Certain Improvements in Driving Chains.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Aug., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 26th May, 1896-4ccepted, 27th June, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Certain Improvements in Driving Chains.
I, ROBERT WALKER SMITH, of The Eadie Manufacturing Company, Limited,
of Hunt End, Redditch, Worcestershire, Cycle Manufacturers' Manager, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to those driving chains which consist of alternate
links jointed together by cross pins. Such chains are used for transmitting power
and rotary motion in bicycles and other velocipedes and in dredgers and various
other machines. The object of this invention is to provide a safe and simple
detachable connection for the links of the said chains to enable the two ends
of the chains to be quickly connected together and disconnected when required so
that no part of the connection will be liable to become loose in wear or detached
from the chain, nor project but very slightly beyond the face of the links thus
allowing of the chain running in a narrower space than when the end links are
connected together by a bolt and nut as is usual.
This
In one arrangement of this invention one of the said links is provided with a
thin locking plate fixed to the outside of the link as by a central rivet.
locking plate is by preference of about the same shape and size as the side link
and is made with two holes through which the joint pins pass but these holes
are slotted at opposite sides of the link. Both joint pins have thin necks formed
in them with which the locking plate engages so that the side plate is thereby
locked to the two joint pins which latter are in this case by preference fixed to the
corresponding link at the other side of the chain. By turning the locking plate
on its central rivet or pin the locking plate leaves the necks in the joints and they
pass out through the slots. The side link with the locking plate can then be
removed from the joint pins and the latter from the two end links of the chain.
To connect the two end links together the two joint pins which are fixed to the
side link are threaded through the end links; the removable side link is then
threaded on to the pins and the locking plate is turned so as to engage with the
necks in the joint pins thus locking the side link thereto. If the locking plate
should become loose or get slightly out of position it will be moved back into
place by its edge coming into contact with the wheels round which the chain runs.
The locking plate may if preferred for extra security be made with indentations to
snap into a hole or holes in the face of the side link; or be otherwise arranged to
engage with the side link.
In another arrangement of this invention the locking plate is not fixed to the side
link but is removable therefrom and is held in place by fitting in the necks in the
pins aforesaid and by one or more indented or other projections on the inner side
of the locking plate engaging in a hole or holes in the side plate. In this case
both of the holes in the locking plate are by preference slotted in the same side of
the same.
Instead of the locking plate being made to engage with the two joint pins as
above described, the locking plate may be made to engage with only one of the
joint pins, which in this case may be made with a head at that end which is not
engaged by the locking plate so that when the locking plate has been turned to
disengage the joint pin, the joint pin will be withdrawn endwise to permit of the
links being disconnected.
Meinventing mow he similarly annlied to both sides of the links.

page_text: In another arrangement of my invention the two locking plates are formed in
one piece with a cross bar which passes over the chain from one side to the other
thus the two locking plates will clip the two links. One or both of the locking
plates is or are made with a projection on the inside which engages with
corresponding indentations in the ends of the joint pin and thus retain the joint pin
in place. The joint pin can readily be removed by first springing the clip like
locking plate out of the indentations in the joint pin. In this example of my
invention the locking plates may either be jointed to the side links or be entirely
removable therefrom.
The whole or any number of the side links of the chain may be made removable
and provided with locking plates or clips as above described.
Dated this 2nd day of August 1895.
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicant.
Certain Improvements in Driving Chains.
1, ROBERT WALKER SMITH, of The Eadie Manufacturing Company, Limited,
of Hunt End, Redditch, Worcestershire, Cycle Manufacturers' Manager, 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 has reference to those driving chains which consist of alternate
links jointed together by cross pins. Such chains are used for transmitting power
and rotary motion in bicycles and other velocipedes and in dredgers and various
other machines. The object of this invention is to provide a safe and simple
detachable connection for the links of the said chains to enable the two ends of the
chains to be quickly connected together and disconnected when required so that no
part of the connection will be liable to become loose in wear or detached from the
chain, nor project but very slightly beyond the face of the links thus allowing of
the chain running in a narrower space than when the end links are connected
together by a bolt and nut as is usual.
