Wheel substitutes for land vehicles – Tracks or treads – With guide means for interfitting with sprocket wheel or roller
Patent
1995-08-02
1998-01-06
Stormer, Russell D.
Wheel substitutes for land vehicles
Tracks or treads
With guide means for interfitting with sprocket wheel or roller
305196, 305199, B62D 5518
Patent
active
057046972
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is the US national phase of PCT application PCT/DE94/00110 filed Feb. 2, 1994 with a claim to the priority of German application P 43 03 785.2 filed Feb. 10, 1993.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a chain link for a traction chain, for example an offset model, conveyor chain, for example a straight model, or for similar chain types as well as a guide wheel for guiding and/or deflecting or tensioning conveyor chains, transport chains, or similar chain models as well as a support roller for supporting and guiding traction chains, transport chains, and/or similar types of chains as well as guide rollers to ensure the rolling and force transmission in mechanisms using traction chains, transport chains, and or chain-like systems and functions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Such elements are known in many types in the state of the art. With the known elements the running surface region usually has a linear or nearly linear shape so that nearly horizontal straight-line running surfaces are formed on the engaging surfaces of the parts. This construction is kinematically good mainly with regard to the movements between guide wheel, support roller, and chain link but this known construction is poor with respect to optimal strength and wear in use. With elements made according to the known state of the art the pressures occurring in use result in breaking-out or spalling of the edges in particular of the chain link due to the force distribution.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Starting from this state of the art it is an object of the invention to provide elements of the described type wherein the pressures created in normal use are mainly directed along force vectors which run radially to the running surface of the chain link or radially to the running surface of the guide wheel or of the support roller or running roller or that are directed inwardly into inner regions of the guide wheel or support roller, not however toward the edges of the running surfaces of the chain link, guide wheel, or running or support roller.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These objects are attained by a chain link usable a rotatable drive/support element having a support surface. The chain link has a hardened running surface extending in and adapted to ride in a travel direction on the support surface and a side surface also extending in the travel direction and normally out of contact with the element. The running surface has a predetermined width b and is formed of at least one edge region of an outwardly convex arcuate shape seen in the travel direction having a radius R of curvature and a respective corner region extending from the edge region to the side region and of an outwardly convex arcuate shape seen in the travel direction having a radius r of curvature. Herein r/b.congruent.0.05 to 0.11, and preferably R/b.congruent.2.4 to 3.1.
The combination wherein the running surface has adjacent the edge region a noncurved region.
Since the running surface of the chain link is formed so that the forces occurring in use are directed generally radially to the pivot axis of the link or toward the interior of the link, a wear- and above all strength-optimal shape is achieved or the shape forms itself at least after relatively short loading in use.
More particularly according to the invention R/b.congruent.2.4 and r/b.congruent.0.075 to 0.11. In addition the entire running surface is of convex arcuate shape seen in the travel direction. The running surface has two such side surfaces, two such edge regions adjacent the side surfaces, and two such corner regions each joining a respective one of the edge regions to the respective corner region. Furthermore the running surface is formed between the edge regions with a substantially flat center region.
In accordance with other features of the invention the two edge regions join centrally on the running surface so that the entire running surface is arcuate. The support surface has a shape generally complementary to the edge and c
REFERENCES:
patent: 3272550 (1966-09-01), Peterson
patent: 3539230 (1970-11-01), Comellas
patent: 4294482 (1981-10-01), Scheffel
patent: 4423910 (1984-01-01), Nazang
"Theoretical principles to optimize the running surface of chain links for track assemblies" by Michael Ketting, Germany 1996.
Ketting Michael
Pietzsch Christoph
Dubno Herbert
Intertractor Aktiengesellschaft
Stormer Russell D.
Wilford Andrew
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