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US 5,176,247 AGranted
Sideflexing conveyor chain including low centerline hinge pin
AssigneeRexnord Inc.
InventorsLouis F. Counter, Robert H. Bigoness, Peter J. Ensch
Life of this patent
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AssigneeRexnord Inc.
InventorsLouis F. Counter, Robert H. Bigoness, Peter J. Ensch
Estimating the term…
A conveyor includes a track having at least one arcuate section, and a conveyor chain. The track comprises a pair of spaced apart track portions, each including a generally vertical guide surface. A first one of the guide surfaces defines the inside of an arcuate path and the other one of the guide surfaces defines the outside of the path. The conveyor chain is constructed and arranged for traversing the path and comprises a plurality of links, each of which has a first pivot eye at one end thereof and a pair of pivot eyes at the other end thereof and complementary to the first pivot eye. Pins couple the pivot eyes of pairs of adjacent links for pivotally connecting the same. Each link engages the first one of the surfaces as the chain traverses the path to generate reaction forces acting on each link and having an average line of action intersecting the first one of the surfaces. The pins are oriented transversely to the path defined by the surfaces and the axis of each pin is located below the average line of action of the reaction forces.
A conveyor comprising track means having at least one arcuate section, said track means comprising a pair of spaced apart track portions each having a generally vertical surface which define a generally horizontally arcuate path therebetween, conveyor chain means constructed and arranged for traversing said arcuate path between the generally vertical surfaces, a first one of said surfaces defining the inside of said arcuate path and the other one of said surfaces defining the outside of said arcuate path, said conveyor chain means comprising a plurality of link means, each of said link means having a first pivotal connection means at one end thereof and a second pivotal connection means at the other end thereof and complementary to the first pivotal connection means, pin means pivotally coupling the first and second pivotal connection means of pairs of adjacent link means, said pin means being oriented transversely to the path defined by said surfaces, each of said link means being engageable with the first one of said surfaces as said chain means traverses said path to generate a reaction force acting on each link means and having an average line of action, the axis of said pin means being located below said average line of action to create a couple on said link means acting to retain said link means within said arcuate section, and being the sole means for retaining said chain means within the arcuate section of the track means.
A conveyor system including track means and a conveyor chain, the track means comprising a pair of spaced apart track portions defining a path through which the conveyor chain traverses and including at least one horizontally curved section, one track portion defining the inside of said curved section and the other track portion defining the outside thereof, said one track portion including a generally vertical guide surface engaged by said conveyor chain as it traverses the curved section, said conveyor chain comprising a plurality of links, each of said links inclining a top portion constructed and arranged to move over said track means for being supported thereby, eye means projecting downwardly from said top link portions and into juxtaposed relation with the eye means of the adjacent links, pivot pin means pivotally connecting said juxtaposed eye means of adjacent links and having their axes substantially perpendicular to the direction of said path, the engagement of said links with the guide surface generating a reaction force on said links which is distributed over said guide surface and having an average line of action, the axis of said pin means lying below said line of action, said reaction force being the sole means for retaining said conveyor chain within the horizontally curved track section.
A conveyor comprising a conveyor chain, and a track having at least one curved section, said track comprising a pair of spaced, generally parallel rails having carrying surfaces over which the chain traverses, said chain having links each presenting a substantially planar carrying surface and a depending portion having connection means located below said carrying surface and including first eye means adjacent one end of each said link and second eye means adjacent the opposite end of each said link, hinge pins for hingedly connecting the eye means of adjacent links, a guide surface depending from each rail for guiding the chain laterally relative to the rails, said guide surfaces being horizontally spaced apart, said depending portion engaging the guide surface at the inside of said curved section to generate a reaction force on said links having an average line of action extending generally parallel to the carrying surfaces, the axis of said hinge pin lying below the line of action of said reaction force.
A conveyor chain for use in a conveyor including a pair of spaced, generally parallel rails having at least one curved section, each said rial including a carrying surface over which the chain traverses and a guide surface depending generally vertically from the carrying surfaces and having a predetermined minimum spacing from the other guide surface for guiding a chain laterally relative to the rails, said chain having links presenting a substantially planar carrying surface and having a depending portion defining connecting means located below said carrying surface and including first eye means on one end of said link and second eye means on the opposite end of said link, a hinge pin for hingedly connecting the eye means of adjacent links, said links being constructed and arranged for engaging the guide surface at the inside of a curve to generate a reaction force on said links having an average line of action extending generally parallel to the carrying surfaces, the axis of said hinge pin lying below the line of action of said reaction force, the width of said depending portion at its widest part being less than the predetermined minimum spacing between said guide surfaces so that said conveyor chain can be lifted vertically from between said rails.
A link constructed and arranged to be joined with like links to form a conveyor chain for use in a conveyor including a pair of spaced apart track means defining a curved path through which the conveyor chain traverses and each track means having a guide surface depending generally vertically and wherein one of the track means defines the inside of the curved section and the other track means defines the outside thereof, said guide surfaces having a predetermined minimum spacing therebetween, said link including a top portion constructed and arranged to move over a track means for being supported thereby and a portion depending from said top portion, said depending portion first and second eye means projecting downwardly from said top link portion at the opposite ends of the link being positioned, respectively, adjacent a complementary eye means of an adjacent links, first and second pivot openings in said first and second eye means, respectively, for receiving a pivot pin therethrough for pivotally connecting said first and second eye means with those of adjacent links, said link having a reaction surface engageable with a guide surface for generating a reaction force on said reaction surface which is distributed over said surface and having an average line of action, the axis of said pin openings lying below said line of action, the width of the depending portion at its widest part being less than the predetermined minimum spacing between the guide surfaces so that the conveyor chain can be lifted vertically from between the rails.
A conveyor chain means for traversing a track means having at least one arcuate section and comprising a pair of spaced apart track portions, each having a guide surface, which define an arcuate path therebetween, a first one of the guide surfaces defining the inside of the arcuate path and the other one of the guide surfaces defining the outside of the arcuate path, there being a minimum predetermined spacing between the guide surfaces, said conveyor chain means comprising a plurality of link means, each of said link means having a portion for being disposed between said surfaces and defining a first pivotal connection means at one end thereof and a second pivotal connection means at the other end thereof and complementary to the first pivotal connection means, pin means pivotally coupling the first and second pivotal connection means of pairs of adjacent link means, said pin means being oriented transversely to the path traversed by said chain means, each of said link means being engageable with a first one of the path defining surfaces as said chain means traverses said path to generate a reaction force acting on each said link means and having an average line of action, the axis of said pin means being located below said average line of action to create a couple on said link means acting to retain said link means within the arcuate section of the track portions, the width of the link portion at its widest part being less than the predetermined minimum spacing between the guide surfaces so that the conveyor chain means can be lifted vertically from between the guide surfaces.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.