Abstract: One-way chain for an aircraft tie-down, as well as a method of making one-way chain. The method preferably includes the steps of providing an unmodified welded chain having a plurality of welded links; feeding the unmodified chain into an automated shaping machine constructed and arranged to shape the welded links in separate shaping events; and individually shaping the welded links to form shaped links in a series of separate shaping events that shape the respective welded links so that a first width of a forward end of the respective shaped link is narrower than a second width of the greatest planar width of a rearward end of the respective shaped link; such that the forward end is sized to fit into a link receiving receptacle of a screw-type binder mechanism and the rearward end will not fit into the link receiving receptacle.

Abstract: A jewelry link made from square crossectional metal wire has a C-shape when the link is bent within a specially configured clamp over a mandrel, wherein the formed C-shaped links are diamond shaped in cross section. The links further have an outer circumference at their widest point formed by one of the four corner seams of a hollow or solid square wire, which is rotated 45 degrees onto one of its straight longitudinally extending edges before being bent around a mandrel. In that manner, the link is considerably wider than a link formed from square wire which is wrapped upon one of its surfaces over a mandrel.

Abstract: A semi-solid jewelry chain includes a plurality of generally C-shaped links which links are woven into each other. The jewelry rope chain is made with a cutting tool, which includes an extended blade member having a rounded groove therein with a nesting surface conforming to the contours of the material to be cut, such as a jewelry rope chain wire, to form a link, which link may be preferably a semi-solid link, which link has an interior cavity. The semi-solid rope chain has a weight ratio in relation to solid rope chain, wherein the weight ratio of semi-solid chain to solid chain, expressed as a per cent, is from about 50.1% to about 99.9%.

Abstract: A machine is shown for feeding a length of wire to a forming station, cutting and forming the length into a U-shaped element around an arbor, moving the U-shaped element to a presentation position in a channel of a face plate with the free ends of the element extending out of the face plate, then forming the free ends into a closed loop by means of a forming head engaging the ends and bending them into the loop and finally ejecting the element from the face plate.

Abstract: A machine for the production of an ornamental chain of the type formed by so-called "figure-of-eight" links, comprising a slide (23) for transferring a section of wire of prefixed length, folded in a U shape, from a unit (51) for supplying said section of wire to a calibrated tubular guide (34), holding the already formed chain, to engage it with the last formed link of the chain. The guide (34) is radially surrounded by tools for bringing together (55,56) and permanently joining (71,72) the ends of the arms of said U-shaped section engaged in the last U-shaped link, and tools for centring (73) the resulting closed link with respect to the axis of the guide (34).A push device (81) is further provided for performing an alternating movement away from and towards the last formed U-shaped link along the axis of the guide (34) so as to supply a force onto said link, causing at the same time sliding of the chain inside the guide and folding the closed link about its middle transverse axis.

Abstract: A machine for the production of an ornamental chain known as "bow-type" chain, the chain consisting of a sequence of large links, twisted in a figure-of-eight shape and incorporating a smaller link, linked together by smaller links. The machine comprises a first and a second station for forming and linking the small links and the large links and a transportation gripper which, beside transferring the chain in formation from one station to the other one, takes part in the formation of the links in both stations. An auxiliary gripper is provided which is integral with the transportation gripper, for the positioning of the smaller link on the large link, while the latter is twisted to incorporate the small link. Two small links for every large link are produced in the respective stations and, during the production of the small links to be incorporated in the large links, the large link production station is temporarily stopped.

Abstract: A prickle chain wherein each link has two side portions which are joined at one end by a curved bridge portion, the side portions terminating in respective outwardly projecting ends which cross each other and extend in opposite directions, the projections being the "prickles" of the chain. Each link is formed by engaging opposite ends of a straight rod in respective brackets which are pivoted by hydraulic piston/cylinder assemblies firstly to form the rod to a "U" shape, and then cause the ends to cross each other and project outwardly in opposite directions.

Abstract: A straight wire length is bent against a mandrel into an obtuse V-shape and then into a C-shape at a first station, and against another mandrel into an oval shape at a second station. When making the V-shape bend the leading edge of the wire length is thereby contained against perpendicular movement. The wire length is then bent into a C-shape and when it is moved from the first station to the second station the stop is pivoted against the force of the spring by a bar transforming the V-shape to the C-shape. When the emerging C-shaped link clears the support surface of the stop element, the spring returns the stop element to its initial position in the first bending station, against a stop. The surface of the stop element contacting the stop may serve as an electrical contact for process control.

Abstract: The chain links are bent in a single bending station, using a single mandrel. Pieces of wire of a given uniform length are bent into a V-shape between a holder and a suitably shaped recess in the mandrel. A wire feed sleeve and a wire receiving sleeve are disposed opposite one another defining a wire path between the holder and mandrel. Wire guides having guide surfaces guide the wire in its feed path from the feed sleeve to the receiving sleeve. The receiving sleeve has an abutment member provided with a support surface which, with the feed sleeve, prevents the leading and trailing ends of the wire piece from moving in a direction perpendicular to the direction of wire feed during the V shape bend. The two sleeves, each of which is formed together with a bending tool, are then retracted to free the wire ends, and the bending tools are moved perpendicular to the wire feed direction to bend the wire ends around the mandrel into a C-shape.

Abstract: A machine for constructing a chain of metallic shaped links from a continuous wire including:means for shaping the wire in the form of a cylindrical wire spiral; means for gripping the first free turn of the spiral; means for cutting away the first spiral turn and associated with shaping means to urge the ends of the first turn to approach to one another, to form a chain link; shaping means to impart the desired configuration to the chain link; welding means to weld the ends of the chain link; and control means to move into the operative or inoperative positions and to make operative or inoperative in a predetermined time sequence and at desired times the various means composing the machine.

Abstract: A method for producing a link chain in which some of the links have deformation characteristics differing from other links, and apparatus for producing the link chain in which stock material having the different deformation characteristics are sequentially fed to a link-forming means from flanking magazines. In a modified form means are provided for severing stock lengths from a continuous wire on either side of the link-forming means.