Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02442494 2003-10-03
~~~~f.~l~ ~~1~1~ 'I~I~EIJ i~~W f,~~~ ~~~:~~1=;~5~~~~, ~1~,~;~II~/:~~3~,~,1a~
~~~I~ ~11~~~.E ~'.~~'P
~~ i~a'~/ l~S~fEI~~
Meld ofthe I~ve~tion
This iz~~erftio~ rei~3te,s to the fie;ld of log processors, detirrnbers ~.~d
single grid
harvesters arid in particular, for Esc; thereon. to ~~ iz~~ro ved dr~~e.
~~~eel ofrnodnlar eo~str~etioi~.
~ack~;ro~~d of the Invention
It is yell l~r~ova~~ i.~.~ the l~r~or ~~t v.o ease log ~.~li~ers,
~roeesso~°s, single grip
harvesters and other log ~roeessin~; ~aehines ~g~~~reinafter voile~.tivel~
referred to as ~roeessors~ for
e~arra~le in the form c~f attaeh~e~~cs for rnownting to the distal end of the
boorr~ and stick of an
e~ceavator ~or the deli~9~ing ar~~. proeessing of felled trees.
~or~vea~tionally, the delia~r~ber
attac~nent pivks ~z~ one end of a ~,Iled tree ~r, ~:vh~~~ tl~e trees are
ofsn~al'3er ~dia~netvr, gathers the
ends of a ~l~:ralit~ of trees so as to :lace, the ei~d of i~i~e tree or trees
bet~veera a pair of drive ~nrlxeels
~.o~nted ors opposite sides of the tree or trees. t~, pair of grappling alrr~s
hold the ends of the trees
between the drive wheels and ~~ against a~. elo~~gate stapporting frame to
whieh are o~.znted the
grappling a~°rns arid the drive w~eE~ls. '~~.jah the grappling arms
legging the trees vp against the
2 0 support frame so as to dispose tl~e ends of thke trees =~etweera the drive
wheel s, the drive wheels are
ac;t~aated so as to snngl~ f~ictior~~3x~ engage op~~osite sides of the tree or
trees therebetweerg and
draver~ so as to ran the tcree or trees loc~gitodinall~ along their le~~~~h
thereby eausin,g the ass to
strip the branehes. '~'he tree or trees so longitudinally driven b~ ~~~e pair
of wheels n~~~% be stab~ect
to repeated passes tl~o~.gh the ar'~s by tla~. reversing of the drive
direction of the wheels so as to
2 5 prod~ee a reeiprocating stroke of tl~e tree ~~r~nks until the operator is
satisfied with the result. 'fhe
frar~~e gay also support a res~tei~ aet~ab'e ~.aw for cutting tl~e tr~r~ks,
or~ee delibed, into
le:r~gths.
1
CA 02442494 2003-10-03
In the prior ~rt~ the arrive whPeis nay cor~~entiotg~iiy be for e~a~npie
ei~tber entirely
rigid ~~beeis whose outer surface are ~;o'v~;red t~~,<~ spikes or other grip
e~~h~n ei8~g rne~nsg or rnay be
rubber sheathed wheels er~ploy~r~g eliai~~ ~%~rapped around the ir~~aer and
outer s~.~rfaces of the
wheel. The chains are wrcapped '~o produce a toy ~as-Tike protecti ~.~e cover
around the rubber and so
that the varapped strand of ehai~ enl~anees the grid of the rub~~er°
dri~~e wheel eng~gi~.g the tree
trunks being held ~n the delF&Yi~e:°. ~t 1~ t~'its a~tt~r type ~~
~Jtr~~,ee~ ~a~filie~ IS the ~~1''~°~jeCt ~;9:f g~he
irnprovernents according to the pr~ser~t inve~~tiono
The conventionai r:~~bber v~heels used in con~uns~~io~~ wah a ~.~rapped chain
are one
1 C piece ~r~:~eets. consequently, as the eh~:irr during use wears and qtr
etches, the ehai~~ ~eeornes more
loosely wrapped around the wh~,eas~d eonse~~~ently in~,rease;~ tie rare o~f
erosi~r~ of the rubber
outer liner orf the vJheet beyond t.~.t normally e~~eo entered ~,~he~ tile
