Improvements in Weldless Chain Links, and in their Method of Manufacture.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 19th July, 1994
Complete Specification Left, 10th Apr., 1895-Accepted, 11th May, 1895
Date of Applicatio
Complete Specification Left, 10th Apr., 1895-Accepted, 11th May, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Weldless Chain Links, and in their Method of
Manufacture.
I, GRAHAM STEVENSON of Rochsolloch Cottage, Airdrie, Lanarkshire,
Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
:-
This invention relates to weldless chain links and it has for its object to improve
and cheapen their construction and manufacture.
This invention relates to chains such as are used for cranes, pulley lifting blocks,
cables, etc.
In carrying out the invention I vary the construction of the links both as regards
their materials and configurations so as to best adapt the chains to the respective
varied applications.
In manufacturing the links !, preferably, use a bar of steel which is more highly
carbonized than usual for welding purposes and which is of an oblong cross section,
and I cut this bar into lengths having rounded or semi-circular ends which form
the blanks from which the finished links are made. These blanks are first placed
in a stamping machine which, preferably, at one operation, forms a longitudinal
central depression, groove, or slot, through or in the blank and at the same time
flattens out the ends and squeezes or presses in its sides at the centre. The metal
at each side of the blank is rounded off and the inner sides of the groove or slot
are flattened as are also the sides of the blank which face each other when the
blank is folded into link shape as hereinafter described. In cases where the blank
is merely grooved it is inserted into another machine which cuts out the central
thin web left in the blank.
The blank is thereafter inserted into another machine which folds it over a
mandrel and thereby presses the flattened ends one upon the other so that the slots
therein coincide. The mandrel is of such shape that the central part of the link
when folded forms an oval, wedge or egg shaped eye. The narrow slots in the
now abutting ends of the blank are widened out to an oval, wedge or egg shape by
means of a suitable mandrel. The two eyes of the link are at right angles to each
other.
The large end of each eye is semi-circular and the inner sides run in straight or
somewhat straight lines to the points where the inner tips of the link meet and
forin the contact working surfaces, whilst the outside lines of the link run in
straight or somewhat straight lines from the semi-circular ends to the extreme
opposite ends of the link.
The folding is preferably performed by two separate operations in the first the
tips of the ends are left open so as to permit link being added to link in the process.
of constructing the chain in the second operation the link is closed and brought
into a suitable condition for the reception of the succeeding link.
:
The link has now much the same appearance as the ordinary brass links of
chains commonly used for hanging pictures, curtains, etc. and for the plugs of wash
hand basins and the like except that the two eyes communicate with each other.
In order to finish the links the parts of the blank which are to form the wearing
or contact surfaces of the finished links are, preferably, stamped to a semi-circular
form on the inside and to a wedge or egg shaped form on the outside and, so that,

page_text: if a cross-section is taken at that part when the link is finished, the outline of the
section will appear more or less wedge or egg shape. On the other hand. the
wearing surfaces within the eyes are stamped into half circular section, so that,
when the tips are brought together they form a circular or partly circular and
partly flat surface as at the other end.
It will thus be seen that when the links are fitted in place in the chain and are
used, the points of contact of link with link ride with the bearing and wearing
surfaces smoothly and evenly on each other like welded links of ordinary oval
form. These surfaces are, or may be however in comparison, considerably
larger.
The tips of the folded over ends are, preferably, flattened so as to bear against
each other and form a close butting joint when the blank is folded into working.
shape. Beyond this bearing the limbs of the link open out from each other so as
to form the wedge or egg-shaped eye or loop when looking vertically or sideways
at the link. It will thus be scen, that, at one end of the link the two folded ends
are combined into one forming the working bearing, whilst the rounded edges of
the loop or eye at the centre of the blank forins the working bearing at the other
end, both eyes being the same in all respects.
When it is desired to make chains for working on sprocketted or pocketted
wheels in accordance with the hereinbefore described process the eyes are formed
of a rectangular or parallelogramic shape in place of the semi-circular form before
referred to.
If desired one or more stay pieces or blanks may be wedged.into the centre of
the link and secured in place by a pin or rivet.
In forming links for the coupling chains of railway waggons, round instead of
egg shaped eyes are formed in the coupling end of one of the extreme end links s
that the chain can be secured to the draw bar by passing a pin through it and
through the eyes. The link at the opposite end of the chain is made with a large
open eye having an inner semi-circular crown or working edge which readily passes
over the draw hook of the succeeding waggon.
If desired the blanks for forming the links may be narrow and somewhat rounded
in the centre and broad and flat at the ends.
As chains made as herein before described only weigh, length for length and
strength for strength, about half the weight of ordinary welded chains, it follows,
that, when used for ships' anchors, the deflection and consequent spring is often
insufficient; to remedy this I weight any desired number of links at or about the
centre part of the chain by securing in or to them cast iron or lead blocks or
pieces.
Dated this 9th day of July 1894
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.
Improvements in Weldless Chain Links, and in their Method of
Manufacture.
I, GRAHAM STEVENSON of Rochsolloch Cottage, Airdrie, Lanarkshire,
Consulting 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 following statement :-
This invention relates to weldless chain links and it has for its object to improve
and cheapen their construction and manufacture.
This invention relates to chains such as are used for cranes pulley lifting block,
cables, etc.

