US8737A - Machinery for making chains - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC.

JNo.M. cRAwroRm or Naw oAsiLii, rENNsYLvANiA.

MACHINERY FOR `MAKING CHAIN S.

`Specification of Letters Patent No. 8,737, dated February 17, 1852.

. end thereof, and showing the wire or rod c under operation.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section taken through themachine, as denoted by the dotted line m of Fig. "3, the wire or rod to form the link having been cut to the required length, and situated to be bent, by the swage, toa semi-oval or U shape. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section, taken as indicated by the dotted line 2, 2, of Fig. 2, the parts maintaining the position seen in Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is a transverse sectional. View taken as indicated by the line 2, 2 of Fig. 2, andl showing the wire or rod bent tothe semi-oval-or U shape. Fig. 5 is a` similar section to Fig. 4, showing the lapping levers closed and the form of the link completed. Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view showing the sliding dies R, R", i lclosed to weld or unite the ends, and thus finish the formation of the link. Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on the `line .fr of Fig. 3, showing the welding dies open and the swage or former, with the `link seat, raised, and the link mounted upon a suspending arm, to be `pushed` into its seat. Fig. 8 is a similar view to F ig. 7,`the link` being seated and held by the arm Z and the wire or rod, for the succeeding link, fed into the finished link. Fig. 9 is a similar view to Fig. S, thewire or rod, to form the succeeding link, having' been cut, and bent to the semi-oval or U shape, several links of the chain being also shown. Fig.` l() is a sectional plan view showing the pushing bar V, turning lever WV, vibrating suspending 1 arm S, stationary beddies, &c., theseveral parts being shown in the position when the link is suspended to the arm S. Fig. 1l is a similar view to Fig. 10',tlie several parts being shown in the position when the link is turned and seated.` jFig. l2 is an end view of the swage, N, link seat C, and holding arm Z. Fig. 13 is a horizontal section of the end of the bentlever j, and showing the holding arm Z, more clearly in connection with the link seat. Fig. 14 is a vertical sectional elevation 'showing the pendant cam bars 4 and 5, spring bar X, &c., looking toward the left side of the same. Fig. 1-5 is a similar view to Fig. ltlooking toward the inside. i i

The same letters of reference denote the same parts on the several figures.

`The arrows F'gs. l and 2 show the direction of the turning of the cam shaft.

The nature of my invention consists, in a certain new and useful combination and arrangement of mechanical devices, which operate successively upon the wire or rod` y (previously heated to a welding heat) cutting a piece therefrom of the proper length t-o `form the link, bending the same tol a semi-oval or U shape, lapping thevends, and welding them together, and thus form the link, `and deliver it upon a vibrating suspending arm, on which it is turned, and carried to a seat, from which (seat) it is displaced by the formation of the succeeding link, there being required during the operationof the machine, but one attendant to feed the wire or rod in the machine.

The frame for supporting and containing the several parts of the machine is of a rectangular or other form and of suitable dimensions. y

A is the propelling cani shaft, mounted in bearings in pilla-rs a, a, and on one end of which is a balance or fly wheel B, and a pulley C, to receive the band from the propeiling power. On the shaft A, there is a cam D, for depressing the shear cutter 1L, to cut a piece of the required length to form the link, from the wire or rod. On the shaft A, there is a cam E, for depressing the swage or former N, tobend the wire or rod to the semi-oval or `U shape. On thel shaft A, there is a cam F, for actuating the lapping levers P, P. On the shaft A, are cams Cr, H, for advancing the dies R R to weld or unite the ends to finish the link.

I, is a `cani on the shaft A, for actuating the finishing arm or bar V, turning lever W, and vibrating suspending arm S to turn the link, and push it into its sea-t.

J J are two fixed dies, supported by central beamsof the frame, between the ends of which the wire or rod is bent to the semioval or U shape. On the upper surfaces of the ,dies J J there is formed slightly oblique extending up-ward and frontward to receive y grooves b b, Figs. 6 and 10, into which the wire or rod enters, the groove Z9', of the die J having a rib c on the right side thereof, for the purpose of'canting t-hat portion of the wire or rod, resting therein, leftward, Jvhile it is being bent to the semi-oval or U shape, which allows the ends to pass or lap each other, when closed by the lapping levers P, P, the space between the ends of the dies being sufficient to allow the link to be bent and turned to be seated.

K, is an oblique steel cutter, xed on the bed of the front die J, having a cavity d therein corresponding with the grooves in the dies J J through which the wire or rod is fed. The rod or wire is gaged to the proper length by an adjustable stop e on the die J. v

To the inner end of a lever f whose fulcrum is at g, Fig. 1, and having a branch h extending upward and leftward to receive the action of the cam D, is attached a shear cutter L, extending outward, and rearward from t-he lever f at an angle corresponding with the stationary cutter K, so that on the descent of the cutter L, the piece to form the link will be separated from the rod. The branch h of the lever f is kept in contact with the cam D, by means of a spring M, attached to the frame, and united to the vbranch z. by a vertical rod z', said spring M,

elevating the` cutter L, to the feed of the rod, when the lever is relieved from the cam D.

