Year: 1889

page_text: I, EUGEN ONGLEY, of Memel, in the Kingdom of Prussia, Machine Maker, 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 consists in a novel or improved construction or arrangement of an
elastic chainlink intended chiefly for use in anchor cables but which may also be
inserted into crane and winch chains, the object of said link being to nullify the
detrimental effect of a sudden jerk on a tightly stretched chain and to prevent the
rupture of the chain under such sudden jerk. Chains possessing a great carrying
capacity under gradually increasing loads are frequently ruptured with a jerking
pull under a tension that is small in proportion to the load they can otherwise support,
so that they do not offer under such circumstances the safety corresponding to their
ordinary strength. This occurs especially with anchor-cables, for when a ship lies at
anchor and a powerful wave strikes the ship, while the cablos are tightly stretched,
the cables are only too frequently ruptured and not only are the anchor and cables
lost, but the ship drifting loose is exposed to the greatest danger.
These dangers are obviated by my elastic chainlink, which is represented in the
sheet of drawings appended hereunto, fig. 1 showing a side view and fig. 2 an end
view of the link, figs. 3 and 4 showing details of the same.
The chainlink consists of two similar bows or shackles A and A¹ and the cylinder B
filled with elastic bodies, for instance with indiarubber washers as shown. The two
legs a a of the shackle A are connected by a ring b, the legs a¹ a¹ of the other
shackle A¹ being connected by a similar ring b. These rings b and b₁ are bulged
out or bent at cc, & cl el respectively, in such a manner that the legs of shackle A
can be passed through the bends c¹ c¹ of the ring 6' of shackle A', and the legs of
the shackle A' through the bends c c of the ring b of shackle A (fig. 2). The legs
of the shackles A and A' are thus crossed and at right angles to each other and
embrace the cylinder B, which is partly filled with strong indiarubber washers
separated by plates of non-corrosive metal, as shewn in section by fig. 4. The
cylinder B is open at both ends and into its ends the covers C and C¹ with tubular

page_text: oyelots and fit loosely, these covers however being still inside the cylinder odgos.
The eylets and have an oval section and corresponding oval openings are formed
in the ends of the legs of shackles A and A' so that strong bolts D and D₁ pushed
through these openings and the eyeletsƒƒ securely connect the different parts of the
chnin links. In order to allow for the movement of the parts corresponding to the
elastic compression of the rings the holes y in the cylinder through which the bolts D
and pass are made oblong.
The chainlink bereinbefore described is inserted into a cable by proference noar to
the anchor, so that one of the shackles, for instance A, is placed towards the anchor,
and the other A towards the ship. As the chain is tightened, the shackle A is pulled
to the left and the shuckle A' to the right. The shackle A being connected by the
bolt D to the cover (, and the shackle A by the bolt D' to the cover C, these covers
are drawn together as the shackles are pulled outwards and the indiarubber rings a
between the covers are compressed. When a sudden jerk is exerted upon the cable,
the rings are only further compressed and the evil effects of such jerks aro obviated,
so that the cable will not be ruptured in consequence of sudden jerks.
The elastic chainlink hereinbefore described can also be advantageously used in
crane and winch chains in order to prevent the sudden shocks occurring through
the slip of a chain link off the teeth of a chain pulley or that of a twisted link. When
this oceurs and the lon suddenly drops in consequence, the elastic link receives
and softens the shock and saves the chain.
Instead of indiarubber washers, obviously helical or volute springs preferably
coated with a non-corrosive metal miny be used.
Having now particularly described and illustrated my said invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is,
Firstly, the general arrangement or construction of elastic chain link substantially
as hereinlæefore described and illustrated by the drawings.
Secondly, an elastic chainlink composed of two shackles connected in such a
manner to the sliding covers of a cylinder containing an elastic material or its
equivalent that by pulling said shackles the elastic contents of the cylindor aro
compressed, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 31st day of January 1889.
EMMOTT&Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.