Abstract: A support fixture is provided for holding chain to facilitate addition of pendants thereto. The fixture comprises a polymeric base and a pair of inter-nesting uprights pivotably mounted therein at opposed ends of the base. The uprights can be stably disposed in either an upright usage configuration or a nested horizontal configuration. The base has an upper surface with a generally planar periphery and a major centrally located recess formed therein. The upper extremity of each upright is provided with a retention pin and a padded clamp. Each clamp is formed from a “7” shaped portion and an inverted “L”-shaped arm pivotably joined thereto, with horizontal portions of the “L” shaped arm and the “7” shaped portion defining the jaws of the clamp. A resilient spring is disposed between a vertical leg of the “7” shaped portion and a vertical leg of the inverted “L” shaped arm.

Abstract: A method for producing high-performance chain link plates with a link plate pitch T, comprises: clocked feeding of a sheet metal band with a feed length V per cycle, pre-punching at least two chain link plate blanks arranged in succession, re-cutting at least one chain link plate blank, wherein at least the still connected head areas of the chain link plate blanks arranged in succession are excepted from the re-cutting process separating the connected head areas of chain link plate blanks arranged in succession, wherein the feed length V is smaller than 2.1×T and the upper and/or lower side of the head areas connected to each other is/are provided at least partially with a concave run by a punching process substantially adjacent to the end face produced later. A method is also provided for producing a high-performance chain and to correspondingly produced high-performance link plates and high-performance chain.

Abstract: The method includes providing a source of flat stock; forming the flat stock into a spherical shaped bead that includes connected semi-spherical bead halves with each half having opposed open recesses that are located in a circular edge that defines each semi-spherical half; providing a source of wire stock; forming the wire stock into a series of the interconnected links with each link having a middle section and contiguous opposed enlarged ends at respective ends of the middle section; positioning the formed links each between adjacently disposed spherical shaped beads for accommodation in facing recesses thereof; closing the connected semi-spherical bead halves to form the spherical shaped bead; and laser welding between the connected semi-spherical bead halves.

Abstract: A chain, in particular a technical chain, preferably a unidimensionally movable chain (plate link chain), more preferably a bolt chain or roller chain, has at least one or more chain links. The at least one chain link is constructed with pretensioning. A manufacturing method includes the following steps: assembling at least one chain link from at least two link plates with link plate holes and two bolts or sleeves. In the non-assembled state, the link plate is not straight, in particular has a curved form, and/or the link plate and the link plate holes have a hole axis, wherein the hole axis is not right-angled, and/or, in the non-assembled state, the bolt or the sleeve is not straight, in particular has a curved form. The chain is assembled from at least two chain links and at least one chain link is manufactured in this way.

Abstract: A silent chain is constituted by a number of articulately connected link plates each having an engagement surface for meshing engagement with teeth of a sprocket. The link plates are press-formed so that the engagement surface includes a smooth sheared surface. All of the link plates have respective sheared surfaces along not more than 60% of the thickness of the link plates. In order to reduce noises produced when the link plates mesh with the sprocket teeth, more than 50% of the link plates have respective sheared surfaces along 7 to 15% of the thickness of the link plates and are arranged randomly in the silent chain.

Abstract: A commercially viable process for producing chain links suitable for use in making fine jewelry rope chains, said chain links having gaps for intertwining one link within another, comprising the steps of providing a sheet of precious metal of an appropriate thickness determined by the thickness of the link to be produced; piercing said sheet with a single punch from a mating punch and die set having the predetermined shape of the link to produce a finished link with a gap in the range of 0.2-0.7 mm which link is separated from said sheet; and recovering the link.

Abstract: By means of having taken advantage of certain physical properties of solids with a manufacturing process of incrementally deforming hollow links, there is produced new hollow simulated diamond cut multifaceted jewelry rope chain, which results in a product weighing up to 60% less than its solid counterpart, but which in its aesthetic looks is similar to solid diamond cut jewelry chains, and furthermore, with a hardness greater than the same hollow chain that has not gone through the process. This invention presents a new diamond cut chain, which costs a fraction of the price of a solid chain aesthetically similar, and in which the chain may vary in cross-section, such as forming a square or a hexagon.

Abstract: Links suitable for use in assembling rope chains are produced by utilizing a progressive series of punch and die sets which pierce and blank such links from a sheet of metal. If the metal sheet is in a long strip, the strip can be incrementally advanced through multiple series of punch and die sets so that several links can be created simultaneously. Because the links are die cut or stamped, the shape of the link can be arbitrary and can be a straight sided polygon such as a square, hexagon or octagon, or may be curvilinear such as a circle.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an improved chain assembly and a method for making the same. In general, the method of making a chain assembly in accordance with the present invention, comprises forming a plurality of links having a preselected shape and placement of apertures therein. A plurality of wire blanks are formed having an outer diameter to permit insertion into the apertures of the links. Such link is retained in a fixed position and a wire blank is inserted into each aperture of the link. On one end of each wire blank, a head is formed having a diameter larger than the aperture into which the wire blank is inserted. A mating link is placed into engagement with each link containing wire blanks with the end of each blank inserted in one aperture of the mating link in a manner to form a chain assembly. On the other end of each wire blank, a head is formed to complete interlocking of the links and blanks in forming the chain assembly.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an improved chain assembly and a method for making the same. In general, the method of making a chain assembly in accordance with the present invention, comprises forming a plurality of links having a preselected shape and placement of apertures therein. A plurality of wire blanks are formed having an outer diameter to permit insertion into the apertures of the links. Such link is retained in a fixed position and a wire blank is inserted into each aperture of the link. On one end of each wire blank, a head is formed having a diameter larger than the aperture into which the wire blank is inserted. A mating link is placed into engagement with each link containing wire blanks with the end of each blank inserted in one aperture of the mating link in a manner to form a chain assembly. On the other end of each wire blank, a head is formed to complete interlocking of the links and blanks in forming the chain assembly.

Abstract: Links for steel sprocket chains are each formed of a pair of dodecagon shaped broadened portions joined by a web with parallel sides. When cut from a sheet metal plate the boundary edges of the broadened portions and web of one link are in contact with and at least partially congruent to adjacent links.