Improvements in Chains for Transmitting Motion to Machinery; and for Dredging, Excavating, and other Purposes:
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 23rd May, 1889-Accepted, 3rd Aug., 1889'
'
:
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Chains for Transmitting Motion to Machinery; and
for Dredging, Excavating, and other Purposes:
I, CHARLES LOOK, of 5, Peckham Terrace, Prestbury Road, Upton Park, in the
County of Essex, Pianoforte Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows :-
My invention relates to an improved chain for transmitting motion in machinery
such as from the pedal shaft of a bicycle to the axle, for carrying the buckets or
scoops of dredgers or excavators, and for other purposes.
Each link of my improved chain is forked or bifurcated at one end and flat at
the other end, the flat end of one link being adapted to fit into the bifurcation of the
adjacent link.
In the flat end of each link is inserted a transverse pin, the projecting, ends of
which are adapted to be supported in. bearings in the arms of the bifurcation. The
pin is inserted into these bearings after the pin has been securely fixed in its link.by
a key or the like, so that it is necessary to introduce the said pin into the bearing
through slots in the arms of the bifurcation. These slots are narrower than the
diameter of the pin so that the latter cannot under ordinary circumstances pass
therethrough. The pin is provided with a longitudinal slot which receives one edge
of the slots in the arms of the bifurcation so that the pin may be introduced..
When the pin becomes worn it can be turned to compensate for the wear.
The underside of each link of my improved chain is provided. with a lug, or
projection adapted to engage with openings of corresponding shape in the driving.or
carrying wheels or pulleys. These: lugs are so arranged relatively to the pins that
when the bearings for the latter become. worn. by turning the link round, the wear
will be compensated for. By this construction I am enabled. to use. Iny improved
chains for a very much longer period than an ordinary chain can be used.
When my improved chain is intended for carrying, the buckets or scoops of
dredgers or excavators, each bucket or scoop is. provided. with lugs adapted to
embrace the chain and to be secured thereto, and. in order to support the bucket
against excessive strains it is provided at its lower part with a tongue adapted to enter
a slot formed in the adjacent.link.
In practice the links of my improved chain are advantageously made of. cast
metal.
COMPLETE' SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Chains for Transmitting Motion to Machinery, and
för Dredging, Excavating, and other Purposes.
I,. CHARLES LOCK, of 5, Peckham Terrace, Prestbury Road, Upton. Park, in the
county of Essex, Pianoforte Maker, 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.:-
My invention relates to chains for transmitting motion from one shaft to another,
as for instance from the pedal shaft of a bicycle or tricycle to the driving wheel axle ;
for carrying the buckets' or scoops of dredgers or excavators' and for other purposes,

page_text: hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a link of a chain for a dredger, provided with my
improvements; and
Figure 2 is a plan of the same.
Figures 3 and 4 are side views illustrating the method of uniting the links.
Figure 5 is a side view showing the links in connection with a pentagonal wheel.
for carrying the same.
Figure 6 is a view showing in elevation a portion of the chain with a bucket
or scoop attached thereto, and in section the track or girder upon which the chain
runs.
Figure 7 is a side view of a portion of the chain with the buckets or scoops
attached.
Figures 8 and 9 are a plan and side elevation of a link for bicycle chains and the
like, and
Figures 10 and 11 are similar views of another form of link.
As shown in Figures 1 and 2 each link of my improved chain is forked or
bifurcated at one end so as to form two jaws a, a and is flat at the other end b,
the flat end of one link being adapted to fit between the jaws of the adjacent link.
In the flat end of each link is inserted a transverse pin or bar c, the projecting ends
of which are supported in bearings in the jaws a, a. The pin is inserted into these
bearings through slots d, d which are narrower than the diameter of the pin so that
the latter cannot under ordinary circumstances pass therethrough. The pin c is
provided with a longitudinal slot or groove e, adapted to receive the projecting parts 7
at one side of the slots d, d when the links to be connected are in the relative positions
shown in Figure 3, so that by turning the links to the relative positions shown in
Figure 4 the pin will enter its bearings.
It is obvious that as the links can only be disconnected when the projections f, f
are in the groove e, the links cannot be inadvertently disconnected, as such relative
positions cannot be obtained while the chain is in use. When the pin becomes worn,
it can be turned to compensate for the wear.
I prefer to work my chain upon a plain driving or carrying wheel 9, as shown in
Figure 5, but, if desired, the underside of each link of my improved chain can be
provided with a lug or projection adapted to engage with openings of corresponding
shape in the driving or carrying wheels or pulleys, the said lugs being so arranged
that when they become worn, by turning the chain end for end, the wear will be
compensated for. By this construction I am enabled to use my improved chains for
a very much longer period than an ordinary chain can be used.
h, are the dredger buckets or scoops, and each bucket or scoop is provided
with lugs or brackets i, i as shown in Figure 6, adapted to embrace the jaws a, a
of the chain and to be secured thereto either by special pins, or upon the pins c, c.
In order to support the buckets or scoops against excessive strains, each is provided
at its lower part with a tongue k adapted to enter a slot 1 formed in the adjacent
link. As shown in Figure 7 each link is provided with duplicate slots 1, 1 so
that the buckets may be turned according to the direction in which the chain is
working.
To reduce as much as possible the friction of the chain upon the supporting
girders m, m figure 6, each link of the chain is provided with friction rollers n, n
arranged as shown to run upon the girders, whereby the heavy rollers with which
the latter are usually provided are dispensed with.
The links shown in Figures 8 and 9, and 10 and 11 are of ordinary shape but are
adapted to be connected in the manner as hereinbefore described.
It is obvious that my improvements may be adapted to other forms of link without
departing from the nature of my invention.

page_text: 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 claim is :-
(1) A chain for transmitting motion to machinery and for other purposes, each
link of which is at one end provided with a grooved pin or bar and at the other
end with bearings connected by slots to the outside of the link, the width of the
said slot being less than the diameter of the pin, substantially as, and for the
purpose, set forth.
(2) A chain for dredgers or excavators provided with slots adapted to receive
lugs on the buckets or scoops, substantially as, and for the purpose,
described.
(3) A chain of the kind herein before described for dredgers or excavators the
links of which chain are provided with friction rollers, substantially as described.
(4) The manufacture and use of the improved chains hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 23rd day of May 1889.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.