IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CHAINS, CHAIN CABLES, LINKS FOR RAILWAY COUPLINGS, AND OTHER LIKE ARTICLES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Gray, of Erie, Pennsylvania, United
States of America, now of No. 8, Southampton Buildings, London,
and Fenner Ballou Taylor, of Westbourne Grove, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil and Mechanical Engineer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CHAINS,
CHAIN CABLES, LINKS FOR RAILWAY COUPLINGS, AND OTHER LIKE ARTICLES."
-A communication from abroad by John Selden, of Erie, afore-
said.
Scaled the 9th February 1875, and dated the 11th August 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Gray and
Fenner Ballou Taylor at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 11th August 1874.
We, ROBERT GRAY, of Erie, Pennsylvania, United States of America,
now of No. 8, Southampton Buildings, London, and FENNER BALLOU
TAYLOR, of Westbourne Grove, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
and Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF

page_text: CHAINS, CHAIN CABLES, LINKS FOR RAILWAY COUPLINGS, AND OTHER LIKE
ARTICLES," a communication, to be as follows :-
Our said Invention relates to machinery for manufacturing chains,
chain cables, coupling links, and other like articles.
The first part of the said Invention consists in the combination of a
former or finger, two clamps, a ram, and friction rollers; in the employ-
ment of concave dies; in the construction and arrangement of a
reciprocating yoke and sectors, a circular frame, and adjusting scrow;
in the employment of a reciprocating finger bar hollowed out on
its under side for the passage of the blank bars, and provided with a
former upon its end; and in the arrangement of shears on the
reciprocating stirrup and vibrating sector, all as herein-after specified.
The construction of our machine is as follows:-It has bed plates
resting on legs or framework, and a heavy iron frame in which rest
pressers. These pressers are usually made quadrant shaped with a wide
face and with cogs. They are so placed in the said frame that their
faces press on each other, and the two pressers are geared together.
The bearings of theso pressers are fitted in boxes, the upper one of
which is moveable, by an adjusting screw, thereby giving more or less
pressure at the face of the pressers. Two dies are dovetailed into the
face of the said pressers. Theso pressers when moved have an oscillating
motion. This part of the machine is thrown in and out of gear by a
long lever and clutch.
On one of the bed plates is fastened a bender which consists of a
sliding cutter bar and cutters, a finger bar and finger, friction wheels, a
guage, and claws, levers, and a ram, The cutter bar and the finger bar
are connected.
According to another part of our Invention we construct a bender
with two shafts. The lower end of one shaft is made the shape of a
link, and a spiral projection serves to bend the iron or link to carry the
two ends past each other, thus leaving stock for the weld. The end of
a bar of iron is put in between a former and roller, springs are arranged
to force the roller and the iron to be bent tightly to the said former,
which then makes one revolution. When one revolution has been com-
pleted a spring draws the lovor and catch into a notch in a collar which.
is secured to the aforesaid shaft with the link-shaped end, thus holding

page_text: the former stationary while the other shaft completes one revolution,
and at the same time cams and levers force a chisel upon the former to
cut the iron intervening. The said chisel is placed obliquely to the line
of the iron bent, and thereby forms the scarf for wolding.
In this modification of our Invention, one die is a simple female die.
It is sunk deeper than half the thickness of the iron link. The other
die is a male die, and is concaved or grooved on its face.
The object of this construction is, that when the dies are set together
the spaco in which the links is pressed is below the surface of the male
die, and prevents the formation of a lip or bead in the edge of the link
by the highly heated and soft iron being forced out between the faces of
the two dies, as would be the case if the dies were of the form of the
male dies. By this device the link is completely surrounded, the points
reaching down the sides of the groove in the female die, and entirely
preventing any of the iron boing forced out by the pressure, thus
making the link at the point where it is welded as round and smooth as
at any other part. Links, rings, and other similar articles can be welded
by using dies constructed in this way by a drop hammer, pressers, or
rollers. The said dies may be so constructed as to give each link the
proper twist for forming twisted chain.
Another modification of our Invention is as follows:-We arrange
the head of the plunger in such manner in connection with the hinged
spring bed plate, that as the plunger is elevated by the cam, it shall so
lift the bed plate as to cause an arm attached thereto to move a hori-
zontal sliding bar, and to drive its stop in such contact with a pin on
the plunger shaft, that it shall hold the latter free from contact with
the cam until through the action of a treadle the sliding stop bar is
returned. We attach an oscillating arm of the said spring bed plate to
a crank connected with the treadle axle to permit of the tension or force
with which the spring shall act or drive, the plunger being regulated at
pleasure.
We so connect the treadle rod with its axle, that as the same is
turned through the action of the oscillating bar connected with the
bed plate of the spring, the rod shall elevate one treadle and depress
the one which carries the movable tongue bearing pin of the link as to
withdraw the same automatically, thus leaving the link free to be
removed after it has been welded through the action of the dies.

