Improvements in the Manufacture of Weldless Steel Chains.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in the Manufacture of Weldless Steel Chains.
I, GRAHAM STEVENSON, of Woodburn Avenue, Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Consulting
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object to improve and cheapen the manufacture of
oval linked weldless steel chains and while being specially applicable to the
smaller sizes of chains, it can also be readily adapted to the larger sizes.
Hitherto, weldless chains have been manufactured from steel bars rolled with
two flat webs cross-wise to each other and commonly called cruciform bars.
These bars have, in some instances, been operated upon in the cold and in
others in the heated state by processes of punching or stamping the links but
this method has proved too expensive for the profitable production of
chains especially of the larger sizes. Owing to the cost of maintaining the
punches or dies, &c., in proper working order chains formed in the cold state
have been practically limited to sizes of 3/4 inch and under.
On the other
hand, although sizes up to about 1 inch have been produced from heated bars the
dies, &c., become too highly heated by quick and continuous action for the main-
tenance of their efficient action without involving cooling at short intervals.
Under this present invention the dies, &c., are immersed in or surrounded by
water at every stroke, or, as the case may be, every few strokes, without necessitating
any stoppage of their motion thus admitting of the stamping or punching opera-
tions proceeding rapidly and continuously on hot bars for any desired length of
time. A material hindrance to the speed of the operations hitherto is caused by
the time lost in relieving the bar from engagement with the dies, &c., in order
to admit of its proper presentment to them for the next succeeding operation on
the succeeding link. A similar hindrance results from the necessity hitherto
experienced of turning or rocking the bar round or back and fro so as to present
its diametrically opposite or crossing webs to the dies for the formation of each
succeeding link. The first of these hindrances is obviated in this invention by
causing the two dies to advance on and strike the bar simultaneously in place of
having one of the dies fixed or motionless and only the other one striking. The bar
is gripped at either end of the dies and held centrally between them while being
operated upon so that, at each up and the down stroke of the dies, they relieve
themselves from engagement with the bar by receding from it. The second
hindrance is got over by employing two or more sets of dies. One or more sets
striking with their faces in a horizontal plane and others in a vertical plane so
that the links positioned diametrically opposite are formed by separate sets of dies
thereby obviating any necessity for turning or rocking the bar.
The most important point of the invention consists in keeping the dies cool
and in working order while employed at continuous and rapid work and this

page_text: may be accomplished by various arrangements of well known mechanism prefer-
ably under this invention it is accomplished by causing water to flow continuously
along and through passages formed in the dies, &c., close to their operating faces.
In some instances, such as the formation of the smaller chains, the circulation
of water through these passages will of itself suffice to keep the dies cold enough
for working continuously on hot bars but, in other instances, the dies will be-
come too hot notwithstanding the water circulation and in such cases the dies
are withdrawn from their normal working position and entered into water casings
or receptacles through which water is caused to flow so as to surround the outer
surfaces and faces of the dies. While this is being done the heated bar is ex-
cluded from the action of the water by doors or slides which close the mouths
of the casings and so shut the dies in. The withdrawing and advancing of the
punches or dies to and from the bar or from the enclosure in the casings is accom-
plished with such rapidity as practically to interfere but slightly with the continuous
formation of the links. When the dies are sufficiently cooled the doors of the
casings are opened and the circulation stopped and the dies are again advanced
to operate on the heated bar this process being repeated as often as is necessary
in order to keep the dies sufficiently cold. As already stated two or more sets
of dies are employed and one set after the other may therefore be cooled without
interfering with the working operations of the others. Again, in process of
moving the bar lengthways to and from the dies there are intervals, every few
seconds, in which the dies are not required to strike on the bar and in these
intervals they may be immersed in the water casings and cooled. The motions
of the dies to and fro goes on or may go on uninterruptedly whether they are
plunging amongst the water or striking against the bar. It will be preferable
to actuate the dies &c. by one or two strokes of a hydraulic press at each indenta-
tion and in other cases by numerous and rapid percussion strokes actuated by
geared motions the dies in that case being fed forward on the bar as the deepening
of the indentation progresses. The same levers or means of advancing the dies
on the bar as the indentation proceeds also serves for withdrawing them into
the cooling casings and of returning them to work on the bars after they are
cooled. The separating of link from link is performed in the ways presently
practised except that the separating can and may be facilitated by partially
drilling out the metal connecting the links. Thereafter the link ends are cressed
into finished and thickened form.
In some cases it will be practicable to admit of the under die (in cases in which
vertical dies with horizontal faces are employed) remaining immovable and to
cause the upper die to strike only. In such a case the casing into which the
under die enters for cooling need not be fitted with a closing door as the gravity
of the water will insure of its remaining in the casing. An open undoored casing
may also in some instances be employed even when the under as well as the upper
die strikes on the bar.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Weldless Steel Chains.
I, GRAHAM STEVENSON, of Woodburn Avenue, Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Consulting
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner

page_text: the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
This invention has for its object to improve and cheapen the manufacture of
oval linked weldless steel chains, and, whilst being specially applicable to the
smaller sizes of chains, it can also be readily adapted to the larger sizes.
Hitherto, weldless chains have been manufactured from steel bars rolled with
two flat webs cross-wise to each other, and commonly called cruciform bars.
These bars have, in some instances, been operated upon in the cold, and in
others, in the heated state, by processes of punching or stamping the links, but
these methods have proved too expensive for the profitable production of
chains, especially of the larger sizes. Owing to the cost of maintaining the
dies, &c., in proper working order, chains, formed in the solid cold state,
have been practically limited to sizes of 3 inch and under, whilst, 'on the other
hand, although sizes up to about 1 inch have been produced from heated bars, the
dies, &c., become too highly heated by quick and continuous action for the main-
tenance of their efficient action without involving cooling at short intervals.
Under this present invention the dies, &c., are immersed in, or surrounded by,
water, between every stroke, or, as the case may be, every few strokes without
necessitating any stoppage of their motion, thus admitting of the stamping or
punching operations proceeding rapidly and continuously on hot bars for any
desired length of time.
A material hindrance to the speed of the operations hitherto is caused by the
time lost in relieving the bar from engagement with the dies, &c., in order to
admit of its proper presentment to them for the next succeeding operation on the
succeeding link.
A similar hindrance results from the necessity hitherto experienced of turning
or rocking the bar round, or to and fro, so as to present its diametrically opposite
or crossing webs to the dies for the formation of each succeeding link.
The first of these hindrances is obviated in this invention by causing the two
dies to advance on and strike the bar simultaneously in place of having one of
the dies fixed or motionless and only the other one striking. The bar is gripped
at either end of the dies in the usual manner and held centrally between them
while being operated upon, so that, at each up and down stroke of the dies, they
relieve themselves from engagement with the bar by receding from it.
The second hindrance is got over by employing two or more sets of dies. One
or more sets striking with their faces in a horizontal plane, and others in a vertical
plane, so that the links positioned diametrically opposite are formed by separate
sets of dies, thereby obviating any necessity for turning or rocking the bar.
The most important point of the invention consists in keeping the dies cool
and in working order while employed at continuous and rapid work. The
cooling may be accomplished by various arrangements of well-known mechanism,
but preferably, under this invention, it is accomplished by causing water to flow
along and through passages formed in the dies, &c., close to their operating faces.
This can be done by withdrawing the dies from their normal working position
and entering them into water casings or receptacles through which water is
caused to flow so as to surround the outer surfaces and faces of the dies and to
pass through their passages. While this is being done the heated bar is excluded
from the action of the water by doors or slides which close the casings and so
shut the dies in.
The withdrawing and advancing of the punches or dies to and from the
bar or from the enclosure in the casings is accomplished with such rapidity as
practically to interfere but slightly with the continuous formation of the links.
When the dies are sufficiently cooled the doors or covers of the casings are
opened and the circulation is then stopped and the dies are again advanced to
operate on the heated bar, this process being repeated as often as is necessary in
order to keep the dies sufficiently cold.

page_text: As already stated, two or more sets of dies are employed, and one set after the
other may therefore be cooled without interfering with the working operation
of the others.
Again, in the process of moving the bar lengthways to or from the dies, there
are intervals, every few seconds, in which the dies are not required to strike on
the bar, and, in these intervals, they may be immersed in the water casings and
cooled.
The motion of the dies to and fro goes on or may go on uninterruptedly whether
they are plunging amongst the water or striking against the bar.
The dies may be actuated by one or two strokes of a hydraulic press at each
indentation, or, by numerous and rapid percussion strokes actuated by geared
motions, the dies in that case being fed forward on the bar as the deepening of
the indentation progresses. The same levers or means of advancing the dies
on the bar as the indentation proceeds also serve for entering them into the cooling
cases and of returning them to work on the bars after they are cooled.
The separation of link from link is performed in the ways presently practised
except that the separation can or may be facilitated by partially drilling out the
metal connecting the links. Thereafter the link ends are cressed into finished
and thickened form.
In some cases it will be practicable to admit of the under die (in cases in which
vertical dies with horizontal faces are employed) remaining immovable, and to
cause the upper die to strike only. In such a case the casing into which the
under die enters for cooling need not be fitted with a closing door as the gravity
of the water will insure its remaining in the casing.
An open or undoored casing may also in some instances be employed even when
the under as well as the upper die strikes on the bar.
And in order that my said invention may be properly understood I have here-
unto appended two explanatory sheets of drawings which show, merely by way
of example, methods of carrying my invention into effect or practice.
On the drawings:-
Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly sectioned, showing one construction of the chain
stamping machine.
Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on the line C-D Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a part cross section taken on the line A-B Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 shows in section another construction of the chain stamping machine.
Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line E, F, Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a view showing a slight modification of the machine Fig. 4.
Fig. 7 is a plan view of the cam disc 12.
Referring to the drawings, whereon the same reference numerals wherever
repeated indicate the same or similar parts.
1 is the framing of the machine, 2 are the die carriers which slide to and fro,
on the horizontal beam 1ª of the frame, into the positions for operat-
ing on the bar and for cooling the dies. 3, 3, are one set of link
forming dies, (there may be two sets, one horizontal as at Fig. 1
and one vertical as at Fig. 6.) 4 are the water casings for cooling the dies, the
full lines Fig. 1 show them in the lowered position for cooling the dies whilst
the dotted lines 4" indicate their up position when the dies are forming the links.
5 indicates a cruciform bar being operated upon. Gare water passage ways made
in the dies and leading to flexible pipe connections 11 and a pipe 6 which latter
leads to a circulating pump 6¹. This pump withdraws the water from the casings 4
when the cooling has been accomplished and discharges it by the pipe 6° into
the overhead tank 7 from which, whenever the casings are lowered around the
dies, it is discharged through the valve 16 into the pipe 17 and from thence pours
down into the casings so as to cool the dies. 18 is an inlet valve whereby the
water from the pipe 6° can pass into the tank 7. The valves 16 and 18 are
operated by levers one of which, 19ª, is shown, 8, 8, show the lever and connec-

