Improvements in Drive Chain for Cycles and other like Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Apr., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 23rd May, 1896-Accepted, 27th June, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Drive Chain for Cycles and other like Vehicles.
I, ALFRED APPLEBY of 124, Vyse Street, in the City of Birmingham,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to drive chain for cycles and other like vehicles and lins
distinct reference to that class of chain known as the "block" chain, or, in other
words, a chain whose intermediate aud inner links are formed of a block or solid
distance-piece adapted to fit into the spaces between the teeth of a chain wheel
upon which the said chain runs. Such "block" chains are, as now constructed,
objectionable, inasmuch as a large amount of friction is created between the ends
of the said blocks and the sides of the teeth of the chain wheel, which very soon
causes both the ends of the blocks and the teeth of the wheel to become very much
worn.
My invention consists in constructing the intermediate "block" links in such a
manner that the friction referred to is considerably reduced, and the chain wheel
and the chain thereby made more durable, and this 1 accomplish by fitting to the
ends of the said "block" links flat surfaced hardened steel rollers, either mounted
upon the chain connection rivets or pins, or upon independent fulcrum pins, the
said rollers being arranged between gaps in the ends of the said blocks, and
mounted in a manner that their fint peripheries shall come outside the block ends;
or each and every intermediate or "block" link may be built up of a number of
flat plates having disposed between them two rollers arranged and fulcrumed upon
the joining-up cross rivets or pins of the chain proper, the said rivets or pins being
shouldered to allow of the free working thereon of the rollers. Each roller is
adapted to work independently of the other, and will be caused to act upon the
inclined edge of the teeth of the chain wheel and both of them to fill the space
between one tooth and another.
My improvements herein set forth are applicable to a detachable drive chain
composed of slotted links and cross pine, the links being provided with slots and
entrances, and the pins with heads and shoulders, and the application thereof differs
in no essential respect to that described herein in connection with a permanently
rivetted drive chain.
2
1900
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 11, Burlington Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Drive Chain for Cycles and other like Vehicles.
1, ALFRED APPLEBY of 124, Vyse Street, in the City of Birmingham,
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 :-
My invention relates to drive chain for cycles aud other like vehicles and is an

page_text: improvement upon that class of chain known commercially as the "block" chain
or, in other words, a chain whose intermediate and inner links are each formed of
a block or solid distance-piece adapted to fit the spaces between the teeth of a chain
wheel. Such chains, as now constructed, are extremely objectionable, inasmuch as
a large amount of friction is created between the ends of the said blocks and tho
sides of the teeth of the chain wheel, and it has been practically illustrated that
very soon both the cuds of the block links and the edges of the teeth of the chain
wheel become very much worn.
My invention consists in providing the intermediate and inner links, as aforesaid,
with flat surfaced hardened steel twin rollers either mounted upon the chain
connection rivets or pins, or upon independent fulcrum pins, the said rollera either
being arranged between gaps in the ends of the block-like links, or between
intermediate and inner flat plate links. The rollers, as aforesaid, are of a diameter
sufficient to bring their peripheries clear of the onda of the links, and each will
work independently of the other upon the edges of the teeth of the chain wheel
with which it is in contact, and two of the saine, and also the link carrying them,
will fit the space between two teeth of the chain wheel over which the chain runs.
The sheet of drawings accompanying this specification illustratos on an enlarged
scale, in
Fig. 1a short piece of one-inch pitch drive chain constructed according to my
invention, the said figure being a sido elevation thereof.
Fig. 2 represents a top side plan, and Fig. 3 a longitudinal vertical section on
the dotted line C, Fig. 2, whilst
Fig. 4 is a horizontal section upon the dotted line E, Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 represents a side view of one of the outer links, aud Fig. 6 is an elevation
of a sleeve used in the successful carrying out of the invention.
Fig. 7 illustrates a piece of drive chain, constructed according to that shown in
Figs. 1-4, in position upon the teeth of a chain wheel. This last view clearly
illustrates how the twin rollers work independently of each other, and fit the spaces
between the chain wheel teeth.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of
the sheet of drawings.
A chain constructed according to my invention is built up of a number of outer
and opposite links a a', and inuer and intermediate opposite links bb, connected up
by cross pins or rivets c. The outer and opposite links a a' are coupled together,
and to the rivets or cross pius, at both their ends by hardened steel distance
sleeves d, encircling the body of the rivets, and provided with extensions d', to
prevent the rotation or turning thereof witbout the said links.
The intermediate and opposito links are also coupled together at both their
ends by hardened steel sleeves or bushes e, aud the same are mounted upon the
sleeves d, as aforesaid, and rotate or turn thereon. Between the interinediate
links, and upon the outer coupling sleeves e, as just described, I loosely mount
anti-friction rollers fg, the same being constructed with flat surfaces or
peripheries fg, and arranged in such a manner that each shall rotate, roll, or
work independently of the other.
The teeth of the chain wheel engage the rollers 9, and fit the spaces i
between each and every succeeding intermediate link, and the flat surfaced
peripheries f g of the said rollers work against the respective edges of the
teeth h.
Thus construct a chain whose intermediate links are each provided and fitted
with a pair of anti-frictional and independently working rollers, the said pairs of
rollers being mounted and arranged in such a manner as to span or fit into the
spaces between the teeth of the chuin wheel or wheels over which the chain works.
The rivetting of the cross pius is accomplished by displacing or expanding the
metal at the neck part thereof, as shown at m in Fig. 4, by means of a conically
pointed tool operated by a press.
My invention is also applicable to what is known as the "block" link chain, and

page_text: is carried out and illustrated in section by Fig. 8, and in elevation by Fig. 9. The
rollers fg being loosely mounted upon the cross pins or rivets c, and fitted within
gaps n n, cut within the intermediate block-like links b, the latter being joined up
to the outer and adjacent links a a' by means of the rivets or cross pins c.
As a modification of this last described arrangement, instead of mounting the
rollers upon the cross pins or rivets c, and between the gaps n n of the block-like
links b, the said rollers may be reduced considerably in diameter, and mounted upon
independent pins or axes at the opposite ends of the block link.
I make no specific claim to the sleeves d and e which serve only to successfully
carry out my invention but
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. In drive chain, providing the intermediate or inner and body links with a
pair of independently mounted flat surfaced hardened steel anti-frictional rollers,
adapted to work against the adjacent edges of the teeth of a chain wheel, and to
fit the space between each tooth, for the purpose and in the manner substantially
as set forth.
Second. The general arrangement, combination, aud fitting of the parts as set
forth.
1000
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 11, Burlington Chambere, New Street, Birmingham,
Agents for the Applicant.