A CHAIN UPON A NEW IMPROVED PRINCIPLE, SUITABLE FOR SHIPS CABLES AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1822

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
SOWERBY, of Bishop Wearmouth, in the County of Durham, Merchant, send
greeting.
WHEREAS His present Majesty King George the Fourth did, by His
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Twenty-ninth day of August, in the third year of His reign, for
Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Thomas
Sowerby, my executors, administrators, and assigns, and such others as I, the
said Thomas Sowerby, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no other, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within that part of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland called England, Dominion of Wales, and Town of
Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "A CHAIN UPON A NEW IMPROVED
PRINCIPLE, SUITABLE FOR SHIPS CABLES AND OTHER PURPOSES;" in which said
Letters Patent there is contained a proviso obliging me, the said Thomas
Sowerby, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, particularly
to describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, and to cause such instrument in writing
to be enrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery within two calendar
months next and immediately after the said Letters Patent, as in and by the
said Letters Patent, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at
large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Thomas Sowerby, do hereby describe and ascertain the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as follows, that
is to say:-
For the better understanding thereof I shall describe several of the chains
now in use, in order that my improvements may be more readily com-
prehended :-
Firstly, the common round link chain consists of a number of links united
together, as shewn by Figure 1 in the Drawing hereunto annexed.
Secondly, the common oval link chain consists of a number of oval links
joined together, as shewn by Figure 2 in the said Drawing.
Thirdly, the last-mentioned or oval link chain, supported by a pointed stay,
is shewn by Figure 3 in the said Drawing.
Fourthly, the oval link chain, supported by a broad ended stay, is shewn by.
Figure 4 in the said Drawing.
My improved chain consists of links formed as shewn at Figure 5. The
opposite sides of each link are compressed or bent inwards, as shewn at a,
Figure 5. Although I adopt this form of link, yet I do not claim it as
constituting any part of my Invention, but limit my claim to the following
particulars, namely:-The sides of the link are held firmly together by a cross
bar of malleable iron passing through a block of cast iron (as at b, Figure 5),
and which cross bar is welded to each side of the said link, and for the
purpose of preventing the links from entangling there are small projecting
parts or protuberances, on the inner quarters, opposite to each other and next
towards the middle of the link, as at c, in the same Figure.
The operation of making a link of my improved chain is as follows:-
First, I prepare a bar of iron, from which the link is to be made by rollers
with indentations suitable for forming the protuberances before described at
such distances as are adopted to the size of chain intended to be made.
Secondly, I cut the bar of iron thus prepared into the required lengths, one
of which is shewn by Figure 6.
Thirdly, I take one of the said lengths, and after heating it I turn it to
the form of link, as shewn by Figure 7, being then ready for welding:
Fourthly, the two ends of the iron are welded together, as shewn at
Figure 8.
Fifthly, I take the cross bar of malleable iron, which is shewn by Figure 9,
and heat it together with the sides of the link, shewn at Figure 8, to a
welding heat.
Sixthly, the said cross bar is immediately inserted through a hole or

page_text: aperture in the block of cast iron, which is shewn by Figure 10, and both of
them are expeditiously placed between the sides of the link as shewn at
Figure 11.
And lastly, the sides of the link are then welded to the cross bar in the
ordinary way of welding iron, either by closing the parts together by swedges
or by using the hammer only, at the option of the workman. This process
forms one link, to which others must be added until the chain be finished of
the length required.
The cross bar, which has to be welded to the two sides of the link,
which is shewn by Figure 9, must be prepared of nearly the following
proportions, namely:-The length of the cross bar must be about seven-
eighths of the diameter of the bar of iron from which the link is formed,
its breadth about two thirds of the diameter of the bar of iron, and its thick-
ness about one third. The block through which this cross bar has to be
inserted is shewn by Figure 10, two sides of which are curved so as to fit
against the two opposite sides of the link, and its ends are rounded so as to
allow the free playing of the adjoining links. Through the middle of the curved
sides is a hole or aperture, as at d, Figure 10, (as also shewn in section at d,
Figure 12), of sufficient dimensions for receiving the cross bar. The block must
be about three times the thickness of the cross bar, its length about two and a
half times the length of the said cross bar, its greatest breadth in the middle
equal to the breadth of the cross bar, and its breadth at the ends about equal
to the diameter of the iron from which the link is made.
In order to shew the advantages to be derived from the adoption of my
improved chain, I shall briefly notice that my improvements consist:-
First, in making a chain of a given size of iron more portable than the
chains hitherto used for ship cables and moorings, which are made of the
same size of iron; it may be brought through a smaller hawse pipe; may be
handled much more conveniently, and with much less danger of injury to the
hands.
Secondly, the contiguous links are less liable to entangle, being prevented
by the projecting parts acting against each other.
Thirdly, one link will rarely if ever act as a receding power transversely
on the sides of the adjoining link, as is frequently the case with some of the
above-described chains as shewn by Figure 13.
Fourthly, it is more capable of resisting lateral violence, as the cross bar
which is introduced becomes by the operation of welding of one piece with
the link, thereby preventing the middle of the link from distending, whilst the
block through which the cross bar is inserted, together with the cross bar,

page_text: prevents the sides from collapsing, the only space which is left unoccupied by
the block and cross bar being required for the free playing of the adjoining
links.
Fifthly, my improved chain will offer less resistance in getting up the
anchor than any of the other chains above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Sowerby, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Twenty-first day of October, in the third year
of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Fourth, by the
grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
King, Defender of the Faith, and in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and twenty-two.