IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CHAINS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in
the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CHAINS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
EMPLOYED THEREIN."-A communication from abroad by Josiah Copley,
the younger, of Allegheny City, State of Pennsylvania, United States of
America.
Sealed the 24th April 1867, and dated the 10th November 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th November 1866.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CHAINS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," & communication to me from abroad by Josiah
Copley, the younger, of Allegheny City, State of Pennsylvania, United States
of America, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a peculiar construction, arrangement, and com-
bination of machinery or apparatus for forming the links of chains ready for
being welded, and consists essentially in so constructing a machine for forming
links for chains that it shall grasp the iron supplied to it, form the link, cut
the scarf or bevel for the joint or weld, and give the desired overlap for

page_text: welding, and continue to feed up the iron until it is entirely expended in
forming links, the leading parts of such machine being constructed, arranged,
and caused to operate substantially in the manner herein-after described. When
necessary (which will always be the case when making heavy links) the iron
employed is bent into links whilst in a heated condition; it is placed in a feeding
guide or trough and grasped between a pair of spring clamps, allowing sufficient
length of the iron rod to project to enable the feed device on moving forward to
bring it into a recess in a collar, which is caused to slide along a flat mandril
by a clutch lever acted on by an incline or projection on the face of a revolving
disc on the main shaft of the machine; this disc carries on its opposite
face a pin, which by acting against a blade spring connected by a rod with
another blade spring carrying the feeding clamps causes them to move forward
and feed in the iron, as before described. The end of the metal rod having
been pushed into the recess referred to, the collar is slid inwards, so as to nip
the end of the rod between the side of the recess and the serrated end of a
rib or projection on the surface of the mandril; the mandril is now caused
to make exactly one revolution, thereby wrapping or coiling the end of the
rod of iron round it, so as to form an open link. The face of the sliding
collar is of a helicoidal form, in order to ensure the wrapping of the rod
round the mandril in a helical manner, thereby forming an open link. The
mandril is caused to make only one revolution at a time by driving the same
by the aid of two toothed wheels, the teeth in one wheel, (viz., that on the
axis of the mandril,) occupying its entire circumference, whilst those in the
other and larger wheel fast on the main shaft only occupy one-half of its cir-
cumference, or correspond in number only to those in the smaller wheel. The
accurate gearing together of these two wheels is ensured by having "shrouds "
formed on the larger wheel, which as they come round press against the bevel
face of a spring latch which serves to hold the smaller wheel stationary when
not in gear, and by releasing that latch from a cross piece on the smaller
wheel sets it in motion, the "shroud" acting on such cross piece, and ensuring
the proper gearing together of the teeth of the two wheels. A projection or
tappet on the periphery of the before-mentioned revolving disc now elevates
one end of a power cutting lever which has. connected to its opposite end a
cutter working in vertical fixed guides, and set at such an angle as to cut the
rod or link at an angle or bevel, so as to form a "scarf;" whilst the cutter
is descending an inclined link or toggle lever connected at one end to the
cutter holder and bearing at its opposite end against a vertical blade spring
which carries the feeding clamps forces back such clamps along the iron rod
sufficiently to give the desired overlap for the next link, at the same time a

page_text: support sliding up an incline underneath the overhanging end of the mandril
is caused to move up so as to form a bed for the end of the mandril and
enable it to withstand the downward thrust of the cutter whilst severing the
link from the rod, such support being actuated from a vertical lever arm
forming part of the cutter actuating lever. A steel plate having its edge
inclined to correspond to the edge of the cutter is let into the mandril
so as to form the under cutting edge; the cutter then rises, the support
under the mandril recedes, and the sliding collar herein-before referred to is
moved outwards so as to push the newly formed open link from off the end
of the mandril; it then resumes its position again for the reception of the end
of the iron rod in the recess before mentioned, when the operations are
repeated for producing the next link, and so on.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 10th May 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters.
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Henry Johnson, Her special license that I, the said John.
Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, or assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, fro:u time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and, Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CHAINS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
EMPLOYED THEREIN," a communication to me from abroad by Josiah Copley, the
younger, of Allegheny City, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be perfornied, and cause the same

page_text: to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
The said Invention relates to a peculiar construction, arrangement, and
combination of machinery or apparatus for forming the links of chains ready.
for being welded, and consists essentially in the constructing a machine for
forming links.for chains that it shall grasp the iron supplied to it, form the
link, cut the scarf or bevil for the joint, or weld and give the desired overlap
for welding, and continue to feed up the iron until it is entirely expended in
forming links, the leading parts of such machine being constructed, arranged,
and caused to operate substantially in the manner herein-after described.
When necessary (which will always be the case when making heavy links)
the iron employed is bent into links whilst in a heated condition; it is placed
in a feeding guide or trough and grasped between a pair of spring clamps,
allowing sufficient length of the iron rod to project to enable the feed device
on moving forward to bring it into a recess in the collar which is caused to slide
along a flat mandril by a clutch lever acted on by an incline or projection on
the face of a revolving disc on the main shaft of the machine; this disc carries
on its opposite face a pin, which by acting against a blade spring connected
by a rod with another blade spring carrying the feeding clamps causes them
to move forward and feed in the iron, as before described. The end of the
metal rod having been pushed into the recess referred to, the collar is slid
inwards so as to nip the end of the rod between the side of the recess and the
serrated end of a rib or projection on the surface of the mandril. The mandril
is now caused to make exactly one revolution, thereby wrapping or coiling the
end of the rod of iron round it so as to form an open link. The face of the
sliding collar is of a helicoidal form in order to insure the wrapping of the rod
round the mandril in a helical manner, thereby forming an open link. The
mandril is caused to make only one revolution at a time by driving the same
by the aid of two toothed wheels, the teeth in one wheel videlicit (that on the
axis of the mandril) occupying its entire circumference, whilst those in the.
other and larger wheel fast on the main shaft only occupy one-half of its
circumference or correspond in number only to those in the smaller wheel.
The accurate gearing together of these two wheels is insured by having
"shrouds" formed on the larger wheel, which as they come round press

page_text: against the bevil face of a spring latch which serves to hold the smaller wheel
stationary when not in gear, and by releasing that latch from a cross piece on
the smaller wheel sets it in motion, "the shroud" acting on such cross piece,
and ensuring the proper gearing together of the teeth of the two wheels. A
projection or tappit on the periphery of the before-mentioned revolving disc
now elevates one end of a powerful cutting lever which has connected to its
opposite end a cutter working in vertical fixed guides and set at such an angle
as to cut the rod or link at an angle or bevil so as to form a "scarf," whilst
the cutter is descending an inclined link or toggle lever connected at one end
to the cutter holder and bearing at its opposite end against a vertical blade
spring which carries the feeding clamps, forces back such clamps along the
iron rod sufficiently to give the desired overlap for the next link; at the same
time a support sliding up an inclined underneath the overhanging end of the
mandril is caused to move up so as to form a bed for the end of the mandril,
and enable it to withstand the downward thrust of the cutter whilst severing
the link from the rod, such support being actuated from a vertical lever arm
forming part of the cutter actuating lever. A steel plate having it edge
inclined to correspond to the edge of the cutter is let into the mandril so as to
form the under cutting edge; the cutter then rises, the support under the
mandril recedes, and the sliding collar herein-before referred to is moved
outwards so as to push the newly formed open link from off the end of
the mandril; it then resumes its position again for the reception of the end
of the iron rod in the recess before mentioned, when the operations are repeated
for producing the next link, and so on.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall
refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters
of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of the Drawings represents a side elevation of the improved chain
machine with a portion of the frame removed; Figure 2 is a top view or
plan of the machine; Figure 3 is an end view of the same; Figure 4 repre-
sents a side view of the collar and mandril used for forming links; Figure 5
represents an end view of the same; Figure 6 represents a side or edge. view
of the mandril around which the link is formed; Figure 7 represents an end
view of the mandril; Figure 8 represents a top or face view of the mandril';
Figure 9 represents in outline a side view of the gear wheels; Figure 10
represents a face or front view of the gear wheels and a latch used for the
purpose of holding the wheel D' and its shaft and the mandril connected with
it in a fixed position until the link is cut off and removed from the mandril

page_text: and the iron fed up to form the next link; Figure 11 represents a piece used
for moving the spring clamp back on the iron for the purpose of obtaining the
desired overlap for welding; Figure 12 represents a side view of the spring
used for holding the wheel D' in the desired position; and Figure 18 represents
a face view of the said spring latch.
.
A represents the frame of the machine, which may be made of iron or
wood, and may be secured down on any suitable base; B represents the main
shaft, which is provided with a driving wheel D and disc C. The driving
wheel D is provided with cogs on only part of its periphery, such cogs being
sufficient in number to turn the wheel D¹ one full revolution. A portion of
the cogs of the wheel D are provided with shrouds C¹ which are used in
connection with a piece J¹ on the wheel D¹ for bringing into proper gear
the wheels D and D¹, and also for the purpose of preventing the cogs from
knocking and jamming against each other while coming into gear. The
piece marked J¹ is put in place of one of the cogs of the wheel D¹ and extends
out beyond the end of the cogs nearly to the thickness of the shrouds C¹ on
the wheel D. The disc C on shaft B is provided with a lifter e for operating
the cutter lever A¹, a pin o for operating the spring B¹, and a projection n for
imparting the desired motions to the clutch lever m. The cutter lever A' is
secured on shaft R, and is provided with a lifting point f and an arm g for
operating the support y for the mandril c upon which the link is formed. The
support y moves on an inclined way marked 5, and is operated by the arm g
through the medium of the rod 4, which is pivotted and attached to the
support y at the point marked I, and is provided with collars 14 and 15 and a
spiral spring 8. The cutter holder or stock h moves in guides i, and is
provided with two trunnions V which work in suitable slots made in the end
of the cutter lever A¹. The cutter t is secured in its holder h by means of a
set screw or other device, and may be adjusted so that it will cut the scarf of
the link at any desired angle. The mandril c around which the link is formed
may be part of the shaft R¹, or it may be made in a separate piece and
secured to the shaft by any suitable means. The upper side of the mandrilc is
provided with a rib markeds, the front end of which is furnished with teeth.
In the upper side of the mandril is made a recess into which is inserted a steel
plate X, the front end of which must in form correspond to the angle of the
cutting edge of the cutter t; the form of and manner of securing the steel
plate X in the mandril is clearly shown in Figures 7 and 8. On the under
side of the mandril c is a rib or brace X* which is used for the purpose of
giving strength and support to the mandril; on the mandril is placed a collar
marked a; which is provided with a helical formed end, a recess ✗³, and a

page_text: groove marked 6, in which the clutch 8 of the lever m works. The recess X*
is used for receiving the end of the rod from which the link is formed, and
the rib or keys, in connection with the lip X* of the collar, is used for
grasping the end of the rod, which grasping of the rod and the releasing of
it from the grasp of the key and lip X of the collar is effected by moving the
collar longitudinally on the mandril through the medium of the clutch
lever m and the projection n¹ on the disc C. The rod w passes through
openings in the springs B and B', and is adjusted and secured to the spring B¹
by means of screw nuts 9; one end of the rod w is provided with a head or
collar u, which is used for the purpose of drawing forward the spring B³, to
which is attached the spring clamp J, which is provided with jaws P', the
inner face of which are grooved out, so that they will grasp around the rod
from which the links are formed. and holds it sufficiently firm to cause it to
wrap closely around the mandril in the process of forming the link. On the
upper end of the spring B', just above the spring clamp J, is secured a
U-shaped feed guide marked ✗; to the stock or cutter holder h is attached
and pivotted the piece marked k, which is made in the form represented in
Figure 11; this piece k straddles the feed guide X, the parts marked 2
resting on the spring clamp, and being so arranged that they will press against
that part of the spring B³ which is secured to the sides of the U-shaped feed
guide X, and is of such a length as will allow the spring clamp J to properly
feed up the iron of which the links are formed, and is set in such an angle
with relation to the stock h that the downward motion of the stock will cause
the piece k to press back against the spring B', and thereby cause the feed
guide X and spring clamp J to slip back on the rod which forms the link a
sufficient distance to give the desired overlap for welding.
•
The form, size, and arrangement of the several parts herein described may
be varied, and, the same general result obtained, therefore I wish it clearly
understood that I do not confine myself to any one size, form, or arrangement
of the parts, but leave this to the taste, skill, and judgment of the mechanic.
As the construction and arrangement of the parts and the relation that these
parts bear to each other will readily be understood by the skilful mechanic
from the description above given, and by reference to the accompanying
Drawings, I will, therefore, without further description proceed to describe the
operation of these improvements in chain machines.
When it is necessary (which will always be the case in making heavy
links) the iron is heated in a suitable furnace, it is then placed in the feed
guide X and in between the jaws P¹ of the spring clamp J, allowing the end
of the iron to project beyond the end of the jaws P¹ sufficiently for the feed

page_text: ab
device to bring it into the recess X³ of the collar a, and as the shaft B,
wheel D, and disc C revolve the pin O will come in contact with the spring B¹
which draws back the rod w, and the head u of the rod w pressing against the
spring B will carry forward the spring clamp J and feed guide X, which will
thrust the projecting end of the iron into the recess X³ of the collar which
is held out towards the end of the mandril c by means of the clutch lever m
acted upon by the elevation n³ of the projection n on the disc C; the pro-
jection n having passed beyond the end of the lever m, the spring 10 pressing
it towards the disc C causes it to move the collar a, so that the lip X* pressing
'the iron against the end of the ribs holds it fast; the shroud C¹ on
wheel D striking against bevel face of the latch R³ presses it back, releasing
the cross piece J' on wheel. D¹, which is then set in motion by the shroud C¹
'acting on the cross piece J¹, which motion is continued until it, together with
the mandril, has made one full revolution wrapping the iron around the
mandril, the helical face of the collar a guiding it and giving it the desired
form of an open link; the lifter e on disc C acting of the point f of the cutting
lever A¹ causes the cutter stock h to descend, which will cause the piece k to press
back the spring B³, together with the spring clamp J, slipping the jaws P¹ of
such clamp back on the iron sufficiently to give the desired overlap for the
next link, at the same time the support y is drawn up under the end of the
mandril c by the arm 9 pressing against the spring 3 on the connecting rod 4,
the motion of the support being checked by the web 16 of the frame A the
spring 3 yields to the further motion of the arm g. The descent of the cutter's
stock h causes the cutter t, which in connection with the steel plate X¹ in the
mandril forms a pair of shears, to cut off the remaining iron in the spring
clamp J, will be carried back by the action of the spring B³; at the same time
the cutter lever A¹ falls back to its original position on the cross piece P,
raising the cutter and its stock and drawing back the piece k, and by means
of the arm g and rod 4 pushing back the support y from beneath the mandril.
The bevel face n' of the projection n on the disc C pressing against.incline 17
of lever m moves the collar a outwards, causing the collar to push the link
off the mandril; the end of the lever m then drops down on the elevation n³
of the projection n, carrying the collar a back to the proper position for
receiving the iron into the recess X³ for the next link.
1.'
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe that in conclusion that what I consider to be novel
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-

page_text: First, so constructing a machine for forming links for chains that it shall
grasp the iron supplied to it, form the link, cut the scarf, and give the desired
overlap for welding, and continue to feed up the iron until it entirely
expended in forming links, such machine being constructed, arranged, and
operating substantially in the manner herein described and set forth.
Second, operating the feed device with relation to the iron of which the
links are formed so that it shall give the desired overlap, substantially as
herein described and for the purpose set forth.
Third, the combination of the collar a, mandril c, and rib s, constructed,
arranged, and operating substantially as and for the purpose herein-before
described.
Fourth, the support y or its equivalent when used for supporting the
mandril, substantially as herein described and set forth.
Fifth, the combination and arrangements of the springs B¹ and B³, rod w,
spring clamp J, feed guide X, and piece k, constructed, arranged, and
operating substantially in the manner herein described and for the purpose
set forth.
Sixth, the combination of the shrouds C³, cross piece J', and latch R' when.
used in connection with the wheels D and D', as herein described and for the
purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this
my Specification set my hand and seal, the Tenth day of May, One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
I HENDY JOHNSON
J.
HENRY JOHNSON. (2.5.)