IMPROVEMENTS IN SHACKLES OR LINKS FOR CONNECTING CHAIN CABLES AND OTHER CHAINS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Roberts, of Millwall, Poplar, in the County
of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHACKLES OR LINKS
FOR CONNECTING CHAIN CABLES AND OTHER CHAINS."
Sealed the 31st October 1865, and dated the 4th May 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Roberts at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 4th
May 1865.
1, WILLIAM ROBERTS, of Millwall, Poplar, in the County of Middlesex, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SHACKLES OR LINKS FOR CONNECTING CHAIN CABLES AND OTHER CHAINS," to be as
follows:
In constructing shackles or links for connecting chain cables and other
chains according to this Invention, I form a shackle or link of two pieces,
each similar to the half of one of the links of the chains to be connected, each
piece having a bend formed in it similar to the bend at each end of a link,
both legs or straight ends of one piece are screwed with a right-handed, and
both legs of the other piece with a left-handed screw thread; the two pieces
are connected together by two sockets or tubes, which screw on to the two
ends of each piece, each socket having at one end an internal right-handed,
and at the other end an internal left-handed screw thread cut therein, so that
the sockets may be simultaneously screwed on to the ends of the two pieces;
around the exterior of the sockets holes are formed, in order that cach socket
may be held by a wrench and screwed up; the screws I form slightly taper, so
18/1

page_text: that until the sockets are nearly screwed up hard the sockets may be turned
easily by hand, and then both sockets may be simultaneously screwed up by a
wrench suitably formed for the purpose. The wrench I prefer to employ for
this purpose is composed of two wrenches, one for embracing each tube; the
stem of one wrench is formed into a lever handle, and the stem of the other
is connected by a short link to the stem forming the lever handle, so that
when the two wrenches embrace the two sockets the sockets may be screwed
up simultaneously.
By constructing shackles or links in the manner above described, they are
at each end of a circular or bent form, similar to the links of a chain, and
they may also be made of a length similar to the links of the chains they are
to connect together.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Roberts in the Great Seal Patent Oflice on the
4th November 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERTS, of Millwall, Poplar, in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give? and grant unto me,
the said William Roberts, Her special licence that I, the said William
Roberts, my executors. administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said William Roberts, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from 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 "IN.
PROVEMENTS IN SHACKLES OR LINKS FOR CONNECTING CHAIN CABLES AND OTHER
CHAINS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Roberts,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of
the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE; that I; the said William Roberts, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
In constructing shackles or links for connecting chain cables and other
chains according to this Invention, I form a shackle or link of two pieces,
each similar to the half of one of the links of the chains to be connected, each
piece having a bend formed in it similar to the bend at each end of a link,
both legs or straight ends of one piece are screwed with a right-handed, and
both legs of the other piece with a left-handed screw thread; the two pieces
are connected together by two sockets or tubes, which screw on to the two
ends of each piece, each socket having at one end an internal right-handed,
and at the other end an internal left-handed screw thread cut therein, so that
the sockets may be simultaneously screwed on to the ends of the two pieces;
around the exterior of the sockets holes are formed, in order that each socket
may be held by a wrench and screwed up; the screws I form slightly taper, so
that until the sockets are nearly screwed up hard, the sockets may be turned
easily by hand, and then both sockets may be simultaneously screwed up by a
wrench suitably formed for the purpose. The wrench I prefer to employ for
this purpose is composed of two wrenches, one for embracing each tube; the
stem of one wrench is formed into a lever handle, and the stem of the other
is connected by a short link to the stem forming the lever handle, so that
when the two wrenches embrace the two sockets the sockets may be screwed
up simultaneously.
In order that my Invention may be fully understood, I have in the Drawings
hereunto annexed, shewn a shackle or connecting link constructed as above
described.
Figure 1 shews the end links of two chains connected together by a shackle
so constructed, the shackle being seen in edge view.
In Figure 2, the shackle is shewn in side view; and at Figure 3, the
shackle is shewn separately in section.
In each of these Figures a, a, are the two halves of the shackle or link,
each half being similar to the half of a link of the chains to be joined together;
b, b, are the two sockets or tubes for connecting the two halves of the shackle
or link together; each of these sockets or tubes is at one end screwed
internally with a right-handed screw thread, and at the other end with a left-
handed screw thread; the straight ends of the halves of the shackle are also,
as above stated, screwed, the one with a right-handed thread, and the other
with a left-handed screw thread, the sockets may thus be screwed simulta-

page_text: neously on to the ends of the two halves of the shackle; the sockets are, by
preference, formed with holes around their peripheries, as shewn, for the pin
of a wrench to take into, but this is not essential, as the sockets may be
made with flat sides, or they may be made circular in section, and be screwed
up with implements similar to what are known as gas tongs.
At Figure 4 is shewn a wrench suitable for screwing up simultaneously the
two tubes or sockets of a shackle constructed as above described, when the
tubes sockets are formed with holes around them, as shewn in the
Drawing. It is not essential to employ a wrench of this description to
simultaneously screw up the two sockets or tubes, as they may be screwed up
separately, one tube or socket being first partially screwed up, and then the
other, until they are both completely screwed up.
By constructing shackles or links in the manner above described, they are
at each end of a circular or bent form similar to the links of a chain, and they
may also be made of a length similar to the links of the chains they are to
connect together.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Roberts, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
W ROBERTS. (L.S.)