Endless belt power transmission systems or components – Positive drive belt – Belt formed of rigid links
Patent
1996-01-25
1998-01-27
Schoeppel, Roger J.
Endless belt power transmission systems or components
Positive drive belt
Belt formed of rigid links
474228, 474234, F16G 1302
Patent
active
057117330
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a power transmission chain for guiding cables, hoses and the like, with several chain straps which can be connected in detachable fashion by upper and lower cross-members, which are assembled to form two parallel strands, overlap each other and can be angled in relation to each other, and which interlock positively in the area of the mutual overlap.
REVIEW OF RELATED TECHNOLOGY
A power transmission chain of this kind is known, for example, from DE 35 31 066. In the case of the power transmission chain described there, the individual chain links are formed by the outer sides of the chain straps each being provided with a protruding peg which engages a circular recess provided on the inner side of the next chain link. This permits interlocking of consecutive chain links. Each chain strap displays a hole pointing inwards and a peg pointing outwards. In order to permit interlocking of the individual chain links, the two areas of a chain strap which are intended to overlap a neighbouring chain strap are off-set in relation to each other or arranged in staggered fashion. The chain strap is offset roughly halfway along the pitch length of the chain link.
The individual components of such an energy transmission chain are injection moulded from thermoplastic material in one piece. The injection moulds, especially those for manufacturing the chain straps, are relatively expensive. The more complicated the design of these moulds, the more expensive they become.
The known power transmission chain has the disadvantage that the injection moulds for manufacturing the chain links are very expensive on account of the relatively complicated design. Furthermore, the stability of the chain strand is not always sufficient in the case of large chain links under high loads. A disadvantage of offset side-straps is that, when force is applied in the direction of pull of the chain, the force is deflected and the offset represents a weak-point. The greater the surface area of the parts, and the thicker they are, the more difficult it becomes to manufacture them, as distortion and warping occur as a result of the moulding process (e.g. cooling in the mould), particularly at the transition points between thick and thin strap areas or at the offsets. This leads to inaccuracies along the entire length of the chain, as well as to instability.
Therefore, the task of the present invention is to create a power transmission chain of the type mentioned an the beginning, which is easy and inexpensive to manufacture and which is also inherently stable and free of distortion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, the task is solved by the fact that the areas of each chain strap which are intended to overlap the neighbouring chain straps are arranged in a common plane, that the same side of each chain strap is positioned on the adjacent chain straps and that the chain straps of the opposite strands are arranged mirror-symmetrically to each other in relation to the plane running parallel to the strap sides and through the longitudinal axis of the power transmission chain. This results in each strap strand advantageously comprising inner straps and outer straps arranged in parallel planes. The outer straps, held together by means of upper and lower cross-members, can thus be solely responsible for the integrity of the entire chain strand.
The chain straps can be designed mirror-symmetrically, at least in relation to the plane running through the center of the chain strap perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the chain.
It is unnecessary to offset the chain link. In the simplest case, the chain link can be designed as a plate provided with two holes or two pegs. The power transmission chain thus formed can absorb particularly high forces in the longitudinal direction, because the chain strand mainly held together by the outer straps is particularly stable.
Due to the fact that the outer straps joined by cross-members are mainly responsible for the integrity of the chain, eve
REFERENCES:
patent: 191211 (1877-05-01), Westinghouse
patent: 3503579 (1970-03-01), Kurlandsky
patent: 4104871 (1978-08-01), Moritz
patent: 4590961 (1986-05-01), Schumann
patent: 4625507 (1986-12-01), Moritz et al.
patent: 4626233 (1986-12-01), Moritz
patent: 4813224 (1989-03-01), Blase
Igus Spritzgussteile fur die Industrie GmbH
Schoeppel Roger J.
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