Improvements in the Manufacture of Links for Driving or Gearing Chains suitable for Bicycles, Tricycles, and other like Articles, and for Machinery in General.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Nov., 1886.
Complete Left, 17th Aug., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 7th Oct., 1887.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Links for Driving or Gearing
Chains suitable for Bicycles, Tricycles, and other like Articles,
and for Machinery in General.
I, RICHARD GREEN of Cromwell Street, Earldsdon near Coventry in the County of
Warwick, Mechanician do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of this invention is to produce a seamless link out of a blank of sheet
metal by means of press work or by other suitable methods more cheaply than by the
present method of making the link solid and then drilling holes for the spindles of
the connecting link or jointing link to work in. It is also superior and cheaper than
using weldless or other steel or metallic tubes formed into suitable section to make
the link and cut into ferrule pieces of proper length.
The method by which this invention is carried into effect is by cutting out a blank
of steel or other suitable metal, and by suitable tools forming it into a raised disc of
thimble or cup shape. The blank being cut (preferably round) it is made into the
thimble or cup shape by means of a plunger forcing it through a die, commonly
called "drawing through," the thimble or cup shaped disc, being parallel throughout
its length. Then by another process the top edge faced off and the bottom pierced
out or cut off as may be prefered. It is then formed into a flat, oval, double oval
or beaded section as may be required for the link, the spindles for the connecting or
jointing-up links being at each end of the internal oval, flat or other shape. The said
connecting or jointing up links are made in the usual manner.
Dated this Eighteenth day of November 1886.

page_text: Improvements in the Manufacture of Links for Driving or Gearing
Chains suitable for Bicycles, Tricycles, and other like Articles,
and for Machinery in General.
I RICHARD GREEN formerly of Cromwell Street Earlsdon near Coventry, but now
residing at 30 Sycamore Road, Smethwick in the County of Stafford, Mechanician
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
The object of this invention is to produce a seamless link out of a blank of sheet
metal by means of press work or by other suitable methods more cheaply than by the
present method of making the link solid and then drilling holes for the spindles of
the connecting link or jointing link to work in. It is also superior and cheaper
than using weldless or other steel or metallic tubes formed into suitable section to
make the link, and cut into ferrule pieces of proper length.
The method by which this invention is carried into effect is by cutting out a blank
of steel or other suitable metal, and by suitable tools forming it into a raised disc of
thimble or cup shape. The blank being cut (preferably round) it is made into the
thimble or cup shape by means of a plunger forcing it through a die, commonly
called "drawing through" the thimble or cup shaped disc being parallel throughout
its length. Then by another process the top edge is faced off and the bottom pierced
or cut off as may be preferred. It is then formed into a flat, oval, double oval or
beaded section as may be required for the link, the spindles for the connecting or
jointing-up links being in each end of the internal, oval, flat or other shaped
link. The connecting or jointing up links and spindles are made in the usual
manner.
The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings in which Fig. 1 shows the circular blank, Fig. 2 one of the raised discs in
the process of being formed into a thimble Fig. 3 the thimble completely formed.
Fig. 4 the thimble formed into a ferrule, the end having been removed by means of a
shearing tool, or by machinery for cutting off same. Fig. 5 the ferrule flattened
under a press being the first process. Fig. 6 the link formed into the final shape
either, horizontally by means of a top and bottom pair of tools, or vertically by
drawing through a die with a plunger inside. The latter method generally preferred
since it makes the work more exact. Fig. 7 the link made up into a chain showing
the spindles and connecting side links as usual. Of course the number of processes
can be varied as may be desired so as to reduce the strain upon the steel or
metal. The shape of the section of link can also be altered to suit any special
requirements.

page_text: Sometimes I form the flattened links, by cutting seamless tubes into ferrules of
suitable lengths to form the link. These ferrules then resemble Fig. 4. I then
flatten them as shown in Fig. 5, and they are subsequently formed into the final shape
by the processes as described in Fig. 6.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. Making seamless links for chains, suitable for Bicycles, Tricycles and other like
articles and for machinery in general, out of sheet metal by means of drawing blanks
through dies as hereinbefore described.
2. Forming ferrules whether cut from ordinary tubing or made by the above
described processes, into flattened links of suitable sections to form chains for purposes
above mentioned.