IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF MAKING OR FORMING THE LINKS OF IRON OR STEEL CHAINS, CHAIN CABLES, SHACKLES, COUPLINGS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Homfray, of Witley Lodge, in the Parish
of Halesowen, in the County of Worcester, Iron Manufacturer, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF MAKING OR FORMING
THE LINKS OF IRON OR STEEL CHAINS, CHAIN CABLES, SHACKLES, COUPLINGS,
"
Sealed the 4th November 1864, and dated the 19th May 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Homfray at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 19th
May 1864.
I, GEORGE HOMFRAY, of Witley Lodge, in the Parish of Halesowen,
in the County of Worcester, Iron Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF MAKING
OR FORMING THE LINKS OF IRON OR STEEL CHAINS, CHAIN CABLES, SHACKLES,
COUPLINGS, OR PARTS OF THE SAME, AND FOR MACHINERY TO BE USED THEREIN,"
to be as follows:-
I take the bars of iron or steel, either hot direct from the rolls, or cold,
and coil them upon a mandrel or bar of such a shape, and distributed upon
the mandrel or bar in such a manner that the coils when cut into pieces
shall form links of the required shape and size, and having scarfed, or spliced,
or other joints used by chain and chain cable makers, and with sufficient
openings between the joints to allow of their being linked together, and

page_text: closed up before being welded; I also cut the coils and link the pieces together
and close up the joints by my machinery.
My machinery consists of oval mandrels of various sizes; these are fixed
horizontally into a hollow headstock having driving gear, speed wheels, and
reversing and stopping motion. Each mandrel has a collar which is fitted
into a carriage, and slides on a screw or rack upon a bed from end to
end of the mandrel and discharges the coil. The end of the mandrel
opposite the headstock is supported by a carriage which falls down and
allows the coil to pass off the mandrel to a bar connected with a saw or
shears. A rest with a tool fixed on it slides upon the bed from end to
end of the mandrel by a screw or rack which gives direction to the bar
of metal and regulates the angle of the coil. The smaller mandi els have
a sliding collar carried on the slide rest.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Homfray in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th November 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
HOMFRAY, of Witley Lodge, in the Parish of Halesowen, in the County of
Worcester, Iron Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said George Homfray, Her special licence that I, the said George
Homfray, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said George Homfray, 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
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MODE OF MAKING OR FORMING THE LINKS OF IRON OR STEEL
CHAINS, CHAIN CABLES, SHACKLES, COUPLINGS, OR PARTS OF THE SAME, AND FOR.
MACHINERY TO BE USED THEREIN," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said George Homfray, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their bands and seals, should particularly.
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner

page_text: 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 George Homfray, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
I take the bars of iron or steel either hot direct from the rolls, or cold, and
coil them upon a mandrel or bar of such a shape, and distributed upon the
mandrel or bar in such a manner, that the coils when cut into pieces shall
form links of the required shape and size, and having scarfed, or spliced, or
other joints used by chain and chain cable makers, and with sufficient
openings between the joints to allow of their being linked together, and
closed up before being welded, I also cut the coils and link the pieces together
and close up the joints by my machinery.
My machinery consists of a mandrel of the shape of the link required, fixed
into a headstock having driving gear, speed wheels, and reversing and stopping
motion. A collar turning in a carriage is fitted upon the mandrel and is ma‹le
to slide upon the bed from end to end of the mandrel to discharge the coil.
The end of the mandrel, opposite the headstock, is supported by a carriage,
which is made to slide out and fall out of the way to allow the coil to pass
on to a bar connected with the shears or saw. A tool fitted into a rest or
saddle is made to slide from end to end of the mandrel to give direction to
the bar of metal and regulate the pitch of the coil.
A sliding collar and carriage is also carried upon the sliding rest or saddle,
when required, to prevent the mandrel from springing during the process of
cooling.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Homfray, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Eighth day of November, in the year of our Lord
1864
GEORGE HOMFRAY. (L.S.)