Saw chain for a motor-driven chain saw

A saw chain for a motor-driven chain saw equipped with a guide bar and drive motor for imparting a pulling force to the saw chain for moving the latter around the guide bar, the guide bar having a periphery and two mutually adjacent side walls extending along said periphery thereof to conjointly define a guide groove for guiding the saw chain along the guide bar, lubricant aperture means formed in at least one of said side walls for conducting lubricant to said guide groove, the saw chain comprising:

• a plurality of center links and a plurality of side links, the links being pivotally interconnected by a plurality of forward rivets and a plurality of rearward rivets to define the saw chain;
• each of said links including a plate-like body having a forward bore for accommodating one of said forward rivets and a rearward bore for accommodating one of said rearward rivets;
• the plate-like body of each one of said center links having a foot portion for engaging said guide groove;
• each one of said foot portions having two flat sides facing respective ones of said side walls as the saw chain moves along said periphery;
• one of said flat sides defining a flat surface and having an elongated lubricant channel formed therein to a first depth below said flat surface for receiving lubricant introduced into said guide groove, said channel being formed in said one flat side so as to open at the vicinity of one of said rivet bores;
• said one flat side of each of said foot portions further including a lubricant pocket formed therein and communicating with said lubricant channel;
• said lubricant pocket being formed in said one flat side to a second depth greater than said first depth and so as to have a side wall defining a hollow reservoir space for holding a supply of lubricant therein;
• and,
• said side wall of said lubricant pocket and said flat surface conjointly defining a substantially uninterrupted peripheral edge;
• and, said hollow space being bounded by said peripheral edge at said flat surface and being open toward said side wall facing said one flat side;
• each one of said side links having a pair of foot points and said plurality of side links being grouped into first and second groups of side links corresponding to respective ones of said side walls;
• said side walls having respective top end faces for contact engaging the side links of corresponding ones of said first and second groups at said foot points as the saw chain moves around the guide bar;
• said aperture means being a bore having a center disposed at a predetermined distance (a) from the top end face of said one side wall;
• and,
• each of said pockets being located at an elevation distance (b) from said foot points which is approximately equal to said predetermined distance (a).

A saw chain for a motor-driven chain saw equipped with a guide bar and drive motor for imparting a pulling force to the saw chain for moving the latter around the guide bar, the guide bar having a periphery and two mutually adjacent side walls extending along said periphery thereof to conjointly define a guide groove for guiding the saw chain along the guide bar, lubricant aperture means formed in at least one of said side walls for conducting lubricant to said guide groove, the saw chain comprising:

• a plurality of center links and a plurality of side links, the links being pivotally interconnected by a plurality of forward rivets and a plurality of rearward rivets to define the saw chain;
• each of said links including a plate-like body having a forward bore for accommodating one of said forward rivets and a rearward bore for accommodating one of said rearward rivets;
• the plate-like body of each one of said center links having a foot portion for engaging said guide groove;
• each one of said foot portions having two flat sides facing respective ones of said side walls as the saw chain moves along said periphery;
• one of said flat sides defining a flat surface and having an elongated lubricant channel formed therein to a first depth below said flat surface for receiving lubricant introduced into said guide groove, said channel being formed in said one flat side so as to open at the vicinity of one of said rivet bores;
• said one flat side of each of said foot portions further including a lubricant pocket formed therein and communicating with said lubricant channel;
• said lubricant pocket being formed in said one flat side to a second depth greater than said first depth and so as to have a side wall defining a hollow reservoir space for holding a supply of lubricant therein;
• and,
• said side wall of said lubricant pocket and said flat surface conjointly defining a substantially uninterrupted peripheral edge;
• and, said hollow space being bounded by said peripheral edge at said flat surface and being open toward said side wall facing said one flat side;
• each of said center links having a forward edge facing in the direction of movement around the guide bar and having a rearward edge facing away from said direction;
• said elongated lubricant channel having an inlet at said forward edge;
• said elongated lubricant channel extending rearwardly away from said inlet opening to communicate with said lubricant pocket;
• and, said lubricant channel extending upwardly so as to be inclined with respect to said direction;
• and,
• each of said center links further including two branch channels extending from said lubricant pocket toward respective ones of said forward and rearward rivet bores.

A saw chain for a motor-driven chain saw equipped with a guide bar and drive motor for imparting a pulling force to the saw chain for moving the latter around the guide bar, the guide bar having a periphery and two mutually adjacent side walls extending along said periphery thereof to conjointly define a guide groove for guiding the saw chain along the guide bar, lubricant aperture means formed in at least one of said side walls for conducting lubricant to said guide groove, the saw chain comprising:

• a plurality of center links and a plurality of side links, the links being pivotally interconnected by a plurality of forward rivets and a plurality of rearward rivets to define the saw chain;
• each of said links including a plate-like body having a forward bore for accommodating one of said forward rivets and a rearward bore for accommodating one of said rearward rivets;
• the plate-like body of each one of said center links having a foot portion for engaging said guide groove;
• each one of said foot portions having two flat sides facing respective ones of said side walls as the saw chain moves along said periphery;
• one of said flat sides defining a flat surface and having an elongated lubricant channel formed therein to a first depth below said flat surface for receiving lubricant introduced into said guide groove, said channel being formed in said one flat side so as to open at the vicinity of one of said rivet bores;
• said one flat side of each of said foot portions further including a lubricant pocket formed therein and communicating with said lubricant channel;
• said lubricant pocket being formed in said one flat side to a second depth greater than said first depth and so as to have a side wall defining a hollow reservoir space for holding a supply of lubricant therein;
• and,
• said side wall of said lubricant pocket and said flat surface conjointly defining a substantially uninterrupted peripheral edge;
• and, said hollow space being bounded by said peripheral edge at said flat surface and being open toward said side wall facing said one flat side;
• each of said center links having a forward edge facing in the direction of movement around the guide bar and having a rearward edge facing away from said direction;
• said elongated lubricant channel having an inlet at said forward edge;
• and, said elongated lubricant channel extending rearwardly away from said inlet opening to communicate with said lubricant pocket;
• and, said lubricant channel extending upwardly so as to be inclined with respect to said direction;
• said elongated lubricant channel extending from said pocket toward said rearward rivet bore;
• and,
• each of said center links further including a first branch channel extending from said elongated lubricant channel toward said forward rivet bore.

A saw chain for a motor-driven chain saw equipped with a guide bar and drive motor for imparting a pulling force to the saw chain for moving the latter around the guide bar, the guide bar having a periphery and two mutually adjacent side walls extending along said periphery thereof to conjointly define a guide groove for guiding the saw chain along the guide bar, lubricant aperture means formed in at least one of said side walls for conducting lubricant to said guide groove, the saw chain comprising:

• a plurality of center links and a plurality of side links, the links being pivotally interconnected by a plurality of forward rivets and a plurality of rearward rivets to define the saw chain;
• each of said links including a plate=like body having a forward bore for accommodating one of said forward rivets and a rearward bore for accommodating one of said rearward rivets;
• the plate-like body of each one of said center links having a foot portion for engaging said guide groove;
• each one of said foot portions having two flat sides facing respective ones of said side walls as the saw chain moves along said periphery;
• one of said flat sides defining a flat surface and having an elongated lubricant channel formed therein to a first depth below said flat surface for receiving lubricant introduced into said guide groove, said channel being formed in said one flat side so as to open at the vicinity of one of said rivet bores;
• said one flat side of each of said foot portions further including a lubricant pocket formed therein and communicating with said lubricant channel;
• said lubricant pocket being formed in said one flat side to a second depth greater than said first depth and so as to have a side wall defining a hollow reservoir space for holding a supply of lubricant therein;
• and,
• said side wall of said lubricant pocket and said flat surface conjointly defining a substantially uninterrupted peripheral edge;
• and, said hollow space being bounded by said peripheral edge at said flat surface and being open toward said side wall facing said one flat side;
• the forward and rearward rivet bores of each of said center links having a mid point therebetween and defining respective pivot axes;
• each of said center links further including a channel segment formed in said one face thereof so as to extend approximately parallel to a straight line passing through said pivot axes;
• and, said elongated lubricant channel extending from said lubricant pocket and toward the mid point between said forward and rearward bores so as to communicate with said channel segment.

A saw chain for a motor-driven chain saw equipped with a guide bar and drive motor for imparting a pulling force to the saw chain for moving the latter around the guide bar, the guide bar having a periphery and two mutually adjacent side walls extending along said periphery thereof to conjointly define a guide groove for guiding the saw chain along the guide bar, lubricant aperture means formed in at least one of said side walls for conducting lubricant to said guide groove, the saw chain comprising:

• a plurality of center links and a plurality of side links, the links being pivotally interconnected by a plurality of forward rivets and a plurality of rearward rivets to define the saw chain;
• each of said links including a plate-like body having a forward bore for accommodating one of said forward rivets and a rearward bore for accommodating one of said rearward rivets;
• the plate-like body of each one of said center links having a foot portion for engaging said guide groove;
• each one of said foot portions having two flat sides facing respective ones of said side walls as the saw chain moves along said periphery;
• one of said flat sides defining a flat surface and having an elongated lubricant channel formed therein to a first depth below said flat surface for receiving lubricant introduced into said guide groove, said channel being formed in said one flat side so as to open at the vicinity of one of said rivet bores;
• said one flat side of each of said foot portions further including a lubricant pocket formed therein and communicating with said lubricant channel;
• said lubricant pocket being formed in said one flat side to a second depth greater than said first depth and so as to have a side wall defining a hollow reservoir space for holding a supply of lubricant therein;
• and,
• said side wall of said lubricant pocket and said flat surface conjointly defining a substantially uninterrupted peripheral edge;
• and, said hollow space being bounded by said peripheral edge at said flat surface and being open toward said side wall facing said one flat side;
• said lubricant aperture means being a lubricant bore;
• and, said lubricant pocket having a periphery so as to cause said pocket and said bore to be in aligned overlapping relationship to each other when said center links pass said lubricant bore.