I will describe my invention by referring to the accompanying drawings on
which
Fig. 1 shews a short piece of driving chain provided with a detachable connecting
link constructed according to this invention;
Fig. 2 is a cross section of the chain through one of the joint pins ;
Fig. 3 shews the said piece of chain with the locking plate of the connecting link
turned up ready for the removal of the side plate ;
Fig. 4 shews the said piece of chain with part of the connecting link removed;
Figs. 5 and 5 shew the two parts of the connecting link separately;
Fig. 6 is a sectional plan of the locking plate;
Fig. 7 is a key which can be used for turning the locking plate ;
Fig. 8 shews another piece of chain with a modified form of the side connecting
link;
Fig. 9 is a front elevation and plan of the locking plate of the connecting link
shewn in Fig. 8;
Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate a further modification of this invention;
Fig. 12 is a general view and Fig. 13 is a sectional plan of a piece of chain
provided with a further modified form of my connecting link and
Figs. 14, 15, 16 and 17 illustrate a further modification of my invention.

page_text: The same letters of reference indicate the same or corresponding parts in all the
figs. of the drawings.
In one arrangement of this invention illustrated by Figs. 1 to 6 both inclusive
one of the links or side plates of the chain namely A is provided with a thin
locking plate B fixed to the outside of the link or side plate by the central rivet C.
This locking plate B is by preference of about the same shape and size as the side
link or side plate A and is made with two holes 61 6 through which the joint
pins D₁ D pass, but these holes are as shewn slotted at opposite sides of the
link. Both of the joint pins D' D' have thin necks d' formed in then with which
the locking plate B engages so that the side plate A is, as shewn in Fig. 1, thereby
locked to the joint pins D¹ D' which latter are in this case by preference fixed to
the corresponding link or side plate E at the other side of the chain. By turning
the locking plate B on its central rivet or pin the locking plate B leaves the necks
of the joint pins D' D' as shewn in Fig. 3, so that the side link A with the locking
plate B can then be removed from the joint pins D1 D2 and the latter from the two
end links F F of the chain as shewn in Figs. 5 and 5*. To connect the two end
links F F together the two joint pins D₁ D³ which are fixed to the side link E
are threaded through the end links F F as shewn in Fig. 4. The removable side
link A is then threaded on to the pins D' D' as shewn in Fig. 3 and the locking
plate B is then turned so as to engage with the necks d¹d in the joint pins D' D'
thus locking the side link thereto as shewn in Fig. 1. If the locking plate B
should become loose and get slightly out of position it will be moved into place by
its coming in contact with the wheels round which it runs. The locking plate B is,
for extra security by preference made with indentations such as on its outside
which form corresponding projections on its inside which snap into holes a¹ a sunk
in the face of the link. In order to facilitate the turning of the locking plate Ba
key such as G as shewn in Fig. 7 (which, however, forms no part of this invention)
may be employed and made with two projections g¹ g at its end which engage with
corresponding holes in the locking plate B and thus facilitate the turning of
the same.
In another arrangement of this invention shewn by Figs. 8 and 9, the locking
plate B is not fixed to the link A but is removable therefrom and is held in place
by fitting in the necks d¹d of the pins D' D2 as aforesaid and by one or more
indented or other projections such as 7 on the inner side of the link engaging in a
corresponding hole in the side plate A. In this case both of the holes b¹² are
by preference slotted on the same side of the locking plate as shewn in Figs. 8
and 9.
Instead of the locking plate B being made to engage with the two joint pins D¹ D'
as above described with reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 5 the locking plate B
may, as shewn in Figs. 10 aud 11, be made to engage with only one of the joint
pins D which in this case may be made with a head d³ at that end which is not
engaged by the locking plate so that when the locking plate B has been turned on
its rivet C to disengage the joint pin D, the joint pin may be withdrawn endwise
as shewn in Fig 11 to permit of the link F being disengaged from the two side
plates A and E. The locking plate B is made with the indented projection 6' on
its inner face to engage with the corresponding hole in the side plate and thus keep
the locking plate B in place.
My invention may be similarly applied to both sides of the links although for all
practical purposes the application of my invention to one of the side links as above
described is sufficient.
