Improvements in Appliances for the Manufacture of Mooring and other Large Chains.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 1st July, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Apr., 1894-Accepted, 12th May, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Appliances for the Manufacture of Mooring
and other Large Chains.
I, WILLIAM JAMES Cox, Neptune Street Tipton, in the County of Stafford,
Forgeman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention refers to appliances, for the manufacture of mooring, and other
large chains; particularly the moorings, as used by the Lords of the Admiralty,
namely square chain.
This invention will allow of any section of bar, either round, square, or rect-
angular; to be used in such chain, and is so constructed, that any length of chain;
can be easily made, without having to join up, short pieces as hitherto practised in
the trade.
'
It composes a cradle in segments, suspended from the jib of an ordinary crane
used by forgemen and, when requisite can be securely stayed right & left, without
interfering with any working part, the whole to be bolted or riveted together, and
furnished with bars or rollers; inside of cradle so to despatch, chain through same
upon the finish of each link, returning it down under diagonal stay to floor, thereby
doing away with risk and trouble of lowering chain to floor, and re-lashing at the
finish of every link.
At the same time, removing the extra weight of links hanging above the
workman's head, when working at the hammer, also reducing the projecting links,
likely to come into contact with steam hammer to a minimum, thereby giving
every facility of welding such chains link after link, untill the necessary length is
obtained.
Dated this 30th day of June 1893.
WILLIAM JAMES CUA.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Appliances for the Manufacture of Mooring
and other Large Chains.
I, WILLIAM JAMES Cox, Neptune Street Tipton, in the County of Stafford,
Forgeman, 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 :-
My invention refers to appliances; for the manufacture of mooring, and other
large chains; particularly the moorings, as used by the Lords of the Admiralty,
namely square chain.
This invention will allow of any section of bar; either round, square, or rect-
angular, to be used in such chain; and is so constructed that any length of chain';
can be easily made without having to join up, short pieces as hitherto practised in
the trade.
It composes a cradle in segments, suspended from the jib of an ordinary crane.;
as used by forgemen, and when requisite can be securely stayed right and left,
without interfering with any working part, the whole can be bolted or riveted
together; and furnished with bars or rollers; inside of cradle so to despatch, chain

page_text: through same upon the finish of each link, returning it down under diagonal stay to
floor, thereby doing away with risk and trouble of lowering chain to floor, and
re-lashing at the finish of every link.
At the same time, removing the extra weight of links hanging above the
workman's head; when working at the hammer, also reducing to a minimum, the
projecting links likely to come into contact with steam hammer, thus giving
every facility for welding such chains link after link, untill the necessary length is
obtained.
I will now proceed to describe the annexed drawings, by which my invention
will be most clearly understood.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side view, Figure 2 is a sectional plan through line X Y, and
Figure 3 an end view of an ordinary crane A; with a cradle B suspended from
the same by straps and stays C, made from flat section of iron; ordinary plate and
angle iron to strengthen being used in cradle B and shoe I.
The crane chain in Figure 1 has attached to it a pair of straps marked D, with
two pins and cotters E or nuts, one of each in either end, and upon the first link
being welded, the bottom pin E in straps D is withdrawn; and connection is made
with the link, and hoisted up to the required height to receive the second and third
link in turn, upon completion of third link the first is conveyed on to the
cradle at B B on its flat, as shown in Figures 1 and 2; and secured by two pins
and nuts, the pins passing through two cross straps or plates of suitable strength,
one on each side a little out of centre of link and down through bottom of cradle
at B B.
When fourth and each succeeding link is completed, it is only necessary to
disconnect straps and pin D D and E, and connect to one side of link F, either
with pin E or a small lashing chain, and by so doing can turn link F on to its edge
upon releasing nuts and pins in plates holding the same, it is then ready to proceed
down cradle, this done the crane chain is again disconnected and reconnected, to
top end of link H and hoisted to its proper working height for the last link
finished to receive another, the aforesaid instructions can be applied to each link
successfully, and upon first link reaching the foot of crane post, it is housed in a
shoe marked I in Figure 1, and is held on the said shoe by one or more loose pins
passing through top into bottom of same; thereby giving crane free action to and
from the hammer.
In Figures 1 and 3 the last link finished is broken off for convenience of drawing,
and also clearly shows the number of links hanging upon crane chain, including the
one just welded; therefore it is quite clear that working weight is reduced to a
minimum, also that links J and H can be readily rotated around end of link F
when going to and from the furnace to steam hammer, as the straps D are
connected with a swivel eye, attached to crane chain pulley so to facilitate quick
action.
I wish it to be clearly understood that I do not confine myself to section of iron
or steel, for making cradle or any part herein described; neither do I to the exact
details herein given, as a little deviation can be readily accomplished without
departing from the spirit or principle of my invention.
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.
First. A cradle with attachment as herein before described and illustrated in
Figures 1, 2, and 3, for holding surplus chain on crane whilst welding.
Second. A cradle or appliance as herein before described and illustrated in
Figures 1, 2 and 3, for holding the several working links, and rotating around link
secured on flat; by pins and nuts or otherwise.

page_text: Third. A shoe or appliance for holding link on foot of crane, giving free action
as herein before described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3.
Fourth. A cradle for carrying chain attached to any kind of crane, as herein
described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3.
Fifth. A cradle with combined parts as herein described and illustrated in the.
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 31st day of March 1894.
WILLIAM JAMES COX.