Improvement in Block Chains for Driving Cycles or other Machines where Chains are used in Combination with Toothed or Gear- wheels.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Nov., 1097
Complete Specification Left. 9th Aug. 1898—Accepted, 10th Sept., 1898
Date of Application, sin NOV., 1997
Complete Specification Left. 9th Aug. 1898-Accepted, 10th Sept., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Block Chains for Driving Cycles or other Machines
where Chains are used in Combination with Toothed or Gear-
wheels.
I, THOMAS WILLIAM TAYLOR, Designer & Die-Sinker, 26, St. Peters Road, Hands-
worth, near Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists of & relates to an improvement in chains for driving cycles,
or other machines where chains are used in combination with toothed or gear-
wheels. The object of my improvement is, to add life to, or lengthen the wearing
period of the chain before discarding it as useless. To better understand the nature
of my improvement I will first proceed to describe the construction of the block-
chain now extensively used in combination with toothed or gear-wheels for driving
the modern cycle. The block chain is constructed with a series of side plates, of
oblong form, cut from suitable metal, preferably sheet steel, each plate having two
holes pierced, or drilled, one near each extremity. A series of hard steel blocks
of oblong form, having rounded or semi-circular ends, of the desired width, &
thickness are constructed, each of these blocks has two holes drilled through it,
one near each extremity. To build a chain a series of the hereinbefore mentioned
side plates, and hard steel blocks are linked or connected together, by placing one
of the ends of one of the blocks, between the ends of two of the side plates, a pin
passing through the holes near their extremities, the pin is then riveted at each end,
binding the whole together. It is usual for this pin to be shouldered, or slightly
turned away at each end, the holes in the side plates being made to size to receive
this shouldered, or turned portion of the pin. By this method, the side plates are
kept one uniform distance apart, being also prevented from binding too tightly
the centre steel-block, which should work freely upon the pin. This connecting or
linking process is repeated until a chain is built of the required length. It is in
the alteration in the shape of the hereinbefore mentioned steel blocks, that the
utility and novelty of my invention lies, the chain being the same as the old, or
present pattern block-chain, in other respects. The rounded ends of the blocks in
my improved chain are cut at an angle, and the holes through which the pins pass
are thrown slightly out of the centre. The object of this alteration in the shape
of the steel block will be seen later on. When a chain has been in use for some
time, the friction cause the holes in the steel blocks to wear larger, and the pins
which pass through them smaller. This together with the wear upon the parts of
the steel blocks which come in contact with the toothed or gear-wheels, causes a
longitudinal lengthening, or stretching of the chain, until finally it becomes useless
or out of pitch, the links not falling properly into place over the teeth of the gear-
wheels. It is at this period in the life of a chain that is constructed by my improved
method of cutting the rounded ends of the steel blocks at an angle, shows its utility.
The chain when new will only fit properly into position over the toothed or gear-
wheels one side. The distance between the top ends of the blocks on the opposite

page_text: side being too narrow to fall into position, on account of the blocks being cut
at an angle. After the longitudinal lengthening or stretching has taken place
through wear, throwing the chain out of pitch, it can be reversed, or tured over.
The fact of the blocks being drawn farther asunder has brought the opposite side
of the chain into proper pitch. My improved chain can be constructed as cheaply
as the old or present pattern chain herein before described, there being the same
number of working parts in its construction, and its reversable action bringing it
into proper pitch again, makes it a most valuable improvement, as the life of the
chain, or wearing period is greatly extended. The ends of my improved chain
are joined together, making an endless chain, by the old method of passing a
screwed pin through the side plates & blocks, and locking with a nut.
Dated this 8th day of November 1897.
Improvement in Block Chains for Driving Cycles or other Machines
where Chains are used in Combination with Toothed or Gear-
wheels.
I, THOMAS WILLIAM TAYLOR, Designer and Diesinker, 26, St. Peters Road,
Handsworth, near Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, 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 of and relates to an improvement in block chains for driving
cycles or other machines where chains are used in combination with toothed or gear
wheels. The object of my improvement is to add life to and lengthen the wearing
period of the chain before discarding it as useless. To better understand the nature
of my improvement I will first proceed. to describe the construction of the ordinary
block chain now extensively used in combination with toothed or gear wheels for
driving the modern cycle. The block chain being connected with a series of side
plates of oblong form cut from suitable metal preferably sheet steel each plate
having two holes pierced or drilled one near each extremity, a series of hard steel
blocks of oblong form having rounded or semi-circular ends of the desired width
and thickness are constructed, each of these blocks has two holes drilled through it
one near each extremity. To build a chain a series of the herein before mentioned side
plates and hard steel blocks are linked or connected together by placing one of the
ends of one of the blocks between the ends of two of the side plates a pin passing
through the whole near their extremities, the pin is then riveted at each end
binding the whole together. It is usual for this pin to be shoulded or slightly
turned away at each end, the holes in the side plates being made the size to receive
this shouldered or turned portion of the pin. By this method the side plates are
kept one uniform distance apart being also prevented from binding to tightly the
centre steel block which should work freely upon the pin. This connecting or link-
ing process is repeated until a chain is built of the required length. It is in the
alteration of the shape of the herein before mentioned steel blocks that the utility
and novelty of my invention lies, the chain being the same as the old or present
pattern block chain in other respects. The rounded ends of the block in my
improved chain are cut at an angle and the holes through which the pins pass
are thrown slightly out of centre. The object of this alteration in the shape of the
steel block will be seen later on. When a chain has been in use for some time
the friction causes the holes in the steel block to wear larger and the pins which pass
through them smaller. This together with the wear upon the parts of the steel

