MAILLON POUR CHAINES DE GUIDAGE D'ELEMENTS DE TRANSPORT D'ENERGIE

CHAIN LINK FOR POWER TRANSMITTING CHAINS

Abrégé français

L'invention concerne un maillon destiné à des chaînes de guidage d'éléments de transport d'énergie, comportant des articulations et des éléments jointifs transversaux, dont au moins un peut être relié de manière amovible avec les articulations à l'aide de moyens de blocage, ainsi que des évidements pratiqués dans les régions marginales opposées des articulations et destinés à loger les extrémités des éléments jointifs transversaux et les moyens de blocage. Ces derniers comportent des saillies et/ou des creux et des coulisses formés dans les évidements ainsi que dans les extrémités des éléments jointifs transversaux, grâce auxquels les articulations peuvent être assemblées par pression avec l'élément jointif transversal. Les évidements (6) sont recouverts côté supérieur par les arêtes latérales longitudinales (4, 5). La partie de la coulisse (9) exerçant une pression sur l'élément jointif transversal et l'articulation (1) se déplace le long de la face supérieure ou inférieure de l'élément jointif transversal.

Abrégé anglais

The invention relates to a chain link for energy transmission chains,
comprising link plates and cross links. At least one of said cross links can
be detachably connected to the link plates by means of stop elements. The
inventive chain link also has recesses in the opposite edge areas of the link
plates, for receiving the ends of the cross links and the stop elements. The
stop elements consist of projections and/or indentations and slides which are
configured in the recesses and in the ends of the cross links and by which
means the link plates can be pressure-connected to the cross link. The
recesses (6) are covered on top by the longitudinal side edges (4, 5). The
part of the slide (9) which exerts pressure on the cross link and the link
plate (1) can be displaced along the top or bottom face of the cross link.

Revendications

9
CLAIMS
1. Chain link for power transmitting chains having sidebars and
transverse webs, of which at least one is detachably connectable to the
sidebars by locking means, and having recesses, which are provided in
the edge regions of the sidebars situated opposite one another, to
accommodate the transverse web ends and the locking means, which
comprise projections and/or indentations and slides, which are
provided in the recesses and in the transverse web ends, and by
means of which the sidebars are securable with the transverse web,
characterised in that the recesses (6) are covered at the top end by the
longitudinal side edges (4, 5), and in that the part (20) of the slide (9),
exerting pressure on the transverse web (8) and the sidebar (1), is
displaceable along the top or bottom side of the transverse web (8).
2. Chain link according to claim 1, characterised in that the slide (9) is
formed by a preferably U-shaped locking body which is guided in a
guide groove (18) of the transverse web (8), said groove being adapted
to the locking body and extending parallel to the upper surface of the
transverse strut, which locking body is insertable into this guide groove
from the front face of the transverse strut end and can be slid in a
locking recess (beneath shoulder portions 11, 11') in the sidebar (1),
said recess extending parallel to the edge surface of the sidebar.
3. Chain link according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the locking
body (9) is provided with locking means (24, 25) which secure this
body on the transverse web (8) and/or on the sidebar, at least in its
locked position.

10
4. Chain link according to claim 3, characterised in that the shank ends
of the locking body (9) are provided on the internal edges with locking
projections (24, 25), which engage in complementary locking recesses
(26, 27; 28, 29) of the transverse web (8).
5. Chain link according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the
locking body (9) is provided with control means (23).
6. Chain link according to claim 5, characterised in that the locking body
is provided centrally with an adjustable opening (23) as the control
means in its bottom part (20).
7. Chain link according to claim 6, characterised in that transverse strut
and sidebar edge have adjustable recesses (16, 10) over the
displacement path of the adjustable opening (23), the width of the
adjustable recesses corresponding substantially to the length of the
adjustable opening.

Description

CA 02328874 2000-10-17
1
CHAtN LINK FOR POWER TRANSMITTING CHAINS
The invention relates to a chain link for power transmitting chains of the
type mentioned in the preamble of claim 1.
Such a chain link is known from DE-C1-41 21 433. Such chain links
are connected to other identically configured chain links in a pivotal manner
so as to form a power transmitting chain, the frame being formed by two
sidebars and the two associated transverse webs and respectively serving to
accommodate hoses and cables or the like. In the case of this known chain
link, each recess extends over the full thickness of the sidebar and has
arching-back undercut portions at a spacing from the sidebar edges, and the
width of the recess when viewed with respect to the longitudinal direction of
the sidebar is selected to be so great that the transverse strut can be
displaced into these undercut portions when viewed with respect to the
longitudinal direction of the sidebar. After such a displacement, a slide
which
is guided in a groove of the transverse strut can then lock in position in the
area which becomes free during the displacement, between transverse web
and sidebar, this groove being provided in a narrow side of the transverse
web and extending in the longitudinal direction of the transverse web.
Because of the recess which extends over the whole thickness of the
sidebar, and because of the large width of said recess, which width is
required
because of the transverse web displacement, this known chain link has the
disadvantage that its stability is weakened in such a manner that the sidebar
can easily be sheared-off in this region during the operation of the power
transmitting chain.
The object of the invention resides in providing a chain link of the type
mentioned in the preamble of the claim, which chain link has a greater
stability
for the sidebars.

