IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU- FACTURE OF CHAINS, AND A WHOLE SYSTEM OF APPARATUS FOR THE SAME
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Applegarth, of 25, Abchurch Lane, in the City of
London, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF CHAINS, AND A WHOLE SYSTEM OF APPARATUS FOR THE SAME.
A communication from abroad by Augustin Onésime David, of Paris, in the
Republic of France.
Sealed the 24th December 1878, and dated the 26th July 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Applegarth at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th July 1878.
ROBERT APPLEGARTH, of 25, Abchurch Lane, in the City of London, Civil
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CHAINS, AND A WHOLE
SYSTEM OF APPARATUS FOR THE SAME. [A communication from abroad by
Augustin Onésime David, of Paris, in the Republic of France.]
"
This Invention relates to improvements on former Patents granted by Her
Majesty's Commissioners of Patents for Inventions, bearing dates January 21st.,
1870, No. 193, and March 19th, 1874, No. 975, in which is described the manu-
facture of weldless cast-steel chains with double-eyed links.
In the Patents aforesaid the right is claimed to various modes of manufacturing
weldless chains, and especially in the Patent dated January 21st., 1870, No. 193,
is described a system of forging so as to produce with a straight bar of rectangular
section double-eyed links through a succession of operations on dies by compression
without stamping or punching. Besides this the right has been claimed to a kind
of shackle or splicing link having the same formn as the chain, and capable of
being united to it without welding, such a shackle being particularly useful where
a forge is not available.
Moreover the right has been claimed to an application of the double-eyed bar of
circular section to a weldless Vaucanson chain or band chain, substantially described
and illustrated in Figures 17, 18, 19, and 21 of the Drawings in the Patent of
March 19th, 1874, No. 975.
By this present Provisional Specification, and by its accompanying petition and
declaration, I now claim the right to a whole and complete system of manufacture

page_text: 11. Shaping.
III. Folding or bending the links.
IV. Connecting the links together to form a chain.
As regards this last operation, viz., connecting the links together when applied to
small chains, I claim the right to a system of double-grip tongs.
As an improvement upon the shackle or splicing link, protected under Patent
bearing date March 19th, 1874, Number 495, I claim by these presents the right to
the Invention of a double-swivel shackle or double-swivel splicing link which can
be applied to any system of chains whatever.
And whereas the various kinds of double-looped chains at present in use have the
drawback of a thread longer than in ordinary chains of the same diameter I claim
the right to a system for reducing the thread or interior length of the link, which
system is combined with that of dies for forging and connecting the links together.
Sheets 1 and 2.-In the accompanying Drawings Figures 1 and 2 show that in
the rough forged state the bars are straight, with either circular, rectangular, or
polygonal sections. I claim the right of obtaining circular rods or bars, as shown
by the x's in Figures 1 and 2, either by the forging in dies or through a first
drawing operation by means of a flatting mill.
Figure 3 shows the die for first drawing operation, which operation consists in
the punching of the circular bar. B' and B¹¹ represent respectively the bar after a
hammering in the larger section and one on the nearer side. The shape is so
calculated as to have the metal equally spread in the most useful manner through
all the parts of the loops.
Figure IV. shows the die for forming the eyes or loops, and perfecting the bar
before bending it to form the link.
Figures IV. and V.-The form C is obtained by the action of a longitudinal knife
C², which opens the bar by driving the metal asunder; the other circular knife C¹¹
cuts out the excess of matter at the upper extremity. The bar, as represented by C,
Figure IV., is then brought on to the finishing die, by which it is perfected, as seen
in D, Figures IV. and VI. The loop is opened by the action of a conical punch and
by turning the bar several times upside down until the opening is completed. The
rounded sections, as shown in D¹¹, Figure VII., are thus formed, and with one stroke
of a steam hammer, or by a heavy pressure, the bar takes its definite shape. After
having effected the four operations in half dies for the larger chains the rod is still
in a rough state, and the link has not a regular length. To obviate this a slight
stroke of the hammer on the rod placed in the groove D¹¹ will bring the link to a
complete finished state and a proper length.
