EP3013497B1 - Method for providing a chain having a longer service life and chain inlet device for carrying out the method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method for providing a link chain with a longer service life according to the features in claim 1.

The present invention further relates to a chain entry device for producing a chain with a longer service life according to the features in the preamble of claim 9.

From the prior art it is known to use chains for many different applications. In particular, tensile forces are transmitted in chains, which is why they are used for lifting, pulling and lashing equipment. Such chains are usually designed as link chains, which are made of many, successively engaged chain links. For the chain links themselves, steel is a preferred material, from which in particular round steel link chains are made.

Another application of such chains is the drive of conveyors or even planing equipment, especially in underground mining.

Here, a chain is designed as an open, tribological system. This means that the chain on the one hand exposed to the mechanical stresses by transmission of the tensile force and engagement in the respective sprockets or guide rollers is. On the other hand, the chain is operated in an environment in which a strong pollution by sand, coal and / or other dust or dirt particles occur. This results in abrasive wear, which leads to additional wear of the chain.

Both processes described above are contrary to a desired long service life of the chain itself.

The wear described above leads in a chain to a so-called pitch extension. Here, the chain links take advantage in particular in the hinge points such that a chain exceeds a wear limit and is no longer usable. In particular, such a wear limit is achieved when a chain has undergone more than 3.5% pitch extension. The engagement between chain links and sprocket is raised to such a critical level at this pitch extension ratio that the subsequent wear would increase greatly progressively and also cause damage to the sprockets and the efficiency for operating the device with the chain drops below 70% ,

From the prior art it is known to increase the wear resistance by optimizing the chain link geometry and / or by hardening the chain links. However, depending on the dirt that occurs, hardening and / or geometry optimization only allow for limited advantages, and consequently the manufacturing costs of such a chain increase significantly.

From the DE 971 353 C , the DE 920 284 C as well as the DE 202 202 C Methods for stretching a link chain are known. In this case, individual sections of a link chain are stretched between a fixed and a movable abutment.

From the DE 10 53 257 B , which forms the basis for the preamble of claim 1, a method for producing round link chains with surface contact of the chain links is known, in which by an enema, the extension of the life of the chain is achieved.

Object of the present invention is therefore to show a way to increase the service life of a link chain at the same time low manufacturing and operating costs.

The aforementioned object is achieved with a method for providing a link chain with increased life in accordance with the features in claim 1.

The aforementioned object is further achieved with a chain entry device for operating the method according to the invention according to the features in claim 9.

Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

• Bereitstellen einer Gliederkette aus einer Stahllegierung, insbesondere einer Rundstahlgliederkette,
• Einlaufen der Gliederkette auf einer Ketteneinlaufvorrichtung,
• Entnahme der eingelaufenen Gliederkette aus der Ketteneinlaufvorrichtung und Zuführung der Kette zu ihrem Einsatzort und Einsatz der Gliederkette,
• wobei die Gliederkette beim Einlaufen auf der Ketteneinlaufvorrichtung eine Teilungsverlängerung von 0,2% bis 1,2%, insbesondere 0,3% bis 0,7% erfährt.

The method according to the invention for providing a link chain with a longer service life is particularly suitable for a plow chain and is characterized by the following method steps:

• Providing a link chain made of a steel alloy, in particular a round steel link chain,
• Running in of the link chain on a chain entry device,
• Removing the run-in link chain from the chain feed device and feeding the chain to its place of use and use of the link chain,
• wherein the link chain undergoes a division elongation of 0.2% to 1.2%, in particular 0.3% to 0.7% when entering on the chain inlet device.

A commercially available chain in the form of a link chain made of a steel alloy, which is used for example in a chain conveyor or on a planer with rotating planer chain, initially undergoes a degressive wear at their entry into the planing machine. Thus, the wear of a newly produced planer chain first decreases from a heavy wear, then goes off during the Operation over in an approximately linear wear and learn from a pitch extension of about 3.5% in turn, a progressively increasing wear.

According to the invention, it is now provided that the chain itself is first run in on a chain inlet device in the form of a link chain. The shrinkage of the chain is in particular such that a pitch extension of 0.2 to 1.2%, preferably between 0.3 and 0.7% and in particular a pitch extension of 0.4 to 0.6%, most preferably of 0 , 5% is performed. According to the invention, the run-in or pre-worn chain itself is already reduced by the degressively running inlet wear. The chain thus provided can then be supplied to its intended use and, for example, mounted on a planing machine as a rotating planing chain. The sprockets and / or the guide rollers are further preferably designed such that they are adapted in their fit to the pre-worn chain. This can, as explained below, according to the invention take place in particular in two different ways.

