Improvements in Driving Chains.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 29th July, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 29th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 29th July, 1896
Improvements in Driving Chains.
I, JOSEPH APPLEBY, of Castle Chain Works, Tower Road, in the City of
Birmingham, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to driving chains particularly intended for use upon cycles,
but also applicable to other machines.
The object of my invention is to construct an efficient driving chain in which the
ordinary method of riveting is dispensed with, while a securely fastened light and
narrow chain is produced.
The invention is applicable to roller as well as to other chains.
My invention consists of a new method of riveting or connecting, and a particular
combination of parts forming a new cycle chain, together with devices for connecting
up the terminal links of a chain.
In carrying my invention into effect, according to one method I form steel side
plates or links, each side plate or link with a hole at each end. These holes are
formed as described in the Specification of Patent No. 9805 of 1892, already
granted to me with reference to Figure 23 of the drawings, and into them fit
hardened steel tubes with notched ends, as described with reference to Figure 24
of the same drawings. The two side plates of each link are connected together in
the first instance by such hardened steel tubes, and within these hard tubes are
passed soft steel tubes, of such length as to project slightly beyond the external
surface of the side plates. The projecting parts are intended to be flanged over or
turned over to clinch or hold the side plates together.
To build up the chain I use double ended connecting blocks each block having
two holes, and I place the blocks between the side plates, each hole having within
it the hard steel tube. I then pass through the hard tube the soft tube and flange
over the projecting ends. The projecting ends may be serrated in order to make
the flanging over process easy. The side plates are thus held together, and the
hard steel tubes serve as distance pieces to secure that the plates shall be accurately
spaced apart to allow the connecting blocks to act freely within them. The notches
in the hard tube by engaging with the corresponding projection in the holes of the
side plates prevent the tube from being turned round. By this arrangement the
side plates are fastened together without the ordinary riveting which is so liable to
bind the chain. The soft central tube, has not however, sufficient strength to serve
the purpose of the chain without distortion, and accordingly I pass within it a short
steel pin of a temper preferably obtained by stiffening in oil. This pin I drive in
tightly and it locks together the soft steel tube and the outer hard tube by
expanding the ends within the boles in the side plates.
Sometimes I depend entirely upon the frictional hold thus given in the side
plates and dispense entirely with clinching a flanging over the inner soft tube.
When I depend entirely upon frictional hold, I may dispense with the soft tube
and drive a pin tight within the hard steel tube in such manner as to expand the
ends of the steel tube within the boles in the side plates and grip them firmly.
In another modification I form my hard steel tube in two parts, each part having
an internal flange within each side plate. I cause the two halves of the tube to
join in the middle of the connecting block, and I drive a pin through the whole,
and cause the hard tube to grip the side plates by friction.

page_text: Instead of flanging or dividing the tube I may use a straight tube the exact
length of the chain width, and force into it at each end a headed wire rivet of such
dimensions as to expand the tube ends into the side plates, and so also hold by
friction. The two rivets meet in the middle of the tube.
In carrying my invention into effect, as applied to roller chains, I fix two inner
side plates together by hard steel tubes, inner soft steel tube and pin, all as described
in the first modification, and on the hard steel tube I place suitable steel rollers.
I thus arrange a roller chain with double roller, the inner link being held
together by friction, as hereinbefore described.
According to another part of my invention I form a connecting link to connect
up the ends of the chain in the following manner, and I by so doing dispense with
the usual screw bolt or riveted connection. 1 form the said end links with side
plates, having small straight slots in the centre, and suitable holes in the ends. On
the outside of each side plate I arrange a thin flat plate, and connect each plate
through the straight slots by a convenient pin or connecting piece. The two plates
thus slide together. At one end of these sliding plates I drill holes which
correspond with the end holes of the links. I continue these holes as short slots,
narrower than the holes. I form the steel connecting pins with flats or notches at
each end, and when the pin is pushed through, the sliding plates are moved back,
and the slots engage the flats or notches of the pins, and prevent them from coming
out. I apply a spring catch or projection to hold the sliding plates when once they
are placed in the locked position.
Instead of a pin I may use a screwed stud with a flat for locking and outside of
the slide I may use a pivoting catch to perform the same function.