chain is tight, resulting in the
premature ~~~e~~r of the rubber outs r liner and. ~. shorr:ened useful life of
the rubber outer finer before
the ex3tire wheel ra~.ust be replaced ~~nd the worn wheels sent for
~e;~lser~sive re~~rbisi~ir~g. ~feog~.rse,
operator s nay, and should, periodieally tig;~ten vhe chain satrap ~:~ take up
the slack in the chain due
to ~,vear arid stretching so as to e_~tend the use~a~l fife of the rut~ber
vvheei° ~Iowever, in reality,
because this is quite a time eo~s~~aing e~ereiSe involving l~~vir~g to
rerr~o~e the er~A'cire wheat frorr~
tl~e delimber end thereby e~usi~g s=gnit~icr~nt dov~~~a tine o~ tl-~e
eo~uiprr~er~t., operators o'~~r en will not
perfor°n sash periodic tightening of the e~~agr~. 4.~onseqa.~ently, it
is one object of the present
2 0 invention to assist operators ira_ mov°e si~npiy and qz~ic,hly
taghter~ing lengths of chain x~our~ted onto
the modular rubber drive whe~;l of the p~°esent in~rentio~rx and to
provide for ease of
interchangeability of parts of the drive ~,~neel ~;-hi~:,h are su~jee;t to
~re~r.
Sun~m~r°~ of the Inventio~~
In summary, the rrP~~dol~r ri~Je ~rl~~:el for log processors of pie preserbt
ir~vea~ation
includes ~ tubular midsection s~r~dwicl~e~ 'oet"vaE:en ~ pair of armuiar rings
mounted concentrically
on opposite ends of the rnidsectio~. The cr~icisectio~E tree ~i resilie~~t
outc;r surface extending ~rour~d
2
CA 02442494 2003-10-03
the midsection. 'The pair ~f a~~~lar .Sings cash laa~c ~ radially spaced apart
array of r~o~ches
therear~und. ~. he notches i~ the radially spiced apart arrays of:rrotches arc
sized to sr~~gly receive
irl releasable locking er~gagcrne~.t there$r~ lir~h~ on opposite creeds of
chain scgrnents extending
het~cen the pair of annular rings. ~'he drive ~hce~ fizrthcr incl~.dcs
~r~ear~s n~o~nte,d betvaeen the
pair of ~.nn~lar rings for sclccti~re-1y forcing ~par~ ~h pair c~f ari~a~l~r
rings along a longst~.~dinai axis
of syrnrr~c~ry of the idsectio~.
~ radially spaced apart ar:~°a~y of grc~ovcs rr~ay c~~atc,~d
substarEtially lo~~gitudi~°~ally
along the rraidsection so as to he sabstanti~Il~ para~_1cI to the
lo~~gi~~dinal axis of syrr~rnctry of the
midsection. 'The grooves are formed ire the resilient outer surface of tl~.e
midscctio~~. 'T he grooves
arc aligned ~r%ith corresponding k:~o=:ches ivy the r~di«lly spaced a.~ar~
are°ays of'notchcs. ~'hc affrays
ofnotchcs are in o~~p~ositely disposed relatiovA to eac;=~a o-tlFer on
o~positely disposed eT~ds of the pair
~:i ar~ular rings.
A, plurality of chain segancrts are; m~ur~tcd or rnour~~able arovr~d the
n~fidsectior~ ira a
radially spaced apart array. each chain segrr~e.~~t E~f the pl~rali~:y of
chai:a~ segrnen~a is r~rno~ntcd
substantially parallel to the longir:~~d:nal axis s~f the miciscctio~~ and.
has a le~.gtl~_ which is long
enough to extend from being rel~;~sabl~~ 1,~~..l~ecl inta~ a cor respor~dir~g
notch at one e,~~ad of the each
chain segment, and, at the other cud of the each chain se;grrvent, relcasably
locl~ed into a
2 0 corresz~orFdPr~g oppositely d9 sposed notch so as ~o ai=g~~ each chair~g
seg~:ncn4 al~_~g a coy cespor~ding
groove of the array of grooves.
;r~ ore embodime~~--~, one; asa~vlaa ring o1° the pair ~9f aF~ri~iar
rigs furtl~cr corr~priscs
a shirt ring rnountcd thereto. 'fhe ~:kirt rig ag a xtc;nds around the
~.rn~lar rirygs, around ~~ base ofthc
2 5 annular ri3~g. 'The shirt ring has a ra~dially spliced apart array of
r:ot~hes thcrearound for relcasably
mating v~ith ~ chain link, ~rhere tl~c chaff link is one of the li3rtalcs
between opposit~° e~~d lids of
each of the chain segments when the cl~ais~ segments ~.re rno~~rAtcd around
the midsection in a
radially spaced array of chain segBrae~ts each s~~bsta~atially pa~-<~.ilel to
the longitudinal axis of the
3
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midsection. ~'he notches assist in guiding tire linlcc in tlm chain segments
into mating alignment
with coxresponding grooves in the array of oro~~~rcs around the: ~nidse ;tion.
In one, err3bodzment,
the radially spaced apart arrays ofgrooves on ll~e midsection may be equally
radially spaced apart.
'fhe notches on the pair of annular rings rr~ay then also be equally
~°adially spaced. apart. T'he
radially spaced apart array of groo~,~cs may ~e form~:d as parallel helical
spirals her_ically spiralling
about the longitudinal axis.
In one ernbodirr~~en~. of the yr_°~,se~~t inver~tio n, the, rx~.eans
for forcing ~har°~ the pair of
annular rings gray include a telescopirng ~~oantir~g means telesoopicaly
mounting a ~~rst annular
ring of the annular rings to the midsection. T'he shirt ring may be mounted to
a second anr;ular
ring of the pair of annular rings opposite to 'tee ~~rst armular ring. Tlae
telescopic ~reounting means
may include a first annular flange concentrically rigidly mounted within the
first annular ring, a
second armular flange concentrically rigidly mounted withi~~ the ~nidsection
and selectively
adjustable spacing means, for selectively adjLZSting a lo~~gitudinal spacing
between the first and
second annular ~"langes, mou~.ted ~etwean-~he ~arsv~ and second. annular
flanges. further, spacing
means may include a threaded member threadably engaging corresponding threaded
apertures in
the first and second annular flanges, and also may include refnovably
mountable rigid spacers
remoqJably mountable between the. first and se~.~or~d an~vular flanges.
In a preferred embodiment, the end ring which may be telescopically translated
relative to the midsection also h~~s a resilient ~>uter svrFa.ce thereahound,
and the rac~~ial an~ay of
notches are recessed radially ii-~wa~~°dly o~~ti~e resilient band so
that the corresponding ends of the
chain segments must be tensioned across the resilient band so as to lochably
engage into the
notches. in this fashion, the resisie~~t band serves to resilien~:iy apply a
te,nsionir~g ~ree to the
2 5 chain segments to assist in taping up anir~or slack in the chain :9~;genrs
due to wear and stretch in
between periodic adjustments in vhe telescopic, relationship between the
midsection and the end
ring which may be telescopically translated.
4
CA 02442494 2003-10-03
both cud rir~.gs ire rovided ~witr locking rin~~; ~ai~i~,~h gay be ~ot,~~ted
over the
notches to lock the end chain li;~ of the chair. se;~r~e,~ts into the ergo
ring rgotches.
'I'he spiralled or slued ~rr~y of ch~ia~ se~rrgerat;~ og~ the drive wheels
thereby urge
logs i~~ the delirrgber iu ~ directions ~~airist t~~e trance ~~~~the
del:ig~be~.
brief ~3escrr~tio~a of the ~r~v~i~~
Figure 1 is, i~ ~eg°s:~icyive view, ~ lj~~ detiber ~~~d processor
h~vig~g the modular
drive wheels according to the ~re,~.erat :~nvergtie~:y ~Aourgtes a therefor.
FigLire Z is, ire per~~ectve view., ore of -tl~e odalu~° drive
~~rlzeels ~:~ Figure t.
Figure 2a is9 i~ enlarged ~~rti~l.ly cg:~tav~~y view, urge drive wheel ofthe
i~vea~riorg of
F figure 1,
Figure 3 is ~ p~rtl.a~ly cud: ~w~y enlarged view c'~ ~ ~ortioz~ of F'iga~re 2.
Figure 4 is erg exploded vleF~ ir~sid~ elev~tiou of the drive wheel of Figurc
~,.
Figure 5 is ~~ exploded ~ers~ecaiv~, view of th~: dr_ve wheel of Figure ~.
Figure 5~ is ~~ eg~t~rged artr~lly cast ~w~y view t~e~ ~ro~ the exploded view
of
Figure ~.
Figure 6 is e~t~x-;ed v~Ee~%a oi'~ iCOrtic~~ of Fi;g~re ~.
Figure '~ is ~~a eg~l~e~ed vie~,~~ of the; botto:rga ir~,~ of Figure 4.
5
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~'ig~rc ~ is9 in c~~~la~°ged ~r dally cutwaway v~c~j, an alternative
preferred
en~bc~dirnent of the annular guide ~~ing ~~ the drive wheel according tc~ the
present invention.
~ctailed ~escr°z~tion of ~rn~cdir~ents of tl~c I~~wcr~ricn
As seen in the ~ccc~~p~~~y~ng figvre:~ wherein sir~rgilar characters
~fref~rer~ce den~tc
c~rrcsp~r~dir~g parts in each vicvrj the lsg .~rs~~~,es:~~r I~ of f"ignre I
includes a c~~~plcr I2 f~r
rn~unting supp~rt frame I~ to tl~e .re~-r~~te ei~d c~l~a ~b,-s~rk a~~~ suc;i:g
as the end ofthe h~~~and stick
of an excavator ~n~t shown). ~ ~_ opposed f~; ing pair of ar°rrgs 1 ~
are pivotally rxi~untcd to frame
I ~ and are rern~tely actua5lc sc~ ~.~s to g:~°asp a tress trua~i~ I ~
~~r plur~llty <~f tree tru~rlcs 1 ~ in a
sia~aultaneous '"hugging" or grappli~~g rnotior~ ire direction ~ so ~~.s to a
r~gagc trunk I ~ adj scent and
parallel to thG 1~ngitudinal axis of ~~°ar~ie I~.
I~c~~cin~afterrefere~~~ce tc~ a singular tree gunk is meant
to include also the plural.
A pair of drive ~,~ccls :~~, 5e~_ter seen in ~'i~,~~rc 2; arc rotatal~ly
recounted on
hydra~.~ldc vahcel rr.otors 22, as convcntionaily ~vailahlc ;-:~nd h~;ttcr
seen in'~igazrc ~~, t~ a pair ~f
corrcsp~nding cantiievcred arrz~s i~ whiciz n_ay tic remotely actssated so as
to pivot oiv otherwise s~
as to bring the outer surfaces o~ ~irivc ~%vl~eeis ~i~ fr~-'o ~:ngagernc-nt
v~~At~ tree trunk 5 ~.
2Q
~onvcntionally ~~-ul°~ougl~ t5=s is n":~t intended e:~ 5e lirniting9
drive nnotors (not
shown) arc ~unted within drive v~heels ;,~ on ~nr~.~alar flanges ~~ so ~s t~
selecti vely r~tatc drive
wheels 2Q in dirccti~ns ~ about, axes of rotation ~~. ~i~~ultant,o~~s rotation
~f drive wheels 2Q
translates tree trunk I ~ in directions . 'I'rar~~slat~ior~ of tree trunl~. I
~ along its 1~ngitudinal axis in
2 5 direction I~ causes auras I6 and tos% k~nifc '~,_~~ to cur: offany
branches p~°ot<siding frcrn tl~e trr.~nk as
the ors and top knife cut fnc 5r~nci~cs duria~g tire strove ov" ~hc tree
tru~~lc 5et~ve,en the drive
whcc 1 s.