N, is the swage or former, made lof cast steel, of the form and size of the links to be formed, secured permanently to the lower inner end of a bent lever j and projecting therefrom a sufficient distance to allow the formation of the links thereon, the fulcrum of the lever being at j" and its curved end the action of the cam E.

O, is an arm, fixed to and projecting from the inner end of the lever j directly beneath .the swage or former, N, and is furnishedf lon one side thereof, with a recess into which the finished link is pushed, as seen 1n Figs. i

8, 12 and 13, the top of said arm 0,5being provided with a cavity la to guide the wire or rod, when inserting it into the groovesv of the dies J J and also serves to preventthe displacement vof the wire or rod while being bent by the swage. this arno O, is formed into a curved jogor projection Z,see Figs. 12 and 13, and forms I Ythe bottom of the seat ofthe link, upon which rests the lower portion of thelink, when finished, and suspended upon the curved end of the vibrating arm S', whereby `the lower portion of the link is sustained or steadied while being turned by the arm or bar V, and pushed into its seat, as will be hereafter described. When the finished link is seated, the lower portion thereof fits upon The lower end of the projecting jog Z and the upper portion fits into a semi-circular cavity m in the underside of the swage, as seen in Fig. 8.

P, P, are the lapping levers, the fulcra n n thereof being in an upright plate 0 of the frame, and the ends whereof curving downward, and toward each other, on either side of the swage N, and uniting by connecting arms p to a transverse lever Q, havingits fulcrum at Q, and elevated (to open the lapping levers P, P, when relieved from the cam F) by a spring r and vertical rod r attached to the end of said lever Q, the end of the latter moving between cleats g, Fig. 3, on the inside of the pillar a. The object of these levers P, P, is to bend, and lap, the ends of the wire or rod over, and

upon the swage N, to be united or welded Y Y on the horizontal end of the lever j, and4 made to move back and forth between side plates s s, the latter being grooved to receive tongues on the slide s. situated directly over the swage N, and has a cavity u 'on its underside of the exact counterpart of the upper part of the swage N, into which the latter fits, whereby the This die R is die R, is allowed to slide over the swage to move the link to the end of the swage, where the dies meet, and weld the endsrof the link. rPhe swage N, and die R, project through an opening t, in the plate o wherein they rise and fall with the end of the lever y'. The advance movement of the die R, is effected by means of a curvedV lever S, having its fulcrum at v and extending upward andrightward to receive the action of the cam H. This lever S, has Aan upright branch or arm o which connects with the slide s of the die R, by a rod '02, Fig. 2, and thus the descent of the lever S, by the cam H, advances the die R. The dieR, is .Y

N, and arm or seat O after the vlink has been finished, and the lever y' relieved from the cam E) is effected by a spring lvland rod @5, see Fig. 2. The die R is mounted on a slide :wand held by a set screw fw', the slide w being mounted upon and moving over a bed ".102 furnished with side plates w3 grooved to receive tongues on the slide w. The ends of these dies R R, are furnished with semi-circular cavities 15 15 into which the upper part of the linkvfits when the dies are brought together to weld or unite the ends of the link. The advance movement of the die R moves'the "link flush with the `face of the` swage or former, where the fully cam Gr. jecting vertically from the fulcrumg/ and connects with the` slide w by a rod 2, `wherel by the descent of the levery advances the die R, and the latter is made to recede by a l spring e attached to the slide fw and frame.

S is the vibrating hook shaped arm upon j which the finished link l is suspended, attached by a bolt to a` bar a2 on the bed fw directly beneath the end of the dieR, the inner `or carved end of the arm \S" eXtending opposite the centerof thejswage, inv a `position to receive the linished link when link.

` the action of the cam I, and al branch eX-` dropped from the diesR R. The outer end of the arm S" is `attached to a rod b2. extending horizontally through" an` opening- `in a jog c2 of the plate m03, said rod b2 having a spring @Z2` coiled around its outer end, and bearing against the jog c2 and a pin c2 whereby the tendency of the rod b2 1s to move outward `t, which motion of the rod is` governed by a shoulder "thereon acting against the jog c2 as shown in Figs. 10 and` 11) for retaining the curved end of the` arm S in a position to receive the nished` The arm S is vibrated ito withdraw its curved end `from the swage to relieve it `of the link and allow itjto be pushed into the `seat of the arm O, by means of a `lever T, whose `fulcruin is at` f2 having a branch `extending upward and left-ward to `receive tending downward against a horizontal cross bar g2 of the pushing slide bar @,there being a set screw ,71.2 inthe end ofthe cross bar g2 forstriking the end of the rod 52, to

` force it inward when the cam I, moves the "upper branch ofthe leverT, outward,and`

thus vibrates the arm S to deliver the link.

