# US 2013/0153373 A1 · Material moving system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0153373 A1 - Document ID: US20130153373A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/329,415 - Filed: 2011-12-19 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-19 - Assignees: CNH America LLC - Inventors: Herbert M. FARLEY; Andrew V. Lauwers; Robert Stewart Boyd - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130153373A1 ## CPC - F16G 13/06: with links connected by parallel driving-pins with or without rollers {so-called open links} - F16B 41/005: {Measures against unauthorised operation of bolts, nuts or pins (F16B23/0007, F16B23/0061, F16B23/0069, F16B23/0076 and F16B31/02 take precedence; locks, keys E05B; for valves, taps or cocks F16K35/00; for pipe-joints with swivel-nuts F16L19/005)} - F16G: BELTS, CABLES, OR ROPES, PREDOMINANTLY USED FOR DRIVING PURPOSES; CHAINS; FITTINGS PREDOMINANTLY USED THEREFOR - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) ## Abstract A pin assembly for a chain of a material moving system includes a pin having a first end and a second end, the first end having a threaded portion extending to a guide region having a reduced cross-section compared to the threaded portion, the threaded portion being at least partially modified during fabrication of the pin, the guide region extending to a transition region of increasing cross-section with respect to the guide region from the first end toward the second end, the transition region terminating at a shoulder. A fastener is configured to engage the threaded portion during construction of the chain. During construction of the chain, the pin and the fastener form a compression fit therebetween in response to a predetermined torque applied to the fastener, damaging at least a segment of the fastener, substantially limiting reuse of the fastener after the fastener has been disassembled from the pin. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pin assembly for a chain of a material moving system comprising: a pin having a first end and a second end, the first end comprising a threaded portion extending to a guide region having a reduced cross-section compared to the threaded portion, the threaded portion being at least partially modified during fabrication of the pin, the guide region extending to a transition region of increasing cross-section with respect to the guide region from the first end toward the second end, the transition region terminating at a shoulder; a fastener configured to engage the threaded portion during construction of the chain; in response to an opening of a first chain link being directed over the first end of the pin during construction of the chain, the opening having a cross-section greater than a cross-section of the guide region and less than or equal to a cross-section of the transition region, the fastener urges the first chain link to a position over the transition region, forming a compression fit between the opening and the transition region in response to a predetermined torque applied to the fastener; and wherein during application of the predetermined torque to the fastener, the fastener threadedly engaging the threaded portion of the pin, at least a threaded segment of the fastener is damaged, substantially limiting reuse of the fastener after the fastener has been disassembled from the threaded portion of the pin. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pin assembly of claim 1, wherein the fastener is nut. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The pin assembly of claim 1, wherein the fastener is a lock nut. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The pin assembly of claim 1, wherein the major diameter of threads of the threaded portion is reduced. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The pin assembly of claim 4, wherein the major diameter of threads of the threaded portion is substantially uniformly reduced. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The pin assembly of claim 1, wherein the cross-section of the transition region increases substantially uniformly between the guide region and the shoulder. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The pin assembly of claim 1, wherein the first chain link is positioned between the guide region and the shoulder upon application of the predetermined torque to the fastener. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The pin assembly of claim 1, wherein the first chain link abuts the shoulder upon application of the predetermined torque. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The pin assembly of claim 1, wherein the material moving system is a harvesting device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The pin assembly of claim 1, wherein an opening of a second chain link has a cross-section greater than the cross-section greater of the transition region. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The pin assembly of claim 10, wherein the opening of the second chain link slides over a shank and abuts a surface of a head near the second end of the pin. ### Claim 12 A method for substantially preventing inadvertent subsequent assembly of a preassembled chain of a material moving system due to limiting reuse of previously engaged portions of the chain comprising: providing a pin having a first end and a second end, the first end comprising a threaded portion extending to a guide region having a reduced cross-section compared to the threaded portion, the threaded portion being at least partially modified during fabrication of the pin, the guide region extending to a transition region of increasing cross-section with respect to the guide region from the first end toward the second end, the transition region terminating at a shoulder; providing a fastener configured to engage the threaded portion of the pin during construction of the chain; assembling the pin with the fastener, forming a compression fit between the opening and the transition region in response to a predetermined torque applied to the fastener and resulting in damage to at least a segment of the fastener, substantially limiting reuse of the fastener after the fastener has been disassembled from the pin.