Improved Means for Locking the Connecting Pins of Cycle and other Driving Chains.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Locking the Connecting Pins of Cycle and other
Driving Chains.
I, WILLIAM BENJAMIN TEALE, of 36, Lancaster Street, in the City of Birming-
ham, Manager of the Cycle Department of Perry & Co. Limited, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to cycle and other driving chains and consists
of the herein described improved means for locking the connecting pin or pins
by which the end links are connected together. An ordinary method of con-
necting together the end links of the said driving chains is to use a headed con-
necting screw pin which is passed through the end links of the chain and is
secured by the end of the pin being screwed into one of the side links with a
lock nut on the projecting end of the pin. This method is not satisfactory as
the lock-nut and pin are liable to become unscrewed. By my invention I
effectually prevent the said pin from coming unscrewed but my invention per-
mits of the connecting pin being readily removed and replaced when required.
In one arrangement of carrying out my invention I provide a thin sheet metal
(preferably pen steel) locking plate which may have the same shape as one of
the side links of the chain and is connected thereto by one of the chain rivets
passing through a hole in the locking plate and being rivetted over so as to
permit of the locking plate being turned about this rivet as a centre. The other
or outer end of the locking plate has a hole or recess in it of square hexagonal
or other shape than round corresponding with the head of the connecting screw
so as to spring over and embrace the head of the connecting screw when the
same is screwed up in position and thus effectually prevent the said screw from
coming unscrewed.
To remove the connecting screw the locking plate has first to be sprung clear
of the screw head and then turned sideways far enough to allow of the screw
being unscrewed and removed. When the connecting screw has been screwed
back into position in the chain the outer end of the locking plate has to be lifted
and sprung over the screw head and then when the hole in the locking plate
corresponds exactly with the screw head the locking plate springs back flat
against the side link of the chain and thus securely locks the connecting screw in
place. It will be seen that my method of locking the connecting screw is abso-
lutely secure as the connecting screw cannot be turned without first springing
and turning the locking plate free of the screw head.
When my invention is arranged as above described the usual nut at the other
end of the screw may be dispensed with as the end of the screw is screwed into
the side link.
Instead of applying my invention to the head of the connecting screw pin as

page_text: above described my invention can be similarly applied on the other side of the
driving chain to lock the lock-nut on the connecting screw. In this case I
prefer to make the connecting screw with a flat or to otherwise shape it so that
it will not turn in the link and then after the nut has been screwed on the end
of the connecting screw the nut is locked thereon by the spring locking plate
above described.
Instead of the locking plate being made to completely encircle the head or nut
of the connecting screw as above described, the said locking plate may be made
forked at its outer end or of any other shape which will engage with or take
against the head of the screw or the nut and prevent the same from turning.
In a modification of my invention the locking plate is not permanently secured
to the side plate of the chain but is made of about the same size as the side plate
and has a slotted hole in each end to engage with the necked ends of the connect-
ing rivets or pins which project through the side plate at one side of the chain
and are fixed to the side plate at the other side of the same. The slot in one
end of the locking plate opens out at the end of the locking plate and the other
slot is curved and opens out at the side of the locking plate. After the side link
has been placed in position on the two rivets or pins it is there secured by the
locking plate the slotted end of which is slided into the neck of one of the rivets
and then the locking plate is turned on this rivet as a centre so that the said slot
in the other end engages with the other rivet and the locking plate is held in
this position by an indented projection on the locking plate taking into a hole
or slot in the side plate.
Dated this 5th day of February 1898.
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicant.
Improved Means for Locking the Connecting Pins of Cycle and other
Driving Chains.
I, WILLIAM BENJAMIN TEALE, of 36, Lancaster Street, in the City of Birming-
ham, Manager of the Cycle Department of Perry & Co. Limited, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention has reference to cycle and other driving chains and consists
of the herein described improved means for locking the connecting pin or pins
by which the end links are connected together. An ordinary method of con-
necting together the end links of the said driving chains is to use a headed con-
necting screw pin which is passed through the end links of the chain and is
secured by the end of the pin being screwed into one of the side links with a
lock nut on the projecting end of the pin. This method is not satisfactory and
the lock-nut and pin are liable to become unscrewed. By my invention I
am enabled to dispense with the lock nut and I effectually prevent the said pin
from coming unscrewed but my invention permits of the connecting pin being
readily removed and replaced when required.
In carrying out my invention I provide a thin sheet metal, preferably pen
steel, locking plate which may have the same shape as one of the side links of
the chain and is connected thereto by one of the chain rivets passing through a

page_text: hole in the locking plate and being rivetted over so as to permit of the locking
plate being turned about this rivet as a centre. The other or outer end of the
locking plate has a hole in it of square or hexagonal or other shape than round
corresponding with the head of the connecting screw so as to spring over and
embrace the head of the connecting screw when the same 1S screwed
up in position and thus prevent the said screw from coming unscrewed. The
usual nut at the other end of the screw is dispensed with as the end of the
screw is screwed into the side link.
My invention is illustrated by the accompanying sheet of drawings on which
Fig. 1 represents the end of a cycle or other driving chain with my invention
applied, the locking plate being represented as turned up for the removal of
the connecting pin; Fig. 2 shews the same parts as Fig. 1 with the locking plate
turned down and engaging with the head of the connecting pin; Fig. 3 is a
sectional plan representing the same parts as Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is a separate
view of the connecting pin which is of the usual kind and forms no part of this
invention; Fig. 5 represents a piece of cycle or like driving chain with a modifi-
cation of my invention applied thereto and Fig. 6 illustrates a further modifica-
tion of my invention.
The same letters of reference indicate the same or corresponding parts in all
the figures.
Referring firstly more particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, A is the usual con-
necting screwed pin of the chain and made with a square head a¹, (or a head of
any other shape than round) and arranged to pass in the usual way through the
side link B¹, and through the block at the other end of the chain, said connecting
screw being screwed at a into the other side plate B. C is my thin sheet steel
locking plate secured on the chain rivet D so as to turn thereon and provided
with a hole c at its outer end of the proper shape and size to embrace the head a¹
of the connecting screw A and thus prevent the screw A from turning and be-
coming unscrewed.
When it is desired to remove the connecting screw A the locking plate Ċ has
first to be sprung clear of the screw head a¹ and then turned sideways as shewn
in Fig. 1 far enough to allow of the screw A being unscrewed and removed.
When the connecting screw A has been screwed back into position in the chain
as shewn in Fig. the outer end of the locking plate C has to be lifted and
sprung over the screw head a¹ and then when the hole c in the locking plate C
corresponds exactly with the screw head a¹, the locking plate C springs back flat
against the side link B¹ of the chain and thus securely locks the connecting
screw A in place. It will be seen that my method of locking the connecting
screw A is absolutely secure as the connecting screw cannot be turned without
first springing the outer end of the locking plate C away from the side plate B¹
and turning the locking plate free of the screw head.
Instead of the locking plate C being made to completely encircle the head of
the connecting screw A as above described, the said locking plate C may as
shewn for instance at Fig. be made forked at c2 at its outer end or of any other
shape which will engage with the head a¹ of the screw.
Or the end of the locking plate C may if desired be made flat as shewn in
Fig. 6 so as to take against the side of the head a¹ of the screw to prevent the
screw from turning.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
In a cycle or like driving chain, and in combination with the screwed connect-
ing pin thereof which has a head of square or other shape than round at one end
and at the other end is screwed into one of the side plates of the chain, the
employment of the thin spring metal locking plate C secured to and turning on

page_text: one of the chain rivets and shaped and arranged to embrace or engage with or
against the head of and lock the said connecting pin in any of the several ways
as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 5th day of November 1898.
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicant.