Improvements in the Manufacture of Weldless Chains and in Apparatus Employed therein.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 5th May, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Mar., 1900-Accepted, 5th May, 1900
Improvements in the Manufacture of Weldless Chains and in
Apparatus Employed therein.
}
We, Joux WILLIAM WAILES and FELIX GROSS, both of 52, Dean Street,
Newcastle-on-Tyne, Engineer and Manager respectively, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the manufacture of weldless chains
Hitherto weldless chains for shipbuilding and engineering purposes have
been mainly produced according to two typical methods of manufacture.
According to the first a solid bar of cruciform section has been taken as the
starting point for a sequence of shearing and punching operations, but this
method involves much waste of material, a great deal of labour and requires
powerful punching and shearing machinery. In order to reduce these dis-
advantages such cruciform section bars have according to the second method been
first rolled or pressed into chain bars approximating more nearly to a finished
chain, before commencing to punch and shear away the surplus material. Whilst
the waste of material is reduced, though still considerable, this second method
involves the use of very expensive rolls and press dies, the sharp edges of which
are liable to breakage and rapid wear. Moreover, these rolls and press-dies
are so intricate that studded cable chains can scarcely be produced by them
with the studs "solid" with, .. as integral parts, of the links. These
"solid" studs would be a great advantage over the usual separate inserted
studs as they could not be lost and there would be no corrosion between link
and stud.
Now our invention has for its objects to reduce the waste of material to a
minimum, to greatly reduce the first cost and upkeep of rolls or dies for
shaping hot, and of the punches or dies for cold punching, to dispense with
shearing on the outside of the link, and to simplify the manufacture as a whole.
According to the present invention we take as a starting point a cruciform
section bar of suitable size and shape and by rolling, pressing or hammering
it, preferably using four rolls or four dies, we first reduce it for ordinary chains
into a series of discs of suitable uniform thickness, connected with each other
at right angles, each disc containing sufficient metal to make a link of the
size required, and in the case of studded cable chains containing also the metal
for the solid stud. In the latter case we may prefer to make chain bars of
double connected discs, that is to say, discs each composed of two circular
ends connected together by a slightly contracted intermediate portion.
By proceeding in the manner above described there is no surplus material left
to be removed as waste on the outside between the discs, and the material hitherto
wasted in outside fins or webs becomes part of the chain links. For producing
chain bars of this kind, the roll faces and press, or hammer dies may be made
of ordinary and therefore inexpensive material, and the cost of preparing the.

page_text: faces of the rolls and dies is greatly reduced as compared with the cost of material
and preparation for producing chain bars according to the methods heretofore
in use.
Further the material used for the chain is not subjected to such violent
treatment as heretofore, and there is no danger to the plant from the breakage
of thin projections or teeth of the rolls or dies; as fine or delicate projections
or teeth are not required according to our invention. For the same reason the
life of the rolls and dies will be increased.
These single or double discs are then enlarged hot to the required size by
means of suitable rolls, press dies or hammer tools, which act by squeezing the
central portion of each single disc into a thin central web for the manufacture
of ordinary chains, and by similarly squeezing the central portion of each
of the two circular ends of the double discs in the case of studded cable chains.
The outside circumferential measurement of these enlarged discs is now approxi-
mately equal to the outside circumferential measurement of the finished links.
The discs are as yet purposely circular in shape at their ends, for the reason that
round stamps and dies for this operation of enlarging the discs and reducing the
centres to webs, and round punches and dies for removing the webs in the
next operation can be produced more easily and more cheaply than when they
are required to be of irregular shape. Moreover they will last longer in use, than
if elongated and with sharp noses.
Having so formed the discs and having removed the central webs in such a
manner that one circular link end passes through the circular end of the
adjoining link concentrically to said circular end and at right angles to the plane
of said adjoining link the metal forming still the connection between the
insides of the ends of every two adjoining links is now removed and this is
preferably effected by means of an annular cutting or milling tool oscillating
on a spindle. This annular cutting tool, having a gap, to allow of its passing
over the link presenting its edge to it, will have its inside cutting edge operating
round this link and the outside of the tool will have the form of the circular
tapering depression produced in enlarging the disc and reducing the centre to a
web. The oscillating spindle is preferably fixed on a transverse axis corres-
ponding in centre to the circular form of the link, round which the annular
cutter operates and the cut will advance radially round the link until it arrives
at or near the centre. At this point the annular cutter will have removed by
its outside cutting edge the part of the attachment adjoining the link which
lies at right angles to the one round which the inside edge has operated. We
do not confine ourselves to this particular form of cutter, but may use tools
having any suitable form of cutting edge operating in the manner indicated.
Any number of such cutters may operate at one time upon a chain bar from
one side or opposite sides. Though we prefer to have the ends of the links true
circles, we may operate the cutter on links which differ somewhat from this
form by causing the axis of the cutter to keep the line of the link operated
upon, by means of dies or guides which will guide the cut to the particular
form of the link.
We may in some cases employ instead of the cutters as described above shear
blades, to displace or remove the metal forming the junction. The blades will
pivot on the centre of the section of the end of the link, round which the blades of
the shears have to pass and will operate in the same manner as the oscillating
cutters described above. They open sideways to allow the link to pass, closing
afterwards transversely ready for the radial cut, one pair of blades cutting on
one side of the link and a second pair on the other side.
At this stage of the manufacture the links are all separate perfect in section,
but preferably circular in shape at the ends, (cables having the stud solid with
the links). The final operation consists in pressing the links hot in suitable
dies to the required standard oval shape by elongating them; and this being
done at a good red heat, the chain is thereby left in a satisfactory annealed
condition. Besides simplifying the tools and operations, the waste of material

page_text: from the cruciform section bar forwards is thus reduced to the possible minimum
and these improvements represent a considerable saving, particularly in the case
of cable chains.
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Chartered Patent Agents,
Improvements in the Manufacture of Weldless Chains and in
Apparatus Employed therein.
We, JOHN WILLIAM WAILES and FELIX GROSS, both of 52, Dean Street,
Newcastle-on-Tyne, Engineer and Manager respectively, 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 relates to the manufacture of weldless chains.
Hitherto weldless chains for shipbuilding and engineering purposes have
been mainly produced according to two typical methods of manufacture.
According to the first method a solid bar of cruciform section has been taken as the
starting point for a sequence of shearing and punching operations, but this
method involves much waste of material, a great deal of labor, and requires
powerful punching and shearing machinery. In order to reduce these dis-
advantages such cruciform section bars have according to the second method been
first rolled or pressed into chain bars approximating more nearly to a finished
chain, before commencing to punch and shear away the surplus material. Whilst
the waste of material though still considerable is reduced thereby this second method
involves the use of very expensive rolls and press-dies, the sharp edges of which
are liable to breakage and rapid wear. Moreover, these rolls and press-dies
are so intricate that studded cable chains can scarcely be produced by them
with the studs solid" with, .c. as integral parts of the links. - These
"solid" studs would be a great advantage over the usual separate inserted
studs as they could not be lost and there would be no corrosion between link
and stud.
Now our invention has for its objects to reduce the waste of material to a
minimum, to greatly reduce the first cost and the upkeep of the rolls or dies for
shaping hot, and of the punches or dies for cold punching, to dispense with
shearing on the outside of the link, and to simplify the manufacture as a whole.
According to the present invention we take as a starting point a cruciform
section bar of suitable size and shape and by rolling, pressing or hammering
it, (preferably using four rolls or four dies) we first reduce it for ordinary chains
into a series of discs of suitable uniform thickness, connected with each other
at right angles, each disc containing sufficient metal to make a link of the
size required, and in the case of studded cable chains containing also the metal
for the solid stud. In the latter case we may prefer to make chain bars of.
double connected discs, that is to say, discs, each composed of two circular
ends connected together by a slightly contracted intermediate portion.
By proceeding in the manner above described there is no surplus material
left to be removed as waste on the outside between the discs, and the material
hitherto wasted in outside fins or webs becomes part of the chain links. Although
we prefer to take a cruciform section bar as a starting point as above stated, we
may however employ a bar of any other suitable section for the purposes of this
invention. For producing chain bars of this kind, the roll faces and the press or

page_text: hanimer dies may be made of ordinary and therefore inexpensive material, and
the cost of preparing the faces of the rolls and dies is greatly reduced as.com-
pared with the cost of material and preparation for producing chain bars accord-
ing to the methods heretofore in use. Further the material used for the chain
is not subjected to such violent treatment as heretofore, and there is no danger
to the plant from the breakage of thin projections or teeth of the rolls and dies,
as fine or delicate projections or teeth are not required according to our invention.
For the same reason the life of the rolls and dies will be increased.
These single or double discs are then converted into link form by being
enlarged hot to the required size by means of suitable rolls, press dies or hammer
tools, which act by squeezing the central portion of each single disc into a thin
central web for the manufacture of ordinary chains, and by similarly squeezing
the central portion of each of the two circular ends of the double discs in the
case of studded cable chains, whereby the metal displaced from the central
portion by the squeezing operation, is forced to flow towards the edges of the discs
to aid in forming the links. The outside circumferential measurement of these
enlarged dises or webbed links is now approximately equal to the outside cir-
cumferential measurement of the finished links. The enlarged discs or webbed
links are as yet purposely circular in shape at their ends, for the reason that
round stamps and dies for this operation of enlarging the dises and reducing the
centres to webs, and round punches and dies for removing the webs in the next
operation; can be produced more easily and more cheaply than when they are
required to be of irregular shape. Moreover they will last longer in use, than if
elongated and with sharp noses.
Having so formed the discs and having removed, the central webs in such a
manner that each circular link end passes through the adjacent circular end
of the adjoining link concentrically to said circular end and at right
angles to the plane of said adjoining link, the metal forming still
the connection between the inside of the ends of every two connected and adjoin-
ing links has now to be removed. This is preferably effected by means of an
annular or gapped cutting or planing tool oscillating on a spindle. This cutting
tool which has a gap to allow of its passing over the link presenting its edge to
it, will have its cutting edges operating round this link, and the outside of the
tool will have the form of the circular tapering depression produced in enlarging
the disc and reducing the centre to a web. The oscillating spindle is preferably
fixed on a transverse axis corresponding in centre to the circular form of the link
round which the cutting tool operates, and the cut will advance circularly round
the link until it arrives at or near the common centre line of the links. At this
point the cutting tool will have removed one half of the metal forming the con-
nection between the two connected and adjoining link ends. The remainder of
the connection is then removed by causing the cutting tool to operate on the link
ends from the other side of the chain bar. We do not confine ourselves to this
particular form of cutting tool but may use tools having any suitable form of
cutting edge operating in the manner indicated. Any number of such cutters
may operate at one time upon a chain bar from one side or opposite sides.
Though we prefer to have the ends of the links true circles, we may operate
the cutter on links which differ somewhat from this form by causing the axis
of the cutter to keep the line of the link operated upon, by means of dies.or
guides which will guide the cut to the particular form of the link.
We may in some cases employ, instead of the planing cutters as. described
above, shearing or slotting or nipping blades or cutters, to displace or remove
the metal forming the connection. These cutters will pivot on the centre of the
section of the end of the link, round which they have to pass, and they will
operate in the same manner as the oscillating cutters described above. They
open sideways to allow the link to pass, closing afterwards transversely ready
for the radial cut, one pair of cutters cutting on one side of the link and a
second pair on the other side,

page_text: At this stage of the manufacture the links are all separate, perfect in solution,
but preferably circular in shape at the ends, (cables having the studs solid with
the links). The final operation consists in pressing the links hot in suitable dies
to the required standard oval shape by elongating them; and this being done
at a good red heat, the chain is thereby left in a satisfactory annealed condition.
Our invention besides simplifying the tools and operations reduces the waste
of material from the cruciform section bar forwards to the possible minimum,
and this reduction of waste alone represents a considerable saving, particularly
in the case of cable chains.
Referring to the accompanying illustrative drawings,--
Figure 1 shows a portion of the cruciform bar, after it has been reduced,
for ordinary chains, into a chain bar consisting of a series of elongated
discs 1, 1, . . ., and 2, 2. of uniform shape and thickness with circular
ends 3, 3 connected with each other at right angles, each disc. containing
sufficient metal to make a link of the size required.
Figure 2 shows a chain bar designed for the manufacture of studded cable
chains. In this case each disc contains the metal for the solid stud and is com-
posed of two circular ends 4, 4 connected together by a straight intermediate
portion 5. The discs are made approximately of the thickness of the finished
links.
Figures 3 and 4 respectively show a chain bar after the discs have been enlarged
laterally by squeezing the central portion of each disc into a thin central web G
for ordinary chains, and by similarly squeezing the central portion 7 of each
of the two circular ends of the double discs in the case of studded cable
chains to form the stud S. The outside circumferential measurement
of these enlarged dises is now approximately equal to the outside circumferential
measurement of the finished links, and as the discs have been enlarged in the
lateral direction only, the original pitch of the discs is unaltered. The next
operation is to be remove the webs 6, 7, preferably by means of punches or dies.
