Improvements in Sprocket Chains.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Sept., 1894
"'omplete Specification Left, 13th June, 1895-Accepted, 13th July, 1895
Improvements in Sprocket Chains.
I, CHARLES EDWARD FANNING, of 302, Main Street, Keokuk, in the County
of Lee, and State of Iowa, United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide a sprocket chain for bicycles and the
like, in which the parts are so constructed and arranged as to reduce friction and
wear thus decreasing the tendency of the parts to loosen and thereby preventing
lengthening of the chain and the consequent tendency to whip sidewise when
being driven.
The invention also has for its object to brace the links against sidewise strain
at their points of connection and prevent all lateral play thereof, and further to
provide a chain having balls so formed and arranged as to ensure a movement of
the same on their axes by the sprocket teeth thus freeing the chain of mud
and dirt.
In constructing a sprocket chain in accordance with my invention the same is
made up of pairs of links and alternating pairs of shorter links, the links being
pivotally connected together at their ends by pins on which are mounted, in a novel
manner, balls which are located between the links and engage the teeth of a
sprocket wheel. Each pin bas, preferably, reduced ends forming shoulders at the
junction of the reduced and larger diameter, and on such reduced ends are placed
sleeves which are formed with flanges and on which the balls are mounted. The
reduced ends pass also through the overlapping ends of two adjacent links and the
ends of the pin are upset outside of the links, thereby holding the parts in position
with the inner ends of the sleeves abutting against the shoulders of the pivot pins.
The sleeves are of larger diameter than the pin and the bore of the ball is of a
diameter to receive such sleeves, the latter extending into the bore but a short
distance from each end. Thus the wall of the bore of the ball contacts only with
the sleeves and the only frictional contact with the pin is that between its reduced
ends and the sleeves and links. The ball on its exterior rounds to an angle with
the wall of its bore, thus presenting only a very small surface to the flanges
with which it contacts.
This construction by reducing friction between the parts reduces wear and thus
prevents looseness that would result in a lengthening of the chain with a consequent
tendency to whip. The flanged sleeves also maintain the links in close relation
and maintain the balls in proper position for engaging the sprocket teeth and
materially strengthen the chain. By providing alternate short and long links the
balls are assembled in pairs and the balls of each pair are sufficiently close to cause
each to contact with the sprocket teeth and be moved on its axis by the tooth thus
freeing the chain of dirt and mud, and by reducing the friction between the balls
and the parts on which they are mounted, the balls readily move on their axes
when engaging the teeth and grinding action and consequently friction between the
balls and the teeth are thus prevented.
Dated this 21st day of September 1894
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
L

page_text: Improvements in sprocket Chains.
I CHARLES EDWARD FANNING, of 302 Main Street, Keokuk, in the County
of Lee and State of Iowa, United States of America, 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:-
Reference is to be bad to the accompanying drawings forming part of this
Specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in
all the figures.
Figure 1 is a broken side elevation of a section of a sprocket chain embodying
my invention and showing a portion of a sprocket wheel;
Figure 2 is a broken plan view of a section of the chain ;
Figure 3 is a cross section of the chain, on a larger scale;
Figure 4 is an edge view of a flanged sleeve employed in the construction of the
chain; and
Figure 5 is a face view of such sleeve.
The object of my invention is to provide a sprocket chain for bicycles and the
like, in which the parts are so constructed and arranged as to reduce friction and
wear, thus decreasing the tendency of the parts to loosen, and thereby preventing
lengthening of the chain and the consequent tendency to whip sidewise when being
driven.
The invention also has for its object to brace the links against sidewise strain at
their points of connection and prevent all lateral play thereof, and further to
provide a chain having balls so formed and arranged as to insure a movement of
the same on their axes by the sprocket teeth, thus freeing the chain of mud
and dirt.
In constructing a sprocket chain in accordance with my invention, the same is
made up of pairs of links A and alternating pairs of shorter links B, the links being
pivotally connected together at their ends by pins C, on which are mounted in a
novel manner the balls D, which are located between the links and engage the
teeth e of a sprocket wheel E.
Each pin C has preferably reduced ends c forming shoulders c' at the junction
of the reduced and larger diameter, and on such reduced ends are placed the
sleeves F which are formed with flanges f, and on said sleeves the balls D are
mounted. The reduced ends c pass also through the overlapping ends of two
adjacent links A, B, and the ends of the pin C are upset outside of the links, as
at ², thereby holding the parts in position with the inner ends of the sleeves F,
abutting against the shoulders c¹.
It will be observed from Figure 3 that the sleeves F are of larger diameter than
the pin C, and the bored of the ball D is of a diameter to receive such sleeves, the
latter extending into the bore but a short distance from each end. Thus the wall
of the bore of the ball contacts only with the sleeves F and is spaced from the
pin C, and the only frictional contact with the pin is that between its reduced ends
and the sleeve and links. The ball D on its exterior also rounds to an angle with
the wall of its bore, thus presenting only a very small surface to the flanges f, with
which it contacts.
This construction, by reducing friction between the parts reduces wear and thus
prevents looseness that would result in a lengthening of the chain with a consequent
tendency to whip. The flanged sleeves also maintain the links in close relation
and maintain the balls in proper position for engaging the sprocket teeth, and
materially strengthen the chain.

page_text: By providing alternate short and long links, the balls are assembled in pairs and
the balls of each pair are sufficiently close to cause each to contact with the
sprocket teeth, and be moved on its axis by the tooth, thus freeing the chain of
dirt and mud, and by reducing the friction between the balls and the parts on
which they are mounted, the balls readily move on their axes when engaging the
teeth, and grinding action and consequently friction between the balls and the teeth
are thus prevented.
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 :-
1. As a new article of manufacture, a sprocket chain comprising sets of
alternately long and short links, pins uniting the overlapping ends of the links,
and balls mounted to rotate on the pins, the balls being in pairs and the balls of
each pair being spaced a less distance than the adjacent pairs, whereby sprocket
teeth entering between the balls of each pair will contact therewith and move the
same on their axes, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2. As a new article of manufacture, a sprocket chain comprising links, pins
uniting the links, balls surrounding the pins between the links, and flanged sleeves
fitting reduced ends of the pins and entering the balls and spacing the same from
the pins, the flanges of the sleeves abutting against the inner surfaces of the links
adjacent thereto, substantially as and for the purpose described.
3. As a new article of manufacture, a sprocket chain comprising links, pins
uniting the links, balls having bores through which the pins pass, and flanged
sleeves fitting the pins at their ends, the sleeves entering the bores of the balls and
the flanges of the sleeves abutting against the inner surfaces of the links adjacent
thereto, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Dated this 13th day of June 1895.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.