Conduit carrier chain
AssigneeA+ Manufacturing, LLC
InventorJoey R. Szpakowski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A conduit carrier chain having end-to-end pivotally connected link plate sides has a stop element between each pair of pivotally connected link plate ends. The stop element has two lateral sides which each interfit with one of the two pivotally connected ends to limit the range of angular motion of one link plate relative to the other. The lateral sides of the stop element can be made with camber and radius stop surfaces in different positions, so that the average camber and radius of a length of chain can be adjusted for particular applications simply by changing the assembly orientation of the stop element between the two ends. A tie bar or a cover is also provided which spans the sides of the chain and has pockets which fit over noses on the link plates to rigidly connect the sides of the chain.
Claims19
A chain for carrying flexible conduit from one point to a relatively movable point, comprising:
- a plurality of links, each said link including at a lateral side thereof a link plate;
- each said link plate having a pair of opposed ends, each said end being connected to an end of a link plate on the corresponding side of an adjacent link to pivot relative to said adjacent link about a laterally extending axis;
- and
- a stop element between pivotally connected ends of end-to-end connected link plates, said stop element being separate and distinct from both said link plates and having a first lateral side interfitting with one said pivotally connected end and a second lateral side interfitting with the other said pivotally connected end, said element interfitting with said ends to limit angular motion between said ends about said laterally extending pivot axis;
- wherein each said stop element has a camber surface and a radius surface on each side thereof and each end has a camber surface for abutting the camber surface on the corresponding lateral side of the stop element in a straight position and a radius surface for abutting the radius surface on the corresponding lateral side of the stop element in a curved position.
A kit for making a chain for carrying flexible conduit from one point to a relatively movable point, comprising:
- a plurality of link plates, each said link plate for making a link together with another laterally spaced apart link plate, and each said link plate including a pair of opposed ends, each said end for being connected to an end of a link plate on the corresponding side of an adjacent link to pivot relative to said adjacent link about a laterally extending axis;
- and
- a plurality of stop elements, each said stop element for being received between pivotally connected ends of end-to-end connected link plates, each said stop element being separate and distinct from said link plates and having a first lateral side for interfitting with one said pivotally connected end and a second lateral side for interfitting with the other said pivotally connected end, said element interfitting with said ends to limit angular motion between said ends about said laterally extending pivot axis;
- and
- a plurality of tie bars, each said tie bar extending laterally and having a plurality of pockets spaced along its length, and wherein each link plate further comprises a nose for fitting into said pockets extending transversely from each transverse side of each link plate and means for locking said tie bars over said noses.
A chain for carrying flexible conduit from one point to a relatively movable point, comprising:
- a plurality of links connected end to end, each said link including a pair of laterally spaced apart link plates;
- each of said link plates having a pair of longitudinally opposed ends, each said end being connected to an end of a link plate on the corresponding lateral side of the next adjacent link to pivot about a laterally extending axis and having a digit including a camber stop surface and a radius stop surface;
- a stop element between pivotally connected ends of the link plates, said stop element having two lateral sides, one side defining at least one locator pocket and the other side defining at least one travel pocket, each said pocket being defined by a camber stop surface and a radius stop surface;
- wherein each digit of the pivotally connected link plate ends is received within one of said pockets.
A chain for carrying flexible conduit from one point to a relatively movable point, comprising:
- a plurality of links connected end to end, each said link having at least two laterally spaced apart sides;
- a plurality of link plates at each said side, each of said link plates having a pair of longitudinally opposed ends, each said end being connected to an end of a link plate on the corresponding lateral side of the next adjacent link to pivot about a laterally extending axis;
- a nose extending transversely from each transverse side of each said link plate of at least one said link;
- means spanning between the noses on each transverse side of said link, said means defining a pocket which fits closely over each said nose;
- and
- means for locking said spanning means over said noses.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.