Improvements in Chains for Chain Gearing, and in the Method of Constructing the same.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Dec., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 30.h July, 1896-Accepted, 19th Dec., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Chains for Chain Gearing, and in the Method of
Constructing the same.
FREDERICK JAMES SMEDLEY 270 Alfreton Road Nottingham Designer do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in chains for chain gearing and in the
method of constructing the same and refers particularly to improvements in chains
for cycle gearing, the object of the invention being the production of a dirt and
dust proof chain having links without openings so that the faces of the chain
appear continuous.
According to one arrangement solid links are used, such links being halved
together at the joints, while the joint pins project on both sides of the same.
In another arrangement cach link is built up of two, or more separate pieces so
placed that the pieces project alternately at opposite ends of the link, and the
projecting pieces on one link fit between the spaces of another link. The pieces
may be fastened together by rivets or the like, and the joint pins project on both
sides of the joint.
In another arrangement the links are bent to form the joint which may be
similar to a hinge, with a joint pin projecting on both sides of the joint, or, the
links may be bent from strips of metal and coupled together by pins attached to
suitably shaped pieces at both sides of the link.
In another chain made with open links the continuous face is obtained by means
of elastic bands fastened to the faces of the chain or the openings in the links are
filled with rubber or other material, the joint pins projecting at the sides as in the
other chains. The rubber bands may also be applied to the faces of the solid link
chains previously referred to.
The upper and lower faces of the chain may be of different widths and the
projecting ends of the joint pins may be fitted with rollers.
The wheels used with the chains here referred to have a groove for the chain
to work in, and the sides of the groove are cut for the projecting ends of the joint
pins, while the groove is deep enough to prevent the chain touching the bottom of
the same.
Dated this 18th day of December 1895.
Improvements in Chains for Chain Gearing, and in the Method of
Constructing the same.
FREDERICK JAMES SMEDLEY 270 Alfreton Road Nottingham Designer 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 improvements in chains for chain gearing and in the

page_text: Fig. 7. is a plan of a modified form of a built link.
Fig. 8. is an elevation of a chain in which the links are formed of bent plates.
Fig. 9. is the plan of Fig. 8.
Fig. 10. is an elevation of a further modification of a chain with built links,
and
Fig. 11. is a plan of the same.
In the chain shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the links 1 and 2 are solid, the link 1 having
tongues 3 at both ends, while the link 2 has jaws 4 at both ends the tongue on one
link fitting the jaws of an adjacent link. The links are pivotted together by a
pin 5, the ends of which are fitted with fixed collars 6, or with rollers. In Figs. 3
and 4 a modified solid link chain is shown. These links are made with a jaw 4 at
one end and a tongue 3 at the other end so that all the links in the chain are the
same. They are pivotted together by a pin 5 which has a collar 6 at one end, and
- a solid head 7 at the other end, or both ends may have collars or rollers.
A built link chain is shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Each link is built up of three
pieces 8. 9. and 10 which are fastened together by rivets 11, and arranged to form
a jaw 4 at one end and tongue 3 at the other end, or one link may have jaws at
both ends and alternate links tongues at both end. The links are pivotted together
by pins 5 having end collars or rollers 6. The links may be built up of more than
three pieces as in Fig. 7 which shows a chain having five pieces, 12, 13, 14, 15,
and 16 with tongues and jaws at both ends. In Figs. 8 and 9 the link 17 is inade
from an endless ring of metal which is pressed to the shape shown and rivetted
together if desired. The link 18 is made from a strip of metal which is bent to
form the ends of the link, while the ends of the strip are rivetted at 19. These
links may have jaws at one end and tongues at the other ends, or they may
have tongues or jaws at both ends and be used alternately.
Another form of built up chain is shown in Figs. 10 and 11. In this chain the
outside plates 19 are pivotted to central plates 20 by pins 5 which have driving
collars or rollers 6 on the ends of the same, the collars or rollers being so arranged
the the collars marked a are used when the chain runs in one direction and the
collars when the chain runs in the opposite direction. The central spaces 21 are
packed with metal plates or with pieces of rubber vulcanite or other similar
_material.
These chains work with wheels having a central groove which is deep enough
to keep the chain from touching the bottom of the same, so that the collars or
rollers on the chain are the only parts that make contact with the teeth of the
wheel. In all the herein described chains, the inner ends of the cavities between

page_text: the jaws may be straight as in Figs. 3 and 4 but they are preferably made
concentric with the axle or nearly so. The ends of the tongues are preferably
concentric with the axles. These chains have parallel sides which practically
fit the groove on the wheel and they have practically solid faces. They may be
made by any of the usual methods and of any suitable material, they may also be
hardened and tempered, and the shape of the links shown in any of the figures may
be used for any of the other arrangements were adaptable.
I am aware that previous to this invention other chains have been described in.
Patent Specifications having collars or rollers on the side of the same, and
I disclaim any right to the sole use of side collar or rollers except in combination
with links of the kinds herein described.
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 gear chain in which all the links are the same width, all the faces.
continuous or without holes, and in which the adjacent links are connected by
means of a tongue on one link entering a jaw of the next link with a joint pin
passing through the tongue and jaw and collars or rollers on the end of the joint
pin substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2. In a gear chain as specified in the preceding chain, constructing the links of
plates rivetted together to form the jaw and tongue substantially as described.
3. In a gear chain as specified in the first claim, constructing the links or some.
of the same, of side pieces and filling or packing pieces substantially as described.
4. A gear chain made up by links constructed substantially as herein described.
with reference to the drawings and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 24th day of July 1906
W. H. POTTER,
Nottingham, Patent Agent..