Improvements in Connecting Links for Chains.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 6th Feb., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Connecting Links for Chains.
I, OTTO KLATTE, of Neuwied on the Rhine, in the Empire of Germany,
Director of "Walzwerk Germania," 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 a connecting link, or so called connecting tie, for
joining two lengths of chain such link when closed being of the same shape as the
usual chain link and is held together on the one hand by means of a screw and nut
or female threaded portion and on the other hand by means of dovetail shaped ears
engaging corresponding grooves.
Two constructional forms of such a connecting link are shown in the accompanying
drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a side view of the first mentioned constructional form, the nut
employed being shewn in section.
Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on the longitudinal axis of the same.
Figure 3 is an end view, looking from the right to the left, of the form shewn in
Figure 1 but without the nut and
Figure 4 is a similar view shewing the nut.
Figures 5 to 10 show details hereinafter referred to.
Figures 11 to 19 show the application of the link to cables or chains having a
transverse stay.
Figures 20 to 25 show another constructional form of the connecting link.
The connecting link a Figure 1 is pressed or rolled and then stamped from one
piece. One end is made thicker and broader than the other, the inner portion
being so shaped that the opening at the broader end is greater than at the smaller
The broader end of the link is then sawn or cut through at 6 in the direction
of its length. The oval opening is so made that upon pressing together the two
cut surfaces it becomes uniformly oval.
end.
When such cutting and pressing together has taken place a pine is turned upon
the broad end of the link which pin is screw threaded. Dovetail shaped grooves d
are then formed one in the upper portion of one of the cut surfaces and another in
the lower portion of the other cut surface (see also Figures 6 and 7) and opposite
these grooves corresponding dovetail shaped tongues are provided. Finally dove-
tail shaped grooves are likewise formed on the outer surface of the link on both
sides of the screw-threaded pin c. A winged screw g, Figure 5, of steel or nickel
steel is also provided having upon its wings dovetail shaped tongues, corresponding
in shape to the grooves f made on the outside of the link.
The ends of the lengths of chain to be connected are introduced into the
connecting link in the following manner :
The divided link a is opened, either as shown in Figure 6 or as in Figure 7, the
latter being the better way. Before opening the link however, its undivided end
is heated. The end links of the lengths of chain which are to be joined are then
introduced into the open connecting link and the open ends carefully pressed
together until the cut surfaces come into contact.
After cooling the winged screw 9 (Figure 1) is firmly screwed upon the screw
threaded pin c, in such a manner that the ears on the nut are opposite the
grooves. The connecting link is thereupon heated, the ears bent round and
beaten into the grooves f (Figure 4) in either a cold or heated condition. At the
same time or after a further heating, the ears or tongues e (Figures 1 and 2) which
have not been heated are driven into the grooves d. Finally the connecting link
may be trimmed or finished off.

page_text: The inner opening of the last link of the one length of chain which is to receive
the thicker end of the connecting link, is when necessary widened to such an
extent that the cross-section of this link does not fall below the cross-section of
the bearing parts of the chain links; in this manner only the reinforced contact
parts of this link will serve or provide the material for the widening, as shewn in
Figure 8.
This form of connecting link does not in any way interfere with the running of
the chain upon the chain wheel or pulley, see Figures 9 and 10.
Figures 11 to 19 of the drawings are similar views shewing the application of
this form of connecting link to cables or chains having a transverse stay. As
shewn in Figures 17 and 18 the connecting link is itself provided with a stay.
The second constructional form of the connecting link is illustrated in
Figures 20 to 25.
This link a is formed by bending spirally a suitably pressed or rolled bar whilst
in a heated state; this is shewn in Figures 20 and 22. The inner and reinforced
or strengthened end is provided with a recess upon its outer surface and in this
recess the outer end enters (see also the section Figure 24).
In order to firmly connect these overlapping ends a hole is bored through them,
longitudinally of the link, such hole being internally screw-threaded for the
reception of a screw threaded pin.
When this has been done the connecting link is heated and bent apart, it is then
passed upon the end links of the lengths of chain which are to be connected, again
bent together and a screw threaded pin c screwed into the hole tapped for its
reception (Figure 24).
Finally the link is heated and the dovetail shaped tongue e formed on the outer
end (Figures 20, 22 and 23) is driven into the corresponding groove or recess in
the inner end of the link. This form of connecting link also runs freely over
rollers or barrels-see Figures 20 and 21.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A connecting link for chains of which the characteristic features are, that
when closed it has almost the form of the ordinary chain link but is held together
by means of a screw and a nut or internally screw threaded portion, and also by
means of dovetail shaped tongues which are driven into corresponding grooves or
slots in the link.
2. A constructional form of the connecting link described in Claim 1, the
characteristic features of which are, that one reinforced or strengthened end of the
link is split, and upon such end a bipartite pin or screw threaded projection is
formed, upon which a winged nut is screwed such nut having its ends or ears dove-
tail shaped and adapted to be driven into grooves or slots provided in the link in
either a cold or heated condition, and in which link tongues may be formed at the
points of division, for driving into grooves opposite to them.
3. A constructional form of the connecting link described in Claim 1 thereby
characterised, that the link is formed by spirally bending a suitably pressed or
rolled bar in such a manner that the ends of such bar overlap one another, where-
upon a hole is bored through the said overlapping ends, this hole being internally
screw-threaded for the reception of a screw threaded pin, and finally a dovetail
shaped tongue which is formed upon the outer end of the link is driven into a
groove provided in the inner end of the same, when the parts are hot or otherwise.
Dated this 29th day of October 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.