Improvements in the Construction of Chain Links.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Apr., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 27th Jan., 1894-Accepted, 3rd Mar., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Chain Links.
I GUY HUGGINS GARDNER of 42 Caroline Street Birmingham in the County
of Warwick Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which
has been communicated to me from abroad by Friend W. Smith of Lafayette Street
Bridgeport in the County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut one of the
United States of America) to be as follows:-
This invention has direct reference to the manner of forming the links of chains,
that is to say the way in which the ends or terminations of the wire rod or metal
blank forming the link are wrapped or turned over and interlocked the one link
within the other. And my invention consists in order to form a chain of iny
improved links in taking the wire or metal strip or blank of the required length for
each individual link and bending it by any suitable means firstly to form a loop
which loop is bent from the centre of the metal strip or blank the two sides of this
loop being of equal length are bent out of their plane where they nearly meet upon
being brought together thus giving a shoulder on the lower part of the link, the two
ends are passed through the succeeding loop or link of the chain, the two ends being
bent round form in themselves a smaller loop composed of the double wire this loop
is the reverse way of the larger one, that is to say in plan would shew on
edge the extremities of the smaller loop of the link are bent up and carried round
the sides of the lower part of the link and made to abut against each other
preferably at or about right angles in the direction of the length of the link and
bearing upon the before named shoulder formed by the curvature of the link, the
abutting ends having been so turned up and across the shoulder closes the lower
ends of the link around same above the smaller loop thus securely interlocking each
link in such a way tliat great tensile strength is given to the links and to the whole
chain, moreover when desired the ends having, been so turned up and abutted each
to each as above described they may be further materially strengthened by wolding,
either by electricity or by other suitable means, this additional process of welding,
will obviously afford greater strength to the chain links, in either case it will be
practically impossible to pull the links asunder when constructed according to either
of the above methods.
I wish it to be understood that my improved chain links may be produced
by any suitable machinery, or other method, for the purpose of their manufacture,
also that various modifications may exist keeping in view the main principle (viz.)
of abutting together the ends and also welding them after they have been passed
through each individual link loop.
By my improved formation of chain link whilst the strength of the link audits
interlocking extremities is fully maintained a considerable saving in material and
cost of production is effected.
Dated this 26th day of April A.D. 1893.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Chain Links.
I, GUY HUGGINS GARDNER, of 7 Skinner Lane (late of 42 Caroline Street),
Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Chain Manufacturer, 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 has reference to the manner of forming the links of chains which
have the ends of the wire rod or metal blank or metal piece wrapped round, turned
over or bent backwardly from the main loop of the link so as to form smaller loops
engaging and interlocking with the main loop after engaging each succeeding main
loop of the chain link, such form of chain link causes each of the said interlocking
extremities of the smaller loops to be clamped or abutted together thus maintaining
the said interlocking extremities against disengagement with the said main loop.
Furthermore the extremities of the ends when clamped or abutted together may
be materially strengthened by welding either by electricity or by other suitable means,
which additional process will obviously give greater strength to the chain when
subjected to a high degree of tension.
,
I will now proceed to describe my method with the aid of the accompanying
drawings in which similar letters of reference relate to similar portions of the chain
link.
Figure 1. is a perspective view of a chain link shewing the principle of my
invention.
Figure 2. is a plan view of the same.
Figure 3. is a side view.
Figure 4. is a reverse view of Figure 2.
Figure 5. shews a portion of a chain with the embodiment of my principle of
interlocking links.
Figure 6. shews the alternative method, viz.:-welding the abutting ends
together.
That portion of the wire rod, metal blank or metal piece which forms the main
loop of the link is lettered A, while the two wrapped round or bent back portions
forming the smaller loops of the link are respectively lettered B B'.
The wire rod, metal blank or metal piece having been cut to the required length
for each link is then bent by any suitable means to form the main loop A, the two
sides of this loop being of equal length are bent out of their plane at their lower
portion and where they nearly meet upon being brought together, thus forming
shoulders C C on the said lower portions of the main loop A the extremities of the
two ends are now passed through the main loop of the succeeding link and wrapped
round or bent backwardly and so forming the smaller loops BB which are obviously
of double wire or metal piece; these smaller loops B B', respectively, are located the
opposite way of the main loop as shewn in the drawings, the extremities of
the smaller loops B B are now bent up and wrapped round the sides of the lower
portion of the main loop A, the said extremities being bent preferably at or about
right angles in the direction of the length of the link are made to abut against each
other D D' these abutting ends bear upon the said shoulders C C¹ formed by the
curvature of the link as stated, said abutting ends having been so bent up and turned
across the said shoulders the extremities thereof are closed around the lower portion
of the main loop and locked therewith, thus securely interlocking each link within
the companion loop of each succeeding link as shewn.
As already stated when greater strength is required the abutting extremities of
the ends D D may be welded together in any suitable manner such as by
electricity or by other suitable method thereby greatly increasing the strength of
the links and the power of the chain. In either of the above described methods the

page_text: links when so constructed form a chain of exceptional strength, whereby it is
practically impossible to pull the links asunder.
My improved chain links may be produced by any suitable machinery or other
method for the purpose of manufacture.
By my improvements in the manufacture of chains whilst the strength of the link
and its interlocking extremities are fully maintained, a considerable saving in
material and cost of production is effected.
I do not limit myself to the more precise details of the formation of the link as
herein more fully set forth as the same may be modified provided the main
principles be observed.
.
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-
First. A chain link having the end portions of the wire rod or metal piece forming
the main loop of such link wrapped round, bent back, or turned over upon the main
portion of the link to form loops so that the extremities of the bent back end
portions shall abut horizontally each to each, out of the vertical plane of the said
main portion, and respectively interlocking by the said loops with the companion
interlocking loop substantially as set forth.
Second. A chain link having a main loop and having shoulders formed in that
portion of the wire rod or metal piece located nearest to the said bent back portions
forming the smaller loops substantially as set forth.
Third. A chain link having a main loop bent to form shoulders at its lower part,
the extremities of which loop are wrapped round, bent back, or turned over to form
smaller loops the said extremities being so turned each to each, that they shall
abut against each other and bear upon the said shoulders of the link thus terminating
the smaller interlocking loops substantially as set forth.
Fourth. A chain link having the extremities of the ends of the wire rod or metal
piece abutting each other which ends may be welded together by electricity
or other suitable method in manner substantially as set forth.
Dated this 25th day of January A.D. 1894.
EDWD. J. PAYNE & SON,
104, Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant.