Year: 1896

page_text: I THOMAS HEWETT of 8 Ashbourne Grove East Dulwich in the County of Surrey.
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to an improved construction of chains for chain
gearing whereby a considerable portion of the friction is taken up.
In one construction of my chain the pull is taken up by the centre of the chain
which chain can be 'made of any desired pitch or strength by placing a number
of links of the desired length side by side. The discs or rollers for engaging the
chain wheels are attached to and work upon the rivets screws or bolts which
connect the said links. In making a wide chain say of four or more links side by
side T place a roller or disc on the rivet screw or bolt in the centre between the
links in addition to the rollers or discs placed on the outside which engages with
the chain wheel the intention being that the edges of the links shall not rest on
the said chain wheel. For bicycles and the like I construct a light chain by
arranging one then two links alternately and passing the rivet screw or bolt through
the three parts the same rivet screw or bolt carries the discs or rollers for engaging
the chain wheel.
In another construction of my chain I cone each disc or roller and by placing
balls in the cones or recesses and screwing or riveting two discs or rollers together a
disc or roller with a ball bearing is formed which will revolve on the rivet screw or
bolt which passes through the links. The ends of the links in some cases, for
example, for racing chains, can be coned and fitted with balls in like manner.
In another construction of my chain I make the hole in the disc or roller of
larger diameter than the rivet screw or bolt which carries it, for example the
diameter of the rivet is " and the hole in the disc is "I fill the space between
with rollers cut in lengths to suit the thickness of the disc, and keep the said rollers
in place by thin metal washers thereby forming a disc or roller with a roller
bearing.
The ends of the links can be constructed in like manner if desired.
In another construction of my chain I take the ordinary block chain with side.
links and bore a hole in the block a larger diameter than the rivet, screw or bolt
and fill the space with rollers thereby forming a roller bearing to the rivet screw
or bolt.
In another construction I take an ordinary roller chain with side links and fit
the same with roller bearings in like manner. In this case the links if desired
can be fitted with rollers where they engage the rivet which passes through the
roller. Thin washers are used to keep the rollers in place.
The object being in each case to reduce friction both where the chain comes in
contact with the gear wheels and where the links engage the connecting rivet,
screw or bolt.
THOMAS HEWETT.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56 Chancery Lane London Chartered Patent Agent.

page_text: improvements in Chains.
I THOMAS HEWETT of 8 Ashbourne Grove, East Dulwich, in the County of Surrey
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 has reference to an improved construction of chains for chain
gearing whereby a considerable portion of the friction is taken up.
In one form of construction of my improved chain the pull is taken up by the
centre of the chain, which chain can be made of any desired pitch or strength by
placing a number of links side by side. The discs or rollers for engaging the
chain wheels are attached to and work upon the rivets, screws or bolts which con-
nect the said links.
For bicycles and the like I construct a light chain by arranging one then two
links alternately and passing the rivet, screw, or bolt through the three parts, the
same rivet, screw,, or bolt carries the discs or rollers for engaging the chain
wheels.
Suitable anti-friction bearings are applied to parts of the chain in order to re-
duce the amount of frictional contact.
Description of the Drawings.
Fig. 1 shows by side view and Fig. 2 by plan view, partly in section, my im-
proved chain for use with a bicycle and the like.
Fig. 3 shows a wide construction of chain.
Fig. 4 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, showing my preferred form of
rivet.
Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line - Fig. 6, and Fig. 6 is a cross
sectional view of a chain roller having ball bearings.
Figs. 7 and 8 show by face view and cross sectional views respectively, a roller
having a bearing of small rollers.
Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12 are like views to Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 respectively showing
similar bearings applied to links.
Figs. 13 and 14 show modifications to be described.
Figs. 15 and 16 are sectional side view and sectional plan view respectively of a
block chain having roller bearings applied.
Figs. 17 and 18 are like views to Figs. 15 and 16 respectively showing roller
bearings applied to a roller chain.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 a a are the links bb the rivets or pins and cc the
rollers for engaging the chain wheel. A, A, show one form of applying the rollers
and B shows another form.
In making a wide chain, see Fig. 3, I place intermediate rollers on the rivets
or pins b, in addition to the rollers c on the outside which engage with the chain
wheel, the intention being that the edges of the links shall not rest on the said
chain wheel.
I prefer to form the rivet of different diameters or in steps, as shown in Fig. 4,
so that the links and rollers have each a separate bearing. The hole in the inside
or central link is made sufficiently large to allow it to work freely on the pin. The
outside links have a firm hold on the pin, and the rollers c are capable of revolving
freely on their bearings. The outer ends of the pin bare reduced in diameter in
order to receive thin washers d which are clinched thereon and serve to retain the
1ollers c in place. By means of this form of rivet I am enabled to connect the
assembled parts without gripping the rollers so as to prevent rotation.
In the construction of my improved chain I sometimes core each disc or roller.

page_text: see Figs. 5 and 6, and by placing balls e in the cores or recesses e² and connecting
two discs c¹, ca together as by screws or rivets f, a disc or roller with a ball bearing
is formed which will revolve on the rivet b. The ends of the links, a, or such links
as are free to turn on the pin b, as the centre link, may be cored and fitted with
balls in like manner, as shown in Figures 9 and 10. Or I may make the hole in
the disc or roller of larger diameter than the rivet 6 and insert rollers g in the
space gl between, said rollers y being cut to length to suit the thickness of the disc c.
Washers d serve to keep the rollers g and discs c in place.
The ends of the links may be formed in like manner as shown in Figs. 11
and 12.
Fig. 13 shows a form of link with its inner edge curved so as to pass freely the
projections on the chain wheel.
'
In another construction of my chain I take the ordinary block chain with side
links see Figs. 15 and 16, and bore a hole g' in the block h of larger diameter than
the rivet band fill the space with rollers g thereby forming a roller bearing for the
rivet.
In another construction I take an ordinary roller chain with side links and pro-
vide it with roller bearings.
Figs. 17 and 18 show how I effect this.
i
bis the connecting rivet, 9 an inner set of rollers, a bush joining the inner
links kb. an outer set of rollers forming a roller bearing for the roller l.
The object is in each case to reduce friction both where the chain comes into con-
tact with the wheels and where the links engage the connecting rivet.
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:-
1. The construction and use in combination, as a pitch chain; of a series of
shouldered axial rivets or pins, connecting links arranged alternately as one central
and two links; or alternatively as an other odd and even number of such links;
anti-friction rollers mounted one or more on the outerside of such Inik on the axial
rivets or pins, all secured together by washers and rivets as set forth.
2. The construction and use in combination, as a pitch chain; of a series of
shouldered axial rivets or pins, connecting links arranged alternately as one central
and two side links; or, alternatively as an other odd and even number of such
links; anti-friction rollers mounted one or more on the outerside of each link
on the axial rivets or pins, with the interposition of series of anti-friction rollers
between the rollers mounted outside the links and their axial pins, all secured to-
gether by washers and rivets, as set forth.
3. The construction and use in combination as a pitch chain; of a series of
shouldered rivets or pins, connecting links arranged alternately as an odd and even
number of links; anti-friction rollers mounted one or more on the outerside of each
link on the axial rivets or pins, and intermediate anti-friction rollers mounted, one
or more, between selected inner links on the said axial pins or rivets, all secured to-
gether by washers and rivets as set forth with respect to Fig. 3.
Dated the bith day of Inmil 180
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56 Chancery Lane London Agents for the Applicant.