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US 4,229,962 AGranted
Method for reconditioning rivetless chain links
OwnerWilliam Tundermaninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The pitch of worn chain links is restored to original manufacturers' dimensions by decreasing their overall lengths. Concentrated heat is applied across a selected section at the center area of a link, and force is applied longitudinally to the ends of the link to compress the heated portion. The decrease in length at the heated and compressed section compensates for wear on the inside surfaces of the ends of the links that normally contact the connecting pins.
Claims3
The method of reconditioning similar oblong chain links of a worn chain comprising the following steps:
- (1) disassembling said worn chain links from said chain for reconditioning said chain links individually,
- (2) providing a support to hold said chain links individually, positioning one of said chain links to be reconditioned in said support, providing a heating device positioned relative to said support, said heating device being operable to provide intense heat concentrated in designated central opposite portions of said one chain link positioned in said support,
- (3) operating said heating device to apply heat simultaneously to said central opposite portions of the sides of said one chain link, the application of heat being concentrated over short longitudinal distances of the sides and being of such intensity and short duration to heat said central portions throughout to a required temperature for reforming said portions with moderate longitudinal force while maintaining both ends of said one chain link at a relatively lower temperature to preserve the hardness thereof,
- (4) providing a compressing member at each end of said one chain link, said compressing members being aligned with said one chain link in a direction to provide longitudinal inward forces within said sides thereof, each of said compressing members having a formed end adjacent a respective end of said one chain link, each of said formed ends contoured to fit precisely said adjacent end of said one chain link,
- (5) moving at least one of said compressing members inwardly to position said compressing members against said respective ends of said one chain link and continuing to move at least one of said compressing members until said compressing members are separated a predetermined distance to shorten said one chain link while the temperature of said central portions thereof in cross section is substantially maximum, said predetermined distance being just sufficient to restore the pitch of said one chain link.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.