William Dana Ewart

William Dana Ewart (April 24, 1851 – May 3, 1908) invented and patented the linked belt, a square detachable link for chain belts, on September 1, 1874. The metal chain "linked belt" replaced the leather and strap belts used on agricultural equipment at the time.

A resident of Belle Plaine, Iowa, Ewart was a farm-implement dealer when he conceived of the idea.[1] In 1875, Ewart established the Ewart Manufacturing Co. in Belle Plaine, Iowa. In 1880 he founded the Link-Belt Machinery Company and in 1888 the Link-Belt Engineering Company.[2] In the early 1890s, Ewart's companies produced the first wide-gauge, steam-powered, coal-handling clamshell crane, the further development of which would eventually lead to the modern Link-Belt construction equipment.[3][4] Link-Belt chain drives were used in a variety of applications, including auto assembly lines, coal mining, concrete mixers, and agricultural machinery.[5]

Ewart was inducted into the Association of Equipment Manufacturers Hall of Fame[6] in 1996 at CONEXPO-CONAGG.

References
  1. Wilson, Bill. (June 2001) "Crane producer continues to strengthen customer base worldwide " Roads & Bridges June 2001 Volume: 39 Number: 6.
  2. LBX Company History
  3. History of Link-belt Construction Equipment Company
  4. ConstructMyFuture Hall of Fame
  5. Pennsylvania Historical Society, Papers of Frederic V. Hetzel
  6. "Inductees". Association of Equipment Manufacturers Hall of fame web site. Retrieved January 12, 2011.
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