The removal of these webs converts the discs into links and leaves the chain
bar in the condition shown in Figure 5 for ordinary chains and in Figure 6
for studded cable chains. In both cases only the metal which forms still the
connection 9 between the insides of the ends of every two connected and adjoining
links has now to be removed. This operation is preferably effected by means
of a cutting machine of one of the types hereinbefore referred to.
Figure is a side elevation of the type of machine which we prefer to
employ constructed according to our invention;
Figure 8 is a front elevation, and
Figure 9 is a rear elevation of the same.
Figures 10, 11 and 12 are respectively a front elevation, a side elevation and
a plan of one form of tool or cutter employed in this machine.
Figure 13 is a sectional elevation, and
Figure 14 is a sectional plan illustrating the manner of operation of this cutter.
10 is an annular or gapped planing tool or cutter hereinafter fully described
with reference to Figures 10, 11 and 12; it is clamped by means of screws 11
in a holder 12 mounted on the lower end of an oscillating spindle 13. The
latter is adapted to be oscillated in a head 14 by means of a toothed wheel 15
fixed on the upper end of the spindle 13.
The head 14 is formed with a circular rear portion or flange 16 having
arc-shaped holes 17 through which pass clamping bolts 18 by means of which the
head 14, and consequently also the spindle 13 with its tool 10, can be fixed within
limits at any desired angle for operating upon the links to the circular face
plate 19 of a frame piece 20 pivoted on a pin 21 carried in a bearing 22 forming
part of the sliding carriage 23 of the machine.
Rotary motion is imparted to the wheel 15 on the spindle 133 by means of a
quadrant wheel 24 which is keyed on a shaft 25 carried in a bearing 26 forming
part of the frame-pieces 27, 28. The frame piece 27 is mounted on the pivot.

page_text: pin 21 and the frame piece 28 is mounted loose on a shaft 29 which is arranged in
line with the pivot pin 21. The shaft 29 is carried in a bearing or sleeve 30
attached to or forming part of the frame piece 28. The sleeve 30 is carried
in a bearing 31 forming part of the carriage 23. The frame piece 20, the
bearing 26, the frame pieces 27 and 28 and the sleeve 30 constitute. together &
frame which is capable of being tilted about the transverse common axis of the
pivot pin 21 and the shaft 29 as a centre. In bearings 31, also forming part of
the carriage 23, is carried the driving shaft 32 of the machine on which is keyed
a bevel wheel 33 gearing with a bevel wheel 34 keyed on the inner end of the
shaft 29. On the outer end of the shaft 29 is keyed a disc 35 in which is fixed
excentrically a stud 36 that carries loose on it a slide block 37 adapted to
work in a slot or guide way 38 formed in an arm 39 keyed on the outer end of
the shaft 25. The relative proportions of the several parts are such that at
each revolution of the disc 35, the spindle 13 will be oscillated through a semi-
circle in each direction about its axis. The carriage 23 is arranged to slide
on V guides or slides 40 formed on the bed 41 of the machine.
On the sleeve 30 between the bearing 31 and the disc 35, is keyed a worm
wheel 42 gearing with a worm 43 keyed on a shaft 44 which is carried in
bearings 45 formed on the carriage 23. On the inner end of this shaft 44 is
keyed a bevel wheel 46 gearing with a bevel wheel 47 keyed on a spindle 48
which is carried in a bracket 49 bolted to the carriage 23. On the outer end
of the spindle 48 is fixed a handwheel 50 by actuating which the machine frame is
tilted in one or the other direction about the axis of the shaft 29 and whereby
the feed of the tool 10 is produced. The carriage 23 is traversed along the bed 41
by means of a guide screw 51 which works in a nut 52 formed on the under
side of the carriage 23.
A vice 53 (which may be fixed to the bed 41) is provided for holding the
chain bar whilst under operation by the machine.
The annular or gapped planing tool or cutter 10 (Figures 10, 11 and 12)
is of semi-circular annular shape concentric to the axis of the spindle 13 and
has in cross section (indicated by dotted hatched lines in Figure 11) the form
of half the circular tapering depression produced in cutting away the metal
that forms the connection 9 between two adjoining link ends. It has a gap 54
to allow of its passing around the link presenting its edge to it; its two cutting
edges 55 and 56 are formed to cut as planing cutters. The curved outer and
inner edges 55, 56, 55, 56b are sharpened for a short distance for trimming
the work. The tool has a shank 57 for clamping in the holder 12. A suitable
amount of clearance is provided at the sides and the back of each cutting edge.