A saw chain and guide bar combination for a motor-driven chain saw equipped with a drive motor for imparting a pulling force to the saw chain for moving the latter around the guide bar, the saw chain and guide bar combination comprising:

• a guide bar having a periphery with upper and lower edges and two mutually adjacent side walls extending along said periphery to conjointly define a guide groove for guiding the saw chain along the guide bar, the guide bar having an outer nose portion for passing the saw chain from the upper edge of the periphery to the lower edge thereof,
• lubricant aperture means formed in at least one of said side walls at a location remote from said nose portion for conducting lubricant to said guide groove;
• a plurality of center links and a plurality of side links, the links being pivotally interconnected by a plurality of forward rivets and a plurality of rearward rivets to define the saw chain;
• each of said links including a plate-like body having a forward bore for accommodating one of said forward rivets and a rearward bore for accommodating one of said rearward rivets;
• the plate-like body of each one of said center links having a foot portion for engaging said guide groove;
• each one of said foot portions having two flat sides facing respective ones of said side walls as the saw chain moves along said periphery;
• one of said flat sides defining a flat surface and having an elongated lubricant channel formed therein to a first depth below said flat surface for receiving lubricant introduced into said guide groove, said channel being formed in said one flat side so as to open at the vicinity of one of said rivet bores;
• said one flat side of each of said foot portions further including a lubricant pocket formed therein in spaced relationship to said rivet bores and communicating with said lubricant channel;
• said lubricant pocket being formed in said one flat side to a second depth greater than said first depth and so as to have a side wall defining a hollow unobstructed reservoir space for holding a supply of lubricant therein and for transporting the supply of lubricant from said location to said nose portion where the centrifugal force developed at said nose portion causes the oil in said pocket to flow therefrom along the lubricant channel to the one rivet bore;
• said side wall of said lubricant pocket and said flat surface conjointly defining a substantially uninterrupted peripheral edge;
• and,
• said hollow space being bounded by said peripheral edge at said flat surface and being open toward said side wall facing said one flat side.

A saw chain for a motor-driven chain saw equipped with a guide bar and drive motor for imparting a pulling force to the saw chain for moving the latter around the guide bar, the guide bar having a periphery with upper and lower edges and two mutually adjacent side walls extending along said periphery to conjointly define a guide groove for guiding the saw chain along the guide bar, the guide bar having an outer nose portion for passing the saw chain from the upper edge of the periphery to the lower edge thereof, lubricant aperture means formed in at least one of said side walls at a location remote said nose portion for conducting lubricant to said guide groove, the saw chain comprising:

• a plurality of center links and a plurality of side links, the links being pivotally interconnected by a plurality of forward rivets and a plurality of rearward rivets to define the saw chain;
• each of said links including a plate-like body having a forward bore for accommodating one of said forward rivets and a rearward bore for accommodating one of said rearward rivets;
• the plate-like body of each one of said center links having a foot portion for engaging said guide groove;
• each one of said foot portions having two flat sides facing respective ones of said side walls as the saw chain moves along said periphery;
• one of said flat sides defining a flat surface and having an elongated lubricant channel formed therein to a first depth below said flat surface for receiving lubricant introduced into said guide groove, said channel being formed in said one flat side so as to open at the vicinity of one of said rivet bores;
• said one flat side of each of said foot portions further including a lubricant pocket formed therein and communicating with said lubricant channel;
• said lubricant pocket being formed in said one flat side to a second depth greater than said first depth and so as to have a side wall defining a hollow reservoir space for holding a supply of lubricant therein and for transporting the supply of lubricant from said location to said nose portion where the centrifugal force developed at said nose portion causes the oil in said pocket to flow therefrom along the lubricant channel to the one rivet bore;
• said side wall of said lubricant pocket and said flat surface conjointly defining a substantially uninterrupted peripheral edge;
• and,
• said hollow space being bounded by said peripheral edge at said flat surface and being open toward said side wall facing said one flat side;
• each one of said side links having a pair of foot points and said plurality of side links being grouped into first and second groups of side links corresponding to respective ones of said side walls;
• said side walls having respective top end faces for contact engaging the side links of corresponding ones of said first and second groups at said foot points as the saw chain moves around the guide bar;
• said aperture means being a bore having a center disposed at a predetermined distance (a) from the top end face of said one side wall;
• and,
• each of said pockets being located at an elevation distance (b) from said foot points which is approximately equal to said predetermined distance (a).