MAILLON DE CHAINE

CHAIN LINK

Abrégé anglais

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A chain link having a pair of curved extremities and
being generally in the shape of an elongated loop. The loop
defines two sides which converge towards the middle of
the link where the two sides are rigidly joined together,
as by a weld, thereby forming a pair of interior spaces
progressively narrowing towards the middle. Such link is
adapted for use in alternation with pin links in a chain
designed to remove waste material in a livestock enclosure.
A method of making the link is further disclosed.

Revendications

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive
property or privilege is claimed, are defined as follows:
1. In a chain including a plurality of loop links
and pin links pivotally interconnected in alternating
manner, each pin link including a pair of spaced parallel,
elongated plate members and pivot pins interconnecting
both ends of said plate members and normal thereto, each
loop link made from a metal bar, of generally rectangular
cross-sectional shape, with end faces generally normal to said
bar, said bar bent and forming an elongated loop having
the shape of numeral 8 when seen in side elevation, the
central section of said bar defining one side of said
loop and forming an inturned V-shape bend centrally of
said loop, the two end sections of said bar defining the
opposite side of said loop and forming an inturned V-shape,
said end faces being contiguous to the apex of said V-
shape bend and spaced from each other to form a gap
exposing said end faces and said apex all across said bar
and a weld filling said gap, extending all across said
bar and joining said end faces to each other and to said
one side at said apex, the two extremities of said loop
defining two partly cylindrical through-bores receiving
the pins of two adjacent pin links.
2. A chain as defined in claim 1, forming an endless
stable cleaning conveyor chain and further including scraper
blades secured to the elongated plates of said pin links on
the same side of said chain and extending substantially
normal to the longitudinal axis of said pin links.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The pr~sent invention relates to chain links and
a method for making an improved link.
BACI~GROUND OF THE INVENTION
Chains of the endless~ type are used for a varie-ty
of applications. More specifically, such chains are used
in barns for commercial animals, such as livestock. The
chain is adapted for movement around the perimeter of the
barn, behind each stall, and has a plurality of scrapers
attached thereto, so that the manure can be removed to
a location outside the barn, as is known. Such systems
are known as stable cleaners.
Chains adapted for the above purpose are typic-
ally made with loop links alternating in position along the
chain with pin links. Till now, the connection between
the two kinds of link has been relatively loose. As a
result, activating the chain causes jerks as the chain
becomes taut, which jerks may lead to the breakage of either
kind of link.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore a first object of the present
invention to provide a chain lo~op link which effectively
eliminates any jerky movement between the two kinds of link
constituting the above chain.
It is another object of the present invention
to provide a chain link of the character described, which
is very strong and simple in design.
SUMMA~Y OF THE INVENTION
The above and other objects and advantages of
the instant invention are realized according to a preferred
embodiment comprising a loop link adapted to form a chain
in alternating sequence with a pin link.
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Each pin link is characteri~ed by a pair of
vertically-spaced longitudinal riyid upper and lower members
joined together by orthogonally-oriented pivot pins at both
ends of the link. The pin links are thus open along their
sides and opposite ends.
Each loop link, which forms the gist of the
present invention, is preferably made of flat metal bar
stock.
The me-thod of making the loop link may incl~lde the
following steps:
a) forming an elongated loop in the bar stock by bending
a length of the latter, wherein the inner radius of
curvature of each extremity of the loop is only
slightly larger than the radius of a pivot pin of
a pin link, and wherein a narrow space is left
between the two free ends of the bar~ These two
free ends face each other on the side of -the loop
opposite the continuous side at the middle of the
loop;
0 b) bending inwardly the middle of both sides of the
loop, so that they are in contiguous relationship;
c) welding across the entire width of the bar the two
free ends of the loop link together and also to the
middle of the continuous side. Thus, two inner
spaces are defined in the loop link, parted by the
weld. Each inner space narrows toward the center
of the link.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above will be more clearly understood by
having reference to the preferred embodiment of the
invention, illustrated by way of the accompanying drawings,
in which:
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Figure l is a perspective view of a secJment of
chain made oE loop links accordlng to the invention, also
showing pin links and a portion o.E a scraper attached
to one of -the lat-ter;
Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along lines
2-2 of Figure 3;
Figure 3 is another sec-tional view taken along lines
3-3 of Figure 2; and
Figure 4 is a bo-t-tom plan view of ~he middle.portion
l~ of a loop link prior to weldiny.
Like numerals indicate like elemell-ts throuyhout
the drawings.
DETAILED D~SCRIPTION OF T~l~ PR~F~RR~D ~MBODIM~NT
Figure 1 shows a chain 1 according to the inven-tion.
Chain 1 includes,in alternation, pin links 2 and loop links
3. The former are provided with scraper elements of
which a portion of one is shown at 4.
~ ach link 2 consists of an upper rigid strip 5 and
a lower rigid strip 60 ~xtending ver-tically between -the two
strips 5 and 6 at both ends, are a pair of pin members 7.
The upper part of each pin 7 has a countersink 11 in StFip 5,
while the lower portion is threaded at 12 through s-trip 6
and locked in place by a nut 3. 'l'he middle portion 7' of
pins 7 is smoothly surfaced.
Figures 2to 4 illustrate a loop link 3. As stated
above, it is formed by bending a length of metal bar s-tock
with the two ends 3', 3'' of the len~th closely facing
each other. The mi.ddle 13 of the continuous side of the
loop is then pressed towards the other si.de having -the free
3Q ends 3' and 3'', the latter side being also pressed, result-
ing in the configuration shown ln Figure 4. A slot 9, having
a minimum width W and of a general V-shape, is thus
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formed. It is then a s:Lmple procedure to introduce tlle
weld metal 10 in-to slot 9 to eEfectuate a strong permall~nt
bonding.
The inner radius of curvature at both extremities of
a loop link 3 is only sliyh-tly larger than the radius of
a pin 7, thereby allowing eacll loop link 3 and adjacellt
pin links 2 -to pivot easily relative to each other. Yet
any jerkiny of the chain resultiny in a collision of a
pin 7,with one extremity of a loop link, is positively
eliminated, because each end por-tion o~ the loop converges
longitudinally towards the weld, -thereby locking each-
pin 7 in position. IN o-ther words, the -two interior spaces
14, 15 lessen in width towards the weld.
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