IMPROVEMENTS IN CONNECTING LINKS FOR ATTACHING CHAINS CABLES HORSE CHAINS AND OTHER CHAINS AND ARTICLES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Josiah Henry Shoebotham, Manufacturer, and Joseph
Frederick Cholmondeley James both of Birmingham in the County of
Warwick for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN CONNECTING LINKS FOR
ATTACHING CHAINS CABLES HORSE CHAINS AND OTHER CHAINS AND ARTICLES
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Josiah Henry Shoebotham
and Joseph Frederick Cholmondeley James at the Office of the Commissioners
of Patents on the 22nd July 1882.
JOSIAH HENRY SHOEBOTHAM, Manufacturer, and JOSEPH FREDERICK CHOLMONDELEY
JAMES both of Birmingham in the County of Warwick "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CONNECTING LINKS FOR ATTACHING CHAINS, CABLES, HORSE CHAINS, AND OTHER
CHAINS, AND ARTICLES REQUIRING SUCH CONNECTIONS
"
Our Invention has for its object improvements in connecting links for attaching
chains, cables, horse chains, and other chains, and articles requiring such connections
so that they may be more easily connected than heretofore and especially that these
connecting links may without undue increasement of the section be more nearly
equal to the strength of the solid links in such chains or other articles than has
hitherto been the case. This has been known as the desideratum for many years
and a number of attempts have been made to produce a practically perfect link
at a marketable price but none up to the present time has fulfilled the conditions
required. Various attempts have been made to dovetail the two solid ends of
links together both sidewise and edgewise but these have required very nice
fitting indeed and after all they are very weak. Then various modifications of the
split link have been tried but these are weak and difficult to thread over the solid
links unless considerable care is used. It has also been attempted to cotter the
two ends together besides other modes but each one has fallen far short of the
strength of the solid link of a chain when made of the same section as such
solid links.

page_text: Now our new links of which there are two particular kinds are designed to
meet these difficulties and they both combine the solid link in part with the split
link principle in part and also partly the dovetail principle but each part is so
designed as to be placed in the best position most suitable for utilizing to the
greatest extent its particular advantageous quality in bearing its proportion of the
strain. We will first describe the most simple one which resembles when put
together the ordinary solid link. Taking a longitudinal sectional line through
the solid link half the link or fully all the metal on one side such line is perfectly
solid as it would be in the solid links of the chain itself. The remaining part of
the link is made up generally of three main parts viz (1) The solid part before
mentioned is continued in about half section from each end towards forming the
other part of the link but leaving a sufficient space to allow the solid links of the
chain or article to be joined to enter. The back part of this half or other sectional
part of the link has projections which form a suitable dovetail or other socket into
which part (2) enters as a bar across the opening filling exactly the space left by
the projections before mentioned and locking the two ends or jaws together tightly.
But there is still another little space left at the back of the bar or piece (2) which
is filled up by a small piece (3) having tapered ends corresponding with the
tapered ends of the recess to be filled up. This filling up piece (3) is secured to the
connecting bar or piece (2) by a pin or stud which passes through both (2) and (3)
thus locking the whole effectively together. Slight modifications may be made in
this first kind of link such for instance as piece (2) and (3) being made in one
with the ends of the jaws in part (1) formed with the ends bevelled in the contrary
direction to receive it, in which case two little pins or studs would be used of very
small diameter one passing through each end just for the purpose of keeping the
two together and not to assist in bearing any tensile strain.
The second kind of link is very much the same as the first so far as the
description has gone. The second kind has however a very distinct additional
feature in the shape of two horns or projections one on each end opposite the side
of the link which is notched out. These horns are so shaped that when the link
is connected to the two chains or articles the horns very nearly touch the ends of
the next two links and the action is as follows:-Immediately the chain is brought
into considerable tension sufficient to slightly open the connecting link the horns
take a bearing against the ends of the links next to them and they are thus
prevented from opening out any further and they thus counteract the tendency
to break through the connecting bar which is naturally slightly the weakest side
of the link. These horns do in fact somewhat equalize the strength of the two
sides. These links may be made either in 2 or 3 parts just as in the case of the
first kind of link.
Generally when the length of the link will permit I form the solid side of the
link curved towards the inside so as to obtain a greater section of metal at the
weakest part of the link without however departing from its external shape.
These links may be inade from any desired metal such as wrought iron steel,
brass, gun metal or malleable cast iron but I generally prefer to stamp them out
of wrought iron or steel.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Josiah Henry Shoebotham and Joseph Frederick Cholmondeley
James in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd January 1883.
JOSIAH HENRY SHOEBOTHAM Manufacturer and JOSEPH FREDERICK CHOLMONDELEY
JAMES both of Birmingham in the County of Warwick " IMPROVEMENTS IN
CONNECTING LINKS FOR ATTACHING CHAINS, CABLES, HORSE CHAINS AND OTHER
CHAINS AND ARTICLES REQUIRING SUCH CONNECTIONS
"
Our Invention has for its object improvements in connecting links for attaching
chains, cables, horse chains, and other chains and articles requiring such connections
so that they may be more easily connected than heretofore and especially that these
connecting links may without undue increasement of the section be more nearly
equal to the strength of the solid link in (such chains or other articles than has
heretofore been the case. This has been known as the desideratum for many years
and a number of attempts have been made to produce a practically perfect link at
a marketable price but none up to the present time has fulfilled the conditions
required. Various attempts have been made to dovetail the two solid ends of links
together both sideways and edgeways but these have required very nice fitting
and after all they are very weak. Then various modifications of the split link
have been tried but these are weak and difficult to thread over the solid links
unless considerable care is used. It has also been attempted to cotter the two ends
together besides other modes but each one has fallen far short of the strength of
the solid link of a chain when made of the same section as such solid links.
Now our new links of which there are two particular kinds are designed to
meet these difficulties. We will first describe the most simple one which resembles
when put together the ordinary link. Taking a longitudinal section line through
the solid link half the link or fully all the metal on one side such link is perfectly
solid as it would be in the solid links of the chain itself. The remaining part of
the link is made up generally of three main parts viz (1) The solid part before-
mentioned is continued in about half section from each end towards forming the
other part of the link but leaving a sufficient space to allow the solid links of the
chain or article to be joined to enter. The back part of this half or other sectional
part of the link has projections which form a suitable socket into which part (2)
enters as a bar across the opening filling exactly the space left by the projections
before mentioned and locking the two ends or jaws tightly together. But there
is still another little space left at the back of the bar or piece (2) which is filled
up by a small piece (3) having tapered ends corresponding with the tapered ends
of the recess to be filled up. This filling up piece (3) is secured to the connecting
bar or piece (2) by a pin or stud which passes through both (2) and (3) thus
locking the whole effectively together. Slight modifications may be made in this
first kind of link such for instance as piece (2) and (3) being made in one piece, the
ends of the jaws in part (1) would then be formed with the ends bevelled in the
contrary direction to receive it in which case two little pins or studs would be used
of very small diameter one passing through each end for the purpose of keeping
the two together and not to assist in bearing tensile strain.
The second kind of link is very much the same as the first so far as the description
has gone.
This second kind has however a very distinct additional feature in the
shape of two horns or projections one being on each end on the side of the link which
is notched out. These horns are so shaped that when the link is connected to the
two chains or articles the horns very nearly touch the ends of the next two links,
or the next but one links and the action is as follows: Immediately the chain is
brought into considerable tension sufficiently to slightly open the connecting link

page_text: the horns take a bearing against the links most convenient to them and they are
thus prevented from opening out any further and they thus counteract the
tendency to break through the connecting bar which is naturally slightly the
weakest side of the link. These horns do in fact somewhat equalize the strength
of the two sides. These links may be made either in two or three parts just as in
the case of the first kind of link.
We generally form the solid side of the link curved towards the inside so as to
obtain a greater section of metal at the weakest part of the link without however
departing from its external shape. The links may be made from any desired
metal such as wrought iron, steel, brass, gun metal or maleable cast iron but we
generally prefer to stamp them out of wrought iron or steel.
In order that our invention may be more clearly understood and carried into
practice we have appended hereunto three sheets of drawings which we will now
proceed to describe:-On the drawing (Sheet 1)
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a piece of chain connected together by one of our
connecting links.
