Year: 1885

page_text: I JOHN LEE OSBORN, of the firm of MacBrair Osborn and Company 16 Philpot.
Lane in the City of London and of Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Brisbane,
Merchants, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (communicated to me
from abroad by Frank Oakden of Dunedin New Zealand) to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a peculiar link for that class of chains known as flat-
link or pitch-chains wherein all the links lie in the same plane, and has for its
object affording facility for the ready removal and replacement of one or more of
the said links with a view either to varying the length of a chain (composed
wholly or partly of such links) or to repairing the same by the introduction of
sound links for defective ones, and consists of a link having a tubular coupling
socket formed at one end thereof disposed transversely to the body of the link said
socket having a spiral slot or opening made throughout its whole length on the
outer side thereof extending round one half or thereabouts of its circumference the
practical result being two rounded hooks disposed side by side curved in opposite
directions and having their inner or contiguous sides or edges spirally inclined
with an open space between them. The opposite end of the link is closed by a
rounded cross bar of a diameter corresponding to or slightly less than the interior
of the spirally slotted socket piece, or hooks the whole being made in one piece by
forging stamping or otherwise.
These links may be of any suitable material and contour but the two opposite
side portions thereof should not exceed in thickness at their junction with the
cross bar the width of the spiral slot in the socket piece so that they may pass
easily sideways along the said slot when coupling or uncoupling the links as
hereinafter explained.
No separate joint or hinge-pins and attendant fastenings are required in forming
a chain from these links each link being self contained or complete in itself. It is
simply necessary in order to couple the said links together to bring the two links

page_text: to be connected to a position at or about right angles to one another and with the
axis of the rounded cross bar of one link in line with the axis of the spirally
slotted socket of the other link, then by introducing sideways the end carrying the
cross bar of the one link into the mouth of the spiral slot of the socket on the
other link and simply giving a half turn or thereabouts in the proper direction to
either or both links round the axis of the cross bar they will by that movement be
securely locked together and can only be released by reversing the movements..
Chains constructed of the peculiar links above described may be employed as
driving or pitch-chains for mechanism of all kinds where pitch-chains are appli-
cable, elevator chains and for all purposes where ordinary chains are now used,
Dated this sixteenth day of November 1885.

page_text: :
I JOHN LEE OSBORN of the firm of MacBrair Osborn and Company of 16 Philpot
Lane in the City of London and of Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Brisbane,
Merchants do hereby declare the nature of this invention (communicated to me
from abroad by Frank Oakden of Dunedin, New Zealand) 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 peculiar construction of link for that class of chains
known as flat-link or pitch-chains wherein all the links lie in the same plane, and
has for its object affording facility for the ready removal from or addition to the
chain of one or more links with a view either to varying its length or to repairing
the same whether composed wholly or partly of such links by the introduction of
sound links for defective ones whilst at the same time greater security is afforded
against the accidental uncoupling of the links.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a plan of my improved link complete.
Figure 2 is an elevation of one end of the link corresponding to Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a side elevation also corresponding to Figure 1.
The general contour of the link is by preference rectangular in plan consisting of
two straight sides a a formed in one piece with, or if desired brazed, soldered,
welded or otherwise united to the transverse ends b, c, or the sides a may be more
or less curved inwards or outwards in lieu of being straight as in the drawings if
preferred. One end 6 of the link is shaped so as to constitute a tubular coupling
socket having a helicoidal open slot d made therein extending from end to end of
the socket and describing a half turn or thereabout. The length of the socket
corresponds or nearly so to the width of opening between the two sides a a of the
link. This helicoidally slotted tubular socket forms in fact two distinct circular
hooks e and f disposed side by side on the transverse axial line g, h, (Figures 1
and 2) with their points turned in opposite directions. The opposite end of the
link to that on which the helicoidally slotted tubular socket is formed is closed by
the rounded transverse pivot bar c the diameter of which corresponds with or may
be rather less than the inner diameter of the socket. :
In coupling these links together to form a chain the two links A and B to be
coupled are brought into a position at or about right angles to each other as shown
in side elevation and corresponding plan at figures 4 and 5 the pivot bar c of the
link B being brought so as to coincide with the axial line g, h, of the socket of the
link A and then moved laterally so as to cause the side a of the link B to enter
the end of the helicoidal slot at the same time causing the pivot bar c to take its
position inside the socket. On imparting to the link B about a quarter of a
revolution on the axial line g, h, so as to bring it into the position Bi (Figure 4)
the side a of the same link will have traversed one half of the helicoidal slot as
shown in Figure 6 and by the time the half revolution or thereabouts is completed
so as to bring the link to the position B¹¹ (Figure 4) the side a will have traversed
the entire length of the slot and have passed out through the opposite end thereof.
On finally bringing the link B back into the position B¹ (Figure 4) that is to say

page_text: in the same plane or thereabouts with the link A the coupling will be completed
as shown in Figure 7. The two links cannot be uncoupled by any mere accidental
displacement of the links or slackening of the chain it being necessary in order to
effect the uncoupling first to turn the link B to the position B" (figure 4) then to
move it sideways and lastly to turn it to the position B thus reversing the order
of the several movements required for effecting the coupling.
These links may be of any suitable material but the two opposite side portions
a a thereof should not exceed in thickness at their junction with the cross bar e
the width of the helicoidal slot in the socket piece so that either of them may pass
easily sideways along the said slot when coupling or uncoupling the links as
already explained. No separate joint pins fastenings or other loose parts are
required in forming a chain from these links each link being complete in itself.
Chains, composed of the peculiar links above described may be employed. - as
driving or pitch chains for mechanism of all kinds where pitch chains are
applicable, elevator chains and also for all purposes where ordinary chains are
now used,
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim.is:
A chain link formed at one end with a transverse tubular coupling socket along
which a helicoidal open slot is made extending from end to end of the socket and
round one half or thereabout of the circumference thereof, and at the opposite end
with a rounded pivot bar suitable for engaging with the helicoidally slotted socket
of a fellow link substantially as specified.
: