Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 20th June, 1887
Complete Left, 19th Mar., 1888
Complete Accepted, 20th June, 1888
1, William MorgAN of Cannon Street Birmingham in the County of Warwick,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to that class of chain, commonly known as drive chain,
and particularly chain employed for the driving of velocipedes, although the said
drive chain may be used for communicating motion from a distance, for various
purposes.
My said invention consists 1st, in the construction of intermediate or alternate
block and hollow links, 2ndly, in the outside conformation of the said links,
3rdly, in the construction of the outside alternate connecting links, 4thly in making
the said outside alternate connecting links detachable, and 5thly in the formation of
the ends of the connecting pins or cross bars employed in the joining up of the
intermediate and alternate links as aforesaid.
I will describe my invention in connection with a driving chain for velocipedes.
The first part of my invention consists in making block links, which form inter-
mediate links between opposite and parallel side alternate links, of a series of thin
sheet metal plates, (preferably steel) of the longitudinal vertical section of a link.
These plates are preferably of about the twenty-eighth of an inch in thickness, and
when a series, say fourteen, are placed together, side by side, and with their pin or
rivet holes, and their boundary edges coincident, they form a block link, of about half
an inch across.
A block link constructed or made as described, is more durable and stronger, than
if the said link were made solid, or in one piece, inasmuch as the contiguous thin
sheet steel plates (with pin or rivet holes) admit of being hardened and tempered to a
great nicety and further, the cost of production of the said block links, is greatly
reduced, as the washer like plates are readily cut out by an ordinary press.
In applying my invention to a box or self-lubricant link, the thin plates, have only
to be cut out to the longitudinal vertical section of the chain links, made in
accordance with the invention for which Letters Patent have been granted to me
bearing date the 31st day of May 1886 and numbered 7234.
In joining up the said block and box links as aforesaid, (the latter of which are
hollow or box form) to alternate parallel side links, shouldered rivets are used; that
is, joining up pins or cross axes having reduced ends.
The conformation of the block or box links as aforesaid, is such, that the top sides
are slightly convexed, while their undersides are considerably concaved about their

page_text: middles, after the manner of the throttled part of an egg boiler. These concaved
undersides, allow for the projections between the teeth of the wheels, with which
the peripheries of some wheels are provided, while the slightly curved tops
of the links, make a freer surface, for wiping, and also hinder dirt accumulations.
In box links, or what are known as SL Clinks, the side plates may be unpierced at
their middles, and provided only with rivet or pin holes ; so that these outer plates
form lids or covers to the open box ends.
In constructing the parallel side links of chain, with a roller, block or box link
between them, I take a blank of the shape of a side link, and with one end longer
than the link to be made, and with the other end longer and broader, than that of a
finished link. The first named end is turned upon itself, thus forming a boss or end
of double the thickness of the metal of the other part.
The other end, which is broader, I raise into the form of a cup, with gapped top
and bottom sides, and with the internal sunken part of the said cup, of a size suitable
for receiving a bossed thickened end of an adjacent link, like the one as aforesaid.
The boss part, which is upon one end, is on the reverse side to that of the cup on
the other end; and when the boss of the one is within the sunken part of the other,
the links are lineable.
The two ends of the link may have their ends doubled over, and thus thickened,
while the ends of two adjacent links may be cranked and cupped respectively.
These links are connected together by shouldered pins, and upon them, and between
the inside faces of the links, flattened ended sleeves freely turn.
The side links as aforesaid, are provided respectively, with enlarged and hooked
ends; the former are broadened out, with inwardly directed shouldered parts, which
form limiting stops for preventing the said hooked ends of an adjacent link, from
becoming detached, or removed from the flattened ends of a sleeve as aforesaid,
other than when the said links, are at a determinate angle with respect to each
other.
Or the sleeve may be omitted, and the solid pin flattened at a certain position on
one or both sides.
The roller, box or block link surrounds and works upon the sleeve or solid pin.
Both ends of the links may have enlarged ends, and with their limiting shoulder
parts inwardiy directed; and when the said links aro made up into a chain, the
enlarged ends of the one, with its limiting shoulder parts, take into the gapped parts
of the enlarged and near ends of the ends of two adjacent links, and with the middles
of the whole of the links. lineable, thus making a chain consisting of intermediate
and alternate links alike in construction, but with their adjacent ends reversed when
in use; so that the shouldered parts of the one, shall in certain positions abut against
the shouldered parts of the other.
The same construction of link may be modified in such a manner, that the enlarged
or return ends at both ends of a link, are directed in the same direction, and form
hook like connections; and when the said links are made up into a chain, the inter-
mediate ones are preferably shorter than the alternate or outer ones; and when the
latter are placed with their backs in juxta position, they make a figure resembling the
letter H.
The hooked ends of the outer links, work upon the inside edges of the return links,
and are connected together by shouldered rivets.
The short links may be separated, by a thin roller coming between them.

