Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION
REINFORCED CHAIN LINK ELEMENT
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to chains. More
specifically, the present invention is concerned with a reinforced chain link
element.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The links that form a chain are conventionally made of
a rod having a constant section and that is cut and bent to form a ring.
In the manufacturing process of such links, each ring is usually closed by
welding.
Although, the use of a chain provided with such links is
usually efficient in applications where the chain is strained generally in a
longitudinal direction, there are other applications where a chain has a
non linear configuration. When this is the case, some of the links of the
chain sustain greater lateral stress than usual, causing these links to
break.
A chain that can be mounted to a tire is a good example
of a chain that is subjected to a non linear traction.
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OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is therefore to provide
a reinforced chain link element free of the above described drawbacks of
the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
More specifically, in accordance with the present
invention, there is provided a generally U-shaped chain link element
comprising first and second legs interconnected by a supporting portion;
the first and second legs having respective cross-sections; wherein the
supporting portion has a cross-section greater than at least one of the
cross-sections of the first and second legs.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, there is provided a chain link made of two generally U-shaped
chain link elements as described hereinabove.
According to another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a generally U-shaped chain link element symmetrical
about a symmetry axis comprising:
a first leg having a first end defining a circular cross-
section and a second end defining a generally oblong cross-section; the
first leg having a generally J-shape; and
a second leg having a first end defining a circular cross-
section and a second end defining a generally oblong cross-section; the
second leg having a generally inverted J-shape;
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wherein the second ends of the first and second legs are interconnected
along the symmetry axis.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a chain link element comprising:
a supporting portion having first and second ends and
a first section;
first and second connecting legs being mounted
respectively to the first and second ends; the first and second connecting
legs having respectively a second and a third section; at least one of the
second and third sections being less than the first section of the
supporting portion.
In another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a multi-ring assembly comprising:
an annular ring having a peripheral surface;
a plurality of chain link elements as described
hereinabove mounted to the annular ring by securing their connecting
legs to the peripheral surface of the annular ring.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a chain for tire comprising:
a plurality of multi-ring assemblies as described
hereinabove;
a plurality of chains interconnecting the plurality of multi-
ring assemblies via their chain link elements; the plurality of multi-ring
assemblies and the plurality of chains being so configured as to define a
net around the tire.
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In a final aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a chain link assembly for an endless chain belt comprising:
an open chain link including two chain link elements as
described hereinabove; each of the two chain link elements has one of
their two legs longer than the other; the two chain link elements being
secured to each other by interconnecting their respective longer legs so
as to provide a gap between each their non connected legs; the two chain
link elements extending in a direction perpendicular to their connecting
legs so as to provide an outward surface; and
a ground engaging element so mounted to the open
chain link as to extend outwardly from the outward surface.
Other objects, advantages and features of the present
invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non
restrictive description of preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of
example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the appended drawings:
Figure 1 is a top plan view of a reinforced chain link
element according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of
Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating the intertwining
of chain link elements of Figure 1 to form a chain;
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Figure 4 is top plan view of a multi-ring assembly,
illustrating a second use of the chain link elements of Figure 1;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the multi-ring assembly
5 of Figure 4;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the multi-ring of Figure
4 mounted on a tire using conventional chains and having projecting
cleats mounted thereto;
Figure 7 is a side elevational view of an endless track,
incorporating a second embodiment of the reinforced chain link element
according to the present invention;
Figure 8 is a perspective view of two chain link elements
according to the second embodiment of the present invention, connected
to form a first embodiment of an open reinforced chain link; and
Figure 9 is a perspective view of a second embodiment
of an open reinforced chain link; and
Figure 10 is an elevational view of a chain for tires made
of chain link element of Figure 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Turning to Figures 1 to 3 of the appended drawings, a
chain link element 10 according to a first embodiment of the present
invention will be described.
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The chain link element 10 is generally U-shaped and
comprises a crescent shaped supporting portion 12 and two parallel
connecting legs 14 and 15, integrally mounted to the supporting portion
12. The chain link element 10 is symmetrical about the symmetry axis
13.
As can be better seen from Fig 2, the supporting portion
12 has a generally oblong cross section 16 defined by a constant width
18 and a length gradually decreasing from a maximum 20 at the center
of the supporting portion 12, thus at the symmetry axis 13, to a minimum
corresponding to the width 18 of the central portion 12.
The legs 14 have a circular cross section 24 defined by
a diameter equal to the width 18 (see Figure 3) of the central portion 12.
As can be seen in Figure 3, a reinforced chain can be
formed by intertwining several chain link element 10 (see, for example,
elements 26 and 30) and by connecting their respective legs (see, for
example, elements 26 and 32). Welding can be used to make the
connection between the two chain link element 26 and 32, to yield a
reinforced chain link, if the two chain link elements 26 and 32 are made
of metal. On the other hand, cement or other adhesive may be used if
the elements 26 and 32 are made of plastic material.
The increase in length of the supporting portion's cross
section 16 creates a reinforcement of the link. The chain link element 10
can thus sustain a greater stress in some directions than a conventional
chain link element.
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Although the chain link element 10 has been described
with connecting legs having a circular section and where the supporting
portion has a gradually decreasing section, a person well versed in the art
could easily design other configuration and shape for the chain link
element 10 without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
invention.
Since there are applications where a chain is not
stressed linearly while in traction, the maximum section of the supporting
portion can be located anywhere between the two connecting legs 14, not
just in the center as illustrated herein. The reinforcement is
advantageously located generally near the contacting point between a
chain link element and an intertwining chain link elements to provide a
better resistance to mechanical stress.
Alternatively, a reinforced chain link element can simply
be a conventional chain link element provided with an added
protuberance to the supporting portion, between the connecting legs.
