Improvements in Making Chain and like Links and Chains, and in Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Dec., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 28th June, 1892-Accepted, 30th July, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Making Chain and like Links and Chains, and in
Apparatus therefor.
I, WILLIAM JOHN MARSHALL, of 3, Minerva Street, Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineer, and ALEXANDER STEWART ROSS,
of Withen's Lane, Liscard, in the County of Chester, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows, that is to say :-
Our said invention has for its object the making links and chains in an improved
expeditious and economical manner.
In carrying out our invention we cut or form the rod or bar of iron or steel into
lengths each suitable for a link, each length being formed with scarfed ends the
points being, however, by preference blunted. The scarf surfaces are not welded
together, as heretofore but face away from each other when the ends of the rod are
brought together.
The rod is bended by apparatus which is to some extent of a kind in use and.
comprises a collapsible mandril round which the rod is wound or bended. The
mandril is however grooved or shaped so that the bar may be wound with the ends
extending beyond each other but in inclined directions such as to allow the last
preceding link of the chain to be entered between them. The next operation
consists in compressing the ends of the rod into overlapping contact after which
the welding is effected with the aid of special cress blocks or dies. The scarfed
faces at the ends of the rod being outwards the rounded parts are in contact along
only the middle line at first, and the welding stroke widens the contact as its
compressing action proceeds, and consequently tends to force outwards any scale.
or oxide, and make a perfect weld. The welding stroke is effected by means of a.
drop hammer, the ends of the rod having been brought to a welding heat.
The weld is effected on the side of the link. The lower or fixed die is made
with a groove which confines as much of the link as possible, a small part being
notched or recessed for the last preceding link to lie in. The upper or moving die
is similarly shaped. The bended rod to form the link is, by means of suitable
tongs, placed in position in the lower die, with one of its ends over the other; and
the welding stroke forces the ends together causing surplus metal to exude to the
outer and inner sides of the joint. The confining of the link in the dies, as
described, prevents the ends from slipping apart and the link from. being distorted
or marked at any part. The surplus metal is subsequently removed by means of
punching apparatus having parts suitably shaped for the purpose.
When the links are to be provided with studs, each is made with its sides wide
enough apart to receive the stud, and the sides are compressed by hydraulic or
other suitable apparatus when the stud has been placed in position.
Dated this Fountaänth dar of Desember 1901
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicants Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Making Chain and like Links and Chains, and in
Apparatus therefor.
We, WILLIAM JOHN MARSHALL, of 3 Minerva Street, Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineer, and ALEXANDER STEWART Ross,
of Withen's Lane, Liscard, in the County of Chester, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
Price 1
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page_text: performica, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
Statement, that is to say:-
Our said invention has for, its object the, making of links and chains in an
improved, expeditious, and economical manner.
We hereunto append six sheets of explanatory drawings to which we shall
refer in particularly describing the manner in which we practically carry out our
invention.
Figures; 1; to 14, on Sheet, 1,,of.the drawings show a link in successive stages of
its formation.
Figures, 15, and; 16; Sheet 2; are side and front; elevations of parts of the
apparatus for bending a straight. bar into the shape for forming a link.
Figures, 17, and 18; Sheet, 3, are side and front elevations of the apparatus for
effecting the weld of the link joint.
On, Sheet, 4, Figures, 19, 20, and:21, are enlarged' views of the upper welding
die; Figures, 22, 23, and, 24, are enlarged views of the lower welding die and
Figures, 25, and 26, are views of the tongs used for placing the link between
the dies.
Figures, 27. to 30, Sheet 5, are views. of apparatus employed for removing fins
formed in the welding operation; and
Figures, 31, and 32, Sheet, 6, are views of the apparatus employed for fixing a
stud in the link.
In these drawings the same reference letters and numerals are employed to mark
the same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
In carrying out our invention; we cut or form the rod or bar of iron or steel or
other weldable metal into. lengths, A, such as the one shown in plan and side
elevation.in: Figures, 1, and 2; each length being. of a size suitable for forming a
link; L, such as is shown in a finished form in Figures, 12, 13, and 14, which are a
plan, an elevation, and: a. section: Each length, A, is formed with scarfed ends,
the points being, however, by preference blunted as shown: The scarf surfaces
are not welded together, as heretofore but face away from each other when.the
ends of the bar,. A, are brought together as shown in Figures; 6,,7 and 8; which
are a plan, a side elevation, and an end elevation:
The bar,, A, is bended by apparatus. which is of a kind in use, and parts of which
are shown in Figures,. 15, and 16, as adapted to the purposes of our invention. The
bending is effected by means of a mandril, B, fixed on a rotating shaft;, B 1, and
made with an inclined or helical groove to receive and guide the bar, which is
indicated by dotted lines, A. I, in its bended form. The bar, heated to a cherry-red
or suitable heat, has one end entered between the mandril, B, and a square
projection,or stud, B2, and whilst the shaft B 1, and mandril rotate the bar is
kept in contact with the mandril by a disk or roller. B 3, which by means of an
eccentric: or 'cam on the shaft, B.1, which with other parts is not shown, is moved
towards and from the centre of the mandril to suit the elliptical or oval form to be
given to the bar, A 1: A part, B4, of the mandril is made movable and of a
wedge-like form; and: can.be drawn outwards to set free the bar, A 1, when it has
been bended. The mandril is. so grooved or shaped that the bar; A 1, becomes
wound or bended with the ends extending beyond each other but in: inclined
directions such as, to allow the last preceding link of the chain to be entered
between, them. The form of the bar, A 1, as thus bended is shown in Figures, 3, 4,
and 5, which are a plan, a side elevation, and an end elevation.
The next operation after entering the, last preceding. link between the ends of
the bended bar, A1, consists in compressing the ends together by means of any
convenient, tool, or apparatus, the bar then assuming the form, A 2, shown in
Figures, 6, 7, and 8.
The welding is effected by means of the apparatus shown in Figures, 17; and 18,
in, which, apparatus are used special cress blocks or dies shown enlarged in
Figures 19, to 24., Concussive force is employed for the welding operation, being

page_text: applied by means of a drop hammer, substantially of ordinary, construction. The
hammer block, H,,moves between vertical guide bars, H 1, adjustably fixed between
an anvil block, H2, and an upper frame, H3, this frame being, fixed to horizontal
beams, H 4, which also carry the bearing blocks, H.5, of the power shaft, H 6,
having on it the pulley, H.7, a strap, H:8, from which is attached to the hammer
block, H.
The weld is effected on the side of the link. The lower die block, J, which is:
adjusted accurately in position on the anvil block,, H 2,, by means of pins, J. 1,.
screwed through lugs formed on the anvil block, is made with a groove, I 2, to fit,
the lower half of the link and shaped to confine as much of the link, as possible, a
small part, J3, being, notched or recessed to receive part of the last preceding link,
and the jaws of the tongs holding the link about to be welded. Figure, 22, is a
plan of the lower die, J, Figure, 23, a front elevation, and Figure, 24, a vertical'
section as at right angles to Figure, 23. The upper die block, K, which is shown,
in front elevation in Figure, 19, in vertical section in Figure, 20, and in plan as
inverted in Figure, 21, is similar to the lower die block, J, being made with a
groove, K1, corresponding in shape to the upper half of the link, and with a notch
or recess, K 2: When the two dies, J, K, are close together the link is completely
confined in the grooves, J 2, K1, excepting at the parts, J 3, K 2, for admitting
the last preceding link and the tongs. This confining of the link in the grooves of
the dies prevents the ends of the link from slipping apart and the link from being
distorted. The tongs, T, employed to hold the link and place it upon the lower
die, J, are of an ordinary form but made with a lateral horn, T1, for partly
supporting the last preceding link in the manner indicated by dotted lines in
Figures, 25 and 26.
The unwelded link, A 2, is by means of the tongs, T, placed horizontally on the-
lower die, J, with one scarfed end lying over the other. The scarfed faces being
outwards the rounded parts are in contact along only the middle line at first, and
the welding stroke widens the contact as its compressing action proceeds, and
consequently tends to force outwards any scale or oxide and make a perfect weld.
To insure extra strength at the weld ample metal is provided in the overlapping.
ends of the bar, and some surplus metal is made to exude to the outer and inner
sides of the joint, forming fins, F, as shown in Figures, 9, 10, and 11.
For removing the surplus metal or fins, F, we employ apparatus of the kind
shown in Figures, 27 to 30, Figure, 27, being a plan, Figure, 28, a sectional plan..
and Figures, 29, and 30, front and side elevations. This apparatus is a kind of
hydraulic punching machine having an inverted cylinder, P, the ram of which has.
fixed to it a punch P 1, the face of which is shaped to bear on the top of the part
of the link having the fins, F. On the bed or anvil block, P 2, there is secured
and adjusted accurately in position a bottom die block, P 3, formed with a groove.
or recess into which the side of the link can descend. When the finned link-is
placed in position its side is supported by the fins, F, resting on the top of the
bottom die block; P 3, at the sides of the groove; and then on the punch P 1..
moving down it forces the side of the link down into the groove, the fins being
shorn off.by the corners of the bottom block, P 3, at the sides of the groove.
When the links are to be provided with studs, each link is made with its sides.
wide enough apart to receive the stud, the ends of the stud being made concave:
to fit against the inner surfaces of the sides of the link, and the sides of the link
are compressed by hydraulic or other suitable apparatus so as to retain the stud
when it has been placed in position. Figures, 31 and 32, are a plan and sectional
side elevation of an hydraulic compressing machine adapted for the purpose. At
one end of a bedframe, S, there is fixed an hydraulic cylinder, S1, the ram of
which moves a die block, S 2, to act upon one side of the link. A stationary die
block, S 3, placed in a socket formed for it at the other end of the bedframe, S,
resists the compressing force; and the faces of the two die blocks, S 2, S3, are
shaped so as to firmly hold the link whilst its sides are being compressed upon the.
stud. The link with its stud is indicated by dotted lines in the figures.

page_text: The form of link made according to our invention may be varied to suit different
purposes and requirements, the parts of our apparatus on which the form depends
being altered to correspond.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. The making of links and chains substantially in the manner and by means of
the apparatus hereinbefore described.
2. For making a link, bending a bar having scarfed ends in the manner to make
the ends overlap at the side of the link, with the scarfs facing outwards, substan-
tially as hercinbefore described.
3. The welding of a link at the side by concussive compressing action, combined
with the shaping of the welding dies in a manner to confine the ends of the link
substantially as herein before described.
1
Dated this Twenty-seventh day of June 1892.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicants Agent.