page_text: In carrying out the invention 1 vary the construction of the links both as regards
their materials and configurations so as to best adapt the chains formed therefrom.
to their respective varied applications.
And in order that my said invention may be properly understood I have hereunto
appended an explanatory sheet of drawings whereon,
Fig. 1 is a plan and Fig. 2 a cross section of a link blank.
Fig. 3 is a plan and Fig. 4 a cross section of the blank after being.stamped with
central longitudinal depressions.
Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section and Fig. 6 a plan of the blank showing the central
web cut out, the ends opened out, and the sides, at the centre pressed in.
Fig. 7 shows the blank doubled or bent over.
Fig. 8 is a view of a finished link looking at one side and Fig. 9 a view of the
same link looking at the other side.
Fig. 10 shows five links joined together so as to form a chain.
Fig. 11 is a plan and Fig. 12 a side view (to a reduced scale) of a coupling chain
for railway waggons.
Referring to the drawings whereon the same reference letters wherever repeated
indicate the same parts.
In manufacturing the links I, preferably, use a bar of steel which is more highly
carbonized than usual for welding purposes and which is somewhat oblong in cross
section, and I cut this bar into lengths, such as a, Figs. 1 and 2, having rounded or
semi-circular ends, which form the blanks from which the finished links are made.
Each blank is first placed in a stamping machine, which, preferably at one operation,
forms longitudinal central depressions or grooves b, b', (Figs. 3 and 4) in it,
thereafter it is placed in another machine which cuts out the central thin web c.
The slotted blank is now placed in a third machine which at one operation widens
and flattens out its ends and squeezes or presses in its sides at the centre as shown
at. Figs. 5 and 6. The metal at each side of the blank is also rounded off and the
inner sides of the slot are flattened as are also the sides of the blank which face each
other when the blank is folded into link shape as hereinafter described. In some
cases, if preferred, instead of making the grooves b, in the blank and then by
another operation cutting out the web the blank may be shaped and a slot cut
therein at one operation.
The partly finished blank is now inserted in another machine which folds it over
a mandrel and thereby presses the flattened ends one upon the other so that the
slots therein coincide (see Figs. 8 and 9). The mandrel is of such shape that the
central part of the link when folded forms an oval, wedge, or egg shaped eye.
The narrow slots in the now abutting ends of the blank are widened out to an oval,
wedge, or egg shape by means of a suitable mandrel. The two eyes d, e, of the link
are at right angles to each other. The large end of each eye is semi-circular and
the inner sides run in straight or somewhat straight lines to the points where the
inner tips of the link meet and form the contact working surfaces, whilst the outside
lines of the link run in straight or somewhat straight lines from the semi-circular
ends to the extreme opposite ends of the link.
The folding is preferably performed in two separate operations in the first the
tips of the ends are left open as shown at Fig. 7 so as to permit link being added to
link in the process of constructing the chain; in the second operation the link is
closed as shown at Fig. 8 and brought into a suitable condition for the reception of
the succeeding link.
The link has now much the same appearance as the ordinary brass link of chains
commonly used for hanging pictures, curtains, etc., and for the plugs of wash-hand
basins and the like, except that the two eyes communicate with each other, as shown
at Fig. 5.
In order to finish the links the parts of the blank which are to form the wearing
or contact surfaces of the finished links are preferably stamped to a semi-circular
form on the inside and to a egg or wedge shaped form on the outside, and, so that,
if a cross section is taken at that part, when the link is finished, the outline of the

page_text: section will appear more or less egg or wedge shape. On the other hand the
wearing surfaces within the eyes are stamped of a semicircular section so that, when
the tips are brought together they form a circular or partly circular and partly flat
surface as at the other end.
It will thus be seen that when the links are fitted in place in the chain (as at
Fig. 10) and are used the points of contact of link with link ride with the bearing
and wearing surfaces smoothly and evenly on each other like welded links of
ordinary oval form. These surfaces are, or may be, however, in comparison,
considerably larger.
The tips of the folded over ends are, preferably, flattened so as to bear against
each other and form a close butting joint when the blank is folded into working
shape. Beyond this bearing the limbs of the link open out from each other so as to
form the wedge or egg shaped eye or loop d or e when looking downwards or side-
ways at the link.
It will thus be seen that at one end of the link the two folded
ends are combined into one forming the working bearing whilst the rounded edges
of the loop or eye at the centre of the blank form the working bearing at the other
end both eyes being the same in all respects.
When it is desired to make chains for working on sprocketted or pocketted
wheels in accordance with the herein before described process the eyes are formed
of a rectangular or parallelogramic shape in place of the semi-circular form before
referred to.
If desired one or more stay pieces or blanks may be wedged into the centre of the
link and secured in place by a pin or rivet.
In forming links for the coupling chains of railway waggons round eyes 9,
(Figs. 11 and 12) instead of egg shaped eyes are formed in the coupling end of one
of the extreme eud links so that the chain can be secured to the draw bar i by
passing a pin h through it and through the eyes. The link j at the opposite end of
the chain is made with a large open eyek having an inner semi-circular crown k¹
or working edge which readily passes over the draw hook of the succeeding
waggon.
If desired the blanks for forming the links may be made narrow and somewhat
rounded in the centre and have broad and flat ends.
As chains made as herein before described only weigh length for length and
strength for strength about half the weight of ordinary welded chains, it follows,.
that, when used for ships' anchors, the deflection and consequent spring is often
insufficient; to remedy this I may weight any desired number of links at or about
the centre part of the chain by securing in or to them cast iron or lead blocks or
pieces.
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
consider novel and desire to claim is :-
1. Folded weldless chain links made from blanks cut from a bar of steel or iron
said blanks being formed and shaped into finished links substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to the drawings annexed.
2. Coupling chains for railway waggons composed of folded links formed and
shaped substantially as herein before described with reference to the drawings
annexed.
Dated this 8th day of April 1895
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.