Improvements in and relating to Chains for Transmitting Power.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Feb., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 17th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 23rd Dec., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by JAMES OTIS BROWN, of 16, Central Street, in
the City of Boston, County of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, United
States of America, Inventor.]
Improvements in and relating to Chains for Transmitting Power.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object to enable a chain to communicate motion from
one shaft to another with greater economy of power and to better advantage than
heretofore, and it consists, first, in a power-transmitting device, comprising a chain,
composed of links, which are provided on their inner sides with gear teeth, and are
arranged end to end in such manner that inward flexure of the chain is prevented,
and only such flexure is permitted as will permit the chain to pass freely around
the gear wheels with which its teeth are engaged, so that the straight portions
of the chain extending between the gear wheels constitute practically rigid
racks, through one of which the driving-wheel imparts power to the driven wheel
by pushing.
The invention also consists in the combination with a chain such as that above.
indicated, of a support or supports arranged to prevent the outward flexure of the
chain between the pulleys, thus maintaining the chain in condition to transmit power
by pushing.
The invention also consists in a chain composed of two or more rows of links, the
links of each row breaking joints with those of the next, so that the teeth of the
chain exert a continuous gripping action on the teeth of the gear wheel as
hereinafter explained, for the purpose of preventing accidental separation of the
chain from the gear wheel.
The invention also consists in certain improvements, such as the provision of
pockets for lubricating material in the ends of the chain teeth, and the form and
arrangement of the toothed links of the chain and of the connecting-plates which
secure said links together.
I provide a gear wheel, affixed to a shaft, and having suitably-formed gear teeth.
The shaft may be journalled in a suitable supporting-frame, and power may be
applied to it in any suitable way. The chain is composed of links, each having two
gear teeth formed to engage the teeth of the wheel. The links are connected in an
endless row or series by plates or sub-links, each of which is pivoted to the ends of
the teeth of two links, the pivots being therefore located at one side of the plane
of the links. The arrangement of the links is such that, when the chain is
straight, the ends of each link abut against the ends of the adjacent links and
against the plates in such manner as to prevent flexure of the chain inwardly or
toward the space surrounded by the chain, the pivots being located inside the links
or within said space, so that the end of each link constitutes a stop which prevents
the end of the next link from swinging inwardly on its pivot. The straight portions
of the chains are therefore practically rigid between the driving and the driven
wheels, so that one side of the chain acts as a rack, through which the driving-
wheel exerts a pushing force on the driven wheel, the other portion of the chain
receiving a pushing force from the driven wheel.
The described form and arrangement of the links, their pivots and the connecting-
plates, permits free outward flexure of the chain, so that it can readily conform to
the periphery of the wheel in passing over the same. To prevent outward flexure
of the straight portions of the chain between the wheels, I provide stops or guides,

page_text: arranged to hear upon the outer sides of the chain, and prevent the links from
swinging outwardly. Said stops or guides are composed of loose rollers, journalled
in bearings in arms attached to the supporting-frame, the rollers being arranged to
bear upon the outer sides of the straight portions of the chain, and thus prevent
any outward flexure of said portions between the driving and driven wheels. It
will be seen, therefore that, since inward flexure of the straight portions of the
chain is rendered impossible by the described construction of the chain, and since
the outward flexure of said portions is rendered impossible by the stops or guides,
the straight portions of the chain constitute racks which are to all intents and
purposes rigid between the driving and driven wheels, and act exactly as racks
having no flexibility, those portions of the chain which engage the gear wheels
being free to readily conform to the peripheries of said wheels, as above
described.
I prefer to cut away the teeth on the chain links, to receive the plates, so
that the outer sides of said plates will be practically flush with the edges of
the links.
I prefer to provide the teeth of the wheel with shoulders near the bases of
said teeth, and to provide each of the plates with a recess, said recesses being
formed to bear upon the shoulders, thus limiting the depth of entrance of the
teeth of the chain into the spaces between the teeth of the gear, and preventing
the chain teeth from sticking or binding on the gear teeth.
A pocket or orifice, is formed preferably in each tooth, and near the base thereof,
for the reception of a lubricating material, such as powdered plumbago. Said
pockets extend through the ends of the teeth, and they are covered by the end
portions of the plates. The movement of the plates upon the ends of the teeth,
caused by the flexure of the chain in passing around the gear wheels, causes a
sufficient escape of the lubricating material from the pockets to lubricate the joint
formed by the connection of the links to the plates, thus obviating excessive wear
and friction at said joints.
In the construction thus far described, the chain is described as composed of a
single row of links.
The chain may be composed of a series of rows of links,
arranged side by side. The construction of each row of links is substantially the
same as that above described, and the several rows of links are arranged to break
joints. The pivots or pins that connect the links with the plates are in this case
of sufficient length to extend across the chain, each connecting several links and
plates. By this construction of chain, employing a series of rows of links, the
independent members of which are arranged to break joints, I enable the chain
to be securely engaged with the wheel around which it passes, by the gripping or
pinching action which the teeth of the links exert upon the teeth of the wheel at
the point where the chain bends in passing around the wheel. It will be seen
that, when the chain is moving in one direction, the first link that is deflected
from the straight course which the chain takes between the driving and the driven
wheels, is caused to swing outwardly from the plane of the straight portion, so that
the tooth at that end of the link co-operates with the adjacent tooth of the last
link in the straight portion of the chain in gripping the gear tooth between said
links. The chain is thus caused to grasp the wheel so firmly as to prevent
displacement of the chain, the grasping action continuing until the last link in
the straight series reaches the point where it in turn is thrown outwardly at its
It will be seen that, by making the chain of a number of rows of links
which break joints, the period during which the chain is thus engaged with the
wheel is greater than when the chain has but one row of links, because, after one
link has grasped and released the chain, the succeeding link in another row grasps
the wheel and continues to hold the chain in engagement with the wheel, so that
there is a practically continuous grasping of the wheel teeth by the chain teeth.
rear end.
I may use a modification of the guides or stops used to prevent outward flexure
of the straight portions of the chain, said stops being flanges, formed on plates or
bars, said flanges being in position to support trucks or small wheels mounted

page_text: loosely upon some of the connecting-plates. The chain may be provided with any
suitable number of wheels to secure the desired result. The plates may be
provided at their opposite edges with inwardly-projecting flanges arranged to
support another series of trucks or wheels mounted on some of the connecting-
plates. The flanges and wheels are not essential, however, and their office is
mainly to prevent strain upon the pivot pins of the upper straight portion of the
chain, particularly when said chain is of considerable length. In this case, the
wheels, riding upon the upper flange, cause said flange to support the weight of
the upper straight portion of the chain, as will be readily seen.
The gear wheels used with the chain composed of a plurality of rows of links
will have a corresponding plurality of rows of teeth.
The described improvements may be used in any mechanism in which power is
transmitted from one wheel to another by flexible connections instead of by direct
gearing. The invention is particularly applicable to bicycles and tricycles, as a
substitute for the ordinary sprocket-wheels and chains now used. I do not limit
myself, however, to this use, and may use the invention for any apparatus to which
it may be found capable of application.
The shoulders are preferably composed of pieces of hardened steel or other
material detachably secured to the teeth by screws or otherwise, so that said
shoulders can be replaced by new ones when worn.
The meeting ends of the links may be provided with buffer pieces of raw hide,
or other material which will prevent noise when the links meet the outer edges of
the plates.
It will be seen that the guides supporting the straight portions of the chain
against outward flexure, prevent any tensile strain on the chain, the strain being
entirely compressive, so that the pivots are not subjected to as great wear as in a
chain under tensile strain. Another advantage resulting from the absence of
tensile strain is that the teeth of the chain and of the gear wear alike and remain
constantly adjusted to each other, there being no increase of the width of the
spaces between the teeth of the chain as there would be if there were a tensile
strain tending to pull the links apart and thus wear the pivots.
It will also be seen that the recessed form of the ends of the chain teeth and the
insertion of the connecting-plates into the recesses, enables the inner sides of the
links to bear on the outer edges of the plates so, that said plates co-operate
with the abutting ends of the links in preventing inward flexure of the chain, the
wear caused by the straightening out of the chain being thus distributed between
the ends of the links and the outer edges of the plates.
The arrangement of the lubricating pockets is such that said pockets are
covered by the plates in all positions which said links and plates can assume when
the chain is running on the gear wheels, hence there can be no loss of the lubricant
nor any escape thereof excepting the desired gradual escape caused by the
movement of the plates across the ends of the pockets, while the chain is in use.
When it is desired to replenish the lubricant, the chain must be removed and
bent abruptly to swing each pocket away from the plate which normally
covers it.
The straight portions of the chain being rigid, as already described, act
precisely like inflexible racks, in moving on to and off from the gear wheels, each
of said portions exerting a pushing force on the wheel toward which it is moving.
The trucks or wheels constitute anti-friction rolls, which run on fixed tracks,
and thus prevent strain on the pivots of the links, by the weight of the chain, the
outer tracks serving also to prevent outward flexure of the chain. The said
anti-friction rolls may be arranged on any suitable part of the chain, so as to
project from the side, back or front of the chain.
Dated this 30th day of January 1893.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Chains for Transmitting Power.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 has for its object to enable a chain to communicate motion from
one shaft to another with greater economy of power and to better advantage than
heretofore, and it consists, first, in a power-transmitting device, comprising a
chain, composed of links, which are provided on their inner sides with gear-teeth,
and are arranged end to end, in such manner that inward flexure of the chain is
prevented, and only such flexure is permitted as will allow the chain to pass freely
around the gear-wheels with which its teeth are engaged, so that the straight
portions of the chain extending between the gear-wheels constitute practically
rigid racks, through one of which the driving-wheel imparts power to the driven
wheel by pushing.
The invention also consists in the combination with a chain such as that above
indicated, of a support or supports arranged to prevent the outward flexure of
the chain between the pulleys, thus maintaining the chain in condition to transmit
power by pushing.
The invention also consists in a chain composed of two or more rows of links,
the links of each row breaking joints with those of the next, so that the teeth of
the chain exert a continuous gripping action on the teeth of the gear-wheel, as
hereinafter explained, for the purpose of preventing accidental separation of the
chain from the gear-wheel.
The invention also consists in certain other improvements, such as the provision
of pockets for lubricating material in the ends of the chain-teeth, and the form
and arrangement of the toothed links of the chain and of the connecting-plates
which secure said links together; all of which I will now proceed to describe
and claim.
Of the accompanying drawings, forming part of this Specification :
Figure 1 represents a side view of a gear-wheel, and a portion of the chain that
connects said wheel with another gear-wheel, portions of the chain and a part of
the wheel being shown in section.
Figure 2 represents a top view of a part of the chain.
Figure 2 represents a section on line 2-2, Figure 1.
Figure 3 represents a perspective view of a portion of the chain.
Figure 4 represents a perspective view of one of the link-connecting plates.
Figure 5 represents a section on line 5-5, Figure 2.
Figure 6 represents a perspective view of a portion of one of the gear-wheels.
Figure 7 represents a side view of a gear-wheel and a part of the chain, the
latter being composed of a plurality of rows of links.
Figure 8 represents a section on line 8-8, Figure 7.
Figure 9 represents a top view of the construction shown in Figures 7 and 8, a
portion of the chain being removed to expose the gear.
Figure 10 represents a perspective view of a portion of the chain shown in
Figures 7, 8 and 9.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.
Referring first to Figures 1 to 6 inclusive of the drawings, a represents a gear-wheel,
affixed to a shaft a', and having suitably-formed gear-teeth a².
The shaft a' may
be journalled in a suitable supporting-frame a³, and power may be applied to it in
any suitable way. b represents the chain, which is composed of links 61, each
having (preferably) two gear-teeth 62, formed to engage the teeth a² of the wheel.

page_text: The links are connected in an endless row or series by plates or sub-links 6³, each
of which is pivoted at 664 to the ends of the teeth of two links 6', the pivots 6*
being therefore located at one side of the plane of the links. The arrangement of
the links is such that, when the chain is straight, the ends of each link abut
against the ends of the adjacent links and against the plates 3, in such manner
as to prevent flexure of the chain inwardly or toward the space surrounded by the
chain, the pivots 64 being located inside the links or within said space, so that the
end of each link constitutes a stop which prevents the end of the next link from
swinging inwardly on its pivot. The straight portions of the chains are therefore
practically rigid between the driving and the driven wheels, so that one side of
the chain acts as a rack through which the driving-wheel exerts a pushing force
on the driven wheel, the other portion of the chain receiving a pushing force from
the driven wheel.
The described form and arrangement of the links, their pivots and the connecting-
plates, permits free outward flexure of the chain, so that it can readily conform
to the periphery of the wheel a, in passing over the same, as shown in Figure 1.
To prevent outward flexure of the straight portions of the chain between the
wheels, I provide stops or guides, arranged to bear upon the outer sides of the
chain and prevent the links from swinging outwardly. Said stops or guides are
shown in Figure 1 as composed of loose rollers cc, journalled in bearings in
arms c c attached to the supporting-frame, the rollers being arranged to bear
upon the outer sides of the straight portions of the chain, and thus prevent any
outward flexure of said portions between the driving and driven wheels. It
will be seen, therefore, that, since inward flexure of the straight portions of the
chain is rendered impossible by the described construction of the chain, and since
the outward flexure of said portions is rendered impossible by the stops or guides,
the straight portions of the chain constitute racks which are to all intents and
purposes rigid between the driving and driven wheels, and act exactly as racks
having no flexibility, those portions of the chain which engage the gear-wheels
being free to readily conform to the peripheries of said wheels, as above
described.
I prefer to cut away the teeth 62 on the chain links, to receive the plates b³, so
that the outer sides of said plates will be practically flush with the edges of the
links b', as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 5.
I prefer to provide the teeth a² of the wheel a with shoulders a near the bases
of said teeth, and to provide each of the plates 63 with a recess 6 (Figure 4), said
recesses being formed to bear upon the shoulders a³, as shown in Figure 1, thus
limiting the depth of entrance of the teeth of the chain into the spaces between
the teeth of the gear, and preventing the chain-teeth from sticking or binding on
the gear-teeth.
e represents a pocket or orifice, which is formed preferably in cach tooth b³ and
near the base thereof, for the reception of a lubricating material, such as powdered
plumbago. Said pockets extend through the ends of the teeth, and they are
covered by the end portions of the plates 63. The movement of the plates upon
the ends of the teeth, caused by the flexure of the chain in passing around the
gear-wheels, causes a sufficient escape of the lubricating material from the
pockets e to lubricate the joint formed by the connection of the links to the plates 6³,
thus obviating excessive wear and friction at said joints.
In the construction thus far described, the chain is shown as composed of a
single row of links. In Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10, I show the chain as composed of
a series of rows of links, arranged side by side. The construction of each row of
links is substantially the same as that above described, and the several rows
of links are arranged to break joints, as clearly shown in Figure 9. The pivots
or pins that connect the links with the plates 63 are in this case of sufficient length
to extend across the chain, each connecting several links and plates, as shown in
Figure 8. By this construction of chain, employing a series of rows of links,
the independent members of which are arranged to break joints, I enable the

page_text: chain to be securely engaged with the wheel around which it passes, by the
gripping or pinching action which the teeth of the links exert upon the teeth of
the wheel at the point where the chain bends in passing around the wheel. By
reference to Figure 7, it will be seen that, when the chain is moving in the
direction indicated by the arrow in said figure, the first link that is deflected from
the straight course which the chain takes between the driving and the driven
wheels is caused to swing outwardly from the plane of the straight portion, as
shown at r, so that the tooth at that end of the link co-operates with the adjacent
tooth of the last link in the straight portion of the chain in gripping the gear-
tooth between said links. The chain is thus caused to grasp the wheel so firmly
as to prevent displacement of the chain, the grasping action continuing until the
last link in the straight series reaches the point where it in turn is thrown out-
wardly at its rear end. This grasping action of the teeth of the links on the
teeth of the wheel, whether the chain is composed of one row or a series of rows
of links, is due to the involute form of the teeth of said links. If the surfaces of
these teeth were concentric with the pivots of the links, they could not approach
each other in passing around the wheels so as to grasp the teeth of the latter.
It will be seen that, by making the chain of a number of rows of links which
break joints, the period during which the chain is thus engaged with the wheel
greater than when the chain has but one row of links, because, after one link has
grasped and released the chain, the succeeding link in another row grasps the
wheel and continues to hold the chain in engagement with the wheel, so that there
is a practically continuous grasping of the wheel-teeth by the chain-teeth.
In Figures 7 and 8, I show a modification of the guides or stops used to
prevent outward flexure of the straight portions of the chain, said stops being
shown as flanges c², formed on plates or bars c³, said flanges being in position to
support trucks or small wheels c, mounted loosely upon some of the connecting-
plates 63. The chain may be provided with any suitable number of wheels c¹ to
secure the desired result. The plates may be provided at their opposite edges
with inwardly-projecting flanges c, arranged to support another series of trucks
or wheels c, mounted on some of the connecting-plates 3. The flanges c³ and
wheels are not essential, however, and their office is mainly to prevent strain
upon the pivot-pins of the upper straight portion of the chain, particularly when
said chain is of considerable length. In this case, the wheels c, riding upon the
upper flange c, cause said flange to support the weight of the upper straight
portion of the chain, as will be readily seen.
The gear-wheels used with the chain composed of a plurality of rows of links
will have a corresponding plurality of rows of teeth a², as shown in Figures 8
and 9.
The described improvements may be used in any mechanism in which power is
transmitted from one wheel to another by flexible connections instead of by direct
gearing. The invention is particularly applicable to bicycles and tricycles, as a
substitute for the ordinary sprocket-wheels and chains now used. I do not limit
myself, however, to this use, and may use the invention for any apparatus to which
it may be found capable of application.
The shoulders a³ are preferably composed of pieces of hardened steel or other
material, detachably secured to the teeth a' by screws a³ (Figure 6) or otherwise,
so that said shoulders can be replaced by new ones when worn.
The meeting ends of the links 61 may be provided with buffer-pieces 68 68
(Figure 3) of raw hide, or other material which will prevent noise when the links
meet the outer edges of the plates 6º.
It will be seen that the guides cc, supporting the straight portions of the chain
against outward flexure, prevent any tensile strain on the chain, the strain being
entirely compressive, so that the pivots are not subjected to as great wear as in a chain
under tensile strain. Another advantage resulting from the absence of tensile
strain is that the teeth of the chain and of the gear wear alike and remain con-
stantly adjusted to each other, there being no increase of the width of the spaces

page_text: between the teeth of the chain as there would be if there were a tensile strain
tending to pull the links apart and thus wear the pivots.
It will also be seen that the recessed form of the ends of the chain-teeth and the
insertion of the connecting-plates 63 into the recesses, enables the inner sides of the
links to bear on the outer edges of the plates ³, so that said plates co-operate
with the abutting ends of the links in preventing inward flexure of the chain, the
wear caused by the straightening out of the chain being thus distributed between
the ends of the links, the inner sides of the links and the outer edges of the
plates 63.
The arrangement of the lubricating pockets e is such that said pockets are
covered by the plates 63 in all positions which said links and plates can assume
when the chain is running on the gear-wheels, hence there can be no loss of the
lubricant, nor any escape thereof excepting the desired gradual escape caused by
the movement of the plates across the ends of the pockets, while the chain is in
use. When it is desired to replenish the lubricant, the chain must be removed and
bent abruptly to swing each pocket away from the plate which normally covers it.
The straight portions of the chain being rigid, as already described, act precisely
like inflexible racks, in moving on to and off from the gear-wheels, each of said
portions exerting a pushing force on the wheel toward which it is moving.
The trucks or wheels c constitute anti-friction rolls, which run on fixed tracks,
and thus prevent strain on the pivots of the links, by the weight of the chain, the
outer tracks serving also to prevent outward flexure of the chain. The said anti-
friction rolls may be arranged on any suitable part of the chain, so as to project
from the side, back or front of the chain.
The advantages resulting from the construction of the chain, due to the reciprocal
bearing of the ends of the links against each other, end to end, preventing longi-
tudinal compression of the chain, and to the reciprocal bearing of the inner surfaces
of the links against the outer edges of the link-connecting plates or sub-links, pre-
venting inward flexure of the chain, are very marked, and we desire to emphasize
the fact that the chain is composed of links pivotally connected and provided with
two sets of reciprocal bearing-surfaces, one set represented by the abutting ends of
the links b' opposing compressive longitudinal pressure, so that the chain will not
be shortened longitudinally by pressure exerted upon it, and such pressure will
not exert injurious strain and wear upon the pivots that connect the links; while
the other set, represented by the outer edges of the connecting-plates d³ and the
corresponding inner edges of the links & bearing upon said outer edges, prevent
inward flexure of the chain.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1st. A gear-chain, composed of toothed links, pivotally connected, and provided
with two sets of reciprocal bearing-surfaces, one set being arranged to oppose
compressive longitudinal pressure, while the other opposes inward flexure, as set
forth.
2nd. A gear-chain, composed of a series of toothed links formed and arranged to
shut against each other, and a series of sub-links pivotally connected with the said
abutting links, the said abutting links and sub-links having co-operating seats or
bearings, the two series forming a chain which is self-supporting against inward
flexure.
3rd. A gear-chain, composed of toothed links, and link-connecting plates pivotally
connected to the links, the links being arranged to abut against each other, end to
end, and against the outer edges of the plates, whereby inward flexure of the chain
is prevented, as set forth.
4th. A gear-chain, which is self-supporting against inward flexure, and provided
with integral involute gear-teeth at its inner side, as set forth.
5th. A gear-chain, which is self-supporting against inward flexure and is provided

page_text: with integral gear-teeth, combined with a stop or guide arranged to prevent out-
ward flexure of a power-transmitting portion of the chain, as set forth.
6th. A gear-chain, composed of links provided with teeth having pockets to
contain a lubricant, and link-connecting plates pivotally connected to the links and
arranged to cover the ends of said pockets, as set forth.
7th. A gear-chain, composed of links provided with inwardly-projecting gear-
teeth, and link-connecting plates pivotally connected to the links and provided with
recesses adapted to receive shoulders on the teeth of a gear-wheel, as set forth.
8th. A gear-chain, composed of a plurality of rows of links, each connected end
to end by pivoted connecting-plates, said links having gear-teeth on their inner
sides and being arranged so that the links of each row break joints with the links
of the adjoining row, as set forth.
9th. A gear-chain, having its links provided with involute gear-teeth and
provided with anti-friction rolls, combined with a fixed stop-guide formed as a track
to support said anti-friction rolls, as set forth.
Dated this 17th day of November 1893.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.