GB2135018A - Roller, chain adapted to receive attachments and/or operating equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

A roller chain (10) comprising inner and outer links (11, 12) joined by pins (16) which protrude from both sides of the chain to an extent such as to allow them to receive and support special elements such as attachment lugs (17), push-type fittings (18), U-bolts (19). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Roller chain adapted to receive attachments and/or operating equipment The present invention relates to a roller chain having pinsfor link rotation and for naturallysupporting the rollers, such pins being of a length such asto protrude from both sides of the chain and of a kind capable of receiving attachments or operating equipment and allowing them to be mounted thereon.

There are known roller chains having bored rotation pins which allow the mounting and demounting of attachments and/or operating equipment in some way restrained to bars inserted into the bore of the pins.

In view of the great diversity of attachments called for, the variety of ways in which they are combined and thusthe variety oftypes of manufacture and the complexity entailed in mounting them, said known chains involve high overall costs.

Roller chains with solid rotation pins, on the other hand, have meansfor securing attachments or operat- ing equipment, such means being cotter pins, spring pins, spring couplings and other locking means.

The general object of the present invention isto obviate the said problems of construction, mounting and storage so as to beableto reduce chain production costs.

Another object ofthe invention isto embody a chain of the aforesaid type such as can be rapidly assembled.

To attain the aforesaid objects, the present inven tionembodiesa rollerchaincomprising innerand outer links connected by pins, characterized by the fact that said pins protrude from both sides of the chain to an extent such as allows them to receive and support special elelments such as attachment lugs, push-type fittings, U-bolts or saddles.

The structural and functional characteristics, and the advantages, of a chain embodied according to the invention will be more readily seen from the following description of a non restrictive embodiment referred to the attached schematic drawings, in which: FIGURE lisa top plan view a roller chain embodied according to the invention and carrying a series of attachments and operating equipment, FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of the same chain as in Figure 1,and FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view of a cross-sectioned particulartaken through the line Ill-Ill of Figure 2.

With reference to the Figures,a roller chain embodied according to the invention, indicated overally by 10, comprises a series of inner links 11 and outer links 12 consisting of plates 13, bushings 14 and rollers 15.

Pins 16 join the plates ofthe inner links 11 and outer links 12 carrythe bushing 14 and related roller 15.

The said pins 16 are of a length greater than the width ofthe links, and so protrude as to allowthe mounting thereon of special elements, for example lug attachments 17, push-type fittings 18 and U-bolts 19.

Said lug attachments 17 and push-typefittings 18 are forced onto the pins 16 and secured by straightforward riveting of the ends of the pins.

The U-bolts 19, which require to be secured on the two sides ofthe chain 10, have elastic ends which latchingly engage the protruding portionsofthe pins 16.

The said elements can be stably mounted using very few tools, and the mounting can be carried out directly on the premises ofthe distributor, or even on the premises of customers themselves This meansthat a chain as described can be prepared so asto beadaptedto the application or mounting requirements arising at any given moment, in a short period oftime.

Stocks of specific-tWes of chain in warehouses are thus reduced, if not eliminated altogether.

1. A roller chain comprising inner and outer links joined by pins, characterized bythe factthat said pins protrude from both sides ofthe chain to an extent such astoallowthemto receive and support special elements such as attachment lugs, push-type fittings, U-bolts.

2. A roller chain constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (2)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Roller chain adapted to receive attachments and/or operating equipment The present invention relates to a roller chain having pinsfor link rotation and for naturallysupporting the rollers, such pins being of a length such asto protrude from both sides of the chain and of a kind capable of receiving attachments or operating equipment and allowing them to be mounted thereon. There are known roller chains having bored rotation pins which allow the mounting and demounting of attachments and/or operating equipment in some way restrained to bars inserted into the bore of the pins. In view of the great diversity of attachments called for, the variety of ways in which they are combined and thusthe variety oftypes of manufacture and the complexity entailed in mounting them, said known chains involve high overall costs. Roller chains with solid rotation pins, on the other hand, have meansfor securing attachments or operat- ing equipment, such means being cotter pins, spring pins, spring couplings and other locking means. The general object of the present invention isto obviate the said problems of construction, mounting and storage so as to beableto reduce chain production costs. Another object ofthe invention isto embody a chain of the aforesaid type such as can be rapidly assembled. To attain the aforesaid objects, the present inven tionembodiesa rollerchaincomprising innerand outer links connected by pins, characterized by the fact that said pins protrude from both sides of the chain to an extent such as allows them to receive and support special elelments such as attachment lugs, push-type fittings, U-bolts or saddles. The structural and functional characteristics, and the advantages, of a chain embodied according to the invention will be more readily seen from the following description of a non restrictive embodiment referred to the attached schematic drawings, in which: FIGURE lisa top plan view a roller chain embodied according to the invention and carrying a series of attachments and operating equipment, FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of the same chain as in Figure 1,and FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view of a cross-sectioned particulartaken through the line Ill-Ill of Figure 2. With reference to the Figures,a roller chain embodied according to the invention, indicated overally by 10, comprises a series of inner links 11 and outer links 12 consisting of plates 13, bushings 14 and rollers 15. Pins 16 join the plates ofthe inner links 11 and outer links 12 carrythe bushing 14 and related roller 15. The said pins 16 are of a length greater than the width ofthe links, and so protrude as to allowthe mounting thereon of special elements, for example lug attachments 17, push-type fittings 18 and U-bolts 19. Said lug attachments 17 and push-typefittings 18 are forced onto the pins 16 and secured by straightforward riveting of the ends of the pins. The U-bolts 19, which require to be secured on the two sides ofthe chain 10, have elastic ends which latchingly engage the protruding portionsofthe pins 16. The said elements can be stably mounted using very few tools, and the mounting can be carried out directly on the premises ofthe distributor, or even on the premises of customers themselves This meansthat a chain as described can be prepared so asto beadaptedto the application or mounting requirements arising at any given moment, in a short period oftime. Stocks of specific-tWes of chain in warehouses are thus reduced, if not eliminated altogether. CLAIMS

1. A roller chain comprising inner and outer links joined by pins, characterized bythe factthat said pins protrude from both sides ofthe chain to an extent such astoallowthemto receive and support special elements such as attachment lugs, push-type fittings, U-bolts.

2. A roller chain constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.