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2
This object is achieved with the features of claim 1.
It is apparent that the invention is realised in any event when sidebars
with continuous openings or blind-bore openings for transverse web ends are
involved, at least one projection member or one indentation being provided in
the base or upper surface of said sidebars, said member or indentation
preferably being connectable to a corresponding indentation or a projection
member of the transverse web end in a form-locking manner and being
securable by locking means. Because of the adjustable locking means,
which are insertable between the transverse web ends and the receivers of
the transverse web ends, these component parts are interconnectable in a
non-displaceable, but detachable manner. The displacement of the locking
means, which is effected in the longitudinal direction of the transverse web,
may be accomplished, for example, by means of a screwdriver.
Because the longitudinal side edge is continuously closed on the upper
surface, that is to say it does not have any indentations, recesses, grooves
or
the like orientated relative to the central longitudinal axis X of the
sidebar, the
sidebar has no usual intended breaking or bending locations along its
longitudinal sides, the sidebar being weakened by said locations.
In consequence, the transverse web can be mounted on the locking
web by its slot, so that a displacement in the longitudinal direction of the
transverse web on the sidebar is no longer possible, while the transverse web
can be locked on the sidebar in a vertical direction relative to the sidebar
edge
face by displacing the U-shaped locking body in the guide groove of the
transverse web and introducing this body into the locking recess of the
sidebar. Only a minimal amount of space is required for the sidebar recess
to permit such a locking of the transverse web on the sidebar.

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3
The locking body may be guided in the guide groove and in the locking
recess with a snug fit in order to prevent it sliding from the locked
position.
According to an additional embodiment of the invention, the locking body is
provided with locking means which secure this body on the transverse web
andlor on the sidebar, at least in its locked position, and retain it even
more
securely in this locked position.
According to a simple, additional embodiment of the invention, the
shank ends of the locking body are provided on the internal edges with
locking projections, which engage in complementary locking recesses of the
transverse web.
According to an additional embodiment of the invention, the body is
provided with control means. The locking body can be displaced more easily
with these control means.
According to a simple, additional embodiment of the invention, the
locking body is provided centrally with an adjustable opening as the control
means in its bottom part.
According to a simple, additional embodiment of the invention,
transverse strut and sidebar edge have adjustable recesses over the
displacement path of the adjustable opening, the width of the adjustable
recesses corresponding substantially to the length of the adjustable opening.
The weakening of the sidebar, formed by recesses, is thereby minimised.
The invention is now explained more fully with reference to one
embodiment. In the drawing:

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4
Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a sidebar of a chain link for a
power transmitting chain having the recesses according
to the invention;
Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line
II-II of detail A of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view through one end of a
transverse web and one locking body inserted into the
transverse web;
Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of Fig.
2;
Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V of Fig.
3;
Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of the longitudinal edge of the
sidebar, illustrated in Fig. 1, in the region of detail A;
Fig. 7 is an enlarged plan view of the end of the transverse web,
illustrated in Fig. 3, and of the locking body inserted into
the transverse web;
Fig. 8 is a plan view of the locking body of Fig. 7;
Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of the locking body of Fig. 8;
Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view, similar to the cross-sectional
views of Figures 2 and 3, for illustrating the mounting of
the transverse strut in the sidebar;

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Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view, 'similar to the cross-sectional
views of Figures 2 and 3, on the original scale, wherein
sidebar, transverse strut and locking body are
assembled;
Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XII-XII of
Fig. 11; and
Fig. 13 is a plan view of detail A of Fig. 11.
The sidebar 1, illustrated in Fig. 1, of a chain link for a power
transmitting chain is a flat, elongate plastics material body, which is
rounded
at the ends and is provided, in its end regions 2 and 3, with coupling means
for the rotatable coupling of additional sidebars of additional chain links.
At
each of the oppositely situated longitudinal side edges 4 and 5, the sidebar 1
is provided centrally with a through-recess 6 or 6' respectively, which
recesses are used for the lockable and detachable accommodation of the
ends of two transverse struts, which are not illustrated in Fig. 1.
The other ends of the transverse struts are secured in a similar manner
in a sidebar of the chain link, which sidebar lies parallel to the sidebar 1.
In
consequence, a frame is created, in which power transmitting lines may be
accommodated. The following description relates only to the dash-dot detail
A; the same applies to the other engagement points (like 6'). As is apparent
from Fig. 1, the recess has only a small width and, furthermore, the
longitudinal edge 4 in the region of the recess is rectilinear and continuous,
so
that the weakness in the stability of the sidebar 1, caused by the recesses 6
and 6', is minimal. In consequence, the risk of the sidebar 1 shearing-off
between the recesses 6 and 6' is also slight.

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6
The cross-sectional view, illustrated in Fig. 2, in the region of detail A
illustrates the recess 6, which is limited to one part of the edge region. A
partial region 7 of the recess 6 is open upwardly and inwardly to
accommodate the end, illustrated in Fig. 3, of a separate transverse strut 8
and a locking body 9 inserted in said strut (Figs. 3, 8 and 9). An additional
partial region 10 of the recess 6 serves as an adjustable opening, by. mearas
of which two shoulder portions, such as the shoulder portion 11, are created.
Furthermore, the recess 6 includes a partial region 12, which forms a passage
through the sidebar 1. An edge portion 13 of the sidebar 1 is thereby
maintained, so that forces, which act outwardly from the central longitudinal
axis X and towards the transverse web 8, are absorbed in optimum manner.
A locking web 14 is disposed on the base of the recess 6 and is used to lock
the transverse strut 8 on the sidebar 1 in the longitudinal direction of the
transverse strut.
The partial region 12 of the recess 6, which is configured as a passage,
is advantageous for reasons relating to injection moulding. Slides for the
joint
moulding of the recess 6 can in fact be guided through this partial region. In
contrast to the illustrated height of the partial region 12, the height may
also
be restricted to the height of the locking web 14, so that the edge portion 13
would be reinforced.
The end of the transverse strut 8, illustrated in Fig. 2, is a
parallelepiped body having a plate-like extension 15 attached to the base of
this body, an adjustable opening 16 which lies to the side of this extension
and by means of which two shoulder portions, such as the shoulder portion
17, are formed, a guide groove 18 which is shown by dashed lines and
extends around the transverse strut end parallel to the upper surface of the
transverse strut, and a slot 19 which is situated at the base and is adapted
to
the locking web 14. The locking body 9 is guided in the guide groove 18.

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7
This locking body is illustrated more fully (and on an enlarged scale) in
Figures 8 and 9. It is a plate- and U-shaped body formed from a bottom part
20 and two portions 21 and 22 and is thus configured as a slide, which may
be slid-in from the inside or outside of the sidebar. Centrally, the bottom
part
20 has an adjustable opening 23, which is configured as an elongate slot.
The ends of the portions 21 and 22 are provided on their internal edges with
locking projections 24 and 25 respectively which, according to Fig. 5, may
engage in complementary locking recesses 26, 27 or respectively 28, 29 of
the transverse strut 8 in the end positions of the locking body 9.
The length of the recess 6, of the partial region 12 and of the locking
web 14 is apparent in Fig. 4. This length is adapted to the width of the
locking
body 9 and of the transverse strut 8.
The length of the adjustable recess 10 in the sidebar 1 and of the
shoulder portions 11 and 11', thereby formed, is apparent from Fig. 6. The
length of the adjustable recess 10 is so selected that it substantially
corresponds to that of the adjustable opening 23. The length of the
adjustable recess 16 in the end of the transverse strut 8 is apparent from
Fig.
7. The length of the adjustable recess 16 is equally so selected that it
corresponds substantially to that of the adjustable opening 23. The lengths
of the adjustable recesses 10 and 16 are preferably identical.
Fig. 10 illustrates how the transverse web 8 is gradually inserted into
the recess 6 with the slid-in locking body 9. As indicated, the extension 15
is
slid under the shoulder portions 11 and 11', then the transverse strut 8 is
lowered so that the locking web 14 slides into the slot 19, and finally the
locking body 9 is displaced beneath the shoulder portions 11 and 11'. This
displacement of the locking body 9 may be effected with a tool, a screwdriver
for example, which is inserted into the adjustable opening 23. As is apparent,

CA 02328874 2000-10-17
the thickness of the extension 15 and the thickness of the locking body 9
together correspond to the height from the bottom of the recess 6 to the
shoulder portion 11. In such case, the height of the locking web 14
corresponds to the thickness of the locking body 9.
These dimensions may also be seen in Figs. 11, 12 and 13, which
indicate the locked position of the transverse strut 8 in the sidebar 1 by~
means
of the locking body 9. Furthermore, the co-operation between the adjustable
recesses 10 and 16 is apparent from Fig. 13.
In consequence, the transverse strut 8 is prevented from being
displaced in the longitudinal direction of the transverse web by means of the
locking web 14 and the slot 19, on the one hand, and is prevented from being
displaced in a direction perpendicular to the sidebar edge 4 by means of the
locking body 9, on the other hand. The locking can be released again by an
appropriate displacement of the locking body 9.

Dessin représentatif