Method of and apparatus for producing particularly high-strength chains
AssigneeWafios, Maschinenfabrik, Wagner, Ficker & Schmid (GmbH & Co. KG)
InventorGerhard Lange
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Method of and apparatus for electrically butt-welding high-strength chains. Previously bent and interengaged chain links are passed through a chain welding machine, each chain link in succession being alternately rotated about its axis and erected to a vertical position for engagement by upsetting members and welding electrodes.
Claims21
Chain welding apparatus for welding successive interconnected links of a chain strand comprising:
- a frame;
- a saddle secured to said frame for supporting a chain link to be welded, said saddle having an approach side and a discharge side;
- a guide means disposed on each of said approach and discharge sides of said saddle for supporting and guiding said chain strand, said guide means on at least said approach side having at least a first and a second guide face, each of said faces being adapted to guide alternate links respectively of said chain strand, the planes of said first and second guide faces enclosing an angle of at most approximately 45.degree. on opposite sides respectively of a vertical plane through the longitudinal axis of the chain strand;
- and
- means attached to said frame and positioned adjacent said chain link to be welded for erecting and securely holding said link in an upright position for welding.
A method of producing particularly high-strength chains by bending, interengaging and welding with at least a pair of movable welding electrodes successive lengths of chain wire to form a chain strand comprising the steps of:
- arranging the broad side of alternate links of said chain strand at an angle of at most approximately 45.degree. with respect to one side of a vertical plane through the longitudinal axis of the chain strand and parallel to the direction of motion of said electrodes:
- arranging the broad side of the remaining links of said chain strand at an angle of at most approximately 45.degree. with respect to the other side of said plane;
- transporting said chain strand to a position adjacent said pair of movable electrodes whereby a chain link to be welded is longitudinally aligned with said electrodes;
- rotating said chain link to be welded such that the broad sides of said chain link to be welded are upright and substantially parallel to the direction of motion of said welding electrodes, and welding said chain link with said electrodes;
- and
- transporting said chain strand to longitudinally align the next successive chain link to be welded with said welding electrodes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.