In another arrangement of my invention shewn by Figs. 12 and 13 two locking
plates B B are used and formed in one piece with the crossbar 68 which passes
over the chain from one side to the other thus the two locking plates B1 B2 will
clip the links and they are by preference made of thin sheet metal. The double
locking plate B1 B2 is secured to the two side plates A and E by being rivetted
at C on which the locking plate will turn. One or both of the locking plates B¹ B*
is or are made with an indented projection 6 on the inside which projection engages

page_text: with corresponding indentations d* d³ in the ends of the joint pin and thus retain
the joint pin D2 in place. The joint pin D³ can readily be removed by first raising
the clip like locking plate B¹ B' out of the indentations dd in the joint pin D³.
In this example of my invention the locking plate B' B' may either be jointed to
the side links AE as shewn in Figs. 11 and 12 or be entirely removable
therefrom.
Instead of the locking plate B being made as above described, the locking
plate B may as illustrated by Figs. 14, 15, 16 and 17 be so constructed that it can
be moved endise to disengage it from or engage it with the joint pin D'.
In this
case the locking plate B is made with a slotted hole which at is made large
enough to pass over the end of the joint pin D and at 2 is made so small as to
engage with the neck d¹ in the joint pin, this neck being in this case by preference
made as two slots at opposite sides of the pin so as the better to prevent the pin D²
from turning round. The locking plate B is secured to the side plate A by being
made with a slotted recessed hole % which will snap on to and embrace the rivet C
as shewn in Figs. 14 and 15. To remove the locking plate B it is only necessary
to push the same end wise in the direction shewn by the arrow in Fig. 14 so that
the locking plate B can then be lifted off the end of the pin D.
The whole or any number of the side links of the chain may be made removable
and provided with locking plates or clips as above described.
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. In gearing chains of the kind herein referred to the combination with the
side plate E and necked joint pins D' D' of the removable side plate A adapted to
fit on said joint pins, the locking plate B secured to and adapted to turn on said
side plate and made with end slots 6' 62 at opposite sides to engage with the
necks dd in the joint pins and secure the side plate thereon, all substantially as
herein before described with reference to Figs. 1 to 6 of the accompanying
drawings.
2. In gearing chains of the kind herein referred to the combination with the
side plate E and necked joint pius D' D' of the removable side plate A adapted to
fit on said joint pins and the locking plate B slotted at 61 62 to engage with the
necks a' d' of the joint pins and made with the indented projection ' to engage in
a corresponding hole in the side plate to keep the locking plate in place,
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 8 and 9 of the
accompanying drawings.
3. The combination with the side plate A of a gearing chain of the locking
plate B secured on the outer face by a central rivet or the like and made with
slots at opposite sides to engage with the necks of the joint pins,
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by Figs. 1, 3 and 5 of the
accompanying drawings.
4. In gearing chains of the kind herein referred to the combination with the
side plate A and necked joint pin D2 of the locking plate B secured to said side
plate and adapted to turn thereon and made with an end slot is to engage with the
neck d of the joint pin and thus secure the joint pin in place substantially as
herein before described with reference to Figs. 10 and 11 of the accompanying
drawings.
5. In gearing chains of the kind herein referred to the employment of the joint
pin D passing through the side links and made with the depressions d' do in its
ends, in combination with the compound locking plate B1 B2 jointed to the two
side links and connected by the crossbar 68 and made with depressions 69 on the
inner faces so as to engage in the said depressions in the ends of the joint pin and
secure the same in place or turn up and allow of the joint pin being removed,
substantially as herein before described in reference to Figs. 12 and 13 of the
accompanying drawings.

page_text: 6. In gearing chains of the kind herein referred to the combination with the side
plate A and necked joint pin D of the locking plate B made with slot h' h³ to
engage with the neck d' in the joint pin and also having the recessed slot /³ to
engage with a pin C on the sideplate A to secure the locking plate B in place,
substantially as herein before described with reference to Figs. 14, 15, 16 and 17
of the accompanying drawings.
Dated 22nd day of May 1806
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicant.