Improvements in the Manufacture of Chain Shackles or Couplings.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Aug., 1894-Accepted, 8th Sept., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Chain Shackles or Couplings.
I, ROBERT JAMES RAE, of Leadenhall Buildings, in the City of London,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in that description of chain shackles or
couplings in which the body of the shackle consists of two U-shaped parts the
ends of which are recessed and shaped to form sockets and plugs so that one half
shackle will fit into and upon the other in order to produce a shackle similar in
shape to the ordinary cable link.
According to my improvements the two halves of the shackle are held together
by a centre block somewhat in the form of a Maltese cross which also acts as a
stud and is usually made in halves, each half being provided with flanges adapted to
fit into corresponding recesses which I form in both sides of the shackle and of
such shape that when the centre block is in its place the outer parts or ends of
the shackle are interlocked and fastened. In order to still further secure the
parts of the shackle the flanges of the centre blocks have formed upon the inside
faces suitably shaped lips or projections which fit into recesses or through keyways
which pass through the sides or sockets of the shackle and the plugs whereby
the parts of the shackle are securely clasped and fastened together transversely
as well as laterally.
My centre blocks may be held together by means of a split pin or other suitable
contrivance.
The centre block may if required be made in one piece with flanges and lips on
one side of the shackle only.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Chain Shackles or Couplings.
I, ROBERT JAMES RAE, of Leadenhall Buildings, in the City of London,
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 improvements in that description of chain-shackles or
couplings in which the body of the shackle consists of two U-shaped parts the
ends of which are recessed and shaped to form sockets and plugs so that one half
shackle will fit into and upon the other in order to produce a shackle similar in
shape to the ordinary cable link.
According to my improvements the two halves of the shackle are held together
by a centre block or key somewhat in the form of a Maltese cross which also
acts as a stud and is usually made in halves, each half being provided with
projections adapted to fit into corresponding recesses which I form in both sides of
the shackle and of such shape that when the centre block is in its place the outer
parts or ends of the shackle are interlocked and fastened. In order to still further
CDOJI

page_text: secure the parts of the shackle the projections of the parts of the centre block have
formed upon the inside faces suitably shaped lugs or projections which fit into
recesses or through keyways which pass through the sides or sockets of the shackle
and the plugs whereby the parts of the shackle are securely clasped and fastened
together transversely as well as laterally.
The parts of my centre block or key may be held together by means of a split pin
or other suitable contrivance.
The centre block or key may, if required, be made in one piece with projections
and lugs on one side of the shackle only.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe the same by reference
to the accompanying drawing, in which :-
Figure 1 is an elevation of one form of my shackle or coupling; and,
Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2, Figure 1 :
Figures 3 and 4 are an elevation and an end view of one of the two main parts of
the shackle; and,
Figures 5, 6 and 7 are detail views of the key:
Figures 8 and 9 illustrate a modification of my invention.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.
a, a are the two main parts of the shackle, b, b are the pins thereof, and c, c are
the sockets, the said pins and sockets being of exactly the same size and shape
externally and internally respectively so that when the two parts of the shackle
are fitted together they will have the form of an ordinary chain-link. d is the
key serving to retain the two parts a, a of the shackle together and forming
the stud.
The key d is provided with two projections e, e which fit into corresponding
recesses, formed in the socket portions of the main parts of the shackle and
with lugs k, k upon the said projections which pass through slots i, i in the
sockets and enter corresponding recesses j, j in the pins, whereby the two parts of
the coupling cannot become separated and at the same time the coupling is prevented
from opening or collapsing.
The key as shewn in elevation in Figure 5 has the form somewhat of a Maltese
cross and is formed in two parts shewn in edge view in Figures 6 and 7, the lugs k, k
thereon being of such length that they will meet when placed in position as shewn
in Figure 2. I prefer this divided key as it gives a uniform appearance to the two
sides of the coupling. If desired, however, the lugs k, k may be made so long that
when the key is in position upon one side of the coupling the said lugs will project
through the slots i, i and recesses j, j so as to be flush with the surface on the other
side as shewn in Figure 9. The key which is shewn in elevation in Figure 8
has the projections e, e T-shaped but they may be of a dovetail shape as in
Figure 1.
In order that the keys d shall not become separated from the links, a pin / with
a split end may be introduced as shewn, or a screw or other fastening device may
be employed.
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. In a chain-shackle or coupling the combination of two main parts each having
a pin and socket and adapted to fit together, and a locking-key formed in two parts
and having projecting lugs which enter slots or recesses formed in the pins and the
walls of sockets, substantially as, and for the purpose, described.
2. In a chain-shackle or coupling the combination of two main parts each having
a pin provided with a recess and a socket to receive the pin of the other part
having its wall provided with a slot and a key having lugs adapted to engage the
slots in the wall of the said sockets and to enter the recesses in the said pins when
the parts are assembled substantially as described.

page_text: 3. The manufacture and use of chain-shackles or couplings substantially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 2nd day of August 1894.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.