Figure VIII. shows in plan edge view and cross section the forging of small links.
This is effected by the same operations as for the large links, but with the difference
that the two large loops are formed at the same time. With the above-mentioned
arrangements the large links require three heatings, while the small ones are
obtained by one heating only.
Plates 3 and 4 Shaping and Bending the Links.-These two operations are illus-
trated in Figure I. by a longitudinal elevation, and in Figure II. by a side elevation.
The shaped form of the link as seen in E is obtained by a pressure between the
dies F and F. These two operations having been effected the block G is removed,
and by means of the punch H, together with the action of the steam hammer, the
bar is brought to a bent form, as seen in Figure I., that is to say, in such a form
that it is ready for the connecting process, which is obtained at the same heating.
The advantages of those two operations to which I lay claim are obviously the
following:-Links regular in form, saving of time in blending and rounding by
hammering or pressure, and finally, the effects of contraction and folding of the
metal at the internal curve of the link, as well as the expansion at the external

page_text: curve being considerably diminished when compared with the results obtained by.
bending the link without hammering.
Connecting the Links together to Form a Chain.-The link, as shown in Figure I.,
being shaped and rounded, is placed on the die, of which a longitudinal and a cross
section are given in Figures III and IV. The loop K of the open link I is introduced
into the link L the two branches K' and K" are brought close together by ham-
mering, and the upper part of the link being well rounded by a set driving hammer,
the link takes the form L, as shown by dotted lines. .In that operation the punch M
acts both as a guide and a point of support for obtaining the necessary interior flush
of the loops by means of the hammer M¹¹¹.
Connecting the Small Links by Grip Tongs.-The connecting of the links by
grip tongs, so as to form a chain, is shown in Figure V. The inside parts N and N¹
of the tongs have exactly the exterior form of the link; both jaws have axles
gearing one into the other by means of teeth Q and Q' placed on a part of their
circumference, and the closing of the branches K and K of the link is brought
about by the simple action of a lever on one of the axles, or by a fixed spur wheel,
or again, by an endless screw. As a complement to this way of connecting the
links, the tongs have a bolt S, which is pushed in when the branches of the links
are in contact at the loops, and this bolt becomes a point of support for making the
interior flush of the loops by the pressure of the driving tool S' put in motion by a
lever.
"
Means of Reducing the "Thread or Length of the Links of Chains.-Figure VI.
shows a link with an ordinary eye, having an interior length a, a¹, equal to the
exterior width b, b', in order to allow the connecting of two successive links. Hence
the frequent and inconvenient necessity of a length of link or thread exceeding that
of the common chain of the same diameter. To avoid that inconvenience, and, if
needed, to diminish the length, I obtain first a forged loop, as represented in
Figure 7, which has a smaller width but a longer length than required; this loop,
after having been introduced in the next link, is placed on the conical punch M in
the position M, M', and then by a set driving hammer driven into the position
M", M, when it takes the normal width and form as in Figure VIII. By
comparing the link in Figure VI. with the link in Figure VIII. it may easily be
seen that by the process of forging and connecting links by means of dies, the thread
might at will be reduced from six to twelve per cent.
Double Swivel Shackle or Splicing Link.-This shackle is shown in Figure IX.
It is composed of two links S, S, the semicircular extremities of the limbs of which
are closed together, and their circumference threaded, so that the extremity of each
limb is a screw-cut half spherical swivel. The two parts of the limbs of the links
are shown opened by the dotted lines T, T'. An opening effected by slightly heating
the ring S gives a passage to the link. The two parts are then brought close
again, and screwed in the swivels t, t¹, and act by turning in the interior of a box
composed of two parts u, u¹, in the form of a shell and connected by a screw
thread.
The superiority of this kind of double swivel shackle over those generally in use
is the possibility of connecting a chain by a shackle acting as if it were a link of
the chain, and especially by allowing the chain to take any oblique direction, and
yet to preserve its maximum of strength and elasticity.
Having thus described the nature of the Invention and the manner of operation,
I declare that what I claim as the Invention by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent, and by the herein described improvements thereupon and additions
thereto is,―
First. A whole and complete system of manufacture for large chains, which are
obtained from rough bars with circular, rectangular, or polygonal sections, by means
of dies, and without any other mechanism or contrivances, such as a previous
melting in ingots, or punching or stamping. This system, by means of a steam
hammer or of a hydraulic press, comprises the successive and following operations!

page_text: -I., forging; II., shaping; III., folding or binding the links; IV., connecting the
links together to form a chain.
Second. Connecting links by a system of double grip tongs for the manufacture
of small chains.
Third. An apparatus or method for reducing the thread or length of links, when
needed, on account of the mode of folding and connecting the same.
Fourth. A double swivel shackle or double swivel splicing link, which can be
applied to any chain whatever.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Robert Applegarth in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th
December 1878.
ROBERT, APPLEGARTH, of 25, Abchurch Lane, in the City of London, Civil
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CHAINS, AND A WHOLE
SYSTEM OF APPARATUS FOR THE SAME.'
The Invention relates :-
First. To a series of operations which in combination constitute a novel process
of obtaining links for weldless chains.
Secondly. To means of combining the links to form the chain.
Thirdly. To a novel construction of a double swivel link.
The object of the Invention is to provide a practical means of obtaining weldless
iron or steel chains for commercial purposes.
To enable others to use the Invention, I will now proceed to describe the mode of
manufacture.
(1.) To manufacture a link, a laminated straight bar is taken, having a rectan-
gular, circular, or polygonal section, as shewn, Figure 1, without previous preparation
by stamping, punching, or casting the said bar, either by forging or by hydraulic
press.
(2.) The said bar is first shaped roughly, either by hammering and dies, as shewn,
Figure 2, or by rolling, see Figure 2A. The object of this operation is to form the
circular part of the link and to expand the metal towards the extremities, so as to
prepare for the loops or eyes and avoid any waste.
(3.) A second rough shape of the link is then obtained by means of dies, as seen
in elevation, Figure 3, in order to form the loops or eyes by the action of a conical-
shaped punch, which drives the metal asunder, Figure 3A.
(4.) The yet unfolded link is then finished on the same die, as shewn, Figure 4.
By this operation the loops or eyes are gradually enlarged by the action of the
conical punch P, Figure 44, and fill up the hollow part of the die, and they then
have the form of a finished but unbent and unfolded link.
(5.) The link thus obtained (generally at one heat), and by one or two operations,
is then brought on to a mould or hollow shaped die, which gives to the loops or eyes
of the link a regular curve M, Figure 5, by means of a hammer or of a hydraulic

page_text: press. After this operation the link is cut off from the bar, another is then made
by similar operations, and so on.
The various shapes of the links just described, and which are obtained by means
of dies, steam hammer, or hydraulic press, may also, according to the intended use
of the chain, be obtained more economically by a rolling mill.
Figure 6 represents the section of a rolling mill and grooves producing the same
shapes as the dies.
Figure 7 is an end view of a pair of oscillating jaws, which by their action reduce
the bar so as to form the rough shape of the unbent and unfolded link, Figure 7ª
being a plan of the same.
Figure 8 illustrates the method for obtaining the above by means of continuous
rollings, being an end view of a suitable pair of rollers.
The links having been cut off from the bar, each of them is separately stripped of
its burrs or rough edges by any suitable means, as, for example, by means of an
emery wheel, then the link is heated and bent on a die by means of a moveable
punch P (Figure 9). The driving back of the metal by forcing or hammering the
punch upon the inside part of the link prevents the metal from creasing by the
contraction of the inside of the fold, and from cracking by the expansion of the
outside, thus producing a link of a perfect and regular shape. The bent link is, at
the same heat, liuked and then shut. This operation is done either in a mould or
on an anvil D, provided with a punch D' (Figure 10), or by the pressure of the
jaws of a grip tongs (Figure 11). The anvil D has the exterior form of the link,
and the punch its interior form.
