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US 4,473,365 AGranted
Detachable link chain
OwnerJames M. Lapeyreinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A transmission or conveyor chain composed of a plurality of interconnected identical links which are attachable and detachable without need for pivot pins or other separate connecting hardware. Each link is preferably molded as a unitary structure of plastic material.
Claims13
A multiple link chain composed of a plurality of identical links, each comprising:
- a link body having a longitudinal axis, first and second link ends spaced along the axis, first and second longitudinally extending link sides, and first and second link upper and lower sides;
- a pair of cooperative bevelled surfaces on each side of the link body each pair defining a body configuration adapted for mating with a V-pulley;
- the first link end having an integral longitudinally extending arm having an axis coincident with the long axis of the link body, and a cylindrical post centrally disposed on and integral with the free end of the arm with its axis transverse the long axis of the arm, and having first and second post ends outwardly extending from the arm, and defining a first pivot axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the link body;
- the second link end having first and second spaced apart and laterally inwardly extending arcuate walls defining first and second elongated post end receiving slots, said walls integral with corresponding ones of said link sides and integral with said link body, defining therebetween a transversely extending gap, and defining a second pivot axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, said first and second arcuate walls are pivotally attachable to the central, transversely extending cylindrical post of an adjacent link for pivotal movement of the attached link about the pivot axis with said first post end received in said first post end receiving slot, and with said second post end received in said second post end receiving slot;
- the links when pivotally engaged having the first pivot axis of one link substantially coincident with the second pivot axis of the adjacent link;
- and
- a first sprocket tooth transversely extending on the link body and disposed midway between the first and second pivot axes along one of said upper and lower sides of said link body.
4 more elements
A multiple link chain composed of a plurality of identical links, each comprising:
- a link body having a central portion extending across the width thereof and joining respective side portions, and an arm outwardly extending from the central portion along the longitudinal axis of the link body beyond the confronting ends of the side portions;
- a "V"-shaped bevelled surface on each side of the link body defining a body configuration adapted for mating with a V-pulley;
- one end of said link body having a post on the outer end of said arm and disposed along a first pivot axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and having oppositely extending frist and second cylindrical post ends;
- the other end of said link body having first and second elongated and laterally inwardly extending arcuate hook portions each having elongated opposing arms defining first and second arcuate partially open slots adapted to respectively receive said first and second cylindrical post ends and each fixed to the central portion and to respective sides of the link body, the arcuate hook portions being disposed about a second pivot axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and parallel to the first pivot axis;
- the arcuate hook portions of a link being pivotally attachable to the post ends of an adjacent link, the pivotably engaged links having a first pivot axis of one lind substantailly coincident with the second pivot axis of the adjacent links;
- and
- at least one sprocket extending from the central portion of the link body and disposed between the side portions of the link body and midway between the first and second pivot axes.
4 more elements
A multiple link chain composed of a plurality of identical links, each comprising:
- a link body having a central portion extending across the width thereof and joining respective side portions, and an arm outwardly extending from the central portion along the longitudinal axis of the link body beyond the confronting ends of the side portions;
- one end of said link body having a post on the outer end of said arm and disposed along a first pivot axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and having oppositely extending first and second cylindrical post ends;
- the other end of said link body having first and second elongated laterally and inwardly extending arcuate hook portions integral with corresponding side portions and each having transversely extending elongated opposed arms defining first and second partially open transversely extending elongated slots adapted to respectively receive said first and second cylindrical post ends and each affixed to the central portion and to respective sides of the link body, the arcuate hook portions being disposed about a second pivot axis;
- first and second detents provided on corresponding side portions and in corresponding ones of said first and second slots at positions inwardly spaced from the second pivotable axis to provide abutment surfaces against which respective ones of said first and second cylindrical post ends each abut to retain the post ends in the associated slots against motion in a direction out of the the associated slots;
- and
- the arcuate hook portions of a link being pivotably attachable to the post ends of an adjacent link, the pivotably engaged links having the first pivot axis of one link substantially coincident with the second pivot axis of the adjacent link.
3 more elements
A detachable link for an endless loop belt, comprising:
- a body having a central portion and a long axis, first and second spaced apart side walls each having an inside and an outside surface integrally formed with said central portion, and first and second end walls integrally formed with said central portion;
- said inside surfaces of said spaced-apart side walls defining therebetween a preselected lateral dimension;
- a longitudinally extending arm having a preselected transverse width integrally formed centrally on one end of said central portion;
- a transversely extending cylindrical post having a preselected length integrally formed with and centrally disposed on said longitudinally extending arm, said preselected length of said cylindrical post selected to be larger than said preselected transverse width of said longitudinally extending arm to provide first and second free ends;
- said transversely extending post defining a first pivot axis;
- first and second arcuate walls forming first and second post end receiving partially open channels integrally formed with, and laterally and inwardly extending from, the inside surfaces of corresponding ones of said first and second side walls defining therebetween a transversely extending gap having a preselected lateral dimension, said preselected lateral dimension of said transversely extending gap is selected to be no smaller than said transverse width of said longitudinally extending arm integrally formed with said central portion, said first and said second post end receiving channels defining a second pivot axis;
- and
- said preselected length of said transversely extending cylindrical post selected to be no larger than said preselected lateral dimension defined between the inside surfaces of said side walls from which corresponding ones of said first and second arcuate walls are laterally and inwardly extending.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.