Turning now briefly to Figures 4 and 5 of the appended
drawings, a multi-ring assembly 40 having reinforced chain link elements
42, similar to the reinforced chain link element 10 of Figure 1, will be
described.
The multi-ring assembly 40 comprises an annular ring
44 having a peripheral surface 45 to which are secured, for example by
welding, four reinforced chain link elements 42. As will be described
hereinafter, the chain link elements 42 are used to tie the multi-ring
assembly using lengths of chain. Of course, the number of chain link
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elements 42 used is not critical and may be modified according to the
intended use of the multi-ring.
The chain link elements 42 can either be formed by
molding one generally C-shaped integral piece or by cutting in half a
closed generally elongated O-shaped piece.
Figure 6 illustrates two reinforced multi-ring assemblies
46, similar to the multi-ring assembly 40 of Figures 4 and 5, provided with
cleats 48 mounted to an annular ring 50 and reinforced chain link
elements 52 mounted thereto. The two multi-ring assemblies 46 are
shown mounted to a tire 51 (in dash line in Figure 6) to improve the
traction of a vehicle on some surfaces such as, for example, slurry, snow
or ice.
The annular ring 50 of the multi-ring assemblies 46 act
as a support for the cleats 48, while the reinforced chain link elements 52
allows the multi-ring assemblies 46 to define, with conventional chains 54,
reinforced chain links 56 and rings 58, a chain for tire configured and
sized to be mounted to the tire 51. The chain links 56 of the chains 54
that are connected directly to the reinforced chain link elements 52 are
advantageously reinforced according to the present invention to avoid
being the weak link between the reinforced chain links 52 and rings 58.
Figures 7 and 8 of the appended drawings illustrate a
first cleated endless chain belt 60 according to another aspect of the
present invention. The endless chain belt 60 is shown mounted to wheels
62 and comprises a plurality of chain link assemblies 64 interconnected
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by reinforced chain links 66, comprising two chain link elements 10 of
Figure 1.
Each chain link assembly 64 comprises a reinforced
open chain link 68, configured and sized to be intertwined with two
reinforced chain links 66, a ground engaging element 70 mounted to the
reinforced chain link 68 above an opening 72 thereof and a tire engaging
element 74 mounted to the reinforced open chain link 68 opposite the
ground engaging element 70. The general configuration of the chain link
assemblies 64 is believed well known by a person skilled in the art and
will not be described in further details herein.
Figure 8 of the appended drawings illustrates a first
embodiment of the reinforced open chain link 68 of the chain link
assembly 64 in greater details. The open chain link 68 includes a one
piece oval shape metal plate 76 having an opening 72 on one side and
two opposite recesses 80, similar in function as the support portions. The
open chain link 68 further includes two small metal rods 82 inserted in the
two opposite recesses 80 to reinforce the open chain link 68. The rods
82 are secured to the metal plate 76 by welding and include a semi-
circular groove 83 to increase the contact surface between the reinforced
open chain link 68 and the reinforced chain links 66.
The reinforced chain links 66 are configured and sized
to be intertwined between chain link assemblies 64. The reinforced chain
links 66 includes two chain link elements similar to chain link elements 10
of Figure 1, connected by their connecting legs. Since such reinforced
chain links have been described hereinabove, they will not be discussed
further.
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The reinforced open chain links 68 and the reinforced
chain links 66 must also be so configured and sized as to provide
sufficient space between their respective connective legs so as to prevent
any leverage effect on the connective legs.
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Figure 8 of the appended drawings illustrates a first
embodiment of the reinforced open chain link 68 of the chain link
assembly 64 in greater details. The open chain link 68 includes a one
piece oval shape metal plate 76 having an opening 72 on one side and
10 two opposite recesses 80, similar in function as the support portions. The
open chain link 68 further includes two small metal rods 82 inserted in the
two opposite recesses 80 to reinforce the open chain link 68. The rods
82 are secured to the metal plate 76 by welding and include a semi-
circular groove 83 to increase the contact surface between the reinforced
open chain link 68 and the reinforced chain links 66.
Figure 9 of the appended drawings illustrates a second
embodiment 68' of the reinforced open chain link. For comparison
purposes and since the reinforced open chain link 68' is similar to the
reinforced open chain link 68, only the differences between these links
will be described hereinbelow.
The reinforcement 82' is made integral to the oval shape
metal plate 76'. The reinforcement 82' is positionned at an intermediate
radial position between the center of the recess 80' and the side of the
metal plate 76' opposite the opening 72'. The reason for this positionning
of the reinforcement 82' is to provide reinforcement near the region where
wearing is most likely to occur.
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Of course, one skilled in the art could design another
interconnecting element to adequately interconnect the chain links
assemblies 64, without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
Figure 10 of the appended drawings shows a second
cleated endless chain belt 92, mounted on a single tire 94. Since the
cleated endless chain belt 92 is similar to the chain belt 60 from Figure 7,
only the differences between these chain belts will be described
hereinbelow.
The cleated chain belt 92 includes several angled chain
link assemblies 96 each having an angled open chain link 98. The
difference between this open chain link 98 and the open chain link 68 of
Figure 7 is that the oval shape metal plate 100 of the open chain link 98
is bend outwardly to provide a concave surface 102 between the two
recesses 104. As will be apparent to a person versed in the art, the cavity
102 allows the cleated chain belt 92 to be adequately secured to the tire
94.
As might appear evident to one skill in the art, the open
chain links 68 and 98 could also be assembled by securing two identical
reinforced chain link elements having one of their legs longer than the
other.
It is to be noted that other reinforced chain link elements
or chain links having different configuration could be designed without
departing from the spirit of the present invention.
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Although the present invention has been described
hereinabove by way of preferred embodiments thereof, it can be modified,
without departing from the spirit and nature of the subject invention as
defined in the appended claims.
