An Improvement in the Manufacture of Chain Cables, Chains and Links, and Metal Rings, and other similar Articles.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Aug., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 17th Oct., 1889-Accepted 23rd Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in the Manufacture of Chain Cables, Chains and
Links, and Metal Rings, and other similar Articles.
ROBERT SCIPIO MARSH DE RICCI 11 Hill Street St. Albans Herts. Clerk in Holy
Orders do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Each ring or link may be composed of one or more pieces of metal; and may he
formed by bending one or more pieces of metal, of convenient length and thickness,
so that each piece may form part of the circuit of a ring or link; or a whole circuit;
or more than a whole circuit; or as many circuits over-lapping or over-lying one-
another as may be desired to ensure great strength.
The temperature of the metal having been raised to a suitable degree; the circuit
or circuits of the ring or link in process of manufacture may be placed upon, or
within a suitably-shaped die; or between a stamp and die; or within or between
more stamps and dies; or upon a suitable mandril, and brought under
sufficient Hydraulic or other pressure or hammering; until the parts of the link
or ring are welded or strongly joined together; so that they constitute a ring or
link, either wholly or partly finished.
two or
This process [Marsh's Process"] may be repeated; and the stamps or dies or
mandrils may be changed and varied as often as may be deemed proper.
In manufacturing "barred cables"; or "barred links"; or links having bars
across them, the bar may be fitted-truly or approximately-into its proper position
before the pressure or the hammering has been applied; or during the application
thereof; or it may be inserted afterwards.
And for the purpose of making a Cable or chain, one or more links in process of
manufacture may be looped-together, or looped-on to one or more finished links; and
may be completed by the process described above.
The stamps, dies and mandrils being so adjusted and adapted that the Hydraulic or
other pressure, or the hammering shall not injure the finished or partly-finished
links.
Inasmuch as the extremities of the piece or pieces of metal forming the ring,
link or other similar article must necessarily over-lie, or over-lap one-another at the
points of contact; and, inasmuch as this over-lying or over-lapping may be con-
tinuous around the ring or link, it is manifestly evident that when the pressure has
done its work and the Process is complete there will be no weak point in the circuit.
My invention constitutes therefore, an improved Process [which I term and
designate "Marsh's Process"] by which chains and Cable-links; and metal rings
and other similar articles may be manufactured of much greater strength-" weight-
for-weight," than if made as hitherto.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in the Manufacture of Chain Cables, Chains and
Links, and Metal Rings, and other similar Articles.
ROBERT SCIPIO MARSH DE RICCI 11 Hill Street St. Albans Herts. Clerk in Holy
Orders 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 :-
Each ring or link may be composed of one or more pieces of metal ;
and may
be

page_text: formed by bending one or more pieces of metal of convenient length and thickness so
that each piece may form part of the circuit of a ring or link; or a whole circuit ;
or as many circuits over-lapping or over-lying one-another as may be desired to
ensure great strength.
The temperature of the metal having been raised to a suitable degree, the circuit
or circuits of the link or ring in process of manufacture may be placed upon or within
a suitably shaped die; or between a stamp and die or within or between two or more
stamps and dies; or upon a suitable mandril; and brought under sufficient Hydraulic
or other pressure or hammering until the parts of the circuit are welded or strongly
joined together; so that they constitute a ring or link either wholly or partly
finished.
This process [Marsh's Process] may be repeated and the stamps or dies or mandrils
may be changed and varied as often as may be deemed proper.
In manufacturing "barred cables" or barred links" or links having a bar across
them, the bar may be fitted truly or approximately into its proper position before the
pressure or the hammering has been applied or during the application thereof or it
may be inserted afterwards.
And for the purpose of making a cable or chain, one or more links in process of
manufacture may be looped-together, or looped-on to one or more finished links and
may be completed by the process described above:-The stamps dies and mandrils
being so adjusted and adapted that the Hydraulic or other pressure or the hammering
shall not injure the finished or partly finished links.
Inasmuch as the extremities of the piece or pieces of metal forming the ring or link
are so bent that they not merely meet, but must necessarily overlie or over-lap one-
another; and inasmuch as this over-lying or over-lapping increases immensely the
strength of the link or ring, and constitutes an indispensable feature, it is absolutely
necessary in order to ensure uniformity of diameter, substance and strength in the
finished ring or link-that the extremities of the piece or pieces of metal rod forming
the "blank or unfinished ring or link should be very much thinner than the middle
portion.
"
In its simplest form the ring or link "blank" consists of one piece of metal rod
of suitable thickness in the middle, and having the remainder of graduated thickness,
diminishing away to both extremities; so that when these graduated portions are
bent round so that they over-lie or over-lap one-another (forming a
" blank" ready
for welding) the combined thickness of the graduated portions so overlying one-
another is equal to that of the middle portion ;-and the metal of the "blank" is of
uniform diameter and thickness throughout.
Further, this overlying or overlapping is necessarily very considerable and may
even be continuous around the entire circuit of the ring or link, it is therefore,
manifestly evident that when the hammering or the pressure has done its work and
the welding is complete there will be no weak point in the ring or link.
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
1° The manufacture and use of a new form of "blank" for links of chains, and
cables, and metal rings; consisting of one or more pieces of metal rod of suitable
dimensions, diminishing gradually in thickness from the middle to the extremities;
which diminution is so graduated that when the extremities of the rod are bent
round until they meet and over-lap or over-lie one another around a considerable
portion of the circumference of the "blank," and after they have been welded, the
circuit of the ring or link shall be of uniform diameter, substance and strength.
2° An improved process for applying Hydraulic or other pressure or hammering
for the purpose of forging or welding chain and cable links metal rings and other
similar articles; in which one or more metal rods of graduated thickness and suitable
dimensions having been bent into a "blank as described above is heated to welding

page_text: heat and placed between a stamp and die or dies or upon a mandri) of suitable
dimensions and brought under sufficient pressure or hammering until the welding is
complete.
R. S. DE RICCI.