The manner of operating with this machine is as follows:- Referring to
Figures 13 and 14, the chain bar is fixed horizontally in the vice in a position
in which the centre A of the horizontal link 2 is in line with the axis of the
shaft 29 and the tool spindle 13 is set with its centre line tangential to a semi-
circle with the radius A A¹ struck from the centre A. The machine frame is
then tilted over on this centre by means of the feed wheel 50 to bring the
tool 10 into the position in which it can commence to cut away the connection 9.
In Figure 13 in which this position of the tool is indicated by dash dotted lines,
BB represents the centre line of the spindle 13, and CC represents the centre
line of the tilting frame of the machine. The necessary angle between the centre
lines B B and CC is produced by the angular displacement of the head 14 rela-
tively to the machine frame.
The driving shaft 32 is then set in motion whereby the tool 10 is caused
to rock on its axis B B around the circular link end 1 through a complete semi-
circle at each stroke, first in one direction and then in the opposite direction,
as indicated by the curved arrows 58 and 59. (In Figure 14 the positions of the
tool at the ends of the strokes are indicated by dashi-dotted and thick dotted
lines respectively). In the semi-circular stroke of the tool in the direction of
the arrow 58, the cutting edge 55 planes away a shaving from the upper surface

page_text: of the connection 9 as far as the central vertical plane (indicated by the line D 1))
of the said connection, and in the semi-circular stroke of the tool in the opposite
direction (i.e. in the direction of the arrow 59) a similar shaving is planed away
from the opposite half of the connection 9 as far as the plane D D by the cutting
edge. 56. During this oscillatory cutting motion of the tool 10 the wheel 50
is operated to tilt the machine frame on A as a centre so as to feed the tool 10
in a vertical plane in a circular manner along the vertical link end 1 as indicated.
by the arrow 60 until the tool has cut away the upper half of the connection 9
down to the central horizontal plane E E of the link 2. (This position of the
tool: 10 is shown in thick dotted lines in Figure 13, in which the corresponding
positions of the centre lines of the tool and of the machine frame are marked
respectively B B and C C¹). The machine is now stopped and then it is moved
along the chain bar by means of the screw 5.1 until the centre of the shaft 29 has
been brought in line with the corresponding centre A of the other end of the
link 2, whereupon the machine is tilted in the opposite direction to allow the
tool 10 to operate in the same manner as just herein before described. When the
upper halves of the connections 9 of the connected ends of all the links of the
chain bar have been cut away, the chain bar is turned over and the remaining halves
of the connections 9 of the connected links are cut away in the same way,
whereby the hitherto rigidly connected links are now detached or separated from
each other, and the chain bar has now been cut up by the operation of the
machine into a series of freely movable links constituting a chain or cable.
Links of different sizes will require tools of corresponding dimensions and
the angle between the centre lines B B and C C must be varied accordingly.
For operating upon chain bars of great size and weight it has been generally
found preferable to move the machine along from link to link of the chain bar,
as above described; but in some cases, and especially when operating upon chain
bars of small size and weight, it may be found desirable to keep the machine
fixed and to move the chain bar itself along so as to bring each link in turn in-
front of the machine.
Figures 15 and 16 illustrate a modified construction of a gapped planing tool
in which the two cutting edges 61 and 62 (corresponding to the cutting edges 55
and 56 herein before referred to) are formed on the ends of two bars 63 and 64
respectively, the necssary gap to receive the vertical link end being formed by
fixing the said bars at a corresponding distance apart in the tool holder 65. The
operation of this tool is similar to that of the tool shown in Figures 10 to 14,
the cutting edges 61 and 62 sweeping alternately in and out of the link ends
in a semi-circle round the axis B B', whilst the tool. is being fed round the hori-
zontal link end concentrically with its centre A.
From the foregoing description it will be perceived that the hereinbefore
described machine operates on the principle of cutting away the metal connection
between two connected link ends by means of a tool having a cutting stroke
inwards around and concentrical to the end of one link (the vertical link) whilst
the said tool is being fed along said link end concentrically with the end of the
other link (the horizontal link).