It is to be understood that the invention may be modified in various ways. Thus
in some cases the centre pin connection may be dispensed with, and a stronger tube
then used for the interior soft connecting tube.
Dated this 27th day of July 1895
MARKS & CLERK,
18 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, Loudon, W.C., and
13 Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant.
I, JOSEPH APPLEBY, of Castle Chain Works, Tower Road, in the City of
Birmingham, Manufacturer, 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 :-
My invention relates to driving chains particularly intended for use upon cycles,
but also applicable to other machines.
The object of my invention is to construct an efficient driving chain in which
the ordinary method of rivetting is dispensed with, while a securely fastened light
and narrow chain is produced.
The invention is applicable to roller as well as to other chains.
My invention consists of a new method of rivetting or connecting, and a particular
combination of parts forming a new cycle chain, together with devices for connecting
up the terminal links of a chain.
Referring to the two accompanying sheets of explanatory drawings to be
hereinafter referred to.
On Sheet 1, Figure 1 is a side elevation, and Figure 2 a plan representing links
of an ordinary pattern cycle chain constructed in accordance with my invention.
Figure 3 is an enlarged plan, partly in section, illustrating the method of

page_text: connecting together the component parts of the chain, such parts being shown
separately by Figures 4 to 8 inclusive.
Figure is a side elevation of the chain having a modified form of joint or pivot
connection, the central pin for such connection being shown at Figure 10.
Figure 11 is a side elevation of a chain having D shaped connecting pins and
bushes, the side plates, bushes, and pins of such chain being represented in detail
by the Figures 12 to 15 inclusive.
Figure 16 is a side elevation of a chain with pivot connections similar to those
employed in the chain illustrated at Figure 11, but without the employment of the
intermediate tube or bush; Figure 17 shows the connecting pin employed at each
of such joints.
Figure 18 is a side elevation illustrating a chain in which the connection is made
without a solid central pin.
Figures 21 and 22.
On Sheet 2, Figure 19 represents the side plates, and Figure 20 the bushes for a
chain with joints or pivot connections such as illustrated by the part sectional plans,
Figure 23 is a side elevation, and Figure 24 a plan with part in section,
representing a roller chain with the joints or pivot connections formed with a solid
pin passing through side plates of the form shown at Figure 25, and bushes or
tubes such as illustrated at Figure 26.
Figure 27 is a side elevation, and Figure 28 a plan with part in section illustrating
a roller chain having a modified form of joint or pivot connection.
Figure 29 gives an elevation or side view of the side plates of such chain, whilst
the split or open jointed tubes are shown by Figures 30 to 32 inclusive.
Figures 33 to 35 inclusive illustrate the means of coupling the terminal links to
form the complete endless chain.
Figure 36 is a plan of a chain with double blocks or bearing pieces, and Figure 37
a similar view of a chain with treble blocks or bearing pieces, arranged parallel
with each other.
The same reference letters in the different views indicate the same parts.
Referring to Sheet 1, Figures 1 to 8, I produce the steel side plates A in the
ordinary manner, with holes at each end of a form such as shown at Figure 4 for
the purpose of preventing rotation or movement of the hardened steel bush B the
ends of which are notched or shaped, as shown in the elevation of the bush at
Figure 5, to correspond with the holes in the plate A. Each link of the chain
consists of two side plates A connected together in the first instance by the hardened
steel tubes or bushes B fitting within and between them as illustrated at Figure 3.
Through each hard steel bush B, I pass a soft steel tube C, which is of such length
as to project slightly beyond the external surface of each side plate. The ends or
projecting portions of the tube C are serrated as shown by the elevation or side
view at the upper part of Figure 6, and such ends are flanged or turned over and
pressed against the outer sides of the plates as illustrated at Figure 1.
To build up the chaiu I use double ended connecting blocks such as D each block
having two holes as illustrated in the detail view Figure 7, and I place the blocks
between the side plates A, each hole having within it a hard steel tube or bush B.
I then pass through the hard tube the soft tube C and flange over the projecting
ends. The side plates are thus held together, and the hard steel-tubes or bushes B
serves as distance pieces to ensure that the plates shall be accurately spaced apart
to allow the connecting blocks D to act freely within or between them. To give
additional strength to the joints or pivot connections I drive through the inner or
soft steel tube C a pin E hardened or tempered in oil or in any other convenient
manner, and which is of such length that its ends come flush with the outer surfaces
of the side plates A. Each of the tubes B and C are split or open jointed and thus
on driving in the pin D the ends of both tubes are expanded tightly within the
holes through the side plates A.
I sometimes dispense with the intermediate or soft tube.C, and expand the ends
of the tube B within the side plate holes by driving in a pin E such as shown at

page_text: Figure 10, having such diameter as to cause it to fit tightly within the tube. Three
links of a chain jointed in such a manner are shown at Figure 9.
The holes through the side plates A may be formed to a D shape as shown at
Figure 12, the hard steel tube B, the inner or soft tube C, and the pin E being then
also formed to a like D shape as shown from Figures 12 to 15 inclusive. Two
links of a chain having such a form of joint or pivot connection are shown at
Figure 11. A D shaped hard steel tube and a similarly shaped pin is employed
for the joints of the chain illustrated at Figure 16, but in this case the soft or
inner tube is dispensed with, the central pin (which is illustrated in detail at
Figure 17) being driven into the hard tube, whose ends are thus expanded tightly
in the side plates.
When a very light chain is required I dispense with the solid central pin D and
form the joint with the hard steel tube such as B with the soft inner tube C having
its projecting ends flanged over on to the side plates as herein before described.
Two links of a chain with such a form of joint or pivot connection is illustrated at
Figure 18.
Referring to Sheet 2, Figures 19 to 22 inclusive, illustrate a modification of my
method of forming the joints or pivot connections without the use of the soft inner
tube Chereinbefore referred to. The hard steel open jointed tube is formed in two
parts B1 and B2 (Figure 20) each part having a flange and preferably with serrated
idges as illustrated. The outer side of each plate is recessed, as shown by the
views given at Figure 19, to receive the end flanges of the tubes B1 and B2.
Wnen
placed in position in the side plates I cause the two parts B1 and B2 to butt against
each other, and I then drive a solid central pin through the whole, as illustrated at
Figure 21, and thus expand the ends of the tube rigidly within the side plates.
The frictional hold or grip of the tubes upon the solid pin prevents any lateral
displacement of the side plates.
(
Instead of forming the hard tube in two parts as shown at Figure 20, each part
having a flange end, I sometimes employ a single tube, preferably of a D shape
equal in length to the width of the chain, and expand the same within the holes of
the side plates by means of two pins each provided with a head or flange, which
drive in from pposite sides and cause to meet at the centre as shown at Figure 22.
In the construction of a roller chain such as illustrated by Figures 23 to 26
inclusive, the inner side plates A¹ are secured together by the hard steel open
jointed tube or bush B3 (Figure 26) fitting tightly within the side plate holes which
has a teat or projecting piece at one end fitting within a corresponding groove cut
in the plate as shown at Figure 25. The rollers F are carried upon the exterior
surface of the tubes B³, being free to revolve upon the same when the chain is
working. The joint or pivot connection between the inner side plates A¹ and the
outer plates A2 is formed by a second open jointed hard tube similar to B³ but of
such an external diameter and length as to permit of its being passed through the
tube B³ and into the holes formed in the outer side plates within which it is tightly
expanded by the solid central pin E.
In the roller chain illustrated at Figures 27 and 28, the inner side plates-
preferably of the form shown at the lower part of Figure 29, are connected
together by the outer hard tubes such as shown at Figure 30, which carry the
rollers F. The joint or pivot connection with the outer plates, which are preferably
of the form shown at the upper part of Figure 29, is made by means of the hard
tube shown at Figure 31, which passes through the outer tube, and fits within the
outer plates. The soft steel tube shown at Figure 32 is then passed through the
inner hard tube and its serrated ends pressed or flanged over on to the outer surfaces
of the outer side plates. The ends of tubes in the outer side plates are then
tightly expanded in the holes by the insertion of the solid pin E as shown at
Figures 27 and 28.
0
For the purpose of providing a simple means for readily coupling the terminal
links to form the complete endless chain for a cycle or other machine, I make a
loose or detachable joint pin connection between such terminal links and keep the

page_text: same in its position by means of a spring cap or retaining plate arranged in the
manner illustrated by Figures 33 to 35 inclusive.
