IMPROVEMENT IN PITCH CHAINS
Year: 1884

page_text: I ROBERT STEELE of the firm of Edward Steele of Salford in the County of
Lancaster, Chain Makers do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
AN IMPROVEMENT IN PITCH CHAINS to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to the pitch chains used in the transmission of rotatory
motion and for other purposes and has for its object to increase the durability of
such chains. The said chains consist of metal links ordinarily formed from sheet
metal by punching and connected together by means of round pins which are
secured by the operation of riveting in round holes formed in the outer links.
This riveting operation renders the chain too rigid and in process of time the ends
of the pins in many cases cease to be so firmly held in the outer links and by
revolving therein increase the wear of the parts and render the chain loose and
shaky. To remedy these defects I so form the ends of the pin and the holes in the
outer links as that the pin will be prevented from revolving in the said holes
independantly of the riveting. The ends of the pin may be squared or may have a
flat or two or more flats formed by pressing in dies or by cutting or grinding or in
the operation of cutting up the wire from which the pins are made or by suitable
means. The punches used in the formation of the holes for the outer links are
shaped to form holes having one or more flat sides to suit the pin ends. I do not.
confine myself to the flat sided form as the pin ends may be made oval or may be
notched or recessed or may be purposely made of a shape other than round and
which will prevent the pins from turning in the outer links.. I consider two flat
sides to be suitable. The formation of these flat sides furnishes shoulders which
determine the distance apart of the outer links and prevents the aforesaid excessive
rigidity.

page_text: "
CUMLELE
DIECIFICATION.
I ROBERT STEELE of the firm of Edward Steele of Salford in the County of
Lancaster, Chain Makers do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
AN IMPROVEMENT IN PITCH CHAINS" and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (and accompanying, Drawings) that is to say :-
My Invention relates to the pitch chains used in the transmission of rotatory
motion and for other purposes and has for its object to increase the durability of
such chains. The said chains consist of metal links ordinarily formed from sheet
metal by punching and connected together by means of round pins which are
secured by the operation of riveting in round holes formed in the outer links.
This riveting operation renders the chain too rigid and in process of time the ends
of the pins in many cases cease to be so firmly held in the outer links and by
revolving therein increase the wear of the parts and render the chain loose and
shaky. To remedy these defects I so form the ends of the pin and the holes in the
outer links as that the pin will be prevented from revolving in the said holes
independantly of the riveting. The ends of-the-pins may be squared or may have
a flat or two or more flats formed by pressing in dies or by cutting or grinding or
in the operation of cutting up the wire from which the the pins are made or by
suitable means. The punches used in the formation of the holes for the outer
links are shaped to form holes having one or more flat sides to suit the pin ends.
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 represents a chain link and Fig. 2 a. pin
formed in accordance with my Invention. The holes a, a, in the link are each of
the form indicated by Fig. 3. The ends of the pin have flats b, b, formed on each
side of each end so that the ends of the pin can enter the ends of the holes in the
link. The pin as represented is suitable for use in the construction of the chain
which is represented by Figs. 4. and 5. In this example of a chain the links c
. punched with flat sided holes are connected together by means of solid links d
which are considerably shorter and thicker than the links c and are drilled to suit
the cylindrical portions of the pins. When the links are put together the flat
sided ends of the pins are riveted into the holes in the links c. The distance
between the shoulders e in Fig. 2 is made a little more than the thickness of the
links d so that there shall be a sufficient freedom of movement of the said links
upon the pins. The shoulders e furnish bearings or supports for the links during
the operation of riveting so that the links are kept at a determined distance apart
and the pins can be firmly riveted without binding the links d. A chain properly
constructed in accordance with my Invention is entirely free from rigidity as any
desired allowance for play or freedom of motion of the links may be made. As
the pins are prevented from turning in the links c they are compelled to take their
bearings in the links d and by reason of this prevention from turning and in
consequence of the facility for securely riveting the pins the chain is rendered very
durable. Fig. 6 illustrates the application of my Invention to another and more
commonly used form of chain. For such a chain the pins would be formed with
two diameters as is usual and as indicated in Fig. 7. The distance between the
shoulders e and fis made to be a little more than the thickness of the inner links g
so that when the chain is riveted together the said links have sufficient freedom of
motion. The, method of formation of other patterns of chain will be understood
from the examples given and the description herein.
I do not confine myself to the flat sided form as the pin ends and the holes in
the links may be made oval or may be notched or recessed or may be purposely
made of a shape other than round and which will prevent the pins from turning
in the outer links.

page_text: 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. In the making of pitch chains forming flat sides on the ends of the pins at
the parts which are intended to enter the holes in the outer links and punching
flat sided holes to correspond in the said links substantially as and for the purposes
set forth and indicated.
2. In the making of pitch chains forming the portion of each pin which is
secured in the outer links of an oval, flat sided, triangular, square or fluted shape
or of a shape other than round and punching the holes in the outer links to
correspond to prevent the pin ends from turning in the outer links.
3. The formation of the parts of pitch chains whereby the pins are prevented
from turning in the outer links and whereby the distance apart of the said links
is determined substantially as and for the purposes set forth and indicated.
EDWARD K. DUTTON,
Agent.