Improvements in Drive Chain.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Drive Chain.
I, ALFRED APPLEBY of 124, Vyse Street, in the City of Birmingham,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to drive chain for cycles and other like road vehicles and
also for various other purposes, and has distinct reference to that class of chain
composed or built up of a series or number of loose side links and cross pins or
pivots, the former provided with a long slot enlarged into a gate about their
middles, and the latter consisting of a middle or body part having protruding
necks terminating in heads, so that the said loose parts cin be threaded or con-
nected one on to or to the other in a simple manner, and be taken apart when
required, the whole of the chain being thereby made detachable. A drive chain
so constructed or built up is practically of no use owing to the large amount of
back play or "back lash" of each or every link of which the said chain is
composed.
Now the object of this invention is to make this particular chain of good
practical use and entirely prevent all back play or "back lash" in the same. This
accomplish by fitting to the gates or openings of the side links of the chain a
filling-in piece, collet, eyelet, plug, or their equivalents, provided with a collar
adapted to fit the space between the adjacent ends of each and every alternate
link and prevent the same from working out of position, or keep the same apart.
In carrying my invention into effect I take a small circular blank of any suitable
metal and work upon the metal at the middle thereof by certain tools, and fashion
the same into a small well leaving the metal at the boundary thereof intact.
I then cut out the bottom of the cup or eyelet so formed and pass one of the
same from the inside through the gate or opening of each and every alternate side
link and, when the same are in position, turn over the metal of the eyelet from the
outside of the link. Thus, we have an eyelet firmly fixed in the gate or opening
of a link, the collar of which nicely fits between the adjacent ends of the inside
links and prevents any displacement thereof.
In some cases I make the eyelet split so as to be sprung into position within the
gate or entrance, which also allows its removal therefrom should the chain so fitted
require shortening repairing, or taking apart for any other reason.
As a modification I may make the filling-in piece in the form of a plain short
plug carried by spring arms adapted to snap over the outer edges of the side
links; or the thickness of the metal of the side links around the gate or opening
may be increased, and a plain or screwed conical plug inserted within the said gate,
adapted to act in like manner as the eyelet before described.
As a still further modification I may provide a thin spring plate of the same.
shape and size as the side links, and provided with split holes, adapted to be forced
over the heads of the cross pins or pivots and into position on the necks thereof;
or a spring cap may be fitted on an outstanding collar formed upon the inside face
of the links, which will fill up the space between the adjacent ends of each and
every alternate link. A chain so constructed can be easily repaired, shortened,
or lengthened, by the rider of a vehicle so fitted.
Dated this 14th day of April 1896
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 11, Burlington Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Drive Chain.
I, ALFRED APPLEBY of 124, Vyse Street, in the City of Birmingham,
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:-
This invention relates to drive chain for cycles and other like road vehicles and
also for various other purposes, and has distinct reference to that class of chain
composed or built up of inner and outer side links and cross pins or pivots of
metal, the former provided with a long slot enlarged into a gate about their
middles, and the latter consisting of a middle or body part having protruding
necks terminating in heads, so that the said loose parts can be threaded or
connected one on or to the other in a simple manner, and be taken apart when
required, the whole of the chain being thereby made detachable. A drive chain
so constructed or built up is practically of no use owing to the large amount of
back play or "back lash" of each or every link of which the said chain is
composed.
Now the object of this invention is to make this particular chain of good
practical use and entirely prevent all back play or "back lash" in the same.
This I accomplish by fitting to the gates or openings of the side links of the
chain a filling-in piece, collet, eyelet, plug, or their equivalents, provided with a
collar adapted to fit the space between the adjacent ends of each and every
alternate link and prevent the same from working out of position, or keep the
same apart.
In carrying my invention into effect I take a small circular blank of any
suitable metal and work upon the same at the middle thereof by certain tools, and
fashion it into a small well, leaving the metal at the boundary thereof intact.
I then cut out the bottom of the cup or eyelet so formed and pass one of the same
from the inside through the gate or opening of each and every alternate side liuk
and, when the same are in position, turn over the metal of the eyelet from the
outside of the link. Thus, we have an eyelet firmly fixed in the gate or opening
of a link, the collar of which nicely fits between the adjacent ends of the inside
links and prevents any displacement thereof.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying sheet of drawings represents in elevation a short
piece of drive chain constructed according to my invention, Fig. 2 being a
horizontal section of the same, and Fig. 3 a side elevation.
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section on the dotted line H, Fig. 1, and
Fig. 5 illustrates a transverse vertical section taken through the dotted line F,
Fig. 3, and also an elevation and a section of the filling-in eyelet, three of which
are clearly illustrated in their assigned positions in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 represent modifications of my invention which will be
hereinafter fully described, and as all the parts in the whole of the figures are
corresponding, the same letters of reference will be used in their indication.
