Improvements in and connected with Weldless Steel Chains.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Aug., 1894
Complete Specification Left. 15th May, 1895-Accepted, 13th July, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Weldless Steel Chains.
1, GRAHAM STEVENSON of Rochsolloch Cottage, Airdrie, Lanarkshire,
Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to weldless steel chains of the loop or folded pattern. The
main object of the invention is to further improve the structure and cheapen the
manufacture of such chains.
In carrying out this invention, I, in place of forming the links of the chain by
cutting a rolled bar of uniform longitudinal and cross sections into blanks from
which to stamp and form each individual link, I roll the bars with intermediately
varying section, both length ways and cross ways so as to form blanks partly
advanced towards finished form before leaving the rolls.
"The roll grooves for all the passes of the bar in process of rolling are of the
usual form i.e. they are of continuous shape throughout the circumference.
The groove of the last or finishing pass of the bar is however so constructed as
to form the bar with a bulb at each side, having a narrow and thin web between
them so that a cross section of the bar resembles what is commonly called double
bulb beam iron except that the web between the bulbs is reduced to a minimum in
breadth.
The bulbs do not run side by side continuously throughout the length of the
bar as usual, but are separated at intervals or spaces corresponding to the length
of the link to be formed by indentations formed by one or more indenting roll
knobs which press the metal into narrow transverse thin webs. Between the ends
of each succeeding length of the double bulb a cross bar is formed circular in
shape so that the two side bulbs are united at both ends and so form a succession
of blank link pieces throughout the bar resembling the figure 8. In some cases
however I prefer to roll the bars into blank link pieces in the form of the letter B
in cross section in which cases one of the rolls has grooves to form the bulbs and
the other is a plain roll.
From the rolling mill the bars are taken to a multiple shearing and stamping
machine where the thin web or backing is cut away and the loops of figure 8 or
letter B shape completely formed. The stamping machine is, by preference,
made to cut out all the blank links comprised in a bar at one operation.
These loops which now form continuous rings resembling in plan the letter O
elongated constitute the blanks from which the folded links are made.
In order to fold the blanks they are placed in a machine which opens out the
ends and forms eyes therein, and, at the same, or a second operation, bends or folds
them over or on a mandrel to the form of the finished link with, as usual, two eyes
at right angles to each other.
The eyes may be round or square as desired.
Chains can be made in this manner suitable for nearly all purposes, where
strength and durability is required.
In the case of chains used for picking tables of collieries they may be formed
with a solid square eye at one end having a rounded or semi-circular working
surface. In order to form the solid ends the blank is, by preference, rolled out
When folded over, this
eyes at each end and a solid part at its centre.
At or about the
central part constitutes the solid end of the finished link.
with

page_text: middle of each link, at both sides, eyes or openings are formed for the reception of
the pin forming the journals of the draw hook.
In some cases however I prefer to dispense with this pin and in place thereof so
construct the links as to permit them being looped through eyes in the draw hooks
in a like manner to the most modern style of waggon coupling chains.
In the case of railway waggon coupling chains made in accordance with this
invention a spear is used, instead of the usual crooked hook for coupling and
uncoupling the links otherwise the staff used for these purposes is fitted with a
crooked hook at one end and a spear at the other so that in cases where waggons
fitted with the usual type of coupling and others with the type herein specified
form a train of waggons the same coupling pole or rod may be used for both by
simply turning it end for end.
Dated this 14th day of August 1894.
CUMI LELD DI DUIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Weldless Steel Chains..
I, GRAHAM STEVENSON, of Rochsolloch Cottage, Airdrie, Lanarkshire,
Consulting 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 weldless steel chains. The main object of the invention
is to further improve the structure and cheapen the manufacture of such chains.
In carrying out this invention, I, in place of forming the links of the chain
by cutting a rolled bar of uniform longitudinal and cross sections into blanks from
which to stamp and form each individual link as described in the Specification of
my prior Patent No. 13300 of 1894. I roll the bars with intermediately varying
section both lengthways and crossways so as to form blanks partly advanced
towards finished form before leaving the rolls.
And in order that my said invention may be properly understood I have hereunto
appended an explanatory sheet of drawings, whereon,
Fig. 1 is a plan and Fig. 2 a side view of a bar after being rolled.
Fig. 3 is a cross section of the bar on the line x-x.
Fig. 4 is a cross section of a slightly different form of rolled bar.
Fig.
the bar.
shows in side view and Fig. 6 in cross section another way of rolling
Fig. 7 is a cross section of a double-bulb bar.
Fig. 8 is a plan view of a link blank after being stamped.
Fig. 9 shows a finished link in side and plan views.
Fig. 10 is a side view and Fig. 11 a plan view of a chain for picking tables of
collieries and the like.
Fig. 12 shows in side and plan views a "spear" for coupling and uncoupling
railway waggon chains.
Under this invention a plain metal bar of the proper length and cross section is
passed through a rolling mill having a plain lower roll and an upper roll so grooved
and shaped as to form the bar at the last or finishing pass with parallel and
longitudinal bulbs a, a, on its upper surface and with a narrow and thin web b
between the bulbs, so, that, in cross section, as shown at Fig. 3 the bar resembles
somewhat the letter B, that is to say, it has a flattened under surface and two
semi-circular bulbs on its upper surface.
The bulbs a, a, do not run side by side continuously throughout the length of
the bar, as in double bulb beam iron, but are separated at intervals corresponding

page_text: to the length of the link to be formed by indentations c formed by one or more
knobs or dies on the upper roll which press the metal at these parts into narrow
transverse thin webs b'. At the ends of each succeeding length of the bulbs a, a,
cross connecting bulbs d of semi-circular shape are formed so. that the two side
bulbs a, a, are united into one at both ends and thus form a succession of blank
link-pieces throughout the bar resembling, in plan view, a flattened ring.
The ring shaped bulbs, as will be seen, are thickened or raised at the ends, at d'
and at the middle parts, at d², in order to give additional metal at these parts.
From the rolling mill the bars are taken, when hot, to a multiple shearing and
stamping machine where the thin webs or backings b, b', are cut away, and the
ring bulbs are completely shaped and formed on both the upper and under sides.
The stamping machine is, by preference, made to cut out and shape all the link
blanks comprised in-a bar at one operation.
These cut out bulb pieces which now form continuous rings resembling in plan
the letter O elongated, constitute the blanks.from which the folded links are made.
In order to fold the blanks they are placed in a machine which, first presses them
in at the middle and opens out the ends and forms eyes f therein (see plan view
Fig. 8), and, then, at the same or at a second operation, bends or folds them over
or on a mandrel to the form of the finished link, with, as usual in this class of
chain link, the two eyes f, f¹, at right angles to each other as shown in side and
plan view Fig. 9.
The eyes may be round or square as desired except at the surfaces of contact of
link with link where of course they should be semi-circular.
Chains can be made in this manner suitable for nearly all purposes where strength
and durability is required.
In place of rolling the bars of the cross section shown at Fig. 3 they may be
rolled of either of the cross sections shown at Figs. 4 and 7. The only difference
between the bars Figs. 3 and 4 is that in the latter the bulbs a¹ are rolled of
rectangular section instead of semi-circular. In this case it is of course necessary
for the stamping machine to entirely shape and finish the ring blanks.
In the case of a bar rolled of the rail or "double bulb beam" section shown
at Fig. 7 it is only necessary for the stamping machine to cut out the thin web b
and finish the shaping of the bulbs a².
In cases, when making the lighter kinds of chains, the indentations c may, in
order to cheapen the construction of the rolls of the last pass, be dispensed with
and plain cross parts or ribs g be left between the depressions b, as shown in side
view and section at Figs. 5 and 6. These ribs are stamped out and shaped in the
stamping machine.
In the case of chains used for picking tables of collieries, (Figs. 10 and 11) and
other conveyers of a similar character the links may be formed with a square eye h
at one end having a rounded or semi-circular working surface h'. At or about the
middle of each link, at both sides, eyes or openings are formed for the reception
of the pin k forming the journal of the carrier block l.
In the case of railway waggon coupling chains made of links formed in accordance
with the present invention or my prior invention No. 13300% aforesaid, a spear, such
as m Fig. 12, fitted on the end of a pole or staff n, is used instead of the usual
crooked hook for coupling and uncoupling the chains. Or a staff with a crooked
hook of the usual form at one end and a spear at the other end may be used so
that, in cases where waggons fitted with the usual type of coupling and others
with the type herein specified form a train of waggons, the same coupling pole or
rod may be used for both by simply turning it end for end.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I consider novel and desire to claim is: :-
1. Weldless chain links of the folded type made from blanks cut or stamped, in
a multiple or other suitable shearing and stamping machine, from a bar rolled into

page_text: the shape shown at Figs. 1 and 2 and of the cross sections shown at either Figs. 3,
4, or 7, substantially as herein before described with reference to the drawings
annexed.
2. Chains for picking tables of collieries and other like conveyers made
substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown at Figs. 10 and 11 of the
drawings annexed.
3. The application and use in connection with railway waggon coupling chains
composed of folded links, of a spear m for coupling and uncoupling the chains
substantially as herein before set forth.
Dated this 11th daw of Ma- 1005
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70 Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.