The chain pre-worn according to the invention thus makes it possible to bring about almost exclusively linear wear during the period of use of the chain until the chain itself has reached a critical pitch extension. Due to the fact that, however, the chain and the components coming into contact with the chain, in particular the sprockets and / or guide rollers, are not subject to running-in wear even in the actual use, according to the invention the service life of the chain is increased in its actual use, since the linear wear an already run chain has a lower slope. The critical pitch extension is shifted backwards by the purely linear wear on the service life. This results in a longer service life, which in turn has less maintenance intervals and / or revisions of the system in which the chain is operated, the result. Since the chain itself does not have to be pretreated by cost-intensive special materials, by special geometries of the chain links and / or by elaborate hardening processes, the production costs, in comparison to measures described above for increasing the service life, tend to be low.

The inventive method for providing the chain with a longer service life is further characterized by the fact that it is possible that the chain is run in individual segments and the individual segments are assembled after running into a chain strand. Thus, it is possible, for example, to run segments of 10 or 20 m in length on a local factory-installed chain entry device, the individual segments subsequently being assembled to provide chains of an individual, required length, e.g. but can be 100 m. The chain links for connecting the individual segments are chosen such that they already considered the inlet wear. Thus, external links are used to couple two chain segments together. Alternatively, it is possible that in each case the last chain link of a segment is separated, two segments are coupled together and the split chain link is subsequently joined again. This ensures that even the chain link connecting the two segments already has the inlet wear.

Alternatively, it is possible within the scope of the invention that special coupling members are provided, with which it is already possible aufzuspannen the chain on the chain feed device and then connect the two chain segments via this coupling member together, so that the chain their Place of use can be supplied and also the coupling member has the inlet wear.

In the context of the invention, it is possible, in particular, to carry out the method in such a way that the chain to be produced is not produced directly with a normal division or nominal division, but rather that the chain is produced reduced by the division extension of the entry. Thus, the chain is manufactured with a nominal pitch, which is reduced by a pitch extension of in particular 0.2 to 1.2%, preferably 0.4 to 0.6% and in particular 0.5%. The chain of this kind is then run in and, after running in, has a geometric pitch which corresponds to a commercially available, non-preloaded chain. This provides in the context of the invention has the advantage that the chain produced in this way are performed on commercial wheels, sprockets and / or guide rollers can. According to the invention then takes place when using the chain of the inlet wear no longer, since this is already upstream. Consequently, the run-in chain experiences an almost exclusively linear wear in its use, so that results in a longer service life. A retrofitting of existing systems that is operated with a chain according to the invention is avoided according to the invention. Also already produced and / or technically predesigned sprockets, guide rollers or rollers can continue to be used, wherein according to the invention with the same use of these components results in a longer service life.

Alternatively, it is possible that the chain is manufactured with a standard commercial division and then inventively run on a chain inlet device such that a Teilungsverlängerung from 0.2 to 1.2%, in particular about 0.5%, is set. The chain thus produced is then fed to its further use, in which case, in particular, the sprockets, rollers and / or guide rollers are correspondingly modified so that they correspond to a chain with an already preset approx. 0.5% pitch extension. Also results then between sprocket and chain initially only linear wear and thus a longer service life.

Further preferably, the chain is run in with an eight-shaped movement or else the chain is run in on a front side and a back side. In particular, in a round steel link chain, the chain in later operation standing and lying chain links. Thus, the chain is universally applicable and in particular can be used independently of the direction of travel, it is important in the context of the invention that the pitch extension, thus the inlet wear, is located on all sides of the chain. Thus, in particular in the case of the horizontal chain links, the lower side, but also the upper side, and thus the front side, but also the rear side, are run in. This can be done, for example, in an exclusively circulating chain feed device such that the chain is first run in one direction, then the chain is rotated along its longitudinal axis by 180 ° and then the back is also run. According to the invention, it is also possible that the running direction of the chain inlet device at least once during the running-in process is changed, so that the chain undergoes a forward, but also a return. Alternatively or in addition, it is possible for the chain to run into an eight-shaped movement. Due to the eight-shaped movement, both the front side and the back side of a horizontal chain link are run in at a chain running direction. A change of the chain during the run-in process is not necessary. In the case of the eight-shaped inlet direction, it is also possible within the scope of the invention that likewise a forward and a return, thus the running direction, is changed at least once.