In Figs. 1-5 a is a portion of a drive chain composed or built up of a number
of metallic outer and inner plate-like links a² a³ and cross pins or rivets c, each of
the former being provided with a long slot a, enlarged at its middle into a gate
or mouth as, of a size sufficient to allow the cross rivets or pins, as hereinafter
described, to be threaded. The cross pins or rivets c are each constructed with a
cylindrical middle part 2, having opposite like shaped necks 3, terminating in
heads c, the latter parts being of a size suitable to pass through the gates or
mouths a, as aforesaid, whilst the necks fit the long slots a' and engage therein. A
length of this chain is built up by threading each of the opposite links, at the gate
part a, over the heads ct of the pins or rivets c, and into their respective positions

page_text: upon the necks thereof. Through the gates or mouths a" of the outer and
opposite links a', and from the insides thereof, are inserted filling-in stop eyelets b,
each consisting of a flange part 6, and a shank part 63, the former being cut away
on both sides at 4, and adapted to fit beween the opposite and circular ends a, a²,
of the inner side links a, whilst the latter part 6 is made to fit tightly within the
gates or mouths a, as aforesaid, and is fixed therein by expanding or turning over-
the metal at the end of the stop eyelet, as shown at 6 in Figs. 2-5. The filling-in
eyelet is made up from a blank of metal by suitable tools, and constitutes a stop
to the inner links a³, between which it is inserted, the same successfully preventing
any "back lash" or back play in any of the component parts of which the chain
is composed.
In Fig. 6, which represents in transverse vertical section a modification of my
invention, the filling-in eyelet 6 is split, and provided with a circular and ball
edge b, to facilitate its introduction and withdrawal from the gate or mouth. In
Fig. 7 another modification is illustrated in elevation and transverse section in
which the filling-in stop piece is made from a metal plate b, provided with
tongues 6, 6, adapted to pass through the gate at of the outer links a', and fix the
said plate b in position between the ends a, a', of the inner links a³. In
Figs. 8 and 9, which represent another modification, the filling-in stop piece is
inserted within the gap or slot of the links, and between the necks of the pins or
rivets. In this arrangement the inner links as are made in the "block" form, the
pins c being of the same construction as before. The filling-in stop piece b, which
fits the combined slot and gate a, and whose ends b, 63, come against the
shanks c, c, of the cross pins c, is made preferably of steel, and before being
inserted in position is curved in its longitudinal direction, but straightened out
when in position, which thereby retains it. In Fig. 10 the filling-in or stop piece
is constructed in the form of a screwed plug or pin b, having a plain part b,.
which latter forms a stop between the ends of the successive inner links as, when.
the same is in position within the screwed gate a, of the outer links a2, and
prevents any "back lash" or back play. This stop piece can be removed when
required by a screw driver, a slit being provided in the head of the pin for that
purpose.
Instead of the plug 6 being screwed it may be made plain and forced in enough
to fix it. The cross pins or rivets and also the inner and outer plates or links of
the chain can be made of hardened steel, and any portion of the said chain easily
repaired, shortened, or lengthened, by removing the filling-in stop pieces, as set
forth, which renders the chain perfectly detachable, there being no rivettings
whatever of the cross pins or pivots.
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. In a detachable drive chain, composed or built up of slotted links and
cross pins as set forth, providing the same with filling-in stop pieces, collets,
eyelets, plugs, or their equivalents, whereby all "back lash" or back play in the
said chain is prevented and its detachability unimpaired, substantially as described
and set forth.
Second. In a detachable drive chain as set forth making the filling-in stop
pieces, as claimed in the preceding claim, in the form of metallic eyelets b,
provided with flanged parts 63, and cut away parts 6, as described and set forth
in Figs. 1-5.
Third. In detachable drive chain, making the filling-in stop pieces in the form
of split spring eyelets b, having ball edges 6, as set forth in Fig. 6.
Fourth. Making the filling-in stop piece of detachable drive chain from a steel
plate b, having tongues b, 63, for its affixment, as set forth in Fig. 7.
Fifth. In detachable drive chain, making the filling-in stop pieces in the form
of plates inserted within the slots of the side links, the same being adapted to hold

page_text: the cross pins or rivets apart, for the purpose substantially as described and set
forth in Figs. 8 and 9.
Sixth. In detachable drive chain, constructing the filling-in piece of a screwed
or plain plug, substantially as set forth with reference to Fig. 10.
Seventh. The general arrangement, construction, fitting, and combination of the
parts as set forth."
Dated this 12th day of June 1896.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 11, Burlington Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
Agents for the Applicant.