Figure 2 is a back elevation of the same chain showing the back part of the same
connecting link.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the same chain showing the side of the same
connecting link,
Now A, A, A is one of our new connecting links represented as connecting
together the two links B and C of one piece of chain to the two links D and E of
another similar piece of ordinary chain. It will be observed that this modification A
composed of three parts numbered 1, 2 and 3. The piece 1 is by far the largest
portion of the link, and indeed constitutes the main connecting body of the link
and will be easily distinguished by the fine cross lining in each of the three views.
The front view of piece 1 is also shown separate from the chain and the other
two parts in Figure 4 and it will be easily distinguished at the bottom of this
sheet 1. In connecting the two pieces of chain together part 1 is first threaded
on to links B and D the two horns 8 and v being so shaped and proportioned
according to the form of link to be connected that by first placing the point of the
horn in the link it may be gradually turned into its proper position. Then follows
piece 2 which is also shown separated from the other parts in Figure 5 which is
placed in the recesses in the front side of the ends of piece 1. The two pieces 1
and 2 thus jointed together are shown in back view by Figure 6 which leaves a
recess with tapered ends to receive the piece 3 which has its ends tapered to
exactly correspond. The view with piece 3 in its position is clearly shown by
Figure 2. These three pieces 1, 2 and 3 are next secured tightly together by the
three pins rivets or screws n, n¹ and n². The connection being thus made we will
suppose this link A to be brought into tension as would be the case if strains were
applied in the direction of the arrows F and H its behaviour would be somewhat as
follows Piece 2 being weaker than piece 1 would stretch until the strain became
sufficient to open out piece 1 to such an extent as to allow the horns s and v,
which may be hollowed at their ends to take a bearing against the links C and E
which would tend to prevent piece 1 from opening out any farther and the strain
along m, m and m² of piece 1 would from that moment be nearly direct tension.
Thus the links C and E are made to act as abutments for keeping one side of
link A from opening out under increased strains. It will thus be seen that by a
slight increasement of section from m to m³ the link would be nearly as strong as
the solid part of a chain i.e in combination with the horns, and this would be to
some extent so, even if piece 2 were altogether neglected. The horns s and v
would only prevent a chain bending round a pulley in one direction as it would
have perfect liberty to bend in the other three directions. The object for bevelling"
the ends of piece 3 is to so lock piece 2 into its position that it would be able to
withstand any exceptional side strains and thus be prevented from coming out of
place though rivets n' and n³ were entirely dispensed with or left out as they
possibly might be in cases of hurry or accident. It will however be quite evident

page_text: also
that by sacrificing the latter advantage that piece 2 and piece 3 may be made in
one piece in which case the recess would be made square or slightly bevelled in the
other direction, but in this case we should entirely depend upon rivets n' and n² as
there would be no centre rivet. In some cases we make piece 3 as shown in
Figure 8 on Sheet 2 of the drawings with projections i at one end and i at the
other end which still further assists to fasten the whole together. These links may
be without a centre stiffening bar as shown in Figure 8 or with bar as shown in
Figures 1, 2, 5 and 6. When this bar is used it will be fixed as shown to piece 2.
The next modification of our new links is shown by Figure 9 front view, Figure 10
back view and Figure 11 looking at the edge with each portion in its respective
position as it would be when in work. Figure 12 is a front view of piece 1
separated from the other parts and Figure 13 is a front view of piece
separated from the other parts, and Figure 14 is a side elevation of piece 2
Figure 13 showing the swell o for the purpose of strengthening piece 2 in cross
section where the rivet goes through. Figure 15 is the back view of piece
showing the recess o' for the reception of the swell o it being of little consiquence
how much piece 3 is cut away in links made according to these two first modifi-
cations because they cannot in these shapes be called upon to bear any teusile
strain, their work being practically to act as locking bars to piece 2. Figure 16
is a front view of piece 1 slightly modified i.e having the recess j, j so cut as to
leave a substance of metal on each side; or the recess may be left on the inner side
only and the extra substance given to piece 2 instead. The recesses g, g may be
either used or not according to the strength required and substance of the link i.e
in very small links it would be scarsely practicable to use it. The projections g', g²
Figure 14 on piece 2 fill the recesses g, g on piece 1.
