IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU- FACTURE OF FLAT CHAIN
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Webster, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF FLAT CHAIN."
Sealed the 31st March 1865, and dated the 10th October 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left. by the said James Webster at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th October 1864.
I, JAMES WEBSTER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Engineer,.
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF FLAT CHAIN," to be as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention consists in forming flat chain, either in bands for pit chains,
driving bands for machinery, and other similar uses, or in sheets for armour
plating, bridge building, and various other like purposes, by interlacing or
screwing together separate lengths of coiled metal rods or wires. Each of
these metal rods or wires is first formed into an open twist or coil of any
desirable length and thickness. Two of these coils are then screwed or

page_text: interlaced together, coil within coil, and any additional number of coiled rods
or wires is similarly interlaced until the length or area of the chain is
formed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Webster in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
10th April 1865......
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
WEBSTER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of October, in- the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said James Webster, Her special licence that I, the said James Webster,
my exccutors, administrators; and assigns, or such others as I, the said James
Webster, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time, agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times. thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and. lawfully, might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF FLAT CHAIN," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
James Webster, by an instrument in writing under my hand and scal, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in
the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
.
NOW KNOW YE,, that I, the said James Welster, do hereby declare
the nature of my said. Invention, and in what manner the saine is to be
performed, to be particularly described and. ascertained in and, by the
following statement; reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to. say): -
This Invention consists in forming flat chain, either in bands for pit chains,
driving bands for machinery, and other similar uses, or in sheets for armour
plating, bridge building, and various other like purposes, by interlacing or
screwing together separate lengths of coiled metal rods or wires. Each of

page_text: these metal rods or wires is first formed into an open twist or coil of any
desirable length and thickness. Two of these coils are then screwed:cor
interlaced together; coil within coil, and any additional number of coiled
rods or wires is similarly interlaced, until, the length or area of the chain is
formed.
This will be more readily understood by referring to the annexed Drawings,
in which Figure 1 represents a piece of flat chain constructed of coils
For twists of metal rod or wire previously formed into the shape seen at
Figure 2, which represents a single coil, any number of which may be screwed
together, and thus form a band or sheet of exceedingly strong chain, taking its
bearings at every point of contact between the coils, and thus distributing and
equalizing the strain over the whole of the fabric; at the same time from the
peculiarity of its formation it is exceedingly flexible, and will wind or fold in
very small compass, thus forming a strong and light chain, and very durable,
for even should there be several worn or faulty links no portion can escape,
consequently the chain. cannot come asunder. I employ chains constructed
upon this principle for pit chains or other similar uses, for suspension bridges,
ships' uses, driving bands, and many other purposes requiring great tensile
strength, and in sheets for ships' armour and other naval purposes. Bands or
sheets similarly constructed may also be filled between the links with gutta
percha, india-rubber, or compositions of various kinds, and formed into straps
or belts, buckets, and many other useful articles, whilst in thinner material I
make sheets for window shutters, or for covering floors, or stairs in place of
lead, Figures 3 and 4 shewing the mode in which it could be secured on
stairs by inserting an extra coil, as at (a), and passing through such coil a
stair rod (b), which by means of common stair eyes would hold down
the covering, and yet admit of its being shifted like a carpet in case of
wear.
It may also be employed for foot mats, answering the purpose both of mat
and scraper, and allowing the dirt to fall through the mesh.
Figures 5 and 6 represent webs similarly formed from coils, but of thin
wire and large mesh, which in process of manufacture is after being coiled
together passed through rolls by which the coils are flattened, and thus
caused to assume these forms. This web or netting will be found useful for
game and vermin, fencing, aviaries, and other such purposes.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I claim the improvements in the manu-
facture of flat chain for the purposes within named and others analogous