page_text: We provide the section of the dio block, through which the traveling
dio works, with a detachable steel packing which allows of its being
removed when unduly worn, or replaced by another of a different
diameter, and which allows of the same dio block boing used with
different sized dies.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Robert Gray and Fenner Ballou. Taylor in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th February 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, ROBERT
GRAY, of Erie, Pennsylvania, United States of America, now of No. 8, 1
Southampton Buildings, London, and FENNER BALLOU TAYLOR, of
Westbourne Grove, in the County of Middlesex, Civil and Mechanical
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by-Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said Robert Gray and Fenner Ballou
Taylor, Her special licence that we, the said Robert Gray and Fenner
Ballou Taylor, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as we, the said Robert Gray and Fenner Ballou Taylor, our
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
excrcise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention-for-Im-
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CHAINS, CHAIN CABLES,
LINKS FOR RAILWAY COUPLINGS, AND OTHER LIKE ÅRTICLES," a communication
to us. from abroad by John Solden, of Eric, aforesaid, upon the condition
(amongst others)..that we, the said Robert Gray and Fenner Ballou
Taylor, our exccutors or administrators,-by-an, instrument in writing
under our, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed

page_text: These pressers are usually constructed in the form shown in Figures 1
and 3, that is, quadrant shaped, with a wide face on which are tecth, as
shown. They are so placed in the frame K that their faces press on
cach other, and the two pressers are geared together. The bearings of
these pressers aro fitted in boxes, the upper one of which I is movable,
by the adjusting screw J, and is raised or lowered at pleasure, thereby
giving more or less pressure at the face of the said pressers. E and F
are dies which are dovetailed into the faces of the pressors C and D, and
are removable. These pressers when moved have an oscillating motion.
They receive their motion by the pitman G which connects the
eccentric H with the pins j,j, on the presser D. This part of the
machine is thrown in and out of gear by the long lever L which moves
the clutch M.
On the bed plate B is fastened the bender, which consists of the
sliding cutter bar n, the cutters a, b, the finger bar c, the finger o, the
friction wheels e, l, the gauge d, the claws Z, Z, the levers T, T, U, U,
and the ram Y. The levers U, U, are fastened in holes or slots in the
levers T, T, and also to the cross bar X which is secured to the ram Y.
The cutter barn and the finger bar c are connected, and both receive
their motion by the pitman S which connects the eccentric R on the
shaft O with them, and is attached to them at the lug f, in which is
the slot g. The claws and ram, Z, Z, and Y, receive their motion from
the crank plate V on the shaft O by the pitman W which connects with
the ram Y at p.
The said machine operates as follows:-The parts of the machine are
brought into the position indicated in Figure 2, that is, with the ram Y
drawn back, the claws Z, Z, opened, and the cutter bar n and finger
bar c drawn up. The rod k is then pushed into the gauge d, passing
behind the finger o (in about the position shewn in Figure 5) and in
front of the friction rollers e and 7, and then between the cutters a
and b, resting as seen in Figure 2. Then the cutter barn and tho fingor
bar c move in the direction indicated by the arrow; the cutter & passes
under the cutter a, and the rod k being between them is cut in two
diagonally. The finger o has by this time commenced pulling the piece
of rod just cut in between the friction rollers e and 7. This movement
brings the rod into about the shape of the letter U, when the claws Z, Z,
seize the extremities of the U shaped rod and draw them together
around the finger o, which is elliptical or link shaped. The ram Y then

