Chain

Details Chain Chain

2000-03-17

2001-11-27

Jones, David (Department: 3725)

Chain, staple, and horseshoe making

Chain making

Roller chain

C059S005000, C059S078000, C474S209000, C198S851000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06321523

ABSTRACT:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
Priority is claimed to British Patent Application No. 9907173.0, filed Mar. 30, 1999.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a chain and in particular to a chain having an outboard roller of the kind that is used to support the chain on guide rails or tracks.
Chains of the kind referred to above are used for many purposes such as to support parts of a moving platform, conveyor or escalator.
The construction of such a chain is broadly similar to the conventional roller chain having inner and outer link plates interconnected by pins that pass through aligned apertures therein. A central roller is disposed on each pin between opposed pairs of inner link plates. The outer link plates are fixed relative to the pin by means of an interference fit and the inner link plates articulate relative to the pin as they are assembled thereto with a clearance fit. The pins each extend laterally outboard of the outer link plates and each end supports a rotary outboard roller. In use, the outboard rollers are in rolling contact with guide rails or tracks disposed on one or both sides for the chain.
Lubrication or maintenance of the bearing surface between the articulating inner link plates and the pin is difficult as access is restricted by the presence of the outboard roller and the elements which the chain is supporting.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a chain comprising inner link plates that are each connected to an adjacent outer link plate by means of at least one pin that passes through overlapping portions of the respective links, wherein the pin supports a rotary bearing surface outboard of the inner link plate, on which surface are mounted the outer link plate and a roller.
Preferably the outer link plate is connected to the bearing surface by an interference fit whereas the roller is rotatable thereto.
The rotary bearing surface may be a bush with a radially outward extending flange.
The bush may be retained on the pin by an annular retaining member such as a circlip or a combination of a washer and circlip. The outer link plate and the roller are therefore retained between the flange and the annular retaining member.
The inner link plates are preferably an interference fit on the pin.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2613546 (1952-10-01), Jorgensen
patent: 4134189 (1979-01-01), Richter
patent: 2573832 (1986-05-01), None
patent: 2171170 (1986-08-01), None
Renold Product Catalogue, pp. 90, 196, and 209

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