Endless belt power transmission systems or components – Positive drive belt – Belt formed of rigid links
Patent
1985-06-06
1987-01-13
Leppink, James A.
Endless belt power transmission systems or components
Positive drive belt
Belt formed of rigid links
474206, 198850, F16G 1302
Patent
active
046361812
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a conveyor chain, which comprises chain links consisting of a barrel portion and of elongated side bars, the first ends of which are attached to the ends of the barrel, whereby the distance between the free ends of the side bars corresponds to the length of the barrel including the side bars attached to it.
From the U.S. Pat. No. 4,123,947 a conveyor chain described above is known. This prior art chain consists of chain links made of acetal and of locking studs made of a polymer with a glass fibre reinforcement. The fastening of the locking studs in place is based upon the elasticity of the material of the chain links and locking studs so that a ring-shaped slot in the studs is forced into alignment with a ring-shaped ridge of a corresponding size in the links. To assemble the stud demands, however, quite considerable forces, so that a press designed especially for this purpose is required for the assembly. Moreover, the locking studs and chain links are manufactured separately, so that a separate mould is needed for the manufacture of each of them.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is meant to eliminate the problems relating to the construction described above, i.e. to eliminate the need for a special assembly tool and two separate moulds. This has been realized by means of a conveyor chain according to the invention so that the surfaces located opposite each other at the free ends of the bars of the chain links are provided with studs, the outer diameter of which corresponds to the inner diameter of the barrel, and that the elasticity of the bar material is such that the bars can be spread from each other to such an extent as to enable the insertion of the studs of one chain link into the barrel of another chain link.
Consequently, a chain according to the invention can be assembled and disassembled by hand without any special strength or experience being damanded from the one who is carrying out this task. In order to make sure that the chain links hold fast to each other while the chain is used, the inner surface of the barrel of the chain links as well as the studs are provided with parts which permit the insertion of the studs only in a certain mutual position of the links and lock the studs in all other positions inside the barrel. The parts mentioned preferably comprise shoulders formed on the inner surface of the barrel and ring-shaped slots formed on the studs as well as axial grooves terminating at the slot and having a breadth corresponding to the shoulders.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the following, the construction of the chain according to the invention is described more closely with reference to the enclosed drawing, wherein
FIG. 1 illustrates an assembled chain of the invention,
FIG. 2 illustrates the assembly principle of the chain,
FIG. 3 is a cross-section of the chain link of the chain according to the invention,
FIG. 4 is a side view of the chain link,
FIG. 5 is a section of the juncture between the chain links, and
FIG. 6 is a section of the chain link of FIG. 3 along the line VI-VI.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 illustrates a chain of the invention consisting of chain links 1 especially suitable to be manufactured of acetal or high molecular polyethylene. A non-metallic conveyor chain of the invention is particularly well adapted for use in moist environments and in water and even in a water-sand-suspension its wear resistance is considerably better than that of steel chains. On account of the lightness of the chain, the motors and gearings needed for moving the chain can also be dimensioned essentially smaller than usual.
A special advantage of the chain according to the invention is that it consists of only identical pieces. The results are low manufacturing costs, because only one mould is needed, and low spare part costs.
FIG. 2 shows how the chain of the invention is extended. The chain link of FIG. 2 consists of a barrel portion 2 and elongated side bars 3 and 4, the
REFERENCES:
patent: 3127980 (1964-04-01), Lanham
patent: 3138236 (1964-06-01), Goodgame
patent: 4123947 (1978-11-01), Smith et al.
Eilamo Unto
Laukkarinen Tuomo
Lehto Arto
Oksman Erkki
Savolainen Esko
Leppink James A.
McKenzie, Jr. Frank H.
Oy Nokia AB
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