The metal connection can however be cut away in a manner which is the con-
verse of the above. Namely, the tool may have its cutting stroke along the
end of one link (the vertical link) concentrically to the end of the other link
(the horizontal link), whilst the said tool is being fed inwards around and concen-
trically to the end of the first mentioned link (the vertical link).
•
We shall now proceed to describe by way of example some forms of machines
constructed on this principle, with reference to diagrammatic figures showing
only those parts which are necessary to enable their operation to be understood.
Figures 17 and 18 are respectively a side and an end view illustrating a
slotting machine constructed and operating on this principle. 66 is a disc fixed
on a shaft 67 which is carried in a suitable framing 68 and is provided with a
crank 69 whereby through the medium of a connecting rod (not shown) coupled

page_text: to the crank 70 of a rocking shaft 71, the disc 66 is rocked alternately in opposite
directions through an arc FG about the centre A of a horizontal link 2 of a chain
bar (shown in dotted lines). The disc 66 carries two double tool holders 72
and 73 in each of which are held two slotting cutters 74, 74 and .75, 75 respec-
tively. The two slotting cutters 74 are arranged to operate on the upper
half of the metal connection 9 from opposite sides of the link 1, and the two
slotting cutters 75 are arranged to operate in a similar manner on the lower half
of the said connection. When the disc 66 is rocked from the position A F
into the position A G, the two slotting cutters 75 will cut away simultaneously
the two vertical sides of the lower half of the metal connection 9 with circular
strokes about the centre A, whilst the two slotting cutters 74 will operate on
the two vertical sides of the upper half of the said connection during the return.
movement of the disc 66 from the position A G back into the position A F. At
the same time the two halves of each of the double tool holders 72 and 73
will be caused by the operation of the worms and worm quadrants 76, 77,
and 78, 79, respectively to move towards each other in such a manner as to
cause the two cutters of each pair 74 and 75 to close round the vertical link end 1
until they reach the central vertical plane of the connection, whereby the con-
nection is completely slotted away.
In the modification shown in Figures 19 and 20, the upper pair of tool
holders 72 with their slotting cutters 74 are carried on an arm 80 which is rocked
by means of a shaft 81 and crank 82, independently of the arm 83 that is
rocked by means of a shaft 84 and a crank 85, and that carries the lower pair.
of tool holders 73 with their slotting cutters 75. The shaft 84 is carried concen-
trically through the shaft 81 and rocks freely within it The cranks 82 and 85
are driven respectively from cranks 86 and 87 of a common driving shaft 88. In
this machine the cutters 74 and 75 are moved toward each other, but do not come
in contact with each other at the horizontal centre line of the link end, because
the cranks 82 and 85 are so set that one cutter begins its return stroke whilst
the other cutter is still advancing to cut away the piece left between the
points of the cutters so that the cutters clear each other. The cutters of each pair
are fed inwards towards each other in the same manner as in the preceding
arrangement.
Figures 21, 22 and 23 illustrate a machine which is suitable for operating
upon chain bars of small size which can be conveniently moved transversely up
to the machine. In this arrangement two nipping tools or cutters 89, 90 are
employed which cooperate to nip out one half of the width of the metal connec-
tion 9 at one stroke by a single closure of the tools. The upper tool 89 is fixed
with its shank 89 in an arm 91 which is operated by a shaft 92. The lower
tool 90 is carried by means of its shank 90 in an arm 93 which is operated by
a shaft 94. The shaft 92 extends concentrically through and can rock freely
within the shaft 94, and both shafts are driven by cranks from a driving shaft
in a similar manner to that in the preceding arrangement.
Figure 21 is a front side elevation showing the nipping tools open at the
beginning of their nipping or closing stroke. The chain bar (shown in dotted
lines) is moved transversely up to the machine in the direction of the common
axis of the shafts 92 and 94, so as to bring the connection 9 up to its vertical
centre line between the cutting faces of the tools. The arrows 95 and 96 represent
respectively both the direction and the extent of the nipping strokes of the two
tools.
Figs. 24, 25 & 26 are respectively a front side elevation, a front end elevation,
and a plan of the tool 89 shown separately.
The cutting portion of the tool 89 projects laterally from the shank 89.
