Combination chain link

Abstract

A link chain comprising a series of inner links, outer links and means connecting said inner and outer links for pivotal displacement about a series of transverse axes. The inner links are integral plastic structures of self-lubricating wear-resistant material, including a pair of side plates, a pair of bushing means extending between said plates and concentric with said transverse axes, and an outwardly projecting part at the side margin of each of the side plates extending along the central part of said side plates between the end edges of said adjacent outer links. The end edges of the metallic outer links and the projecting parts of the plastic structure are in the form of an arc of a circle concentric with the adjacent transverse axis. The thickness of the projecting part corresponds to the thickness of said outer links to form a substantially continuous sliding contact area along each side of the link chain. The projecting part may be in the form of a strip along each side edge of each side plate, or may extend across the width of each side plate from side edge to side edge between the adjacent outer links. The length of said projecting part along the side margin of each side plate is greater than the spacing between the bushing means.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.