IMPROVEMENTS IN CHAIN CABLES AND CHAINS
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur James Thorman, of 8, Lime Street, in the
City of London, Ship Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CHAIN CABLES AND CHAINS."
Sealed the 14th May 1859, and dated the 19th November 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur James Thorinan at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
19th November 1858.
I, ARTHUR JAMES THORMAN, of 8, Lime Strect, in the City of London,
Ship Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CHAIN CABLES AND CHAINS," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in making a strong chain cable or chain (for various
uses, even for personal wear), the links whereof may be rendered readily
detachable one from the other (though if so desired, this chain may not be
readily detachable); and this I effect in the following manner :-I take a
suitable piece of iron, or other metal or material, and weld or otherwise fasten
the ends, and bring the sides together as close as may be deemed necessary,
leaving or making loops, eyes, or openings at each end opposite to each other i
the piece is then bent at the middle, bringing the loops or eyes one over the
other, and at such a distance apart as is necessary to the passing of one link
within the other, as herein-after described, and the loops or eyes may be bent
inwards if requisite. These loops or eyes may be various in form, but so that
one link may pass within the other. The joining of one link to another is
done by simply passing one link within the loops or eyes of another, and a

page_text: third through the loops or eyes of the second, and so on according to the
length required (and unless the eyes or loops should be brought close together,
which may be done if desired, the chain can be shortened at pleasure by
withdrawing one link through the loops or eyes of the one adjoining, in fact,
merely reversing the manner of putting them together. I also purpose to fix
to the above and other chains a band or collar of the same material as, and of
proportionate thickness to, the link; this is bound round the middle of the link,
and joined together in such a manner as to allow it to travel round that part
of the link which is brought close together, or from the inner end of the one
loop or eye to the inner end of the other loop or eye, but the size should be
just sufficiently small to allow the loops or eyes to pass over it in putting
together or detaching the chain. When in its proper place or position, it will
be exactly between the loops or eyes of the preceding link, and is meant to
prevent their coming together, but it will travel all round with them freely
according to the movements of the chain; or it may be a fixed collar or band.
And instead of this collar or band, I can apply to my chain a stud or stopping
piece or projection.
The above is a description of the nature of this Invention, and of a means
whereby it may be carried into effect, to the precise details of which, however,
I do not limit or confine myself.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Arthur James Thorman in the Great Seal Patent Office on.
the 18th May 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ARTHUR
JAMES THORMAN, of 8, Lime Street, in the City of London, Ship Agent, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Arthur James Thorman, Her special licence that I, the said Arthur James
Thorman, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Arthur James Thorman, 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

page_text: Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CHAIN CABLES AND CHAINS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Arthur James Thorman, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, 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 Arthur James Thorman, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, that is to say:-
I take a piece of iron or other metal, or suitable material, of thickness,
length, and strength proportionate to the nature and character of the chain
cable or chain to be constructed, though it must always be sufficiently long
and strong to bear the treatment-hereafter set forth. I then bring together
the two ends of this piece of metal or material so as to form a circle, or any
approximation to a circle, and I weld or otherwise fasten them together, after
which I press the piece of metal or material thus brought to a ring-like form,
so as to bring the parts of the piece as close to each other as may be deemed
requisite, thus destroying the ring-like form, and producing a form of this
, leaving or making loops, eyes, or openings at each end
kind
thereof, as thus
this piece I now bend at the middle
(marked by *,, in the last Diagram), bringing the loops or eyes one over
the other, and at such a distance apart as is necessary to the passing of one
link within the other, as hereafter described, and the loops or eyes may be
bent inwards, if requisite. These loops or eyes may be varied in form, pro-
vided they be greater in length than in width, so that one link may pass
within the other without too much difficulty. The joining of one link to the
other is done by simply passing one link within the loops or eyes of another,
and a third through the loops or eyes of the second, and so on according to
the length required, and unless the eyes or loops should be brought close
together (which may be done if desired, though I do not recommend it), the
chain can be shortened at pleasure by withdrawing one link through the loops
or eyes of the one adjoining, in fact, merely reversing the manner of putting
them together. The securing the last link of the chain will, it is evident,
prevent the links being detached. I also purpose to affix to the above and

page_text: other chains a distension band or collar of metal, or other suitable material,
and of proportionate thickness to the link, but of greater length than width,
to correspond with the form of the loops or eyes through which it has to pass,
and such band or collar should be thicker at the ends, as thus
; this
is bound round that part of the link not having the said loops or eyes, and
joined together in such manner as to allow it to travel round that part of the
link which is brought close together, or from the inner end of one loop or eye
to the inner end of the other loop or eye; but it is evident the size should be
just sufficiently small to allow the loops or eyes to pass over it in putting
together or detaching the chain, and when in its proper place or position it
will be exactly between the loops or cyes of the preceding link, and is meant
to prevent their closing together, but it will freely travel all round with them
according to the movements of the chain; or this collar might be firmly fixed
in its place, taking care that it is so regulated in form and size, in proportion
to the form and size of the loop or eye, that it shall pass through without much
difficulty, notwithstanding the collar does not move or yield when the link is
being attached or detached. This collar may be fixed by welding, rivetting,
or joining together, or be secured in its place in any other manner, but it is
merely an addition to my Invention, which may be used with or without it,
the same being necessary only where very great strength is required. But
instead of the collar or band, I can apply to my chain a stud or supporting
piece, or projection, applied in a similar position or upon the same principles
of construction.
Having now particularly described the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim the
construction of the aforesaid chain cables and chains, the links whereof are
readily attachable and detachable, as herein-before set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Arthur James. Thorman, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
Signed and sealed in my presence,
ARTHUR JAS. THORMAN. (L.s.)
F. W. CAMPIN, Patent Agent,
156, Strand.