GB2247851A

GB2247851A - Drop forged stud link chain

Info

Publication number: GB2247851A
Application number: GB9112880A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Isitt; Lesley Ann Willetts
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-09-13
Filing date: 1991-06-14
Publication date: 1992-03-18
Also published as: GB9020013D0; GB9112880D0

Abstract

In a method of producing ships anchor chain preformed drop forgings are welded together in a prescribed manner thus allowing the manufacture of any given length of chain using only two unique types of forging. This allows for the rapid construction of stud link chain avoiding the need for conventional manufacturing techniques normally employed on this type of product such as link bending, stud fabrication or continuous casting. Links formed from two drop forged welded half-links are combined with solid forged links to form a chain of required length. <IMAGE>

Description

BI-WELDED DROP FORGED STUD LINK CHAIN DESCRIPTION This invention relates to drop forged stud link anchor chain.

Stud link anchor chain is used on ships and other large marine vessels for connecting the anchor to the ship. The use of a central stud in each link increases the loading capability of the chain by reducing the link's inclination to collapse under load. Stud link anchor chain is normally manufactured by forming and welding bars of the appropriate material and size or by continuous casting methods. By virtue of the studs inclusion it is relatively expensive and time consuming chain to manufacture.

The present invention allows for a method of manufacture of stud link chain which does not involve conventional methods of link forming and construction but rather affords a quick and efficient means of manufacturing the chain by welding together component preshaped drop forgings. The specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the component drawing in which Fig.l shows in plan a forged solid link. Fig.2 shows in plan a welded link formed from two drop forged half links detailed in Fig.3. Fig.4 gives detail of the weld preparation at each of the abutting points of the half link.

Referring to the drawing, the finished chain assembly comprises any quantity of each of the following:- a solid forged link, as shown in Fig.l interlaced with a welded link (Fig.2) formed by the welding together of two identical yet inverted half links detailed in Fig.3. N.B. The welding method employed is dependent upon the quality and the nature of the material from which the chain is produced but for the purpose of this patent application would include the following welding processes:- Mig, Tig, MMA and Atomic Hydrogen. The weld preparation for each or any above mentioned welding methods is formed as an integral part of the half link's drop forged shape and are as detailed in Fig.4.

The chain is thus assembled using recurring combinations of one solid link and one welded link until the desired length is achieved.

Claims

BI-WELDED DROP FORGED STUD LINK CHAIN

CLAIMS No.l. Bi-welded drop forged stud link chain is a method of manufacturing continuous lengths of stud link anchor chain ensuring repeatability, constant size and constant pitch using drop forged preformed component parts.

No.
2. Bi-welded drop forged stud link chain, as claimed in claim 1, avoids the necessity of alternative time consuming processes such as continuous casting or conventional bending and welding techniques.

No.
3. Bi-welded drop forged stud link chain, as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 allows for the consice and accurate manufacture of anchor chains in exotic materials such as copper based alloys which do not easily lend themselves to more conventional forged and welding techniques.

No.
4. Bi-welded drop forged stud link chain as claimed in claim 1, 2 and 3 is substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 of the component drawing.