Optionally, it is possible within the scope of the invention that not only the chain is run in such that the underlying chain links undergo a corresponding uniform wear, it is within the scope of the invention also possible that the chain is rotated at least once by 90 ° along its longitudinal direction , so that from the standing chain links lying chain links and these are then also run. In the context of the invention, this is optionally also possible that the chain is rotated during running along its longitudinal axis. In particular, this is done in 90 ° steps, so that in each case a change between a lying and a standing chain link. As a result, a chain is provided which undergoes an approximately uniform pitch extension on all chain links. This makes it possible to provide a chain with Einlaufverschleißverhalten that is independent of the direction of travel and in particular is not determined whether a respective chain link is or is. The thus pre-interleaved chain is therefore very user-friendly at their later point of use mountable, so that directional errors or other assembly errors are prevented.

In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention is further provided that a tensile force or operating force is applied to the chain during running, wherein the tensile force or operating force in particular corresponds to 0.5 to 1 times the expected operating force in the later use of the chain. The maximum load is limited by the production force or test load.

Optionally, or in addition to the tensile force, it is also possible to apply an emery agent to the chain during running in or to guide the chain itself by an emery agent. The emery agent is in particular such an agent that corresponds to the later field of use of the chain. For example, it can be coal dust and / or tailings. Alternatively, artificial emery agents, for example, including diamondins and / or grains of sand, can be selected. In the context of the invention, it is also possible that the chain is guided in particular by a slurry which also particularly preferably corresponds to the later field of use. The abrasive can be artificially applied to the chain, for example on a pulley or an impeller. In the context of the invention, however, the entire chain can be passed through a bath, for example a dip bath, in which the emery medium is located.

In a further preferred embodiment, the shrinkage is performed on an inlet device, which is designed in the manner of a pulley. This makes it possible in particular to run several chains at the same time, since a suspension of the inlet device can be attached to a ceiling, so that in relation to the base of an assembly hall several chains can be entered simultaneously to save space. Furthermore, this possibility has the advantage that the chain already experiences a tensile load for the inlet wear due to their own weight generated.

In a further alternative embodiment variant of the method according to the invention, it is also possible that a chain is used which has an accumulation of material in the region of the occurring wear, thus in the region of the pitch extension. In particular, the cross-section of the chain links in the areas in which the pitch extension due to the inlet wear most occurs, designed such that the chain links are formed, for example in their curves oval. In this case, the oval cross-section is then worn out in such a way that it is essentially round, due to the occurring division elongation during the running-in wear. The chain thus produced is then fed to its further use and experiences initially a linear wear, until a critical wear limit is reached at a pitch extension of about 3.5%. Alternatively, it is also possible that the material accumulation on the chain is formed by forging or upsetting. It is also possible that the chain itself is armored in the area of the strongest occurring wear.

The present invention further relates to a chain feed-in device for carrying out the method described above, wherein the chain feed device has two spaced sprockets and is characterized in that at least one sprocket on an outer circumferential surface has a central circumferential groove, left and right sides of the groove bearing surfaces for Receiving a lying chain link are formed and arranged in the circumferential direction of the bearing surfaces exchangeable cams are arranged.

The cams extend substantially in the radial direction or at an angle to the radial direction, thus they are formed projecting towards the sprocket outwardly oriented. With the help of interchangeable cams, it is possible to determine the position of each standing and lying chain link on the sprocket and thus set a targeted Einlaufverschleißverhalten especially within the curves, thus at the chain link points of the individual chain links, which are in positive engagement with each other. On the chain feed device can then be rotated by an applied rotary motion on a sprocket, the chain, so that they undergo a Einlaufverschleiß.

For this purpose, the lying chain links come to plan especially on the bearing surfaces. Furthermore, it is possible within the scope of the invention that the chain between the two sprockets is guided in an eight-shaped course. Thus, both an upper side and a lower side of the chain undergo a corresponding guidance and an associated inlet wear behavior.

So that a variable tensile force can now be applied to the chain to be fed in, the inlet device itself is further assigned such a device that the sprockets are mutually displaceable in their distance, so that over the device an individual tensile force can be applied to the chain.

Further preferably, the chain inlet device is assigned a emery agent supply, so that emery agent can be applied to the chain. The emery agent supply can also be assigned in the form of a pool or immersion bath in such a way that the chain is guided through this pool or immersion bath during running-in.

Figur 1

einen erfindungsgemäße Ketteneinlaufvorrichtung mit eingelegter Gliederkette in einer Seitenansicht,

Figur 2

ein Kettenrad einer erfindungsgemäßen Ketteneinlaufvorrichtung in einer Seitenansicht,

Figur 3

das Kettenrad in einer perspektivischen Ansicht,

Figur 4

ein Standzeitdiagramm, das die Verwendung einer erfindungsgemäßen Gliederkette aufzeigt.