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CA 02442494 2003-10-03
l~s seen in the asso,baod vaiew of Figure ~, the ~~largod view of
~'ig~~°e 3 a,.~d the
o~plodod side elevation and perspective v~e~s, respoct~~oly, of I~~ig~res 4
and 5, the modular drive
wheel according to the presort invention ir2cludes a rubber srAc;~~tl~od
~~idsootiora ~E~ sarxdwiched
bet~~ee~: a first end ring 2~ and az~ opposi~ely disposed second er~d ring ~~.
fhe r~s~ber slaeaf~~ may
be for e~arnpie two inches tbicb>. thirst of top end ~°~.ng ~~ as
rr~o~~,ted boy jeans of bolts 3~, only
two of which are illustrated, ~~r.~~.g~ bol3W bodes 34 in inner a~iar mange ~~
and through
corresponding bolt holes ~b ghrough inner aa~n~~iar flange ~I~~ on the
correshondl~~g end of
midsection ~~.
A first equally radially spaced apart array of rlotcLles 42, better seen in
t~'~e enlarged
viev~ of Figure C, are formed in as ~ ~pstar~ding ar~nu ~~ar rirrn 44
concentric ~rith firmer annular flange
~6 on first er~d ring 2~ so as to thereby forn°~ a corresponding Ilrs~t
equally r~dially spaced apart
array of ~zpstar~dlryg rigid teetb 44a into ~vhic~ tl~e penultimate e~~d
lir~l~ 46a on the corresp~rldzng
first e~~ds of chain segments 46 ~~aJ~ be locl~a'~ly and rerr~ovably abated.
In particular as better seen
in Figux°e 3, t~~e penultimate end linl~ 4~a is be~.ng engaged in
direction ~; so as to mate into the
corresponding notch 42 thereby io~~l~~g the a~~accnt e~d~rnos~; iinl~ 4~b
beb~nd tl~e teeth 44a on
either side of noteb 42. In Figure ~ she penuitimr~te end iinl~ 46~.
ill~~strated in dotted o~.-~tline is also
mated into the corresponding nota~b. 42. itl~~ per~~altirnate end links 46a of
chairs segments 46
r~.ated into the5c corresponding ~.~~otcl~es 4~ chain segments 46 a~r~ mated
~rith notches 4~a formed
2 0 between teetl~~ 4~ in annular guide r ing ~~' fo~-~~ned a an
ortl~.ogor~aliy od°iented s~ir~~ r~Jlarive to arid
around the base of rim 44. In one embodiment, ~~ft-~r cl~a~~ segments 46 may
be mounted around a
drive wheel 2~. Ire an alternative prøferred e~~~bc~dirr~er~t as see~~ itn i
iga~re ~, the annuiar guide ring
may advantageously be an argr~rti~.r equally radially spaced arradr of lugs
~~a° f~~~i.~g a ring 50' of
such lugs wherein lugs Sfla° do not i~rotrude radially outwardly beyond
the outermost edges of iinlcs
2 5 46° recounted in notches 4~a'.
First end ring ~~ i s properly o~°ie~tep~ onto rr~idsc,cti~n ~& by the
ynating of ~ pin or
dowel 52'~ with a corresponding aperture J4a for~r~ed in ig~ner anrg~~lar
flange 40, adhere pin ~2b
7
CA 02442494 2003-10-03
depends from irmcr annular fiar~gc ~~. svgs ~~~. siis~abi~ and s~.~giy ~tc
into corresponding slots
5~fb. i_,ugs ~2~. arc mounted to, ~r°rd dcpencl fror~r, inner ar~~~uiar
:~iar~gc _l6, ~ pots 5~b are :~orr~cd in
in~cr ar~nuiar ~Iar~gc 40.
