IMPROVEMENTS IN OPEN LINKS, RINGS, OR SHACKLES FOR CHAINS, LINKS, TIES OR STAYS."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Allen Ingalls, of Providence, Rhode Island,
United States of America, but at present of No. 26, Sackville Street, in the
County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OPEN LINKS,
RINGS, OR SHACKLES FOR CHAINS, LINKS, TIES OR STAYS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Allen Ingalls at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st March 1881.
WILLIAM ALLEN INGALLS, of Providence, Rhode Island, United States of
America, but at present of No. 26, Sackville Street, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN OPEN LINKS, RINGS, OR SHACKLES FOR CHAINS, LINKS, TIES,
OR STAYS."
My Invention relates to an improved construction of open links, rings, or
shackles, that is to say, links that are made in parts so as to admit of closed links
of chains or shackles or the eyes of tie or stay rods being inserted into them and
that can then be secured in a closed position. According to my present Invention
I construct such links, rings, or shackles of two separate halves, the parts forming
the loops being made to overlap each other, and I connect them by means of a pin
or rivet at the one loop, upon which one or both halves can turn freely so as to
allow the overlapping parts of the loop to open out sufficiently to allow of the intro-
duction of the closed links, shackles, or eyes. The overlapping parts have projections
and recesses or notches at the meeting surfaces so formed that when the halves are
closed up and secured tightly upon each other the projections on the one part fit into
the recesses or notches of the other part, and thus prevent the two parts from opening
out again. The pin or rivet is in the first instance so formed as to allow the one
half link to turn loosely thereon, so that in closing up the half links after the
insertion of the other links the projections on the one meeting surface can ride
over the other surface until they enter their respective recesses or notches, after which
the pin or rivet is tightened up so as to secure the parts tightly together in that
position. The configuration of the two parts may be identical, so that they can be
cast or stamped in the same mould or dies; but I prefer to make them in so far
different from each other that the joint-pin is formed in one with the one half loop

page_text: either by casting or stamping, and is situated on one side of the loop, while the other
half loop has the corresponding hole formed in its opposite side; and in order to
provide the tail part of the first named loop with a support so that it shall not
open out when the strain is put upon it by the other links it is made to fit against a
shoulder formed on the other half loop. The tail part of this half loop being held by
the pin does not require such support.
Such links, rings, or shackles may be either of malleable cast iron, cast steel, or
of wrought iron stamped in dies; they may be employed either in the manufacture
of chains by making every alternate link of this construction, or they may be used
for joining together lengths of chains or the links, shackles, or rods of ties or
stays.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Allen Ingalls in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th August 1881.
WILLIAM ALLEN INGALLS, of Providence, Rhode Island, United States of
America, but at present of No. 26, Sackville Street, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN OPEN LINKS, RINGS, OR SHACKLES FOR CHAINS, LINKS, TIES,
OR STAYS."
My Invention relates to an improved construction of open links, rings, or shackles,
that is to say,
links that are made in parts so as to admit of closed links of chains
or shackles or the eyes of tie or stay rods being inserted into them and that can
then be secured in a closed position. According to my present Invention I
construct such links, rings, or shackles of two separate halves, the parts forming the
loops being made to overlap each other, and I connect them by means of a pin or
rivet at the one loop, upon which one or both halves can turn freely so as to allow
the overlapping parts of the loop to open out sufficiently to allow of the introduction
of the closed links, shackles, or eyes. The overlapping parts have projections and
recesses or notches at the meeting surfaces so formed that when the halves are
closed up and secured tightly upon each other, the projections on the one part fit
into the recesses or notches of the other part and thus prevent the two parts from
opening out again. The pin or rivet is in the first instance so formed as to allow
the one half link to turn loosely thereon, so that in closing up the half links after
the insertion of the other links the projections on the one meeting surface can ride
over the other surface until they enter their respective recesses or notches, after which
the pin or rivet may be tightened up so as to secure the parts tightly together in that
position. The configuration of the two parts may be identical, so that they can be
cast or stamped in the same moulds or dies, but I prefer to make them in so far
different from each other that the joint pin is formed in one with the one half link
either by casting or stamping, and is situated on one side of the loop, while the
other half link has the corresponding hole formed in its opposite side; and in order to
provide the tail part of the first named loop with a support so that it shall not open
out when the strain is put upon it by the other links it is made to fit against a
shoulder formed on the other half link. The tail part of this half link being held
by the pin does not require such support.
Such links, rings, or shackles may be either of malleable cast iron, cast steel, or
of wrought iron stamped in dies. They may be employed either in the manu-
facture of chains by making every alternate link of this construction, or they may
be used for joining together lengths of chains or the links, shackles, or rods of ties
or stava.
Figs. 1 and 2 are views of opposite sides of a link according to my Invention;
Fig. 1 is a cross section on the line X, X; Fig. 3 is an end view; Fig. 4 shews the
link opened to receive the other links; and Fig. 5 shews it partly closed. The two
overlapping parts A, A¹, are pivotted together by a pin C, which by preference is
made in one piece with one of the parts, and passes through a hole in the other
part. The meeting faces of both parts are made with projections and hollows
fitting each other, these being capable of passing each other in the act of folding
up the link while the pin C loosely holds the parts together, but when the link is
folded up with other links engaged in it and the two halves are pressed firmly
together so as to make the projections of the one enter the hollows of the other the
pin C may be rivetted so as to hold the halves close to one another, so preventing

page_text: these projections and hollows from becoming disengaged and the link from unfolding.
The projections and hollows may be varied in configuration; it is important how-
ever to provide in the one half link an abutment 6¹ to support the tail part 6 of the
other half link so as to prevent this part from opening out when the link is sub-
jected to strain. The halves of the link may be made, as shewn in Figs. 6 and 7,
with their meeting faces generally flat but each having a rounded stud a projecting
from its face to enter a rounded hollow sunk in the face of the other.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, I claim,-
.
The construction of open link, ring or shackle in two parts or overlapping loops
that are pivotted to each other by a pin, the faces of the said loops being made with
projections and recesses that fit each other, substantially as and for the purposes
herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Allen Ingalls, have hereunto set my
band and seal, this Twenty seventh day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.