US231580A - Drive-chain - Google Patents

Description

E. L. HOWE. Drive Chain.

No. 231,580. Patented Aug. 24,1880.

INVENTOB:

A UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE L. HOWE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DRIVE-CHAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming-part of Letters Patent No. 231,580, dated August 24, 1880.

' Application filed December 23, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE L. HOWE, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drive-Chains, of which the following, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan or face view of a portion of a drive-chain embodying my invention; Fig. 2, an edge view thereof. Figs. 3 and 4 are representations, respectively, like Figs. 1 and 2, butindicating the essential features of myinvention in modified form; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view, representing a modification of form.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts.

My invention relates to that class of drivechains having links adapted to be detached from each other with facility; and my object is to improve the means employed for admitting of the easy uncoupling and coupling of the links when the chain is not at work. To this end my invention consists in the several features of construction hereinafter set forth as novel.

In the drawings, A A are links in a drivechain embodying my invention. On each end of these links is an end bar, B, connected centrally to the body or intermediate part by means of a Ifebk, 0, thus forming a T-shaped end or two laterally extending cylindrical studs, a a.

I am aware that open links having T-shaped coupling ends are old; but in connection with coupling ends so formed, and as a novel feature of construction embodying one of the elements of my invention, Iemploy horns or keep ers D D, for the purpose hereinafter set forth, thus forming behind the studs a a a deep semicircular notch or recess, to, opening laterally at the comparatively narrow throat a.

E E, as shown in the first four figures of the drawings, are separate, independent, and laterally-removable side bars or checks, arranged oppositely in pairs and articulatingly connected to the studs a a in the manner hereinafter described, and these bars or checks may be made either sufficiently long, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, to be used alternately with links A A, having closed centers, thus admitting the sprockets between the said bars and the ends of the said links, or sufficiently short, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, to serve as mere couplers for links having open centers, the difference in construction, so far as relates to the side bars or cheeks shown in the first two and next two figures of the drawings, being merely in length, and the difi'erence in the links AA, as shown in the same figures, relating only to the centers of those links, my object being, in showing these modifications, to indicate in what ways the means I employ for coupling the links may be used in connection with links having either closed or open centers. Each bar E is open to receive the studs (0 a, and has its ends formed to articulate thereon and to fill or nearly fill the openings a a, being thus lapped by the horns or keepers D D, which lock the bars to the links without preventing articulation. To admit of the bars E E being placed on the studs a a, I make in the former the depressions or recesses b b, to receive the said keepers, the said bars being thus sufficiently contracted to allow them to enter the throat a. If the said depressions or recesses be then turned away from the keepers, the bars cannot be detached, and to prevent accidental detachment during use I arrange the said dcpressions or recesses to lie away from the keepers when the links assume their working position, as shown. In order to remove the bars it is only necessary to slacken the chain and to return the said depressions or recesses to the keepers.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modification of construction which is substantially the same as rigidly uniting to one halfof the link A (shown in Figs. 3 and 4) one half ofeach bar E, (shown in Figs. 1 and 2,) supposing these parts to be cut transversely about midway between their ends; and when this modification is employed the free ends of the side bars are to be sprung or pinched upon the studs a a of like-formed links, the depressions or recesses b 11 being first arranged, as already described with relation to the keepers O O, to admit of such connection, and the links being afterward arranged in position for work.

I am aware that drive-chain links have heretofore contained laterally-removable side bars or couplers, and I do not therefore here intend to claim such, broadly; but,

2. A drivechain wherein are combined the links A A, having thereon the laterally-extending studs (1 a and the longitudinally-projecting keepers I) l), and also the neck 0, all

arranged substantially as described with relation to each other and the body of the link, and the side bars, E E, adapted to receive the studs (1 u articulately, and having therein the depressions or recesses I) b, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

EUGENE L. HOWE. Witnesses:

F. F. WARNER, W. L. BAKER.

Images