New or Improved Machinery for the Manufacture of the Links of Metallic Chains and Metallic Rings and Hoops for various purposes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Feb., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 14th Nov., 1890-Accepted, 20th Dec., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Machinery for the Manufacture of the Links of
Metallic Chains and Metallic Rings and Hoops for various
purposes.
I, WILLIAM FIDDIAN of Westgrove, Oldswinford, Stourbridge, in the County of
Worcester, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention has reference principally to the manufacture of iron or other metallic
links to be made into chain but my said invention is also applicable to the manu-
facture of metallic rings hoops or links other than those used in the manufacture of
chain, such for example as rings used with ships' rigging.
I will describe my invention in connection with the manufacture of links for
chains.
The said invention consists essentially of a shaft of the kind hereinafter described,
the said shaft being capable of a rotary motion and also of a sliding motion, that
is, a motion in the line of its axis. The rotary motion of the shaft in one or other
direction produces as hereinafter explained an advance and return sliding motion in
the said shaft. About one third of the length of the shaft from one of its ends is
circular or elliptical or of such other figure in cross section as the interior of the link
or rings to be made have. I will hereinafter call this portion of the shaft the
mandril. Another or middle third of the said shaft has a screw thread cut on it and
the remaining third of the shaft is hexagonal or angular in cross section. The shaft
is supported at three equidistant points by three uprights or standards. The bearing
in which the mandril portion of the shaft is supported rotates with the shaft when the
latter is not cylindrical. The said bearing is at the junction of the mandril with the
middle part of the shaft. The mandril can slide in its bearing in either direction
without either mandril or bearing rotating. The second or middle bearing has an
internal screw thread and is provided with a pulley by which it can be rotated in one
or other direction in its standard so as to produce a sliding motion in the mandril in
one or other direction. The third or angular portion of the shaft is supported in a
correspondingly shaped bearing in the third standard. This third bearing has a
pulley by which when required it can be rotated and a rotary motion given to the
shaft and mandril. The last named two rotary bearings can be locked when necessary
by a pawl and ratchet or equivalent mechanism and liberated automatically or otherwise
at the required times.
The mandril has a cross slot at its end and a longitudinal depression parallel to its
axis and extending its whole length. Or the mandril may be made in two halves
separated by distance pieces.
When the mandril is in its normal position that is, in the position it occupies when
it is started to work its free end projects but a short distance from its bearing.
Immediately opposite the end of the mandril when in its normal position is a guide
through which the heated metallic rod to be made into links passes. In using the
machine the end of the heated rod passed through the guide is engaged in the cross
slot in the end of the mandril and the shaft is set into motion by the pulley on the
bearing of the hexagonal part of the shaft and by the pulley on the bearing
of the screwed part. By the former a rotary motion is given to the mandril and by
the latter a sliding or advance motion is given to the mandril. By varying the rates
of rotation of the said bearings any required rates between the rotary and sliding
motion of the mandril may be determined. By the motion described of the mandril
the heated rod is coiled regularly thereon the convolutions being close or separated at
any required distance. Ordinarily the convolutions are close side by side and the coil
produced is a compact helix. The heated rod may be made to coil itself tightly on

page_text: the mandril by pressure on the guide rolls through which the rod passes or on the
rod itself as it coils on the mandril. When the coil has been completed the rotary
motion of the shaft is arrested by fixing the bearing of the hexagonal part of the
shaft, the shaft being brought to rest in such a position that the longitudinal depression
in the mandril is at its highest point.
Over that portion of the machine in which the mandril operates are horizontal
guide bars between which the bearings of a circular saw slide. These guide bars are
capable of being raised or lowered preferably by hydraulic power so as to bring
the circular saw to a greater or less distance from the mandril. The bearings of
the circular saw are operated so as to carry the circular saw in a line parallel
with the axis of the mandril by hydraulic pressure applied horizontally. The saw
and the pulleys described are rotated by steam or other power.
After the coiling of the rod has been completed and the shaft fixed as described
the rotating circular saw is brought down upon the coil by the travelling of its
bearings in the guides described. The coil is thereby divided longitudinally each con-
volution being cut from the adjacent convolution. The saw is raised and returned to
its normal position. The pulley on the bearing of the screwed portion of the shaft is
set in motion so as to produce the return motion of the mandril.
The withdrawal of the mandril and the arresting of the cut portions of the coil
by the standard through which the mandril retires effects the stripping of the pieces
from the mandril.
The pieces formed as described may be linked together their ends brought
opposite to each other by lateral pressure and joined by welding, brazing, soldering
or otherwise.
I do not limit myself to any particular kind of gearing for driving the bearings of
the shaft neither do I limit myself to the use of hydraulic power for operating the
circular saw.
The application of my invention to the manufacture of metallic rings, hoops or links
other than those used in the manufacture of chain, differs in no essential respect
from its application to the manufacture of chain links as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 28th day of February 1890.
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Machinery for the Manufacture of the Links of
Metallic Chains and Metallic Rings and Hoops for various
purposes.
I WILLIAM FIDDIAN of Westgrove, Oldswinford, Stourbridge, in the County of
Worcester Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention and the
manner in which the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention has reference principally to the manufacture of iron or other metallic
links to be made into chain but my said invention is also applicable to the manufacture
of metallic rings hoops or links other than those used in the manufacture of chain,
such for example as rings used with ships' rigging.
I will describe my invention in connection with the manufacture of links for
chains.
The said invention consists essentially of a shaft of the kind hereinafter described
the said shaft being capable of a rotary motion and also of a sliding motion, that
is, a motion in the line of its axis. The rotary motion of the shaft in one or
other direction produces as hereinafter explained an advance and return sliding
motion in the said shaft. About one third of the length of the shaft from one of
its ends is circular or elliptical or of such other figure in cross section as the
interior of the link or rings to be made have. I will hereinafter call this portion
of the shaft the mandril. Another or middle third of the said shaft has a screw

page_text: thread cut on it and the remaining third of the shaft is hexagonal or angular in
cross section. The shaft is supported at three equi-distant points by three uprights
or standards. The bearing in which the mandril portion of the shaft is supported
rotates with the shaft when the latter is not cylindrical. The said bearing is at
The mandril can
the junction of the mandril with the middle part of the shaft.
slide in its bearing in either direction without either mandril or bearing rotating.
The second or middle bearing has an internal screw thread and is provided with
a pulley by which it can be rotated in one or other direction in its standard so
as to produce a sliding motion in the mandril in one or other direction. The
third or angular portion of the shaft is supported in a correspondingly shaped
bearing in the third standard. This third bearing has a pulley by which when
required it can be rotated and a rotary motion given to the shaft and mandril.
When the mandril is in its normal position, that is, in the position it occupies when
it is started to work its free end projects but a short distance from its bearing.
In using the machine the end of the heated rod passed through the guide is engaged
in a cross slot in the end of the mandril and the shaft is set into motion by the pulley
on the bearing of the hexagonal part of the shaft and by the pulley on the bearing of
the screwed part. By the former a rotary motion is given to the mandril and by the
latter a sliding or advance motion is given to the mandril. By the motion described
of the mandril the heated rod is coiled regularly thereon the convolutions being close
or separated at any required distance. When the coil has been completed the rotary
motion of the shaft is arrested by fixing the bearing of the hexagonal part of the shaft,
the shaft being brought to rest in such a position that a longitudinal depression in the
mandril is at its highest point.
Over that portion of the machine in which the mandril operates are horizontal
guide bars between which the bearings of a circular saw slide. These guide bars are
capable of being raised or lowered preferably by hydraulic power so as to bring the
circular saw to a greater or less distance from the mandril. The bearings of the.
circular saw are operated so as to carry the circular saw in a line parallel with
the axis of the mandril by hydraulic pressure applied horizontally. By ineans of the
saw the coil is divided longitudinally each convolution being cut from its adjacent
convolution and links thereby made. The saw and the pulleys described are rotated
by steam or other power.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying drawings the
manner in which my invention is to be performed.
Figures 1 and 2 represent in side elevation partly in longitudinal section, machinery
constructed according to my invention for the manufacture of the links of chains and
other articles.
In Figure 1 the sliding and rotating mandril shaft on the mandril and of which the
heated rod is coiled is represented in its back position before the commencement of
the coiling operation, the sliding circular saw being represented in its withdrawn and
raised positions out of action.
In Figure 2 the sliding and rotating mandril is represented in its advanced
position after the heated rod has been coiled on the mandril and the sliding circular
saw in the act of cutting or separating the convolutions of the coil into links.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in both figures.
a, b and c are the three parts of the mandril and shaft made in one piece or
built up of two or three pieces joined together and partaking of the same motions,
a being the mandril elliptical (or other shape) in cross section on which the
heated rod is coiled; the middle screwed part working in the screwed hoss or
bearing d provided with the driving pulley d and c the hexagonal or angular
portion working in the boss or bearing e provided with the driving pailey
The mandril a of the shaft rotates with the brass or bearing a² in the upright f
the said mandril being capable of sliding in the said bearing a² and the bearing
being capable of rotating in the upright.
The screwed bearing or middle boss d works in the standard or upright y and
the angular bearing or boss e is supported in the standard or upright h. By

page_text: rotating the bearing or boss d of the screwed part b of the shaft by means of its
pulley d a sliding motion in one or other direction may be given to the shaft
and by rotating the bearing or boss e of the end part c of the shaft by means
of the pulley e during the rotation of the pulley d² a rotary motion as well as a
sliding motion may be given to the three parts of the shaft. In this way the
mandril a may have a rotary and an advancing sliding motion given to it for coiling
or winding the heated rod upon it or a sliding return motion only by arresting
the motion of the pulley e².
By varying the rates of rotation of the two bearings d and e any required ratio
between the rotary and sliding motions of the mandril may be determined.
The rotary bearings d, e can be locked when necessary by a pawl and ratchet or
other equivalent mechanism and liberated automatically or otherwise at the required
times.
By reference to Figure 1 it will be seen that the mandril a has a cross slot a³
at its end and a longitudinal depression at parallel to its axis and extending
through a portion of its whole length. The said cross slot and depression are for
the purposes hereinafter described. Or the mandril may be made in longitudinal
halves separated by distance pieces; is a guide wheel adjustable in the support 2
by which the heated rod to be made into links is guided to the mandrile and by which
wheel the rod may be pressed against the mandril and the required tension may be
maintained on the rod being coiled on the mandril by feed rolls or otherwise;
the sliding circular saw of the machine the bearings of which saw are supported by
and are capable of sliding in the rising and falling horizontal guiles or guide bars 1,7
which are connected to the piston rods m, m of the pistons working in the fixed
hydraulic cylinders n, n on the tops of the uprights ff. The sliding of the bearings
of the circular saw k hetween the guide bars is effected by the piston rod p of the
piston in the fixed hydraulic cylinder p².
k is
The action of the machinery is as follows:-The parts being in the respective
positions represented in Figure 1 the machine is ready to be started the mandrila
being in its withdrawn or normal position and the circular saw k cut of action. In
using the machine the end of the heated rod, preferably direct from the rolls or
without reheating, is passed through a fixed guide not shown in the drawing and
engaged in the cross slot as in the end of the mandril and the combined mandril and
shaft a, b c is set in motion by rotating the two pulleys d² and e² the pulley e² giving
a rotary motion and the pulley d² a sliding advance motion to the mandril and its
shaft. By the combined advancing and rotatory motions thus given to the mandril a
the heated rod coiled or wound regularly thereon as shown in Figure 2 the convolu-
tions of the coil being close or separated at any required distance. The heated rod
may be made to coil itself tightly on the mandril a by the pressure of the guide roll i
or otherwise. Ordinarily the convolutions of the coil are close side by side and the
coil produced is a compact helix. When the coil has been completed as represented
in Figure 2 the motion of the mandril shaft is arrested by fixing the bearings d and e
the shaft being brought to rest in such a position that the longitudinal depression a*
in it is at its highest position as represented in Figure 2. The circular saw k is now
lowered to the level represented in Figure 2 by means of the hydraulic cylinders n n
and their pistons and rods and a sliding motion towards the mandril a is given to the
circular saw by means of the hydraulic cylinder p² and its piston and rod as repre-
sented in Figure 2. By the travelling of the circular saw (its edge being situated
in the depression at in the mandril) the coil on the mandril is divided longitudinally
by it, each convolution of the coil being cut from the adjacent convolution. The saw
is next raised and removed from the mandril into the position represented in Figure 1
and the pulley d² of the bearing d being set in motion the return of the mandril a to
its normal position Figure 1 is effected. The withdrawal of the mandril a and the
arresting of the cut portions of the coil by the bearing or brass in the standard f
through which the mandril retires effects the stripping of the said pieces from the
mandril.