In the linking process on the anvil, the eyes or loops of each link are brought
towards each other, and the link closed, either by an ordinary hammer or a steam
hammer acting on a moveable die E (Figure 10).
The grip tongs (Figure 11), when used for closing the links, are shaped exactly to
the exterior curve of the links; both jaws have axles, which are geared together by
means of teeth placed on their circumference, and the closing of the link is brought
about by the simple action of a lever on one of the axles, or by a fixed spur wheel,
or by an endless screw, the motion being produced by hand or mechanical con-
trivance.
To obtain symmetrical links and ensure a smooth and free working in each other
a set driving hammer E (Figure 10) is used, and acts either by pressure or hammer-
ing, the loops then resting on the punch D' (Figure 10) or on the moveable set
driving hammer V (Figure 11) of the grip tongs.
I will now describe the manufacture of a welded chain, with reduction of the
interior longitudinal length of the link.
The system of weldless chains with loops has a longer opening of the loop or eye
lengthwise than in ordinary chains, because the interior length of the loop must be
equal to its exterior breadth, in order to pass a link through the previously made
link. This long opening being a drawback in some of the applications of the
weldless chain, that defect is obviated by making a long and narrow loop by forging
with a die or by rolling, as shewn, Figure 12; then, after its linking to the chain,
and while still hot, it is enlarged and consequently shortened in longitudinal interior
length (see Figure 13) by means of the conical punch D (Figure 124). By this
operation weldless chains with loops are obtained with an interior opening of about
4 times the diameter of the circular part instead of 4 times, which is the necessary
length before reduction.
By the several operations just described various types of weldless chains are
obtained in a practical manner.
Figure 14, round chains.
Figure 15, naval chains of a special form.
Figure 16, Vaucanson's or endless chains.
I have now described the manufacture and combination of a series of links to
form. a weldless chain, of which the following adjunct is the complement. A double
The obiect of this link is to secure the
shackle swivel fitted on in a heated state.

page_text: chain to a ring or any fastening, so that a maximum amount of direct traction is
always obtained. This double shackle swivel link is composed of three parts;
1, two half loops or eyes, with screw-threaded stems S, S, Figure 17 and 174; 2, two
inner half clutches t, t, t¹, t¹, each connected to one half loop or eye by an inner
screw thread, Figures 17, 17ª. These two clutches, and consequently the two loops
or eyes of the link, have a rotary motion in every direction, that is to say, they take
any oblique direction in relation to each other; 3, two outer half clutches u, u, u¹, u¹,
screwed together and connecting the two inner half clutches t, t, t¹, t, while permit-
ting the rotary motion of one in relation to the other.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to or may be carried into effect, as communicated to me from abroad, I
would have it understood that what I claim as the Invention to be secured by the
within in part recited Letters Patent is,-
-
First. A process for producing from a straight bar of rectangular, circular, or
polygonal section a suitable rough shape, by rolling without stamping, punching,
or casting, substantially as described, and illustrated, Figure 1 of the Drawing.
Second. The manufacture of a loop or eye at each end of the bar, which has
become circular in section in its central part by the first operation. The loops or
eyes being obtained by means of a die, and either a steam hammer or a hydraulic
press, or the said loops being made by a system of rolling mills, either alternate or
continuous, substantially as described, and illustrated, Figures 2 to 8 inclusive.
Third. The shaping in dies, and the means of obtaining a regular form for every.
link, the bending of the links by hammering, the driving back of the metal by means
of a punch to avoid creasing at the inside and cracking at the outside, substantially
as described, and illustrated, Figure 9.
Fourth. The process of linking on an anvil by hammering, or on a bench by
means of grip tongs, substantially as described, and illustrated, Figures 10, 11.
Fifth. The process of reducing the interior longitudinal length of a link, substan-
tially as described, and illustrated, Figures 12, 12ª, and 13.
Lastly. A double shackle swivel link fitted on in a heated state, composed of three
parts, constructed and combined substantially as and for the purpose herein-before
described, and as shewn, Figures 17 and 17ª.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Applegarth, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-third day of December, One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-eight.