page_text: tions whereby the water casings are raised up from the dies or lowered upon them.
It may be stated that the casings are open at the bottom but, when lowered down,
their lower ends fit tightly against faces on the die carriers so that the water
pouring into them does not escape. It is only after the cooling has been effected
and the water drawn off through the pipe 6 that they are raised up from the dies.
9, 9, are the driving pulleys and connections whereby the dies are moved to
and fro when surrounded by the water casings and also when the casings are
moved away from them and they are operating on the bar. It will be seen that
as the shaft 9 revolves it operates the rod 9b, the bell crank 9d and the pump 6b.
The rod 9 rocks a crank 19, working on a pin 20, to and fro and this crank operates
a disc 12 connected with it and which is provided with two slots 12°, 12b, (see
Fig. 7) in which studs 2" on the carriers 2 work. It will thus be seen that the
movement of the disc 12 causes the carriers through its cam slots 12° to move to
and fro. 10, 10%, 10b, indicate an eccentric, bush, and lever, by which the dies
are brought into position for moving in the water casings or for operating on
the bar.
The flexible pipe connections 11 allow the dies to move freely.
In the arrangement at Figs. 4 and 5 the cam disc 12 and crank are operated
by means of a connecting rod 9° which is ball jointed at 21 to a disc 22 driven
by the shaft 23. 26 is a motion adjustment screw. In this arrangement also
two water casings 4 are used which are secured to a lever 24 fulcrumed at 25 and
which, at the proper times, is caused to descend so as to close down the casings
over the die carriers 2 (see dotted lines Fig. 4 and full lines Fig. 5). When
the casings are in this position they are filled with water by means of pipes 11.
After the dies have been cooled the water is drawn off again, preferably by the
same pipes, and the water casings are then raised into their up position.
Fig. 6 shows an arrangement wherein the dies work vertically. In this case,
when the dies are in the dotted positions, the water casings can be brought up
close to the face of the die carriers and be filled with water, which, when the dies
are cooled, can be discharged again, whereupon the casings can be withdrawn.
In some cases the lower water casing can be made a fixture. In making the links
as herein before described one set of dies working horizontally, as at Fig. 1 or
Fig. 4, and one set of dies working vertically, as in this Fig. 6, are employed.
Each set of dies is (or may be) operated independently, and, in the case of the
vertical dies, such as at Fig. 6, they may be actuated by the same mechanism
as that illustrated at Fig. 4, but arranged of course so as to work vertically. It
may be stated that the arrangement of the die mechanism Fig. 4 is adapted
to be fitted and worked, as desired, either in a horizontal or vertical plane.
If desired more than two sets of dies can be used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
consider novel and desire to claim is:-
1. The manufacture of weldless chain links and chains from bars of cruciform
or like section substantially in the manner herein before set forth.
2. In the manufacture of weldless chain links and chains subjecting the bars
to the action of succeeding vertical and horizontal dies or stamps or sets of dies
or stamps in order to obviate all necessity for revolving or rocking the bar to
and fro so as to present it properly to the dies, substantially as set forth.
3. In the manufacture of weldless chain links and chains surrounding the dies,
when necessary, with water in order to cool them and at the same time excluding
the bar being operated upon from the water, substantially as set forth.
4. In the manufacture of weldless chain links and chains, the application of
two operating dies which are caused to simultaneously advance to and recede from
the bar which latter during such movements of the dies is held rigidly in position,
substantially as set forth."
5. A machine for the manufacture of weldless chains and chain links con-

page_text: structed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings
annexed.
Dated this 22nd day of March 1898
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.