Referring to Figure 33, I employ a solid hard steel pin G which fits sufficiently
freely within the side plate A and block D of the chain as to permit of its ready
insertion or withdrawal. Accidental detachment of the pin when in service is
prevented by the spring cap or retaining plate H, which is made from one piece of
thin sheet steel formed to the shape shown by the clevation and plan at Figure 33.
The spring cap or retaining plate is hinged or pivotted to the side plates of the
link, upon small circular projecting pieces pressed up from the sheet steel which fit
within holes or recesses in the side plate in such a manner as to permit of the cap
being pulled up to the position shown by dotted lines when it is required to with-
draw the pin. When the cap is pressed down to its closed position, its sides or free
ends spring over the outer surfaces of the plate, and thus prevent lateral movement
of the pin G. The spring cap has sufficient rigidity to cause it to remain in its
closed position when in service, but its sides will yield sufficiently to permit of its
being pulled away from the ends of the pin when required, and again pressed over
the same; and recesses are formed upon each side for the purpose of retaining the
ends of the pin, as illustrated.
The spring cap H as shown in the two views at Figure 34, consists of a single
plate hinged by means of a small pin to one of the outer plates only. The pin G
is provided with a head at one end as shown in the plan or lower view at Figure 34,
and its opposite end has a screw thread cat or formed around it, for screwing into
the side plate of the link. The screwed end has also flat sides as shown at the
upper view at Figure 34, corresponding with the flat sides of the slot or aperture
in the spring cap H. When the cap is closed down, it is caused to spring over the
projecting end of the pin, thus preventing the same from accidental turning or
unscrewing. The pin can be readily unscrewed and withdrawn if required after
opening the cap to the position shown by the dotted lines.
Instead of pivotting the spring cap or retaining plate H upon one or both of the
side plates, as shown at Figures 33 and 34, I sometimes employ a sliding connection
as shown at Figure 35. On each of the inner sides of the spring cap or retaining
plate I provide projecting pieces preferably pressed out from the plate itself, which
slide within slots formed through the side plates. When the cap is in the position
indicated by the dotted lines in the upper view at Figure 35, the pin G can be
readily withdrawn, but when pressed back to its closed position as shown by the
full lines, the narrow end of the slot formed through it engages with the projecting
end of the pin G, and thus prevents it from turning.
In the construction of a chain with two or more blocks or bearing pieces D as
shown at Figures 36 and 37, I employ inner plates such as A³ pivotted or arranged
between the outer plates A. as illustrated, and also additional inner strengthening
plates such as A similar to the outer plates A.
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. In driving chains for use upon cycles and other machines the improved method
of connecting together the component parts of the chains by means of expansible
tubes or bushes, without the use of rivets, substantially as herein described.
2. The improved construction of the pivot connections of driving chains
consisting of the combination of a hardened split tube or bush such as B with the
soft split tube C having its ends flanged over on to the outer surfaces of the links,
and either with or without the solid central pin E, substantially in the manner
set forth.
3. The improved construction of roller chains such as illustrated by Figures 23
to 32 inclusive, comprising the combination of rollers such as F mounted between
the inuer side plates A' upon pivot connections formed by hardened split tubes
arranged one within the other, the ends of the outer tube being secured by friction..

page_text: contact within the inner side plates A', whilst the ends of the inner tube are
similarly secured within the outer side plates A substantially in the manner
set forth.
4. The improved means for coupling the terminal links to form a complete endless
driving chain, consisting in the combination of a loose or detachable pin such as G,
with a spring cap or retaining plate such as H pivotted to the side plate or plates,
or arranged for sliding upon the same, in such a manner as to permit of its engage-
ment or disengagement with the end or ends of the pin G, substantially as
described.
5. The improved construction of a driving chain having two or more blocks or
bearing pieces arranged between inner plates such as A³, in combination with the
outer side plates A and the additional strengthening plates A* the whole of the
parts being pivotted or jointed together by means of expansible bushes without
the employment of rivets substantially in the manner herein described.
6. The improved general construction and arrangement of driving chains
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
This noth 1
A1 1004
MARKS & CLERK,
18 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13 Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant.