Improvements in and connected with Chain-welding Machines.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Feb., 1898-Accepted, 11th June, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Chain-welding Machines.
I, HEINRICH SPÜHL, of St. Gallen, in the Confederation of Switzerland, Engineer,
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 follow-
ing statement:―
This invention relates to improvements in machines for welding the links of
chain formed of rolled wire or round iron.
Chain-welding machines hitherto known are open to the main objection, that in
many cases not enough attention has been paid to the welding and therefore in
such cases a really good joint was not obtained.
The strong and efficient manner in which a chain, or more precisely chain-links
can be welded by hand, has, as far as I am aware, not yet been attained by a
machine.
Previous inventors seem to have regarded as the chief object of their invention
the bending by mechanical means of a rod, or of an already partly formed link,
to a complete link, and subsequently welding the link to the part of the chain already
formed, whereby the welding was effected without the tapering of the ends of
the link, (that is to say, the link ends were simply placed together or joined at the
circumference) or, the ends of the links were tapered and placed one over the
other before being united, the welding of the links was, however, by these means
not always successfully accomplished.
Continued and extended experiments have shown, that to effectively weld
chains, several hammer blows are necessary, whereby the first blow causes the weld
to take place, and the following blows simply produce a closer density of the
material.
It has been tried, as a substitute or in place of the above mentioned hammer-
work to unite the chain links by pressure, but even though the application of
pressure may be advantageous and servicable, for welding larger pieces of work,
yet applying pressure does not give satisfactory results in the case of welding
chains, most probably for the reason that the welding heat of larger pieces of metal
must, as is immediately apparent, last considerably longer than the welding heat
of a chain link of small section.
Furthermore it may be stated, that blunt welding (viz. simply pressing the ends
of the links one against the other) and taper welding (viz. placing the tapered
ends of the links the one over the other), have been proved to be good in theory
but not satisfactory in practice, as these blunt or tapered ends of the link burn,
in the welding heat, to a shapeless porous mass, and therefore subsequently do not,
in the slightest degree, fit over or against each other. Not even the largest chain-
link has a section large enough to admit of being welded with blunt ends for
which reason the ends of the link must be placed one over or above the other
before welding, and even then an efficient welding of the parts or of the ends of
the links is not attainable without hammer blows.
It may also happen, even with long experience, as hereinbefore indicated, that

page_text: the operator allows too much of the material to burn in the welding heat before
commencing the welding of the link.
My invention hereinafter more fully described obviates the disadvantages above
mentioned and possesses the characteristic feature, that a swage is employed for
holding the link, which swage is given a semicircular shape at the point of weld-
ing, whereas the remaining portion of the swage possesses a flat shape. The said
semicircular and higher portion of the swage at the point of weld, ensures that
only the place of weld can be reached by the hammer under all circumstances.
Hitherto when using swages which had a semicircular section throughout their
entire surface, it was and must always be exceedingly difficult if not impossible,
to each time exactly direct the hammer blows to the place of weld, as in such
cases, namely when employing an entirely semicircular swage, the part of the
link which has not been weakened by the excessive heat of the fire, would also
receive a part of the blows from the hammer.
Furthermore another necessary point to be considered in attaining a good weld-
ing of the chain link is, that the ends of the link at welding heat should not come
in contact with the swages until the welding can actually take place as otherwise
a too early or premature cooling of the parts would take place. This necessary
condition has not yet up to the present in my opinion received sufficient attention.
I have endeavoured by my invention to produce a machine in which the draw-
backs above described have been considered and overcome.
In my improved machine the obliquely inclined shanks of the U-shaped pre-
liminary bent links are placed or bent one over the other in such manner, that
the ends of the same, brought to a welding heat, do not for the purpose of avoiding
a too early cooling, come in contact with the shaping cheeks or swages, until the
welding can take place, whereby the swage hammer effects the welding at the
first blow, after a cam upon the hammer swage, has forced the welding ends to
the right position, and whereby further the upper and lower swage have a semi-
circular section only at the point or place of welding, so that the weld must under
all circumstances be hit by the falling hammer and a solid and thorough welding
effected, such solid and thorough welding being obtained not only at the weld or
welding point, but furthermore the parts surrounding the weld, are again brought
by the hammer blows, into a solid condition, said parts having become porous in
the welding heat, but now in consequence of the lateral increased density of the
material also produced by the hammer blows, said parts become as hereinbefore indi-
cated, considerably strengthened and united.
I have illustrated my improved chain-welding machine in the accompanying
drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows an elevation,
Figure 2 a vertical section,
Figure 3 a plan, and
Figure 4 a detailed view of the mechanism for putting the machinery in and
out of gear,
Figure 5 shows a detail-view of the driving-parts of the shaping-cheeks,
Figure 6 shows a plan of the welding devices.
Figures 7, 8 & 9 show the top swage in elevation, section and plan,
Figures 10, 11 & 12 show the lower swage with a bent, but not yet welded chain
link (plan, rear view and section).
Figures 13 & 14 show two views of a link prepared for the welding,
Figures 15 & 16 show the chain holder (section and plan)
Figure 17 shows a vertical section through the upper and lower swage,
Figure 18 shows a plan of the shaping cheeks, when open, and
Figure 19 shows the same in a closed position.
Referring to the drawings: In the machine-frame 1 a shaft 2 which continually
rotates, is journalled, said shaft, by means of a cog-wheel 6 setting in motion the
wheel 5, said wheel 5 being loosely located upon the eccentric shaft 3 and pro-
vided with coupling teeth 4.

page_text: Upon the shaft 3 is a coupling 7 securely fixed as regards the rotating direction,
but yet movable in an axial direction.
A coil spring 6 upon the said shaft 3 is so arranged that the tension of the same
acts in the direction towards bringing the coupling 7 into engagement with the
wheel 5. Furthermore the said coupling 7 possesses a disconnector 9 having an
inclined surface 10.
Upon the rotation of the coupling 7 the said inclined surface 10 strikes against
a rod 15, said rod being forced forward by means of springs 11 and being capable
of being pressed backward by the pedal gear 12, 13, 14 whereby the coupling 7
is disconnected, for the reason that the rod 15 cannot move in a lateral direction
(see Figs. 3 & 4).
Upon the eccentric shaft 3 the cam 16 is located (Figures 2 & 3), the same
is provided with two parts or projections 17 & 18, said cam having the purpose
of actuating a pair of levers 20 pivoted at 19 in the frame 1.
The said pair of levers are connected by means of the rod 21 with the double-
armed striking lever 23 journalled at 22 in the frame 1, the front arm of said
lever 23 bearing the tension of the springs 24.
Upon the striking lever 23 the swage 25 is arranged, said upper swage 25 being
secured to the said lever 23 by means of the set screw or bolt 26.
The said upper
swage 25 is provided with a central, widened and curved aperture or recess 29, to
receive the inner projecting portion 27 of the lower swage 28 (Figures 7—9).
Furthermore to the part 25 (Figure 7) is attached the swage portion 30 arranged
to strike upon the welding surface or point, said part 30 having a flat recessed
surface which therefore does not receive the hammer blows as well as a cam 32,
the purpose of which will be hereinafter explained.
As soon as the cam 17 has passed over the intermediate part 33 of the double
lever 20, the springs 24 accelerate the fall of the striking lever 23, whereby upon
each rotation of the shaft 3 two blows are given, corresponding to the two cam-
parts 17 & 18.
The lower swage 28 located upon and attached to the machine-frame (Figures 10
& 12) is provided with the lower portion 34, said part 34 being the lower swage
proper for the weld and having a flat surface 35 to receive the remaining parts of
the link, also a recess 36, and an aperture 37 for the reception of the cam 32
(Figs. 10 & 17).
Immediately in front of the lower swage 28 is a chain-holder 39 to receive the
link last welded, said chain holder 39 being provided with link supports 38 clearly
shown in the under portion of Figure 16, said chain holder also being attached to
the machine frame (Figures 15-19). The weight of the suspended portion of
the chain keeps the top-chain-link in its proper upright position in the holder 39.
Upon the shaft 3 are two further eccentrics 40 (Figures 3 & 5) whilst the
sliding frames 42 arranged loosely upon the shaft 3 are provided with slots 41
in such manner, that by means of the eccentric 40 they can be moved forwards,
and by means of the eccentric 43 (also located upon and fixed to the shaft 3) they
can be moved backwards.
The action of the eccentrics 40 and 43 upon the frame 42 takes place by means
of the central part of the rollers 44 and 45.
The to- and fro-movement of the frame 42 is transmitted by rods 46 and
levers 47 upon vertical shafts 48. Hereby, further intermediate parts are avoided
and it is possible, that the frame 42 between the rods 46 and levers 47, that the
said frame 42 can make a slight swinging movement in a horizontal plane upon
the shaft 3 (see Figure 3).
The top ends of the shaft 48 carry striking cams 49 (Figures 1, 6 & 18) which
are connected by means of joints 50, with an arm 51 of the shaping cheeks. The
arms 51 can rotate around the pin 52 and carry at their ends 53 the shaping
cheeks 54 and 54ª (Figures 18 & 19 which have the purpose of bringing together
and bending over each other the inclined shanks of the U-shaped bent chain-
link 55 (Figures 13 & 14).

page_text: It has been proved necessary in practice that the shaping cheeks 54 and 54"
should be provided with a lug 59 (Figure 19) so that when the shank is bent
upon the edges (Figure 18), to obviate the said edges pressing into or injuring
the shanks of the links.
it
The plate 57 secured by screws 56 (Figure 6) holds the arms 51 and the shaping
cheeks 54 and 54" in the proper position, viz., in the position in which the cheek 54
partly takes under the opposite cheek 54" (Fig. 19).
The modus operandi of my improved chain or link welding machine is as
follows:
As soon as a U-shaped chain-link 55, heated at its lower end to welding heat,
has been passed through the preceeding link of the chain (said link being held by
the chain-holder 39, Figures 15 & 16), and after the said link has been placed
with the said previous link upon the lower swage, Figure 18, in such manner that
the ends to be welded are in a somewhat elevated position, to avoid contact with
the cold parts of the swage and the consequent cooling of the heated ends of the
link, the welding machine is set in motion by pressure by the foot device 12.
The eccentrics 40 come now first into action and effect the closing of the arms 51
and the cheeks 54 and 54ª by means of the parts or organs 42, 46, 47, 48, 49 & 50.
Hereby the under shank of the chain link 55 is lifted from the lug 59 of the under
shaping cheek 54 (Fig. 19) and bent around the projecting portion 27 whilst the
bending of the upper part of the link is effected by the lug 59 of the upper shaping
cheek 54, (see Figs. 10-12). By the striking of the cheeks 54 and 54" against
the inclined surfaces of the wedge-shaped piece 58, the proper position of the
said cheeks is maintained.
The arrangement of the lugs or extensions 59 upon the cheeks 54 and 54 is
such, that between the formnor and the swage portion proper 34 of the under
swage 28, an opening 59" is formed when the said shaping check is in a closed
position (Figs. 10 & 19). This is for the purpose of allowing the cam 32 to pass
and to prevent contact with the heated ends of the link to be welded.
To obviate cooling of the welding ends by a premature contact of the inner
sides with the projecting surface 27 of the lower swage 28 a semicircular recess y
of the cheeks 54 and 54" is made, said recess being so wide, that the said shaping
cheeks do not bend the weld-ends quite up to the projecting surface 27, a small
space remaining from the same (see Figs. 10 & 12).
Thus neither upon the outer side or the under side nor upon the inner side does
a premature contact of the link ends to be welded take place with the parts of the
swage or with the shaping checks, and therefore no premature cooling of these
heated ends can take place.
After the shanks of the chain-link have been bent to the desired degree, the
movement of the eccentric 16 has in the meantime so far advanced, that the lever
bar 20 can firstly slide over the cam part 17 and immediately after, a second time
over the cam part 18.
Hereby the striking lever 23, in consequence of the action of the springs 24,
causes two successive hammer blows to be given, whereby the ends of the chain-
link lying one above the other are welded, all of which operations take place in
quickest rotation.
ན
The parts of the link surrounding the point or place of the weld have, as herein-
before indicated, also become somewhat porous in consequence of the action of
the fire, these parts, however, by the material being again pressed together at each
side and in consequence of the hammer blows are once more so compressed that
they again receive their normal strength.
