Improvements in Means or Apparatus for Making Chain Cables.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 27th June, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 29th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 26th June, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means or Apparatus for Making Chain Cables.
I, JOHN VERITY of 14 Church Road, Stanley, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The invention refers to machinery or apparatus for making chain cables, especially
cables such as are used on board ship, as anchor cables, mooring cables, and the like,
and it has mainly for its object to provide means or apparatus by which such cables
can be made by casting links of steel one into another or others, and in a manner,
by which the manufacture can be practically and successfully carried out, and at
a low cost.
According to this invention, the chain or cable is made up of links, in which a cast
link is cast or formed within another link, say at the end of a piece of completed
cable, or within that link, and another separately made link; in the latter case the
cast link is formed in and thereby two links are added onto the cable. A link
moulding or casting apparatus when ready to receive the molten metal for the
formation of a link comprises mainly two parts, namely, a box, with a movable or
hinged cover or covers, having a chamber or recess in both body and cover or covers,
and a lining or mould of sand or other suitable material made up of previously made
or pressed parts of the desired form and sizes, and adapted to fit in the said mould
box chambers or recesses. Thus the casting box has a complete lining in the form of
a sand mould fitting accurately in position therein, and into which the metal is run.
By this means a convenient and practical mechanical moulding means or apparatus is
provided, by which steel cable links can be cast without liability to defects on the
ground of shrinkage flaws or structure due to chilling, or to other faults or defects,
and it comprises the characteristics and qualities both of mechanical casting boxes
which are capable of being readily handled and used, and those of a sand mould.
According to one mode of manufacturing such links and cables, the links are
made of circular form, and then subsequently pressed or forged to the desired
shape, with the usual stud or strut fitted in them; and after this they may be
annealed or treated to any of the well known processes to which steel is subjected.
In one form of apparatus according to this invention, the body of the casting
block box is provided at a convenient point between its two ends with a gap, to receive
and hold the link or links to which the cast link is to be formed or added; and on
either side of this link or gap the chamber or recess for receiving the sand mould is
provided. To either end of this body, a cover is hinged, ending at a point parallel
with or near the side of the body gap; and these covers at their inner ends are
provided with a recess or chamber to hold the mould in position, corresponding with
that of the body. To receive a mould the covers are slung back, the said mould is
then placed in position, bridging the gap at each side, where it passes through the
link or links to be connected; and then the covers are closed and held by dogs fitting
over lugs, or other suitable means, in position. One of the covers, or a cover and
part of the body (or the body alone) at one end is provided with a runner and mouth,
down which the molten steel is poured in casting the link, the apparatus being placed
with the runner uppermost, that is on end, during the casting operation.
The mould, in one case, is made in halves in plan, each half having a semi-circular
groove, and each of these halves for making a complete ring, are, in some cases,

page_text: made in two or more segments, and these segments are laid in position as described
in the moulding box; and when all complete provide a complete circular hollow sand
lining, bridging the gap of the box at the two points where it passes through the
link or links to be connected. Into the interior of the mould, from the runner, the
molten metal is poured.
Although the invention has been described as applied more particularly to the
-making of steel cables, it is to be stated that it can also be applied with advantage to
the making of cables from other suitable cast metals or alloys."
Dated this 24th day of June 1896.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.
Improvements in Means or Apparatus for Making Chain Cables.
I, JOHN VERITY of 14 Church Road, Stanley, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, 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 :-
The invention refers to machinery or apparatus for making chain cables, or chains
especially cables such as are used on board ship, as anchor cables, mooring cables, and
the like; and it has mainly for its object to provide means or apparatus by which
such cables can be made by casting links of steel one into another or others, and in a
manner, by which the manufacture can be practically and successfully carried out,
and at a low cost.
According to this invention, the chain or cable is made up of links, in which a cast
link is cast or formed within another link, say at the end of a piece of completed
cable, or within that link and another separately made link; in the latter case, when
the cast link is formed two links are added onto the cable. A link moulding or
casting apparatus when ready to receive the molten metal for the formation of a link,
comprises mainly two parts, namely, a box, with a movable or hinged cover or covers,
having a chamber or recess in both body and cover or covers, and a comparatively
thin lining or mould of sand or other suitable material, made up of previously made
or pressed parts of the desired form and sizes, and adapted to fit in the said mould
box chambers or recesses. Thus the casting box has a complete lining in the form
of a sand mould fitting accurately in position therein, and into which the metal is run.
By this means a convenient and practical mechanical moulding means or apparatus
is provided, by which steel cable links can be cast without liability of defects caused
by shrinkage flaws, or defective structure due to chilling, or to other faults or defects;
and it comprises the characteristics and qualities both of mechanical casting boxes
which are capable of being readily handled and used, and those of a sand mould.
According to one mode of manufacturing such links and cables, the links are made
of circular or other suitable form, and then subsequently pressed or forged to the
desired shape, with the usual stud or strut fitted in them; and after this they may
be annealed or treated to any of the well known processes to which steel is
subjected.
In one form of apparatus according to this invention, the body of the casting box
is provided at a convenient point between its two ends with a gap, to receive and
hold the link or links to which the cast link is to be formed or added; and on
either side of this link or gap the chamber or recess for receiving the sand mould
is provided. To either end of this body, a cover is hinged, ending at a point
parallel with or near the side of the body gap; and these covers at their inner ends

page_text: are provided with a recess or chamber to hold the mould in position, corresponding
with that of the body. To receive a sand mould the covers are slung back, the said
mould is then placed in position, bridging the gap at each side where it passes through
the link or links to be connected; and. then the covers are closed and held by dogs
fitting over lugs, or other suitable means, in position. One of the covers, or a cover
and part of the body (or the body alone) at one part or end is provided with a
runner and mouth (down which the molten steel is poured in casting the link, the
apparatus being placed with the runner uppermost, that is on end, during the casting
operation.
The mould, in one case, is made in halves in plan, and of the required form and
shape, each half having a semi-circular or other suitably shaped groove, and each of
these halves for making a complete ring, are, in some cases, made in two or more
segments, and these segments are laid in position as described in the moulding box;
and when in position as described in the moulding box; and when all complete,
provide a complete circular or other suitably shaped hollow sand lining, bridging the
gap of the box at the two points where it passes through the link or links to be
Into the interior of the mould, from the runner, the molten metal
connected.
is poured.
Although the invention has been described as applied more particularly to
the making of steel cables, it is to be stated that it can also be applied with
advantage to the making of cables from other suitable cast metals or alloys.
The improvements, the nature of which are above described, are shown carried out
or illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In these drawings,
Figure 1 is side elevation, Figure 2 a top face view or plan (with one half of
the covers removed), and Figure 3 a section taken through the line A A,
Figure 2, of the metal casting box; the parts of the apparatus being in the
position they take when the sand mould or lining is in place in the box.
Figure 4 is a plan, partly in outside view, and partly with the upper half
removed, shewing the sand or like mould or lining separate from the metallic box,
and also the position of the adjoining link or links; and Figure 5 is a cross
section of the mould or lining.
Figure 6 is a modification of cast link in which the stud is formed in halves
and in one with the rest of the link.
The position of the box shewn in Figures 1 and 2 is that it would be given
when the sand mould or lining is being placed in it.
Referring in the first instance to Figures 1, 2 and 3, a is the body or base of
the metal casting box, and b, bare covers on the upper side of same, these covers
being secured to the base and working on same by hinges 2 at their outer ends.
e is a gap in the body or base a, extending laterally through it, in which the
existing link or links, to which a fresh link is to be added or connected up with,
rest during the operation of casting such link, and also when the mould or lining
segments are being placed in the box. A space equivalent to the gap c, is also
provided between the two inner ends of the covers 6 b as shewn. d are chambers
or recesses partly in the body a, and partly in the covers bb' of the apparatus,
in which the said lining or mould fits or rests. e are lugs on the body and covers
of the casting box, and are dogs which fit over these lugs, and hold the
covers firmly in position on the body when the sand mould or lining is in
place, and during the casting operation. 9 is a runner, and g' the mouth of the
upper end of same, through which the molten metal, i.e. steel, is run into the
apparatus when casting.
The said mould or lining material-illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 to a larger
scale is designated i. It is shewn made up of four semi-cylindrical pieces of
exactly the same size and shape, two of which when placed end to end form the
upper half. of the lining or mould, while the other two when similarly placed
together form the other half of it. In the casting box the meeting edges of the
lower pair, forming the lower half of the mould, are arranged at 90 degrees from
those of the upper half so as to break joint therewith, as shewn in Figure 4.

page_text: Of course, the space or core within the mould i, is of the size of the link
to be cast, and will, when in the box, form or be connected up with the
runner g.
The sand moulds or linings i will be made, in the usual way of making cores,
in special boxes of accurate sizes and form, corresponding with those of the
chambers d-which are also of accurate form, so that the said segments coincide
and fit together, and in the chamber d, accurately.
In some cases, the sand or like mould or lining may be in more than four
parts, as six.
To place the sand moulds or lining segments in the metal box, the box is placed,
in the position shewn in Figures 1 and 2 on a suitable support or bed, the base a
resting, say, on a support at each end. The covers bare thrown up off the
base; and the link or links to and through which a new link is to be cast, being
placed in position in the gap c-as shewn in the drawings-the mould segments i
are placed properly in. position in the chambers or recesses d. Then the covers d d¹
are moved, down over the moulds or lining, and dogs fare placed over the
projections e, and the whole apparatus is then securely closed up, and ready to
receive a charge of molten steel. In this condition, the mould i will thus bridge or
span the gap c, and lie within the link or links 7, as the case may be, to which the new
link is to be added. To receive the charge of metal, the apparatus is placed, vertically,
with the runner spout gl uppermost, and the metal is poured in. When the metal is
sufficiently set, the box is placed on its rest, the dogs fare knocked away, the covers bb¹
are thrown up, and the cable and mould or lining i containing the newly cast
link, are taken out of the box. This completes the operation connected with the
casting.
The circular links or chains so formed are subsequently beated, and bent or forged
into the ordinary desired elliptical shape; and, in the case where the chain
being made is to serve as an ordinary ship's or other cable, while they are being
thus shaped, the ordinary stud is introduced in between the two sides of the link.
In the link shewn in Figure 6, the studs o are cast in one with the body of the link,
namely, the one half of the stud is cast on the side of. the link, and the other half
on the other side, the ends of the halves standing apart as shewn in the figure
when the circular link is first cast. When the link is subsequently bent to the
desired shape, the two ends of the half studs meet and abut one upon the other,
and act efficiently as a strut to the link. In this case, of course, the linings or
moulds i to produce this form of link, will be correspondingly formed internally.
to provide the stud portions o on the opposite sides.
As above stated, this invention provides the improved features and advantages
above specified in connection with the manufacture of cast steel chain cables; that
is,, the invention affords the characteristics and qualities both of mechanical casting
boxes or means, capable of being readily handled and used, and those of a sand
mould, and by it, steel chain cable made by casting the links together as described,
is produced without shrinkage flaws, defective structure due to chilling, and other
faults and defects. Also, although the invention. is principally directed to this
production of cast, chain cables of steel, and its value lies more particularly in the
production of such manufacture, nevertheless the novel and useful features or
characteristics herein described, which are applicable to, and can be used with
advantage in connection with the manufacture of chains or cables from other
suitable cast metals or alloys, are also hereby included under it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. The herein described improved means or apparatus for making chain, namely,
an apparatus or means comprising a metal box constituting a casting box and a
mould or lining of sand or other suitable material into which the molten metal is
to be run, and made of a definite form and size, to, fit in a chamber or recess in

page_text: the casting box, the box being constructed with movable parts by which said
mould or lining can be readily placed and held in position in it, and subsequently,
together with the link made, readily removed therefrom: adapted to be used and
operate substantially as set forth.
2. Means or apparatus for making chain, comprising a metallic box or base
constituting a casting box with movable parts, and a lining or mould of sand or
like material fitting in a chamber or recess in said box, and made up of segments
fitting one upon the other in the manner described; substantially as herein
set forth.
3. A casting box or apparatus for making chain comprising a base a, hinged
covers 6 6, and a chamber or recesses d adapted to receive a sand or like mould or
lining, and constructed to take the link or links with which the link to be cast is to be
connected; substantially as herein set forth with reference to and shewn in the
drawings.
4. The casting box for making chain having parts arranged, constructed, and adapted
to operate, particularly as set forth with reference to and shewn in Figures 1, 2, and 3
of the drawings.
ليوم
1007
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15 Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.