IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CHAINS AND CHAIN CABLES
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Bennett Howell, of the Firm of Shortridge,
Howell, & Co., Steel Manufacturers, of Sheffield, in the County of York,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CHAINS AND
CHAIN CABLES."
Sealed the 28th March 1862, in pursuance of an Order of the Lord Chancellor,
13th September 1861
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Bennett Howell
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th September 1861.
I, JOSEPH BENNETT HOWELL, of the Firm of Shortridge, Howell, & Co.,
Steel Manufacturers, of Sheffield, in the County of York, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
CHAINS AND CHAIN CABLES," to be as follows:-
My Invention comprehends certain improvements in the manufacture of
chains which combine economy in production with increased strength.
I employ steel or iron, or a combination of steel & iron, rolled of any required
thickness & breadth, with one face concave and the other convex. The metal
so rolled I form into links of such shape as may be necessary by coiling the
strips of metal around a die or centre, which corresponds with the interior of
the link, and towards which the convex surface of the metal is turned, the
CD 17

page_text: convex bedding continuously into the corresponding concave surface. These
coils or helical laminated links are built up to the proper substance when hot;
when sufficient contraction has taken place, the ends are soldered or pinned;
one link can be turned within another by arranging an opening accessible by
a hinged jaw within the die or centre, on which the link is coiled. For chains
made according to my Invention the metal may be tinned, and when reduced
to links, brazed or soldered.
SPECIFICATION filed in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
and of an order of the Lord Chancellor, by the said Joseph Bennett
Howell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th March 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
BENNETT HOWELL, of the Firm of Shortridge, Howell, and Company, Steel
Manufacturers, of Sheffield, in the County of York, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, fer Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Joseph Bennett Howell, Her special licence that I, the said Joseph
Bennett Howell, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
J, the said Joseph Bennett Howell, 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 migh
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CHAINS AND CHAIN CABLES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that 1, the said Joseph Bennett Howell, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Joseph Bennett Howell, do hereby
declare the nature of my 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 Sheets of Drawings hereunto
nnexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-

page_text: My Invention comprehends certain improvements in the manufacture of
chains which combine economy in production with increased strength.
I employ steel or iron, or a combination of steel and iron, rolled of any required
thickness and breadth, with one face concave and the other convex. The
metal so rolled I form into links of such shape as may be required by coiling
the strips of metal around a core or centre which corresponds with the interior
of the link to be made, and towards which the convex surface of the metal is
placed. I lap two, three, four, or more coils continuously the one on the
other, the convex surface bedding into the corresponding concave surface.
For this purpose I heat the metal bar or strip in a suitable furnace to a
welding heat, and while so heated wind it up on the core or centre before
mentioned, which welds it throughout as it is being coiled up, pressure by a
suitable bar or part being exerted at the point of contact and welding, to
ensure the uniti ng of the metal. To further ensure and improve the union of
the coils or lamina of the link, I cause a current or blast of air to impinge on
the point of contact and union or welding of the metal, which has the effect of
increasing the heat of the iron, and removing any oxide or scale formed on the
uniting surfaces. One link is turned within the other by placing the madelink
partially within the core or form on which the link is to be made, a recess
being cut therein for that purpose, which, with its wheel for actuating it, is
made in two parts, hinged together to separate and receive the links; this,
together with any made chain with which it may be in connection, remains
stationary, while the new link rotates with the mandril or centre in process
of manufacture.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shows a plan, Figure 2 a side elevation, Figure 3 a front elevation
and Figure 4 an end elevation of a machine constructed for making chains
according to my Invention. The motive power is applied to a fly or driving
wheel, on the axis of which is fixed a bevil friction wheel (a); the rotation of
this wheel, which acts on a similar wheel (B) attached to a vertical shaft,
actuates the cog wheel (C), and causes the wheel (D) to revolve at such a rate
of speed as may be desired. The wheel (D), formed with a cylindrical hole
in the centre, fits and revolves on a hollow stud a, fitted on a bed; this stud
has a notch cut in one side, coinciding with a slot & herein-after mentioned.
The said bed slides up & down, & is attached by a connecting rod to the
lever (e), by which the wheel can be thrown into or out of gear at pleasure.
A die or mould (/) also formed with a cylindrical opening in the centre is
attached to the top of the wheel (D). The periphery of this mould is adapted

page_text: to the inner surface of the chain link, and to admit of the link when wound
upon it being removed; it is formed in two thicknesses, see Figure 4. Both
the die or mould (S) and the wheel (D) are so made as to open or separate
in a line across the diameter by a hinged joint, in order that a link removed
from the mould and reduced to shape may be introduced into the central
space, and thus admit of the new link being wound within it upon the mould.
Moulds for links of various sizes may be adapted for and used in the same
machine. The guards (g,g,) are attached to slides moveable in parallel slots
which regulate their action. To these guards are attached pressure wheels (h,h,)
which,during the process of coiling or building up each link of a chain, rotate
with the periphories acting against the outer surface of the material being
operated upon. Such pressure as may be necessary can be applied by menus
of the levers (2, 2). The strip of iron or steel, or steel and iron combined, is,
in the first instance, passed between rolls in the ordinary well-knowu manner,
the rolls being ent and adjusted to produce the required breadth and thickness,
with one side convex and the other concave. At the proper heat it is then
passed between the wheels (h,h,) into a notch in the mouth of the mould (f),
which is then caused to revolve, drawing the metal around it under pressure
of the wheels, (h, h,) at the same time a continuous blast or jet of air is
introduced between the concave and convex surfaces as they come in contact.
When the link is wound or built up to the proper thickness, the machine is
thrown out of gear, the top of mould (f) taken off, and the new link removed;
the mould and wheel (D) are then opened, and the link and the previous link
removed from the interior of the wheel and mould, and the new link inserted
(see Figure 5). The link, if made of a circular form, is reduced to the
required form or figure between the jaws of a tongs made for the purpose (see
Figure 6), before it is passed in the slit (K) between the opening in the
mould (f) and the wheel (D), as before mentioned; anothor link is theu
coiled within it, removed, reduced to shape, and placed in the same position to
admit of a third link being built up within and attached to it, and so on. This
operation is continuod until the chain be of the required length.
Figure 5 represents the coiled link as formed on a circular mandril or or
form. Instead of making the links circular, as shown, the mould may be of
the form of link desired, and which is thereby produced of the shape without
turther trouble.
Having described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I declare that what I claim ns my Invention, to be protected
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,—
First the manufacture of the links of chains and chain cables, each of a strip

page_text: or strips of metal, coiled or wound and welded together simultaneously, as
herein before described.
Secondly, I claim the particular form, arrangement, and disposition of the
metal of the link, as shown in the cross section, Fig. 6 of the Drawing here-
unto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Beunett. Howell, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
10 Witness,
W. CLARK, Patent Agent,
53. Chancery Lane,
London.
JOSEPH BENNETT HOWELL. (L.s.)
.