Endless belt power transmission systems or components – Positive drive belt – Belt formed of rigid links
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-05
2002-05-28
Hannon, Thomas R. (Department: 3682)
Endless belt power transmission systems or components
Positive drive belt
Belt formed of rigid links
C474S228000, C474S230000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06394923
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a drive chain, more particularly to a drive chain having a durable construction and enhanced protection against dust.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to
FIG. 1
, a conventional drive chain
1
is shown to include a plurality of parallel pairs of outer chain plates
16
, a plurality of parallel pairs of inner chain plates
13
, a plurality of parallel pairs of tubular rollers
12
, a plurality of pins
14
and a plurality of bushings
15
. Each of the outerchain plates
16
is formed with a pair of first pin holes
161
. Each of the inner chain plates
13
is formed with a pair of second pin holes
131
. Each of the pairs of the inner chain plates
13
is disposed between two adjacent pairs of the outer chain plates
16
such that one of the second pin holes
131
in each of the inner chain plates
13
is aligned with the first pin holes
161
in one of the adjacent pairs of the outer chain plates
16
, and such that the other one of the second pin holes
131
is aligned with the first pin holes
161
in the other one of the adjacent pairs of the outer chain plates
16
. Each of the pairs of rollers
12
is disposed between a corresponding one of the pairs of the inner chain plates
13
such that the rollers
12
in each of the pairs are aligned respectively in an axial direction with the second pin holes
131
in the corresponding one of the pairs of the inner chain plates
13
. Each of the pins
14
extends axially through a respective one of the rollers
12
and through aligned ones of the first and second pin holes
161
,
131
. Each of the bushings
15
is sleeved on a respective one of the pins
14
and has a respective one of the rollers
12
sleeved thereon. Each of the bushings
15
has opposite ends that abut against one of the pairs of the inner chain plates
13
, respectively.
Some of the drawbacks of the aforesaid conventional drive chain
1
are as follows:
1. Most of the components of the drive chain
1
are made of metal to result in a strong construction. As such, lubricant is needed to ensure smooth pivoting movement among the components of the drive chain
1
. However, since the pivot joints among the inner and outer chain plates
13
,
16
and the pins
14
of the drive chain
1
are exposed, dust can easily get trapped and collect on the lubricant present in clearances that are formed by the pivot joints. In addition, the lubricant can be undesirably released via the aforesaid clearances when the drive chain
1
is in use. As such, the operation of the drive chain
1
is adversely affected, and the service life of the same is accordingly reduced.
2. When the drive chain
1
is in use, two opposite pulling forces are applied by the inner and outer chain plates
13
,
16
on the pins
14
. The resulting shearing force can cause damage to the pins
14
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a drive chain that is capable of overcoming the aforesaid drawbacks commonly associated with the prior art.
According to the present invention, a drive chain comprises:
a plurality of parallel pairs of outer chain plates, each of the outer chain plates being formed with a pair of first pin holes;
a plurality of parallel pairs of inner chain plates, each of the inner chain plates being formed with a pair of second pin holes, each of the pairs of the inner chain plates being disposed between two adjacent pairs of the outer chain plates such that one of the second pin holes in each of the inner chain plates is aligned with the first pin holes in one of the adjacent pairs of the outer chain plates, and such that the other one of the second pin holes in each of the inner chain plates is aligned with the first pin holes in the other one of the adjacent pairs of the outer chain plates;
a plurality of parallel pairs of tubular rollers, each of the pairs of the rollers being disposed between a corresponding one of the pairs of the inner chain plates such that the rollers in each of the pairs are aligned respectively in an axial direction with the second pin holes in the corresponding one of the pairs of the inner chain plates; and
a plurality of pins, each of which extends axially through a respective one of the rollers and through aligned ones of the first and second pin holes.
In one embodiment, each of the inner chain plates is formed with a pair of annular rims that are disposed respectively around the second pin holes and that extend in the axial direction away from the rollers so as to abut against two adjacent ones of the outer chain plates. Each of the outer chain plates is formed with a peripheral flange that extends in the axial direction toward the rollers so as to abut against two adjacent ones of the inner chain plates and that retains pivotally one of the annular rims on each of the two adjacent ones of the inner chain plates.
In another embodiment, each of the inner chain plates is formed with a pair of outer annular rims that are disposed respectively around the second pin holes and that extend in the axial direction away from the rollers so as to abut against two adjacent ones of the outer chain plates. Each of the outer chain plates is formed with a pair of inner annular rims that are disposed respectively around the first pin holes and that extend in the axial direction toward the rollers and into a respective one of the outer annular rims.
In a further embodiment, each of the outer chain plates is formed with a pair of first annular rims that are disposed respectively around the first pin holes and that extend in the axial direction toward the rollers and into a respective one of the second pin holes. Each of the inner chain plates is formed with a pair of second annular rims that are disposed respectively around the second pin holes and that extend in the axial direction toward the rollers so as to abut against the corresponding one of the pairs of the rollers.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3948574 (1976-04-01), Baylor
patent: 4094515 (1978-06-01), Araya et al.
patent: 4464151 (1984-08-01), Kahl
patent: 4494945 (1985-01-01), Ogino
patent: 4575914 (1986-03-01), Armida et al.
patent: 4729754 (1988-03-01), Thuerman
patent: 4978327 (1990-12-01), Wu
patent: 4983147 (1991-01-01), Wu
patent: 5151066 (1992-09-01), Wu
patent: 5186569 (1993-02-01), Wu
patent: 5322483 (1994-06-01), Wang
patent: 5465568 (1995-11-01), Wang
patent: 5921880 (1999-07-01), Ishimoto et al.
Hannon Thomas R.
Johnson Vicky A.
Merchant & Gould P.C.
Ming Chang Traffic Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
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