The proper aiigrz~r~cvt of first cn~'z ring 2~ rciati~n; t~ ~~r~i~scctio~:~ ~&
~~out the axis of
substa~tiai s~n~ctr~ ~ is irnpo~ a~zt so as to pre;pc~°~~r align
n~td~bcs ~2 ire rirr~ 44 and r~otciZCS 4~a
in ann~aiar guide ring 5G ~iti~ l~eiic~~ii~ spiralled or siantcdl grooves S~,
which dcfgnc vi~crcbet~ccn
raised lands SCa, in tine rubber c~t~,rior sv,r~~cc or ~~9ieath ~~ raciiaii~
c~:mcasi~g the i~:Lracr rigid, for
c~ampie steel, core tube or sieez~~c or co7iar ~0 of r~~idscc;tior~ ~'.~. ~r
~ovcs 56 are sued so as to
sr~ugi~ receive in releasable rya~ur~tang cr~gagc~rr~~rlt -thcrci.n
altcr~r~atir~g chain links QCs; so that chain
scgrner~ts ~.6 once n~ountcd into arid along t~~ear cor:resporpding groo~~cs
5~ ire rubber sheath ~~ are
tbcre'o~ guided and urged so as to maintain the parallel ~:~uali~ spaced apart
spiralled or siarbtcd
arra~r of chain segrr~ents ~6 as s°eA~ in ~'ig~~res I a~~d ~. It is
~andcrsta~od that the array of chain
segrncnts ~ouid continue all the ~a~~~ aro~~:~ci the outer surface o i'cach
drive ~rhce~. ~0 to provide a
continuous or endless traction-crah~nced surfaces ors drive heels l 0 so as to
cr~gagc ~rce tr~arik 1 ~
as ttae drive ~reeis arc rotated.
In a manner similar to the ioci~ing o:~pe~~xitirnate links ~6a into notches 42
i~~ ring
~~, the corresponding liniss at the opposite ends of chain scgmc~~ts 4~
siidabiy mate into
2 0 corresponding notc~cs ~2 better seen ir1 the cr~9argc~ viewer of Fi,~urc
'~ forrued in ri'm ~~ r~rot~°uding
frc~~ the base of second end ring :~0.
Second or bottorz a,;r$d ring :~0, t9irr~iiar to first er~~ ring 2~, is
aligned relative t~
ra~idsection 2~ so as to pr~pcri~ align notches ~ ~~iti~ the corresponding
cads of grooves 56 t~
2 5 thercb~ ~ecp the chain scgn~ents ~~= propcri~j ali~;ncc~, b~ the use, c~f
a ba~~orct rya~untir~g of do~ci or
pig b6a and lugs 6~sb, wherein dowel or pin ~~a mates v~itia a corresponding
hole on an~~uiar r'iar~gc
°~~ on the bottom of rnidscction cart ~~ and l~.gs ~~b mate ~i~h
correspondingl;~ si~cd slots in
annular flange 7~ on the opposite ~,nd of core ~0 f~-orn annular z~angc ~Q.
8
CA 02442494 2003-10-03
Second or bottom end ring 30 is noa~~ated in a telescopic fit onto midsection
26 so
that, with the pin 66a and lugs 66 b bayonet mounted into flange t ~, ri~r~ 6k
overlaps in a telescopic
fit over the corresponding exposed °cottorn end e:f cE~re 60.. "fhe
i;el°scopic fit of second end ring 30
onto midsection 26 provides for relative movement ir°1 direction ~
between second end ring 30 and
midsection 26. This telescopic ~ t allows the periodic tensioning of chain
segments 46 mounted so
as to extend between the ~°~rst and second end ri~~gs, that is, so a;y
to take up any slack produced by
wear and stretch of the chain seg.ne~.ts d~.:~ring use of the drive wheel.
Tensioning of chain
segments 46 is accomplished by translating secone end ring 30 along axis ~ in
a direction away
i°rorr~ midsection ~6, although a small amount oi'ter,sion is
mai~'tained by reason oftl~e outermost
surface of end ring 30 being resilient; the chain segments resiliently
deforming a bevelled edge 30a
of the resilient surface 30b as they pass over the resilient surface 30b into
locking engagement
within notches 62 in rim 64' ~e~;a~~se 13.71~s 4dc of c~~ain sebg~nents 4 6
are mounted into grooves 56
of sheath Sg, in order to keep the li~~lcs r'iush in the grooves as the chain
segment transitions from
sheath SF~ and over outer surface 30b of ri~~g 30, the outside diameter of
outer surface 30b is equal
to the outside diameter of sheath ~~ less the depth ov broo'~res 56, ~~at is,
is hush with the radially-
inner bottom of the grooves.