The modification shown by Figure 17 front elevation Figure 19 elevation of the
edge and Figure 20 end elevation is principally useful in confining the strain as
much as possible to the metal in the back of piece 1, the bulges Q, Q having
the tendency to keep the next link of the chain over to the solid side of piece 1 of
the connecting link. This link or indeed also those links previously referred to
may be made so that piece 2 and 3 are duplicates of each other which is shown
clearly by supposing Figure 18 to be made an elevation of the edge of Figure 17
and also supposing Figure 17 to not have the bulges Q, Q on both pieces 2 and 3
and not on piece 1. It will of course be self evident to most practical men that
various interchanges of the details may be made such as the bulges Q and the
projections g and recesses j from one link to the other without effecting the
principle of the invention.
Figures 21, 22, 23 and 24 are links adapted more for smaller chains such as
those used for agricultural purposes and they combine the horns of Figure 8 and
the previous Figures with the bulges of Q of the latter Figures. For instance in
Figures 21 and 22 the connecting link P has a horn p' at one end and two bulges p³
and p³ at the other end with the split pin p to keep the link from coming out
when the chain is slack. Figures 23 and 24 are further modifications in which the
piece 2 consists of a double bar u which really makes the link practically as strong
or even stronger than a solid link. In putting this double bar piece u on, the
part slips into the hollow u² while the other end u³ passes over the point of
the link when the lower portion is brought back to the position in which it is
drawn and the split cotter u is put through to keep the double bar from again
moving when the chain is slack.
The modifications shown in sheet 3 combine great strength with very little
interference with the general duties of a chain. On this sheet Figure 25 is a front
elevation of a link combining the above qualities. Figure 26 is a side view of the
same link and Figure 27 is a section on line X, Z. It will be noticed that the
rivets n³ and n* are so. placed as not to weaken either the piece 1, 2 or 3 and the
pin n which would not always be needed passes through the fullest part of the
section of piece 2 and 3 which are duplicates of each other. This link combines
the double locking and split principle very effectively. The back locking

page_text: shoulder k to k¹ takes the strain assisted by the longitudinal locking sides and k
in direct strains as before explained for the Figures on sheet 1. In the case of
exceptional side strain the inner shoulder ko to k would assist to resist it in
conjunction with k¹ to k and the solid part 7 and 8 on piece 1. It will be noticed
that the parts 2 Figure 27 are thicker at their extremities than at the inner edge
to form a substantial shoulder. This part 2 is also thicker at its root joining or
to the body part of the link than near the projections 7 and 8 for the purpose of
strengthening this part against the sheering strain. Figure 30 is a cross section
on line R, U, showing the forms plainer. Figure 28 varies only in having the
centre bar T which is in two parts, half being a part of piece 2 and half a part of
piece 3. In Figures 29 the projections are varied so as to shorten the ends
somewhat and the back shoulders are arranged for the outer rivets to bear against
piece as well as passing through piece 2 and 3 and the points of the centre bar T
may enter a recess in piece 1 shown by dotted lines which always tends to keep
pieces 2 and 3 together.
Having now described our said invention and the manner of carrying the same
into practice we would have it clearly understood that we do not confine ourselves
to the exact proportions of the shapes which may be varied without departing in
any way from the spirit of the invention, but what we do claim is :-
First: The connecting links shown by Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 having
the projecting horns vand s and as herein set forth.
Second: The connecting links shown by figures 9 to 20 and 25 to 29 and as
herein set forth.
Third: The modifications illustrated by Figures 21, 22, 23 and 24 substantially
as herein set forth.
In Witness whereof we the said Josiah Henry Shoebotham and Joseph
Frederick Cholmondeley James have hereunto set our hands and seals this
eighteenth day of January in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and eighty three
JOSIAH: HENRY. SHOEBOTHAM.
(L.S.)
Witness :-
JOSEPH FREDERICK CHOLMONDELEY JAMES. (L.S.)
GEORGE BARKER
International Patent Office
77 Colmore Row
Birmingham.