The pieces formed as described may be linked together and their ends brought

page_text: opposite to each other by lateral pressure and joined by welding brazing soldering or
otherwise.
I do not limit myself to any particular gearing for driving the bearings d and e
of the mandril shaft ; neither do I limit myself to the use of hydraulic power for
operating the circular saw k and for bringing it into and taking it out of action.
The machinery may be modified by making the mandril shaft capable of rotatory
motion in opposite directions for producing the rotary and advancing and retiring
motions of the mandril; and instead of using a circular saw for separating
the convolutions of the coil into links a cutter or compound cutter may be used
for that purpose.
The machinery so modified is represented in Figures 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the
drawings; Figure 3 represents in side elevation the modified machinery before it is
started and Figure 5 represents the same after the coiling of the heated rod on the
mandril has been effected and the compound cutter has descended to cut the convolu-
tions of the coil into links; Figure 4 represents a cross section of the machine taken
on the line A. B of Figure 3 and Figure 6 represents an end elevation of the machine
taken at the right hand end and Figure 7 represents, drawn to a larger scale, a plan
of upper side of the compound cutter used in the machine.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.
a, b, c are the three parts of the mandril shaft which shaft has a rotary and sliding
advance and return motion given to it for the purposes before described.
In this
modified machine the sliding motion is given to the mandril shaft by the screwed
part b working through the fixed screw box or bearing at d in the standard or
upright g and rotary motions in opposite directions are given to the said shaft for
effecting the rotation of the mandril and its advance and retiring motions, by the
bushes or bearings of the two toothed or spur wheels e, e situated on the hexagonal
or angular part c of the mandril shaft. These toothed or spur wheels turn in and
are supported on opposite sides of the standard or upright h. In the bushes or
bearings of the spur wheels e and e² and in the upright the shaft c slides as it
rotated by one or other of the said spur wheels e, e. Rotation is given to the
mandril shaft from the lower parallel or driving shaft by the following gearing.
Turning loosely on the shaft k are the large toothed or spur wheels 12. These
wheels can be geared with or ungeared from the rotating or driving shaft k by
means of the sliding clutches k², on the said shaft k. The spur wheel / gears
directly with the bearing spur wheel e on the part c of the mandril shaft and the
spur wheel gears through the intermediate spur wheel 13 (see Figure 6) with
the other bearing spur wheel e² on the part c of the mandril shaft. By means of the
gearing and clutches described and represented, rotary motion in opposite directions
can be given to the part c of the shaft by throwing either of the clutches k², k³ into
gear with their toothed wheels 1, 12. When the clutch 2 is in gear with the wheel!
rotation in the direction proper to cause the screw b to advance in the screw box at d
and give a forward motion to the rotating mandril a is effected, the heated rod being
coiled on the mandril in the manner represented in Figure 5 the end of the heated
rod baving been previously passed into the slot a³ in the end of the mandril and
guided to the mandril by the guide as before explained with respect to the first
described machine. By throwing the clutch ³ into gear with the spur wheel and
ungearing the clutch from the spur wheel as represented in Figure 5 rotatory
motion in an opposite direction to that described is given to the mandril shaft and the
mandril a is withdrawn into the position represented in Figure 3 and the separated
convolutions of the coil stripped from the mandril.
The dividing of each convolution of the coil from the adjacent coil on the mandril
is effected by the descent of the compound cutter m carried in the reciprocating cutter
holder n having a vertical motion in the uprights f,f of the machine.
Between the two uprights f, 2 and under the mandril a when the latter is in its
advanced position Figure 5 is a block p for supporting the mandril and the coil upon
it during the cutting of the coil into links by the descent of the compound cutter m
in the reciprocating holder n.

