Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor or accessory therefor specialized to convey people – By stairway having steps forming an endless member
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-08
2001-05-08
Hess, Douglas (Department: 2167)
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor or accessory therefor specialized to convey people
By stairway having steps forming an endless member
C198S867090, C198S867150, C198S681000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227344
ABSTRACT:
The prevent invention relates to a connecting device for transport linkages or chains used for the support and entrainment of plates for moving walkways or of steps for escalators.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Transport chains for moving walkways and the like commonly consist of two chain runs, each having chain links, support rollers, and chain pins which also serve as support roller axles. Stub ends of the chain pins are inserted into connecting tubes which thus join the chain runs together at transverse spaced intervals.
A connecting device for such transport chains can be produced in various ways. One common practice consists of drilling a hole through the connecting tube and the axle stub when the axle stub is pushed in, through which hole, for example, a tightening pin is then driven. This drilling and pinning requires a relatively large amount of costly manual work, equally for disassembly in the case of possible repairs.
EP 0 606 990 describes and shows two variants of a connecting device, in which in the first variant the connecting tube has an inner annular groove as well as a countersunk mouth and the pushed-in axle stub has a spring-loaded ball notching into this annular groove. In the second variant the axle stub has a spring ring in a cut groove, which, on pushing of the axle stub into the connecting tube, springs into the annular groove of the connecting tube in its end position and fixes the axle stub.
Such devices do not permit the disassembly or removal of the axle and axle stub if the depth of penetration of the spring-loaded ball or the spring ring is greater than half the diameter thereof. If the depth of penetration of the spring-loaded bail or the spring ring is smaller than half the diameter hereof, then the thereby reduced retaining force can make possible a lateral displacement of the axle stub in the connecting tube under the effects of vibration.
The object of the present invention resides in creating a connecting device between an axle stub of a support roller axle and the connecting tube which ensures a reliable retaining force of the support roller axle or the axle stub in the connecting tube and which enables an easy and problem-free mounting and demounting of the parts connected therewith.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The connecting device according to the invention is distinguished by the fact that a shake-free connection between the axle stub of the support roller axle and the connecting tube is formed by means of the combination of a circular recess in the axle stub of the support roller axle, at least one milled slot in the connecting tube, and a spring clip inserted in the milled slot or slots contacting the circular recess to maintain the axle stub in position within the connecting tube. The connection can be readily released again at any time by removal of the spring clip without expenditure of significant force.
The axle stub may have a conical insertion end, constructed as an assembly cone, which enables insertion or pushing-in of the axle stub when the spring clip is previously inserted upon the connecting tube. An automatic detenting of the spring clip in the circular recess in the final position of the axle stub in the connecting tube occurs when the axle stub is inserted.
Due to the circular shape, depth and arrangement of the recess, the width of the slots and the shape of the spring clip, a mechanically positive connection between axle stub and connecting tube is formed after the detenting of the spring clip's through slot into the circular recess of the axle stub. The axle stub is thus immovably retained in the connecting tube, wherein the snap-in depth of the spring clip in the circular recess is greater than half the diameter of a spring clip made with round wire.
The spring clip can be executed as a simple and inexpensive punched part, preferably of spring sheet steel of suitable resilience and thickness, without additional processing.
The spring clip can, as a variant, also be formed of spring steel round wire with an appropriate diameter and matched resilience. Such a part can be quickly and inexpensively produced on a spring wire forming machine.
The guidance of the spring clip in the connecting tube is performed by the radial milled slot or slots. Extension of the axle stub under step and plate supports mounted to the connection and can reinforce to a point or beyond the bending strength of the connecting tubes.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1043542 (1912-11-01), Seeberger
patent: 2005067 (1935-06-01), Graff-Baker
patent: 2906390 (1959-09-01), Hefti
patent: 4361220 (1982-11-01), Kraft
patent: 5415265 (1995-05-01), Kubota
patent: 5782166 (1998-07-01), Hoefling et al.
patent: 5819910 (1998-10-01), Langer et al.
patent: 606990 (1994-07-01), None
patent: 2056093 (1979-03-01), None
Hess Douglas
Inventio AG
Schweitzer Cornman Gross & Bondell LLP
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