Chain damping system and method
AssigneeHerbert J. Roth
InventorHerbert J. Roth, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A chain damping and shock absorber system for a chain includes one or more damping devices, each damping device installed to a segment of the chain, such that the chain and the one or more damping devices installed to a chain segment form a damped and compressed chain assembly. In response to a tensile force applied to the chain, the chain segment is extendable to an extended length which is between its compressed length and its full length. Methods of installing the chain damping and shock absorber system are provided.
Claims15
A method of installing a chain damping system to a chain including a plurality of links, the method comprising:
- selecting a first elastic rod from a plurality of elastic rods, wherein the first elastic rod is characterized by an elastic response which is different than the elastic response of another elastic rod of the plurality of elastic rods;
- selecting first and second stoppers from a plurality of stoppers, wherein the first and second stoppers are attachment to first and second rod ends of the first elastic rod;
- and
- inserting the first elastic rod through a plurality of non-consecutive links of a first chain segment of a chain such that the first chain segment is compressed from a fully extended length to a compressed length less than the fully extended length;
- installing the first stopper to the first rod end;
- installing the second stopper to the second rod end;
- wherein the first and second stoppers retain the first chain segment on the first elastic rod.
A method of installing a chain damping system to a chain including a plurality of links, the method comprising:
- assembling a damping device to a segment of the chain, including:
- inserting an elastic rod through a plurality of non-consecutive links of the chain segment;
- wherein the non-consecutive links are through-links;
- wherein each through-link is connected to an adjacent one of the through-links by at least one bypass-link;
- compressing the chain segment from a fully extended length to a compressed length;
- and
- installing a plurality of spacers to the elastic rod;
- wherein each spacer is positioned at a spacer interval from an adjacent one of the spacers such that at least one through-link is intermediate to the spacer and the adjacent one of the spacers.
A method of installing a chain damping system to a chain including a plurality of links, the method comprising:
- assembling a damping device to a segment of the chain, including:
- inserting an elastic rod through a plurality of non-consecutive links of the chain segment;
- wherein the non-consecutive links are through-links;
- wherein each through-link is connected to an adjacent one of the through-links by at least one bypass-link;
- compressing the chain segment from a fully extended length to a compressed length;
- wherein:
- the elastic rod includes first and second rod ends;
- the chain segment includes first and last segment links;
- the method further comprising:
- retaining the first rod end to the first segment link;
- and
- retaining the second rod end to the last segment link.
A method of installing a chain damping system to a chain including a plurality of links, the method comprising:
- assembling a damping device to a segment of the chain, including:
- inserting an elastic rod through a plurality of non-consecutive links of the chain segment;
- wherein the non-consecutive links are through-links;
- wherein each through-link is connected to an adjacent one of the through-links by at least one bypass-link;
- compressing the chain segment from a fully extended length to a compressed length;
- and
- assembling a second damping device to a second chain segment of the chain.
A chain damping system configured for damping a chain, the chain damping system comprising:
- a damping device comprising:
- an elastic rod having first and second ends;
- the elastic rod configured for insertion through a plurality of non-consecutive links of a chain segment of the chain such that the chain segment is compressed on the elastic rod from a fully extended length to a compressed length less than the fully extended length of the chain segment;
- first and second stoppers;
- wherein:
- the first stopper is configured to retain the first end of the elastic rod to a first end of the chain segment;
- the second stopper is configured to retain the second end of the elastic rod to a second end of the chain segment;
- and
- placement of the first and second stoppers relative to the chain defines the compressed length.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.