US1034867A - Method of making chain-links and similar articles. - Google Patents

Description

F. G. BREUL. METHOD OF MAKING CHAIN LINKS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES. APPLIOATION FILED JAN 23, 1911.

1,034,867, Patented Aug. 611912.

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W/WENTOR WITNESSES FREDERICK G. BREUL, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

METHOD OF MAKING CHAIN-LINKS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK G. BREUL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented a Method of Making Chain-Links and Similar Articles, all as disclosed by the following specification.

My invention consists in the method I employ for securing together the end portions of the wire from which the link is formed.

This new method can be applied to the making of all shapes of welded chain, but is especially useful in making short link twisted chain, such as is used in anti-skidding devices for automobile tires.

The advantage gained by a chain constructed of links according to my method over hand or electrically welded chain consists preeminently in its much greater tensile strength and in the absolute uniformity of the links. By special machinery designed for the purpose and in process of construction continuous chain composed of such links can be manufactured rapidly and at very small cost for its production.

I will now explain my invention and give a full description of the procedure of mak ing such chain links.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are opposite views of a short chain according to my invention. Fig. 3 is an end view of an opened link, and Fig. 4 shows a link spread apart sidewise. Fig. 5 illustrates how a link is shaped before being subjected to the interlocking process. Fig. 6 represents a link of broader dimensions, and Figs. 7 and 8 show how a useful link of the common fiat metal kind can be formed from wire by the aid of my invention. In Fig. 9 is shown a link having its wire ends extended and locked within the aperture, and in Fig. 10 a ring and in Fig. 11 an S hook, all of which being provided with my interlocking feature according to my process.

To construct a chain link according to Figs. 1 to 6, a wire blank is bent at its center to form a loop A, converging sides B, B, and hook shaped end portions C, C, crossing above each other on their return bend as seen in Fig. 5, the wire ends extending beyond the crossing. The double layer of wire within the crossing contact is then subjected to a heavy pressure between suitable dies,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 23, 1911.

Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

Serial No. 604,216.

and thereby flattened and reduced to the thickness of one wire diameter, more or less. At the same time the crossing portions become embedded into each other by reason of coinciding recesses D, D, being formed on their inner faces. By the same process the outer faces of the crossing portions are flattened, as shown at E, E, and the wire portions thus treated become very hard by such operation, imparting great strength and resistance to the locking device.

For the proper construction of narrow links, Figs. 1 to 5, the wire ends must be chamfered sidewise as plainly shown at F, Fig. 5, so that the locked link end may not be spread apart too far by the swaging operation. These extreme wire ends, whether thus chamfered or not, as in the case of broader links, are not affected at all, however, by the operation producing the locking recesses D, D, and the material 1n these ends remains unchanged and unbent and of the original thickness, as will be plainly seen at G, G, Figs. 3 and 6 and also in Fig. 10.

Up to the present time the production of recesses in the end portions of'chain links and similar articles was accomplished either by cutting away the material necessary therefor, or by consecutively flattening, twisting, locking and compressing the ends, or by sinking recesses separately into each end portion by means of correspondingly shaped dies. Only after such separate operations was the folding of the link completed and the ends forced together and locked. By the method herein disclosed by me, the locking features of both ends are produced by a single final operation after the shape of the link was completely formed. It will also be observed, that the locking impres sions D, D, formed by the action of the crossing wires upon themselves during their compression, do consequently fit minutely and faultlessly into each other, a feature that can not be obtained by any other known operation or tools. It will be noted that an extremely safe and absolutely perfect looking of the wire is accomplished thereby, as well in the direction of the tensile strain of a completed chain, as inwardly against a pressure exerted on both outer sides of the link, and also against an opening pressure introduced inside against both end bows. By specially constructed tools, however, such links may be spread apart to form repair links, as represented in Fig. 3, and perfectly closed and safely interlocked again by a pressure or blows on the outside of loop A. The same construction and features apply to the broader link shown in Fig. 6, except that the wire ends require but little or no chamfering at all.

As shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 of the drawings, links of such other description and shapes may be formed, arranged and secured in accordance with my process and invention, as well as the ring shown in Fig. 10. The S hook, Fig. 11, contains four locking recesses, two near the wire ends and two on opposite sides of the central shank. The unaffected Wire ends on such links or attachments may be left as short as admissible for the purpose, or may be of any desirable length beyond the crossing with its recesses.

Having thus described my invention and the process connected with it,Ihereby claim:

The herein described method of forming a chain link, consisting in shaping a link blank and crossing the end portions thereof, and then cold pressing the crossed portions together with sufficient pressure to flatten the outer sides thereof and to produce coinciding recesses on the inner ormeeting faces of the crossed portions.

FREDERICK G. BREUL.

Witnesses:

FRED l/V. NIEMEs, FREDERICK A. WOLFRAM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

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