page_text: block which come in contact with the toothed or gear wheels causes a longitudinal
lengthening or stretching of the chain until finally it becomes useless or out of
pitch the links not falling properly into place over the teeth of the gear wheels.
It is at this period in the life of the chain that it is constructed by my improved
method of cutting the rounded ends of the steel blocks at an angle shews its utility.
The chain when new will only fit properly into position over the toothed or gear
wheels one side. The distance between the top ends of the blocks on the opposite
side being too narrow to fall into position on account of the blocks being cut at an
angle. After the longitudinal lengthening or stretching has taken place through
wear throwing the chain out of pitch it can be reversed or turned over. The fact
of the blocks being drawn farther asunder has brought the opposite side of the chain
into proper pitch. My improved chain can be constructed as cheaply as the old or
present pattern chain herein before described there being the same number of work-
ing parts in its construction and its reversable action bringing it into proper pitch
again makes it a most valuable improvement as the life of the chain or wearing
period is greatly extended. The ends of my improved chain are joined together
making an endless chain by the old method of passing a screwed pin through the
side plates and blocks and locking with a nut.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and more easily carried
into practise I have appended hereunto a sheet of drawings upon which I have fully
illustrated the nature of my said invention.
Figure 1 is an enlarged elevation of one of the blocks of the chain shewing one
part of my improvement.
Figure 2 is a similar enlarged view to Figure 1 but shewing the other part of my
improvement.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of a block chain made in accordance with my
improvements and with the links on one side removed for the better illustration.
Figure 4 is a diagram view of one of the teeth of a sprocket or tooth wheel.
My improvement refers to the well known block chain which is used to a great
extent in cycles and consists in the alteration of the block A but does not in any way
affect the general arrangement of the links B and chain or alter the shape of the
sprocket or toothed wheels.
In carrying my invention into effect I form the holes through which the pins D
pass in a position as shewn by Figure 1 so that when the chain has been in use
for some time and the friction has caused the holes B in the blocks A to wear larger
and the pins D smaller the chain can be reversed the eccentric position of the pins
with regard to the blocks thus causing the reversal of the chain to take up the extra
length caused by the wear.
In addition to this I provide a swell E Figure 3 on each of the wearing parts of
the rounded ends of the blocks on the side which is used on reversal by which means
the back lash caused by the wear F on the toothed wheel H and block A is taken up
and thus an old chain which has been stretched and worn upon a worn sprocket
wheel can by reversal upon the same wheel be made to fit them free of looseness
or lash when at work.
I may vary the size and shape of swell E to meet the various requirements to be
met with and I may place the pins more or less eccentrically to the block as may be
found desirable.
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:-
1st. In block chains for driving cycles or other machines the pins placed eccentri-
cally to the form of the block in combination with the swell E on the wearing
part of the reverse of the block substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth
and illustrated.
2nd. In block chains for driving cycles or machines the swell E formed on the

page_text: wearing part of the reverse of the block substantially as and for the purpose herein
set forth and illustrated.
3rd. In block chains for driving cycles or other machines the connecting pins D
or their equivalents arranged eccentrically to the outer shape of the block A
substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth and illustrated.
1000
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LEWIS WM. GOOLD,
Agent for Applicant,
5, Corporation Street, Birmingham.
LEWIS WM. GOOLD,
Agent for Applicant,
5, Corporation Street, Birmingham.