Hi list,
The bar across the link that Rod refers to is often seen on anchor chain, it is often thought that it strengthens the link, but in fact it weakens it. The purpose is to prevent the lnks locking together when slack thus forming a knot which takes the ship's side out when the anchor is run out and the knot fails to go through the hole (there must be a naval term for it) in the bulwark. I believe that Rod is correct; the wooden strips keep the links in their relative positions and prevents then becoming entangled.
Barry Job.
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Message Received: Nov 24 2007, 04:59 PM
From: "Rod Goslin"
To: [log in to unmask]
Cc:
Subject: Re: flat chains
alan wrote:
>
>
> Cannock Chase Mining Historical Society
> Founded 2002
>
>
> Hello list
>
> I hope that someone can help me out, I found the reference below and
> would like to know if anyone can tell me why wooden strips were inserted
> into the long links coal and men alike would be raised in open baskets
> (skips or skiffs) or frames by flat chains of 3 links width the links of
> which would be alternatively short and long. Through the long links
> would be inserted strips of wood
>
>
>
>
>
> Best Regards
>
> Alan Dean
I'd suggest the the strips were intended to prevent the chain coming on
load with the link turned sideways on. Taking the strain across the
width , rather than along the length. You see the same thing in chains
with a cross bar across the long side of the link.
Rod Goslin
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