved round through a quarter of a revolution, and so locking
the pawl D by interposing the hody of said collar i before the projection
instead of the opening formed by the cheeks as in the case of inserting
it in the slot before described. A set screw k serves to lock the link in either
position.
My invention is especially adapted to heavy or other harness, for trace
attachments slings, trusses, anchor gear, gear for releasing ships' boats, life buoys,
or any purpose in which an attachment is desired which may readily be coupled or
released in a simple and effective manner, independently of the strain imposed
upon it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is ;-
First. In an improved shackle, link or coupling, the combination of a hinged
link A and hinged pawl D with a box C, cam F and projections e and p respectively,
substantially as and for the purposes herein described, with reference to Figures I, II
and 111 of the appended drawings.
Second. In an improved shackle, link or coupling as referred to in the preceding
claim the method of and means for releasing or locking the pawl D by a handle or
lever H and stop S substantially as herein described aud shown by Figures I II
and 111 of the appended drawings.
Third. In an improved shackle, link or coupling the construction and use of a

page_text: collar with cheeks in combination with a pawl D, link A and butt G sub-
stantially as and for the purposes herein described and shown by the drawings
Figures IV, V, VI and VII, hereto appended.
Dated this 19th day of January 1897.
FREDK. WALKER,
73, St. Stephen's Road, Upton Park, E., Agent for the Applicant.