page_text: strikes the two ends and sets them up close against the finger o, which
gives the rod a perfect link shape. The claws and ram by the action of
the crank V draw back, and the finger on account of the slot g in the
lugf halts for an instant, and the link falls from the finger o through
the hole m in the bed plate B to the floor. The rod being fed in at an
inclination to the bed plate, as shown in Figure 6, and being cut
diagonally or scarfing, the link when bent is open sufficiently to permit
a link to be slipped in, as seen in Figure 7, and is scarfed ready for.
welding, as seen at r. The link thus formed is brought to a welding
heat and placed with its open ends r, Figure 7, in the female die F:
on the face of the presser D, and that portion of the machine is at once
thrown into gear by the operator moving the lever L with his leg. This
brings the two dies together with great force. The pressure thus
exerted on the link effects the welding of the same.
as
It will be noticed that F is a female die, it is however sunk deeper
than half the thickness of the iron of the link; E is a male die, and
will be seen in Figures 3 and 4, is concave or groove on its face,
giving its profile view as in Figure 3; at y, y, y, y, a serrated appearance..
The object of this form or construction is that when the dies are set,
together the space in which the link is pressed shall be below the surface
of the die F; this arrangement prevents the formation of a lip or bead on.
the edge of the link by the highly heated and soft iron being forced out.
between the faces of the two dies, as would be [the case if the two dies.
were of the form of the die F. By this device the link is completely
surrounded, the points or serrations y, y, y, y, reaching down the sides
of the groove in the female die F and entirely preventing any of the
iron being squeezed out by the pressure, thus making the link at the
point when it is welded as round and smooth as at any other point..
Links, rings, and other similar articles can be welded by using dies con-
structed in this manner by a drop hammer in place of the pressers 0 ;
and D, also by trip hammers and by rollers.
In Figure 1, at the points marked hand i on the presser D and the
pitman G, is a pair of shears or cutters which are used for clipping the
link when necessary by reason of imperfect bending or welding. The
dies E and F may be so constructed as to give each link the twist proper
for forming twisted chain.

page_text: Another part of our Invention is illustrated in Figures 9 to 13.
Figure 9 is a front clevation of another bending apparatus constructed
according to our Invention; Figure 10 is an under side view of the said
apparatus; Figure 11 shews a detached portion of the same; Figures 12
and 18 show links bent ready for welding.
This bender has two shafts A, F, turning in suitable bearings H;
B, E, are toothed wheels, the wheel B having teeth only on a portion of
its periphery, as shewn in Figure 11. a is the driving shaft which is
geared through the pinion 6 with the bevel wheel 6' on the shaft A.
The lower end of the shaft F which is formed of steel, is made the
shape of a link, and a spiral projection or former L serves to bend the
iron or link to carry the two ends past each other, thus leaving stock
for the wold. is a roller arranged in combination with the said
former; c, c, are springs for forcing the roller and the iron to be
bent to the said former; G, I, K, arc levers; L' is a chisel; m is a 1
cam.
The operation of this machine is as follows:-The end of a bar of iron
is put in between the former L and the roller g, the springs c force the
roller I and the iron to be bent tightly to the former L, which is then
caused to make one revolution by the teeth of wheel B gearing with the 2
wheel E. When one revolution has been completed the spring d draws
the catch e on the lever G into a notch on the collar D which is secured
to the spindle F, thus holding the former L stationary while the wheel B
and shaft A complete one revolution, and at the same time the cam C
acts upon the levers I, K, as in Figure 10, and the cam m, and forces 2
the chisel L' to the former L and cuts the iron. The chisel L is placed
obliquely to the line of the iron bent and so forms the scarf for welding,
as shown in Figures 12 and 13, thereby completing the forming and
cutting off of the link. The pivot e³ then raises the lover G, thereby
releasing the spindle F; the cogs of the wheel B again come in mesh 3
with the wheel E, and another revolution of the shaft or spindle F and
former L commences.
Another modification of our Invention is as follows:-We arrange
the head of a plunger in such manner in connection with a hinged
spring bed plate, that as the plunger is elevated by a cam it shall so 3
lift the bed plate as to cause an arm attached thereto to move a hori-
zontal sliding bar, and to drive a stop in such contact with a pin on

page_text: Seventh. In a bending machine, the combination of the two shafts, one
of which carries a projection or former, and is operated by the other shaft
through the medium of the segment wheel on the same, as herein set
forth and for the purposes specified.
Eighth. The combination of the said former with the roller and |
springs, as herein set forth and for the purpose specified.
.Ninth. The lever provided with a catch and spring arranged and
operating in combination with the collar on the shaft which carries the
said former, as herein set forth and for the purpose specified.
Tenth. The cams and levers which operate the chisel arranged in com- 1
bination with the same and with the aforesaid former, as herein set forth
and for the purpose specified.
Eleventh. A bending machine or apparatus for the manufacture of
chains with its various parts constructed and combined as shown in
Figures 9 and 10 of the Drawing, and operating as herein specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Fenner Ballou Taylor, for myself
and on behalf of the said Robert Gray, have hereunto set my
hand and scal, this Ninth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
1
!
Witness,
HY. JA. NOONE.
F. B. TAYLOR. (L.S.)