The two swage parts 30 and 34 cause the weld to have the proper cylindrical
form, the other portion of the link, in consequence of the same already possessing
a circular form does not receive any blows from the hammer, the said remaining
portions of the link being, as indicated, located in the recessed and flat portion of
the swage.
Upon the sinking of the striking lever 23 the cam 32 enters the hollow space 59°

page_text: (Figure 19) between the shaping cheek-lug 59 and the part of the swage 34, as
well as in the opening 37 of the lower swage 28. The said cam 32 is rounded at
its front lower side (Figures 8 & 17), the chief purpose of which is to press the
ends of the link to be welded over the swage part 34 at the moment, when
the hammer falls, said parts having been held back as herein before described by the
surface 27 for the purpose of avoiding a premature cooling. The cam 32 has also
the further object of avoiding a fin or joint mark along the line of the weld, as
no material can be pressed out towards the side of this cam.
After the two blows have been given, the striking lever 23 is again lifted by
the large cam 16. Hereupon the two return eccentrics 43 come into action and
effect the opening of the arms 51 by aid of the parts 42, 46, 47, 48 49 and 50 and
the shaping cheeks 54 and 54". After completion of one rotation the coupling 7
is automatically disengaged from the wheel 5 by means of the rod 15 and the
disconnector 9, this effecting the stoppage of the machine.
The projection 60, Figure 4, bearing against the rod 15 limits the movement of
the coupling 7.
Immediately after the opening of the shaping cheeks the welded link can be
lifted out of the under swage and placed in the chain-holder 39, whereupon the
welding of another link can be taken in hand.
The strength of the blows of the levers 23, or in other words, the tension of the
springs 24, can be regulated by means of a lever 62 (movably adjustable upon the
segment 61, by the shaft 63 and by the lever 64, Figs. 1 & 2).
In order to avoid the injurious effect of possible dead blows, the lever 23 is
provided with a hammer head 65, Fig. 2, which strikes against an anvil 66 of the
wedge-shaped piece 58 before the upper and lower portions 30 and 34 of the swage
can come in contact with each other.
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 claim is:
1. A chain welding machine, in which the obliquely inclined shanks of the
U-shaped preliminary bent links are finally bent one over the other, in such manner,
that the ends of the links, which, prior thereto, have been heated to welding tempera-
ture, are arranged not to touch the swages and are thus not prematurely cooled
by the same; the swage hammer, effecting the welding by one blow after a cam 32,
located upon the hammer-swage, has forced the ends to be welded, into the proper
shape, the upper swage and the lower swage having a semicircular section only
at the point or place of welding; the welding-point of the link being thus under
all circumstances hit by the hammer and a perfect weld obtained not only at the
point of welding proper, but also at the parts or points adjacent to the point of
welding; the said adjacent parts which have become porous in the welding heat
being by the lateral forcing together of the material, again perfectly strengthened
and welded, substantially as set forth.
2. In a chain welding machine, the combination of shaping cheeks 54 and 54°
with elongations 59, adapted to correctly bend the parts to be welded one over the
other; said elongations being arranged in such manner, that between the same
and the lower swage 34 a hollow space 59" remains, said hollow space being adapted
to prevent the parts being prematurely cooled by said swage, such premature con-
tact between the parts to be welded and the said swage being prevented in consequence
of the widened and curved recess of the shaping cheeks being so arranged, that
a complete bending of the link ends, does not take place, substantially as set
forth.
3. In a chain welding machine, the combination with the lever 23, and with a
spring acting upon said lever and capable of regulation, of an upper swage 25 and
a cam 32 attached to said lever, the latter being brought into operation when the
shaping cheeks have been sufficiently closed, said shaping. cheeks remaining closed

page_text: until the said lever commences its last stroke; and means for actuating the said
cheeks as well as the lever, substantially as set forth.
4. In a chain welding machine, the combination with the lower swage, of the
chain-holder, the latter being located somewhat in front of or before the point or
place of welding, said holder supporting the finished parts of the chain when a
fresh link is put through the chain, in such manner, that the latter cannot, how-
ever, impede the welding of said link, substantially as herein before set forth.
Dated this 21st day of February 1898.
F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
4, Corporation Street, Manchester, Agents for the Applicant.