V, is the pushing slide bar, `placed upon` the bed fw, beneath the die R ,and extending the length of the saine, its outer endbeing attachedto the cross bar `g2 ,and its inner' end inade pointed andso situated in relationto the swage N, that on its advance (which must be simultaneous `with the withdrawal `of the curved end of the arm Sw) it will strike the front side of the linkwhile sus` pended upon the end of the arm S` and push .1

it leftward, and at the saine moment the `pushing bar V, will actuate a turning lever W, the end whereof catches `against the opposite side `of the flink and turns it `rightward and frontward,during which the.` lower portion `of the link ris `sustained and held (while being turned by the projecting jog Z of the arm O, and delivered into its seat. The turning lever W, is about two thirds the length of the pushing slide bar V, and has its fulcrum `near the center thereof. lts outer end is notched and inclined to receive the action of an inclined shoulder 2 von the slide bar V, the inclination `of the end of the lever W, and shoulder Zbeing such as to impart to the turning lever W, the peculiar mot-ion required to turn the link, while the slide bar V, pushes it into its seat, there being also corresponding inclined shoulders 2 2, Figs. 10 andll, on the adjacent sides of and near the inner ends ofthe lever 1V, and bar V, for the purpose of moving the inner end of the 'turning `lever rearward, asseen in` Fig. 10, by the receding movement ofthe slide bar V, whenthe lever T, is relieved from the calm 1.

Directly in front of the shear cutter L, there is attached to the frame a spring bar X, Figs. 3 and 4, 6 and 14, the inner end whereof, is situated so as to be` depressed by the descent of the shear cutter L, `and has `attached to its end an arm `Y, projecting upward, near the end whereof is a pin 3, Figs. 14 and 15.

Tothe left side of the plate 0 are attached a `pair of `pendant cam bars 4 and 5 which turn upon a fulcrum pin 6 at the upper end thereof. From one of these bars 4 projects a `cam 7 in a :position to receive the upward action of the pin 3 of the arin Y, when the shear cutter L, rises, and with it the end of the spring `bar X, and arm Y, the pendant bar 4 being formed into a cam `13 at its lower end, as seen in Fig. 15, and the arm 5 being a little shorter than the arm 4 and tapered to a point', for the purpose of passing alternately behind the outer or notched endof the curved holding arm Z, Fig. 13, to keep it open, to allow the link to be removed from its seat (when the die R, advances to move the succeeding link from the swage to be welded) and to be in readiness to hold the next link, pushed into the seat.

8, 8, `are springs for the purpose of forcing the ends of the cam bars 4 and 5 behind the outer `o`r notched end ofthe holding arm Z. 9 isa short pendant arm pivotedbya `pin 10, Fig. 15, and so situated, that on the depression of the end of the spring bar X, theend ofthe short pendant bar 9 will be forced leftward, and with it the outer or notched end ofthe holding arm Z, and permit fthe endsof the pendant cam bars 4 and 5 to pass behind, or ,inl the notches Iof said to the link. seat in such a manner as to be forced against the left side of the link when at rest, in the seat, by means of a spring 1l made to bear against its outer end, in which end are two notches to receive t-he ends of the pendant cam bars aforesaid.

'In order to explain more clearly the arrangement of the parts, to operate the holding arm Z, I will here give theiroperation. l

Simultaneously with the descent of the shear cutter L, to cut from thewire or rod a piece of the proper length to form the link the end of the spring bar X is depressed a distance equal to the thickness of the Wire or rod (the latter remaining between the shear cutter L, and end `of the spring bar Xl) and with it the projecting arm Y, which relieves the pin 3 of said arm of the cam 7 and at the same time forces the short pendant arm 9 outward, and with Ait the outer end of the holding arm Z. The lower end of the pendant cam bar trwill then be made to pass into the notch of the holding arm Z, and the latter, with the swage N, and sliding die R, will at this moment commence descending and bend the piece of iron to av semi oval or U shape, its ends bent and lapped (by the lapping levers P P) and welded by the dies R R. The latter' then recedes, and the swage is raised, and with the arm Z, the notched end whereof rises over the tapered end of the pendant cam bar 5, and the link moved from its seat and the succeeding pushed into its place. At this moment the shear cutter L rises, and with it the end of the spring bar X, and its projecting arm Y, strikes ythe cam 7 on the pendant cam bar 4 and forces t-he lat-ter frontward from the holding arm, and thus unlocks said arm and allows its curved end to be forced inward by the spring 11 against the link and hold it in its seat until the completion of the succeeding.