page_text: 49
The supporting block p has a reciprocating or rising and falling motion given to it.
It has also a period of rest during the action of the compound cutter upon the coil. The
reciprocating motion of the cutter holder n is effected by the eccentrics and clips at
and excentric rods, worked from the lower shafts situated in line with but
separate from the driving shaft k; and the rising and falling motion of the supporting
block is effected by the cams t t on the shaft s bearing against the projections repre-
sented on the underside of the said block (see Figure 4). The block p is guided by
the uprights ƒ, ƒ2. The shaft s is driven from the driving shaft by the sliding
clutch on the said shaft k being engaged with the fixed clutch s² on the shaft s.
When the heated rod has been completely coiled on the mandril a the mandril shaft is
thrown out of gear with the driving shaft by withdrawing the clutch k² and the
mandril is brought to rest in the vertical position represented in Figures 3 and 4.
The clutch is now thrown into gear with the fixed clutch and the shaft s thereby
rotated. By the rotation of the shaft s the block p is raised by the cams t, t up to and
made to support the mandril and coil upon it and when the parts of the cainstt of
greatest radius are brought under the block the said block temporarily comes to rest.
At this period of rest of the block p the eccentrics 9, 9 and their rods have by
their action caused the descent of the cutter holder n'and the cutters m therein and
the said cutters acting upon the coil on the mandril separate the convolutions into
links as before described. After the cutters m have been raised and the supporting
block p made to descend from the mandril the shaft s is thrown out of gear with the
shaft as represented in Figure 3 and the mandril shaft thrown into gear with the
driving shaft k by means of the clutch 3 and the gearing 112 and e² for effecting
the return motion of the mandril and the stripping of the separated convolutions or
links from the mandril as herein before described. The cutters and supported block
may be actuated by hydraulic power instead of by the eccentrics and cams represented.
I prefer to arrange the cutters m diagonally in their holder as represented in Figure 7
so as to cause them to sever the coil obliquely and thereby form what are commonly
termed scarfed ends to the links to facilitate the welding. But the cutters may be
arranged to sever the coil at any desired angle. I prefer to form the cutter of
separate pieces of steel fixed at the required distance apart.
Instead of using a compound cutter a cutter made of a single piece of steel
may be employed but I prefer to build up the cutter of pieces of steel as in this
case the replacement of an injured or worn portion of the compound cutter can readily
be effected.
The circular saw in the arrangement represented in Figures 1 and 2 may be
replaced by a cutter or cutting tool for effecting the severance of the convolutions of
the coil on the mandril.
The application of my invention to the manufacture of metallic rings hoops or links
other than those used in the manufacture of chain differs in no essential respect from
its application to the manufacture of chain links as herein before described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is to be performed I declare that I claim
as my invention :-
:-
First-
-The use in machinery for the manufacture of the links of metallic chain
and metallic rings and hoops for various purposes, of the combined mandril and shaft
herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the said com-
bined mandril and shaft having a rotary motion and an advance and return sliding
motion given to it for the purposes described and illustrated.
Secondly The combination or arrangement of the parts herein before described
and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings for giving the
rotary and advance and return sliding motions to the combined mandril and shaft of
the machinery.
Thirdly The combination or arrangement of the parts bereinbefore described and
illustrated in Figures 3, 5, and 6 of the accompanying drawings for giving the rotary

page_text: and advance and return sliding motions to the combined mandril and shaft of the
machinery.
Fourthly:-The combination or use with a combined mandril and shaft of the kind
before referred to of a sliding circular saw arranged and worked substantially as
herein before described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying
drawings for dividing or cutting the coil on the mandril into unjoined chain or
other links, rings or hoops.
Fifthly The combination or use with a combined mandril and shaft of the kind
before referred to of a rising and falling cutter or compound cutter arranged and
worked substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 3, 4, 5 and 7
of the accompanying drawings for dividing or cutting the coil on the mandril into
unjoined chain or other links rings or hoops and the use with the said rising and
falling cutter or compound cutter of a rising and falling supporting block worked
substantially as herein before described and illustrated for supporting the mandril and
coil during the cutting of the coil into unjoined chain or other links rings or
hoops.
1011
1000
WILLIAM FIDDIAN.