Its face has approximately the shape of half the horizontal cross section of
the connection 9 to be removed, and its three free sides are formed as the three
cutting edges 896 89° 89d. 89b is the forward cutting edge curved to the hori-
zontal curvature of the vertical link end-1, and 89° is the rear cutting edge shaped to

page_text: the horizontal curvature of the horizontal link end 2. The third cutting edge 89d,
which connects the other two cutting edges, is made preferably straight and
approximately coincident with the vertical centre plane of the connection 9.
The cutting face of the tool 89 is suitably hollowed out at: 89, to form the
inside surfaces of the cutting edges 89b, 89, 89d. The cavity 89° thus formed
serves to receive half the metal nipped out at the one stroke of the cutters 89, 90.
The other half of the said metal is received by the cavity 90 of the hollowed
out cutting face of the other tool 90. This tool 90 is constructed with corre-
sponding cutting edges in the same manner as but of different hand to the tool 89.
The several cutting edges of the tools 89, 90 are suitably backed off on their
outside surfaces as indicated at 89' and 90' respectively.
Figure 22 is a front side elevation showing the cutters closed on the termination
of their nipping stroke whereby the right hand half of the width of the con-
nection 9 has been nipped out entire at one stroke. The chain bar is then
turned round to allow of the remaining half of the connection to be nipped out.
Fig. 23 is a front end elevation corresponding to Fig. 22.
If desired however the machine itself may be arranged to be moved transversely
up, to the chain bar so to bring the connection 9 up to its vertical centre line
between the nipping cutters. Also, the feed may be effected gradually so as to
allow each half of the connection 9 to be nipped out in a corresponding number
of nipping strokes.
It is to be well understood that the herein before described machines are not
restricted to operating solely upon chain bars produced in accordance with this
invention, but that these machines are also adapted to operate upon chain bars
produced in other ways, and that the said machines are designed generally to
remove metal connections existing between the ends of connected links for the
purpose of making chains.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is; -
1. The process of manufacture of weldless chains which consists in reducing
a metal bar of cruciform or other suitable section to a series of discs connected
together at right angles, forming these discs into links by squeezing the central
portions of the discs, and then removing the webs left by the squeezing operation
and cutting away the metal between the connected links, substantially as herein-
before described.
2. The manufacture of weldless chains from a series of discs connected together
at right angles, by squeezing the central portion of each disc towards the peri-
phery whereby the metal displaced flows into the edges and aids in forming the
link, substantially as described.
3. The manufacture of weldless chains according to Claim 2 from a series of
dises connected together at right angles in which the discs contain severally
only sufficient metal to make the required links, after allowing for the thin
central web left in each link and the metal connection between the connected
links, substantially as herein before described.
4. The manufacture of weldless studded chains having the studs formed solid
or integral with the links, substantially as hereinbefore described.
5. The method of removing the metal connection between the connected link
ends of a chain bar by planing, slotting, shearing or nipping or otherwise cutting
the said connection by means of a tool or tools having a cutting motion substan-
tially concentric with one link end, and a feed motion substantially concentric
with the other link end, substantially as herein before described.
6. The method of removing the metal connection between two connected link
ends of a chain bar, by cutting away the said connection by means of a tool or
tools operating from one or both sides of one link end with a cutting motion sub-
stantially concentric with the centre of the said link end, and with a feed motion

page_text: substantially concentric with the centre of the other link end, substantially as
hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 13, 14 and 15, 16 of the accom-
panying drawings.
7. The method of removing the metal connection between two connected link
ends of a chain bar in a manner the converse of that specified in the preceding
claim, namely, by cutting away the said connection by means of a tool or tools
operating from one or both sides of one link end with a cutting motion substan-
tially concentric with the centre of the other link end, and with a feed motion
substantially. concentric with the centre of the first mentioned link end, sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described.
8. For the purpose of removing the metal connection between two connected
link ends of a chain bar, the machine constructed, arranged and operating sub-
stantially as herein before described with reference to Figures 7 to 16 of the
accompanying drawings.
9. For the purpose of removing the metal connection between two connected
link ends of a chain bar, the machine constructed, arranged and operating sub-
stantially as herein before described with reference to Figures 17 and 18 of the
accompanying drawings.
10. For the purpose of removing the metal connection between two connected
link ends of a chain bar the machine constructed, arranged, and, operating sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 19 and 20 of the
accompanying drawings.
11. For the purpose of removing the metal connection between two connected
link ends of a chain bar, the machine constructed, arranged and operating sub-
stantially as herein before described with reference to Figures 21, 22, 23 of the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 1st day of March 1900
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Chartered Patent Agents.