IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CHAINS OR CABLES, AND IN THE APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1875

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henry Handyside at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 2nd
February 1875.
I, HENRY HANDYSIDE, of Saint John's Wood, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CHAINS OR CABLES, AND IN THE
APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," to be as follows:-
7.
My Invention relates to an improved mode of producing chains or
cables; whether composed of iron or steel, and to apparatus to be
employed in their production, whereby increased strength in the chain
or cable is obtained, and a saving in the cost of its manufacture is effected,
and it consists,-
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First. In forming the length or piece (say, of steel for example) of
which each link is composed with a flat, bevilled, or tapered surfacé
extending to any desired distance from each end, so that on bending the
said length or piece thus formed into the shape of the link, required its
flat, tapered, or bevilled surfaces will overlap and be in contact with
each other, and whilst in this position they are brazed or otherwise
cemented together. In imparting the tapered or bevilled form to the
ends of the said lengths or pieces the rod from which they are cut is laid
on a specially constructed travelling bench or table employed in com-

page_text: bination with circular saws so arranged and operated that each length
or piece is thereby cut to the required length and shape at one operation.
This travelling bench or table is composed of iron or any other suitable
metal, and travels on suitable rails, motion being communicated to the
said table by any of the ordinary appliances now in use for such
purposes. The whole length of the surface of the table is traversed by
a groove arranged at a suitable angle with the sides of the table, and
corresponding in section with the size of the round rod of steel or iron to
be operated on, and slits are formed angularly with and across this groove
at distances apart corresponding with the lengths of the separate links of
which the chain is composed, which slits allow of the free passage of the
circular saws employed for cutting the rod of steel or iron as required.
The rod of steel or iron will be securely held in its position in the groove
whilst passing under the saws by a series of thumb claws keyed on to a
shaft near to and parallel with the said groove, and which is again acted
on by a lever or other purchase. The circular saws, which are mounted
in stationary bearings, are placed in the lines of the several slits in the
table, and are driven or rotated in the ordinary way by suitable bands
passing over one general drum overhead, and which is in its turn
connected with the motive power employed.
Secondly. In casting the links and subsequently annealing either the
steel or iron of which the links have been cast.
In effecting the moulding according to one modification the models
for casting from are made oval or of the exact form of link desired, and
round, and in moulding these links they are placed alternately, which
arrangement enables the half circular portion to be easily withdrawn
from the mould. The chain so produced is then annealed, and sub-
sequently heated to a bright red heat when the circular links are pressed
into the same form as the others.
According to another modification cach link is cast of the desired
form, and with a spreader, if required, as in chain cables. This is
effected by a specially designed arrangement, the principal feature of
which is the using of two prepared cores in the moulding of each
alternate link.
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