The size of the swage or former, dies, &c., will be governed according to the size of the links to form the chains.

l/Vhen it is desired to adapt the machine for making chain cables, with bars across the links, the swage or former is recessed horizontally across its face to receive the bar, so that when the piece of iron to form the link is bent over the swage the ends of thel cross bar (being concave) will fit the sides of the link, and thus they are united or welded together.

Operation: The machine being put in motion by any adequate power, the wire or rod Y from which the links are to be formed, being heated to a red heat, is fed into the machine in a slightly oblique direction vthrough the cavity Z in the fixed cutter K, and into the `grooves b of the dies J J through the cavity 7 of the arm or link seat O, and is gaged by the stop e. Thershear cutter then descends and cuts from the wire or rod a piece, which is then bent to the semi-oval or U shape by the descent of the swage N, .be-

tween the ends ofthe dies J J the ends of the rod being slightly canted by the oblique posit-ion of the grooves b b and shoulder c while being bent. Immediately after the descent of the swage the bending and lapping levers P, P, are made to approach each other and bend and lap theends of the rod or wireover and upon the swage, during which the grooves in the ends of the levers P, P, serve to hold the ends of thevwire, and prevent them striking when passing to form the lap.- After the link is formed the ievers P, P, recede (the shear cutter L, and swage remaining down) and the horizontal welding dies R R made to advance and meet flush with the face of the swage N. The die R, in its advance pushes the link to the end of the swage, where its ends are forced into the grooves l5 l5 in the ends of the dies and welded. The dies then recede, and the end of the vibrating arm S', and simultaneously therewith the swage N, arm or link seat O, are made to rise, and the slide bar V, moves forward and pushes the link, and the movement of said bar actuates thej lever W, to turn the link. At this moment the suspending arm S will be vibrated and its curved end Withdrawn from the swage and the link delivered into the seat of the arm O, and the shear cutter L allowed to rise. This completes the operation of making the link and seating the same, after which it is held by the holding arm Z, as before described, until the succeeding link is formed and brought forward by the die R, to the end of the swage, and with it the finished link, from the seat, to be dropped when the link under operation shall have been finished and dropped upon the suspending arm S to be seated. The feeding of the rod or wire through the finished vlink takes place im- X, and vibrates or opens the holding arm Z, c to allow the seated link to be removed for the succeeding link. The shear cutter then rises and actuates the holding arm as before described. The operation of the several parts of the machine in this manner is continuous, the finished links dropping from the link seat as fast as succeeding links are formed. w

Having thus described the construction and operation of my machine for making chain, I wish it to be understood that l d-o not claim to be the original invent-or of the combination of the parts, movements, and operations, in one machine, which are required to make ack chains, by one process, from straight wire, after it is cut off in suitable lengths to the finished chain. Nor do I claim the stud pin, With a recess in it, as a mandrel,around which the bow `of a link is bent, while the bow of another link is held in the recess, thereby forming a continuous chain. Nor do I claim a partly revolving mandrel with a stud pin, and nipper, and other appendages, for bending the last bow of each link,as combined, used, and constiiting part of a machine already patented.

`lhat I do claim as new and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of .the Welding dies R R with the `swage N, for welding or uniting the lapped ends of the link, and dropping the` latter upon the suspending arm S the advance of the die R, moving the link to the face-of the swage, Where the operation of Welding is performed.

2. Attaching the vibrating arm S to the bed 102 of the die R and operating the same insuch manner as to receive the finished link, and suspend the same in a position to `be seated.

3. The `combination of the slide bar V, turning lever W, and cross bar g2 constructed and arranged as described and represented, the said bar V, and lever W, operating to turn, and push the finished link into its seat.

4. The link seat O, attached to the lever j beneath the swage N, for receiving the finished link, from the suspending arm S', and holding the same, until the wire or rod, for the succeeding link is fed into the nished link, cut off, bent, and ready to be welded.

5. The employment of the curved holding lever Z, attached to the lever j, in combination with the pendant cam bars 4 and 5, short pendant arm 9, arm Y, pin 3 and spring bar X, constructed, arranged, and operating as described, whereby the finished link is held in its seat and liberated therefrom, simultaneously with the advance of the die R, to finish the succeeding link.

6. The combination of the spring bar X, with the shear cutter L, whereby the pendant cam bars 4, and 5, are actuated through the pin 3 and springs 8, 8, to hold or relieve the arm Z, from the seated link, as described, and shown in the drawings.

7 Finally I claim making the grooves o b in the bed dies J J slightly oblique to their faces for the purpose of canting the ends of the rod or wire, so as to allow them to lap When bent by the levers P P as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name before two subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN M. oRAWFoRD.

Witnesses:

RoBT. GANE, EDMUND S. GARDE.

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