page_text: I, WILLIAM MORGAN of Cannon Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
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 has reference to that class of chain, commonly known as drive chain,
and particularly chain employed for the driving of velocipedes, although the said
drive chain, may be used for communicating motion, from a distance for various
purposes.
My said invention consists 1st, in the construction of intermediate or alternate block
and hollow links, 2ndly, in the outside conformation of the said links, 3rdly, in the
construction of the outside alternate connecting links, 4thly, in making the said outside
alternate connecting links detachable; and 5thly in the formation of the ends of the
connecting pins or cross bars, employed in the joining up of the intermediate and
alternate links as aforesaid.
I will describe my invention in connection with a driving chain for velocipedes.
The first part of my invention, consists in making block links, which form inter-
mediate links between opposite, and parallel side alternate links, of a series of thin
sheet metal plates, (preferably steel) of the longitudinal vertical section of a link.
These plates are preferably of about the twenty eighth of an inch in thickness, and
when a series, say fourteen, are placed together side by side, and with their pin or
rivet holes, and their boundary edges coincident, they form a block link, of about
half an inch across.
A block link constructed or made as described, is more durable and stronger, than
if the said link was made solid, or in one piece, inasmuch as the contiguous thin sheet
steel plates, (with pin or rivet holes) admit of being hardened and tempered to a great
nicety; and further, the cost of production of the said block links, is greatly reduced,
as the washer like plates are readily cut out at an ordinary press.
In applying my invention to a box or self-lubricant link, the thin plates, have only
to be cut out to the longitudinal vertical section of the chain links, made in accordance
with the invention for which Letters Patent have been granted to me bearing date the
31st day of May 1886, and numbered 7234.
In joining up the said block and box links as aforesaid, (the latter of which are
hollow or box form) to alternate parallel side links, shouldered rivets are used; that
is, joining up pins or cross axes, having reduced ends.
The conformation of the block or box links as aforesaid, is such, that the top sides
are slightly convexed, while their undersides are considerably concaved, about their
middles, after the manner of the throttled part of an egg boiler. These concaved
undersides, allow for the projections between the teeth of the wheels, with which the
peripheries of some wheels are provided, while the slightly curved tops of the links,
make a freer surface, for wiping, and also hinder dirt accumulations.

page_text: In box links, or what are known as SLC links, the side plates may be unpierced
at their middles, and provided only with rivet or pin holes; so that these outer plates,
form lids or covers, to the open box ends.
According to another part of my invention the links may be modified in such a
manner, that the enlarged or return ends at both ends of a link, are disposed in the
same direction, and form hook like connections; and when the said links are made up
into a chain, the intermediate ones may be of a like size or shorter than the alternate
ones; and when the said alternate ones are placed, with their backs in juxta position,
they make a figure resembling the letter H.
The hooked ends of the outer links, work upon the inside edges of the return links,
and are connected together by shouldered rivets.
The short links as aforesaid may be separated, by a thin roller coming between
them.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying drawings, the
manner in which the same is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in plan, and figure 2, in horizontal vertical section, a laminar-
block drive chain link, constructed according to my invention. It will thus be seen
that the link, consists of thin sheet steel, or other metal plates, arranged in layers, one
above another, or side by side, of the longitudinal section, of a link.
Figure 3 represents a front elevation, and figure 4 an edge view, of one of the
said thin sheet metal lates. Figure 5 is a horizontal section on the dotted lines A B,
figure 3, exhibiting the pin or rivet holes, and the central stay rivet hole. By
means of a pin passing through the latter, the laminar plates of a link, are fixedly
held together.
Figure 6 represents a portion of a drive chain, made up of intermediate laminar-
block links, and alternate side links.
Figure 7 represents a plan of the said chain figure 6, with the middle, and inter-
mediate link, shown in horizontal section.
The same letters of reference, indicate corresponding parts in figures 1 to 7 both
inclusive of the drawings.
a² are hardened and tempered thin sheet steel plates, of the longitudinal vertical section
of a link, and which said plates are placed coincident with each other, and with their
faces contiguous, to the extent or breadth of a link to be made.
a³ are rivet holes, wherethrough joining up shouldered pins, or rivets pass, for
connecting the laminar block, and intermediate links, with alternate and side links,
as represented in figures 6 and 7.
a are stay rivet holes, wherethrough a stay rivet pin passes, for securing collectively
and fixedly together, the said thin sheet metal plates.
The drive chain figure 6, consists of a laminar block intermediate links a, alternate
parallel side links b, connected to the said block links, by shouldered rivets c, passing
through the holes a³ of the thin plates a². c² are the shoulders of the said rivets, and
c3 the heads thereof.
Figure 8 represents a horizontal section of my invention applied to a box or self-
lubricant link, figure 9 shows the same with the end enclosing plates or lids removed.
a is an intermediate laminar-box link, with its open sides enclosed by side plates
or lids aº. care shouldered rivets or joining up pins, for connecting the said inter-
mediate links to the alternate side parallel links b.
It will be observed that the intermediate links, have concaved undersides, and
convexed upper-sides, for the purpose as aforesaid, in the earlier part of the
Specification.
Figure 10 represents another form of my invention, in which the whole of the
links are made alike, and put together with shouldered rivets, with rollers between
them.
a are opposite side links, with one end a² cranked outwardly, folded upon itself,
and with the extreme end turned inwardly. The other end a has its extreme end
likewise folded upon itself, but with its end turned outwardly, at right angles to the
other part. Thus, .the said ends which are marked a form semi-circular flanges with

page_text: 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. Making or forming drive chain links, of a series of thin sheet steel, or
other metal plates, of the section, or of the longitudinal vertical section of a link to
be made; and which said thin sheet metal plates are placed side by side, in coincident
positions, with rivet or joining up pin holes through them, substantially as described
and set forth in figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
Secondly-Making or forming drive chain links, of a series of thin sheet metal
plates, of the longitudinal section of a link to be formed, and joined together by
a transversely directed stay pin or rivet, substantially as set forth in figures 1, 2, 3, 4
and 5.
Thirdly. A drive chain, consisting of intermediate laminar block links, and alternate
parallel side links, constructed, arranged, and joined up, substantially as described and
set forth in figures 6 and 7.
Fourthly. In a box or self-lubricant link, constructed of a series of thin sheet

page_text: metal plates, of the section of a link to be made, and with end or lid enclosing plates,
of thicker metal, having rivet or joining up pin holes through them, as described
and set forth in figures 8 and 9.
Fifthly. Making the links of drive chain, with inwardly and outwardly directed
turned up ends, and with one of the said ends of each link, cranked or cupped out-
wardly, by which means, the tensile strength of the ends is increased, and the wearing
of the parts reduced, as described and set forth in figures 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14.
Sixthly Forming chain links, with their ends turned up, and hooked respectively,
and with the gaps of the said hooked ends, made angular, which take upon like flats or
facets, formed at the outside ends, of a transversely disposed sleeve, directed between
the non-booked ends of the links, and taking around a joining up pin or rivet; and
which said non-hooked ends, are provided with hooded flanges, for the purpose,
substantially as set forth in figures 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 of the drawings.
Lastly. The modification herein described, in figures 20 and 21, with one hooked,
and the other cupped and gapped, wherein a pin, on the hooked end of an adjacent
link, passes, in making the connection of the hooked end, with the flattened part of
a sleeve, or joining up pin or rivet, substantially as described and set forth.
Dated this Sixteenth day of March 1888