Chain – staple – and horseshoe making – Chains – Links
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-12
2001-08-14
Jones, David (Department: 3725)
Chain, staple, and horseshoe making
Chains
Links
Reexamination Certificate
active
06272837
ABSTRACT:
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
As expressed in the title of this specification, the present invention refers to a connecting shackle for chains to simply and efficiently carry out the release and tightening of the chains used in the naval sector, and specifically the so-called guide-chains that are linked to the main chains, the shackle a chain link shaped body with a substantially oval contour, preferably with a circular section.
The object of the invention is to provide a shackle whose body has an open section that is closed by means of the fastening together of two complementary pieces, with the ease of becoming independent and disassembling rapidly in order to simply and quickly carry out the separation of the guide-chain the main chain in said operations of release and tightening of the main chain.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As is well known, in the naval sector, for the setting of the position of ships or oil recovery platforms, conventional anchors and the corresponding chains that attach the anchor to the ship or to the platform, are used for the setting of the position of ships or oil recovery platforms. Said chains are formed by means of links that connected together form sections of a specific length, and said sections are connected by means of connecting shackles with different shapes.
The chain thus formed is released and tightened by means of a pulley-capstan type mechanism, such as a drum, upon whose surface said chain in question and specifically the links that form it rest and slide.
To facilitate the movement of releasing and tensing or tightening the chain, the surface of the drum has the corresponding hollows or indentations that have a shape similar to that of the link itself of the chain.
On the other hand, connecting shackles tend to have a diametral section identical to that of the link, but with a different size and shape, and therefore to release and tighten the chain it is necessary that the shackle be always placed in a specific position with respect to the drum.
In the release and tightening of the main chain a guide-chain is also used, guide-chain that is not bound to comply with the specific resistance conditions of said main chain, fastening said guide-chain by means of a shackle in such a way that when the release and/or tightening of the main chain has taken place, it is necessary that the guide-chain be released from the main chain, by means of the opening of the connecting shackle, an operation that is not simple in most cases.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The connecting shackle for anchor chains is designed to allow a release and tightening of said chain without prior conditioning factors and to facilitate the release of the guide-chain in a simple manner.
In this sense, and taking into account that the connecting shackle comprises a chain link-shaped body with a substantially oval contour, a preferably circular section and size similar to those of the links of the corresponding chain, said shackle has an open section in one of its larger sections between a first end and a second end being provided with, respective extensions facing each other, preferably cylindrical, and protruding into said open section, each of said extensions having perimetric step defining a first portion and a second portion of each extension, said second portion being an outermost section with a larger contour than said first portion.
Such extensions constitute a means for positioning and assembling two complementary pieces that are fastened together by means of some transversal screws, said pieces defining the closing element of the open section of the shackle, all in such a way that the screwing of the screws or their unscrewing involves the fastening together of both pieces or the possibility of unlocking of these pieces, respectively, between the extensions facing each other of the open section of the shackle.
Said two pieces have a general shape that can be considered as prismatic-rectangular, the piece that is positioned in the inside having a pair of concave recesses that define a continuation of the concave or rounded ends of the inside of the shackle, for the correct adaptation of the links that are linked to the shackle. On its opposite surface or surface facing the piece that is positioned on the outside, it has some recesses that along with some others provided in the cited outside piece constitute means for receiving and adapting the extensions facing each other of the open section of the body of the shackle.
The outside surface of the piece positioned on the outside, is curved to define a surface continuity with that of the body of the shackle.
The first and second pieces have respective holes for the passing and screwing of the screws that fasten the pieces together, screws that will preferably be complemented with nuts for the screwing thereof instead of said screwing being done in the through holes of the pieces.
Hence, the shackle that is being described can perfectly rest on the periphery of the drum of the pulley-capstan without complying with any condition, since said shackle can move perfectly resting in the hollows of the periphery of the drum, as if it were another link of the chain.
To release the guide-chain with respect to the main chain, one simply needs to adjust the fastening screws of both consecutive pieces of the closing element, in such a way that these pieces are released and the corresponding ends that form the end extensions of the open section of the body of the shackle can be disassembled.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1386732 (1921-08-01), Reid et al.
patent: 1776515 (1930-09-01), Leahy et al.
patent: 2382344 (1945-08-01), St. Pierre
patent: 2398897 (1946-04-01), St Pierre
patent: 3246464 (1966-04-01), Schommer
patent: 156780 (1904-03-01), None
Jones David
Klauber & Jackson
Vincinay Cadenas, S.A.
LandOfFree
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