'Translation of end aging 30 along axis F ma;y be ac,~o~,plished by the use of
jacking
2 0 bolts 70 better seen in Figure ~a9 only one of which is iilustrater~.,
which mount through threaded
bolt holes 72 in the inner annular ring 74, and through correspor~dqng holes
76a in shires 76 so as
to engage, by pushing up against, a~~nular fla~;:ge 7~ on the' botto~r~ ovcore
60. Thus evith bolts 70
threadably engaged in correspor~dia~g threaded bole. in angular f~~ar~ge 72
and pushing ~..~p against
flange 7~ on the exposed end of c:~re 609 bolts 70 may'~se tightened so as to
telescopically translate
second. end ring 30 away from midsection ~6 tlze~~eby tensionizzg chain
segncnts 46. Forcing
flanges 72 and 7~ apart allows for the snug =rzse~-t of ships 76. ~~ith
shir~as 76 in place, bolts 70
may be un-tightened so that the te~,sioW ng of chain segments 46 is maintained
by pressure on
shirrs 76. For ease of access =~~a bolts 70 t'or the periodic te~asioning of
chain segments 46,
9
CA 02442494 2003-10-03
a~ert~rcs ~0 arc ~rtwidcd i3 the ~-nner ~~~ar~gc ~2 of secomd e;rid ring 3~
and a~cxt~~rcs ~~- are
~r~~zded in hcl~i~g collar ~6 ~rvhictl reenacts s~~cr rir~ ~~. so as te;~ lock
the ends of chain segcr~ts
ir°ato notches ~2. ~hsas an ~~eratcr ~~ay adjust acls:vng'~c~lts %~R
frorm,~he ~c~~er cx~~sed er°ds of
drive wheels 20 without having to rec~~ dri~~; ~.l~cels :>~ fre:r~~ ~l~cel
rr~o$ors 22.
~ locking cellar ~~ is ~rcnided so ~s to szr~xlar~~ lock the opposite ends,
tl°gat is
links 46a and ~&b of chain sege~3ts ~.~ i~:~$~ matches ~2 in rlrr3 ~4, cellars
~6 arid d~ beh~g
rejeasably rm~~.r~table onto their cc.r~cs~~r~dEr~g ~;md vis~gs ~~ tl~~; a.~se
of bolts ~3(l.
A farther anr~~.lar flange 92 is $mounted ~~ $hln ~r~idsectic~~ 2~ to ~rcwlde
a base omto
which are n~~z~~ted ~hccl motors 22. "~hr°r:~ ass~:r~abled, vI:3e
~l~c~el rr~ct~rs ro$ate the drive t~heels
relati~c ~:c arrms 2~.
l~fi~re~a~er, in lnterls~vting ~~t~~ the; secifgcatlon a~~d the clal:~s, all
tcr~s sh~~ld be
intcr~reted in the broadest ~ossiblc rr~anr:~,r cvmslstea~t ~~ntl~ the
~;er~tcxt. In ~artic:zlar, the terms
vv~~~?2~rlSe" a~2d "c'~J1T1~7rlsiilgv° S11CBL:'.ld biv ~~~tGr~3rt-
~tE;C~. as ~'ef~rr?rlg t~ ~1~,°1~'tcntS, ~~r~'~~(,'~lcnts, Cdr Sic~3S
i3 a mon-excl~sl~e manner, indic~$ir~~g $hat the refcrur~ced elei~zez~ts,
co~~gone:~ts, or ste.~s r~7a~ be
~resemt, or ~tili~cd, or cornbimed ~aatla o$her elerr~enr:~9 corn~or?cn~.s, or
steps that are mot ex~rcssl~
referer~ccd.
As will be apparent to hose skilled in the ark i~~ the light of ~l~e foregoing
disclos~rc, ~~an~ alteratioxis amd r~godific;atiom~~ are possible it=_ tire
l3ractice of $his imvemtion
~aitho~.~t dear ting frorm the spirit ~~r ~co~e f~ere~ ~: ~Lcor~l:~ngly, -
~~h~c scome of the im~c~~tion is to be
corast~°~aed in accordance with the s~~bstar~cc defamed b~ the
fol'o~~mg claims.
