Roller chain outer plate links: arrangements, systems of use, and methods
AssigneeFMH Conveyors LLC
InventorsWilliam Mark Hogan, Jamshid Naderi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Roller chain outer plate links including a cable support portion are disclosed. Example roller chain outer plate links include a link portion, a cable support portion oriented projecting from an outer face of the link portion, and a joint at one of the lead/tail ends of the link portion. The link portion, joint, and cable support portions each comprise portions integral with remaining portions of the outer plate link. Cable support portions of the roller chain outer plate links support a cable extending between components of an apparatus.
Claims19
A roller chain having a first outer side and a second outer side, the roller chain comprising:
- a plurality of inner plate links disposed between the first outer side and the second outer side;
- a plurality of outer plate links disposed adjacent to some of the plurality of inner plate links;
- and
- a plurality of cable support outer plate links disposed adjacent to some of the plurality of inner plate links,
- wherein the first outer side includes a repeating arrangement of at least two outer plate links per each cable support outer plate link;
- and
- wherein each of the plurality of cable support outer plate links includes:
- a cable support link portion having opposite first and second lead/tail ends and an outer face, the cable support link portion defining a roller chain mounting aperture arrangement;
- a cable support portion oriented projecting from the outer face;
- and
- a joint positioned at one of the lead/tail ends of the cable support link portion;
- the cable support link portion, the joint, and the cable support portions each comprising portions integral with remaining portions of the cable support outer plate link,
- wherein the plurality of inner plate links have an inner plate link length extending between lead/tail ends of the inner plate link;
- wherein the plurality of outer plate links have an outer plate link length extending between lead/tail ends of the outer plate link;
- and
- wherein the inner plate link length is greater than the outer plate link length.
A telescopic equipment system, comprising:
- a base stage;
- one or more extensible stages supported by the base stage;
- a roller chain disposed within the telescopic equipment system and having a first outer side and a second outer side;
- and
- a sprocket assembly, the roller chain being in operable engagement with the sprocket assembly,
- wherein the roller chain includes:
- a plurality of inner plate links disposed between the first outer side and the second outer side;
- a plurality of outer plate links disposed adjacent to some of the plurality of inner plate links;
- and
- a plurality of cable support outer plate links disposed adjacent to some of the plurality of inner plate links,
- wherein the first outer side includes a repeating arrangement of at least two outer plate links per each cable support outer plate link;
- and
- wherein each of the plurality of cable support outer plate links includes:
- a cable support link portion having opposite first and second lead/tail ends and an outer face, the cable support link portion defining a roller chain mounting aperture arrangement;
- a cable support portion oriented projecting from the outer face;
- and
- a joint positioned at one of the lead/tail ends of the cable support link portion;
- the cable support link portion, the joint, and the cable support portions each comprising portions integral with remaining portions of the cable support outer plate link,
- wherein the plurality of inner plate links have an inner plate link length extending between lead/tail ends of the inner plate link,
- wherein the plurality of outer plate links have an outer plate link length extending between lead/tail ends of the outer plate link, and
- wherein the inner plate link length is greater than the outer plate link length.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.