Improvements relating to the Jointing of Chains, such as are Used for Carrying the Buckets of Dredges, which Improve,
Year: 1884

page_text: Improvements relating to the Jointing of Chains, such as are
Used for Carrying the Buckets of Dredges, which Improve,
f
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
:
I.!
$1 I WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO THE JOINTING OF CHAINS
SUCH AS ARE USED FOR CARRYING THE BUCKETS OF DREDGES WHICH IMPROVE-
MENTS ARE. APPLICABLE FOR OTHER JOINTED APPARATUS". to be as follows:-
"
•
1,
This invention relates to improved means of jointing the bucket-chains of
dredges and for similar purposes.
3 9
.L
Hitherto the connection of the flat-links of the bucket-chains' of dredges has
been effected by means of bolts or pins either turning in the eyes of the links or
in rings or bushes inserted in the said eyes, and working with friction on 'the' said
bolts or pins.
In either case, the bolt which must be made of tempered steel, carefully turned,
andois consequently, of comparatively high cost, wears very considerably and
rapidly.
b
J
By reason of this wear it is frequently necessary to replace all the bolts of a
chain, and by reason of their cost and the great number, the expense of keeping
a dredge in repair is considerable.
Moreover it sometimes happens that a worn bolt breaks, if there is not always
very careful supervision, which breakage leads to the rupture of the chain which
falls to the ground thus necessitating several days' labour for repairs and sometimes
involving the loss of the entire dredge.
I have represented in the accompanying drawing (Figures A and B) two joint-
bolts or pins as they were removed from a dredging chain after 25 days working,
these two Figures showing the maximum of wear, after which it is necessary to
replace the bolts.
Figure A shows the wear of a bolt with a round head which is turned.

page_text: Figure B shows the wear of a bolt having a rectangular head resting on &
projection provided for this purpose upon the corresponding face of the adjoining
link.
These two bolts correspond with two different systems of construction, never-
theless the wear is nearly the same in both cases. Having regard to this rapid
wear, the joint-bolts or pins are of a much greater diameter than is requisite for
the force they have to resist, thus augmenting still further the costs of construction
and maintenance.
This invention enables me to give a comparatively small diameter to the bolts,
and, as there is no friction on them it is not necessary to temper them, thus
rendering them less liable to break.
Without limiting myself to details of construction which necessarily vary
according to circumstances I have represented in the annexed drawing links
jointed according to this invention.
Figure 1 shows in elevation and plan the general arrangement of the plate-link
chain:
Figure 2 shows, a vertical section of the link-joint..
Figure 3 is a similar section on a plane perpendicular to the first and passing
through the axis of the bolt.
Figure 4 represents a horizontal section of the same joint.
In these Figures similar letters of reference indicate similar parts.
In carrying this invention into practice I. fix the bolt a, its head b abutting
against a projection c provided for this purpose on one of the sides of the link d.
The head of the bolt is preferably no wider than the diameter of the bolt, the
length being of suitable dimensions.
Around the bolt I arrange the wearing ring or sleeve e which I fix in such a
manner that it does not cause the least friction upon the bolt a. I can fasten the
sleeve e in different ways. In the arrangement shown in the drawing it is fixed
by means of a tongue which fits in mortices provided for this purpose in a
corresponding portion of each of the two interior sides of the link d..
A second sleeve g-is solidly connected with the link and turns on the fixed
sleeve è. It is obvious that by this arrangement the wear takes place only at the
two sleeves e and g which can easily be turned and wear to a very great extent
before having to be renewed, moreover, these sleeves are parts which can be
manufactured very easily ;; they are consequently less expensive-than-the-tempered
pins and may be replaced-easily:
34
↓
The arrangement of the' wearing sleeves and the mode of combining these with
the joint-bolt or pin may vary according to the dimensions of the dredgers or the
nature of the apparatus employed requiring,joints.
Dated this 18th day of June 1884

page_text: Improvements relating to the Jointing of Chains, such as are
Used for Carrying the Buckets of Dredges, which Improve-
ments are Applicable for other Jointed Apparatus.
I
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, 'and Co, Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO THE JOINTING OF
CHAINS, SUCH AS ARE USED FOR CARRYING THE BUCKETS OF DREDGES; WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE FOR OTHER JOINTED APPARATUS" 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 improved means for jointing the links of the bucket-
chains of dredges, and for similar purposes.
Hitherto the connection of the feat-links of the bucket-chains of dredges has
been effected by means of bolts or pins which either turn in the eyes of the links,
or are fixed and carry rings or bushes working with friction upon the said bolts
or pins.
In either case the bolt, which must be made of tempered steel carefully turned
and is consequently of comparatively high cost, wears very considerably and
rapidly. By reason of this wear it is frequently necessary to replace all the bolts
of a chain, and, by reason of their cost and their great number, the cost of keeping
a dredger in repair is considerable.
Moreover it sometimes happens that a worn bolt breaks if there is not always
very careful supervision, this breakage leading to the rupture of the chain which
falls to the ground, thus necessitating several days labour for repairs and sometimes
involving the loss of the entire dredger.
I have represented in Figures A and B of the accompanying drawing two joint-
bolts or pius as they were removed from a dredger chain after 25 days working,
these two figures showing the maximum of wear, after which it is necessary to
replace the bolts.
Figure A shows the wear of a bolt, with a round head, which turns in the eyes
of the links.
Figure B shows the wear of a bolt having a rectangular head bearing against a
projection upon the corresponding face of the adjoining outside link whereby the
said bolt or pin is prevented from turning.
These two bolts correspond with the two different systems of construction
heretofore employed, nevertheless the wear, is nearly the same in both cases.
On account of this rapid wear, the joint-bolts or pins are made of a much
greater diameter than is requisite for the force they have to resist thus increasing
still further the costs of construction and maintenance.
This invention enables me to make the bolts or pins of comparatively small
diameter, and as there is no friction on them it is not necessary to temper them,
thus rendering them less liable to break.
"

page_text: The necessity for making the pins of the large diameter heretofore used is that
it is necessary that the pins, even when worn as shown in Figure Aª (which is a
section on the lines a a and b b Figure A), should be strong enough to withstand
the strain which is put upon them in working.
If bolts or pins did not wear, a sectional area corresponding to that shown in
Figure A would be sufficient, that is to say, a sectional area which is about 2/, less
than that required with the mode of connection heretofore adopted.. Accordingly
whether the bolts or pins can play in their rings or bushes, or whether they are fixed
and the rings or bushes turn upon them; the primary expense is invariably great,
because the working parts require to be of much greater dimensions than necessary
for the work which they have to perform; and the cost of maintenance is also
considerable because these parts or bolts are useless as soon as only a small portion
of the material, as compared to the whole mass is worn away.
In Figure B is shown by cross section lines the quantity of material removed
by the wear, in order to make clear how small this quantity is in comparison with
the size of the pins or bolts which are thrown to waste.
In order to remove these inconveniences, I provide the improved means, herein-
after described of jointing bucket chains of dredges and similar apparatus.
.
The present invention.comprises the application and arrangement of bolts or
pins which do not turn in the rings or bushes through which they pass.
Without limiting myself to details of construction which necessarily vary
according to circumstances I have represented in the accompanying drawing links
jointed according to this invention.
:
Figure 1 shews in plan and elevation the general arrangement of the chain.
Figure 2 is a section of a link joint.
Figure 3 is an end view of a joint partly in section.
Figure 4 is a section at right angles to Figure 2..
head babutting against the projection c
The head of the bolt is preferably no
may be of any suitable length.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.
a indicates the.bolt which is fixed, its
on the side of one of the outer links d.
wider than the diameter of the bolt which
Around the bolt I arrange the wearing ring or bush e which is fixed in such a
manner that it does not cause the least friction upon the bolt a.
"H
I can secure the sleeve e in different manners. As shown in the drawing it is
fixed by means of tongues f which fit into slots in the adjacent portions-of-the-
interior sides of the links d.
A second sleeve or bush g is solidly connected with the inner link h, and turns
on the fixed sleeve e. It is obvious that by this arrangement the wear takes place
only between the two sleeves e and g which can easily be partially turned and
wear to a very great extent before having to be renewed; moreover, these sleeves
can be manufactured very easily, they are consequently less expensive than the
tempered pins and may be readily replaced; furthermore as they can be turned
'so as to expose a new wearing surface there is much less loss of material than
heretofore.
The arrangement of the wearing sleeves or bushes and the mode of combining
these with the joint-bolts or pins may vary according to the dimensions of the
dredges or the nature of the apparatus employed requiring joints.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
* First. In jointing the links of dredger chains or for similar purposes, the com-
bination of a fixed bolt or pin a the head of which abuts against a projection c
on one of the outside links d, with a sleeve or bush e which does not turn upon
tlie bolt'a, as described above and for the purpose specified.

page_text: Second. The combination with the jointing bolt or pin a of a bucket chain of
a dredge or similar apparatus, the sleeve or bush e having projections f which
engage in corresponding slots formed in the adjacent inner faces of the outside
links in order to prevent the said sleeve or bush from turning, and a second sleeve
5 or bush g firmly fixed in the inner link h, as described with reference to the
accompanying drawing.
Dated this &th dow of Whom 100°