Further advantages, features, characteristics and aspects of the present invention are the subject of the following description. Preferred embodiments are shown in the schematic figures. These are for easy understanding of the invention. Show it:

FIG. 1

a chain inlet device according to the invention with inserted link chain in a side view,

FIG. 2

a sprocket of a chain inlet device according to the invention in a side view,

FIG. 3

the sprocket in a perspective view,

FIG. 4

a service life diagram showing the use of a link chain according to the invention.

In the figures, the same reference numerals are used for the same or similar components, even if a repeated description is omitted for reasons of simplicity.

FIG. 1 shows a chain inlet device 1 according to the invention in a side view. The chain entry device 1 in this case has a reference to the image plane left sprocket 2 and a related to the image plane right sprocket 3, wherein between the sprockets 2, 3, a link chain 4, here formed as a round steel link chain extends. The link chain 4 is guided in the circumferential direction U to the sprockets 2, 3, so that the link chain 4 is run. The left sprocket 2 is designed as a fixed bearing 5 such that there is only one Rotational freedom degree. The right sprocket 3 is designed as a floating bearing 6, so that on the one hand the sprocket 3 has a rotational degree of freedom, on the other hand, the floating bearing 6 in the X direction X is displaced. This makes it possible to tension the link chain 4 located on the chain entry device 1 by a device 7 such that the distance a between the left and the right sprocket 2, 3 is variable. The link chain 4 is clamped on the chain feed device 1 so that it has standing chain links 8 and lying chain links 9, which are each with their curves 10, 11 engaged with each other and thereby form a chain link. The lying chain links 9 come to rest on a support surface 12 of the respective sprocket 2, 3, wherein on the respective sprockets 2, 3 cams 13 are arranged, which come to the respective lying chain link 9 such a form-fitting engagement that they transmit a tensile force can and run along the link chain 4.

This is again in FIG. 2 and 3 clearly shown, in which case a sprocket 3 is shown, each having a bearing surface 12 and interchangeable cam 13, so that a respective sprocket 3 can be used by exchanging the cam 13 for link chains 4 with different dimensions. The cams 13 are inserted into the sprocket 2, 3 in the radial direction R and secured by a locking pin 14 against slipping out. Further, the sprocket 3, clearly visible in FIG FIG. 3 , A centrally disposed groove 15, wherein the left and right sides of the groove 15 each bearing surfaces 12 are formed for the underlying chain links 9. Between the respective bearing surfaces 12 slightly curved transition surfaces 16 extend, wherein in the transitional surfaces 16, in turn, the interchangeable cams 13 are arranged. The standing chain links 8 come in the groove 15 for positive engagement, wherein is variably selectable, whether the stationary chain link 8 rests in the radial direction R on the groove 15 or is arranged freely floating in the groove 15. In particular, the standing chain link 8 comes to bear against lateral guide surfaces 17 of the groove 15, so that displacement in the axial direction 18, in particular of the vertical chain links 8, is prevented.

FIG. 4 finally shows the main advantages of the method according to the invention. Shown on the Y-axis is the adjusting Teilungsverschleiß a chain in operation, in particular a plow chain, in percent. The time t is continuously displayed on the X-axis. In a chain known from the prior art, in particular a planing chain, the division wear shown by the dashed line results. In a break-in phase t1, first a degressive division extension takes place up to substantially 0.5% in the period t1. Thereafter, the pitch extension increases substantially linearly over time t2, which corresponds to the actual life of the chain composed of t1 and t2. Thereafter, a critical pitch extension between about 3 and 3.5% is achieved. From this point on, another operation of the chain for economic reasons, since the efficiency decreases rapidly, but also for safety reasons no longer feasible. The pitch extension, thus the wear of the chain, sprockets, rollers and similar components coming into contact with the chain, is also seriously endangered. An exchange of the chain and possibly a revision of the system, which is operated with the chain, are necessary.

The inventive method provides that the break-in phase t1 is carried out separately on a chain inlet device. Thus, the actual Teilungsverlängerung during the run-in phase, which is completed in the operation of the chain, in fact does not exist. Although the chain itself already has a pitch extension due to the separate running-in phase, but the components coming into contact with the chain, and in particular the sprockets, in the actual operation of the system are tuned to the fact that initially no run-in phase takes place with degressive wear behavior. Thus, according to the illustrated solid line, the performance of the link chain 4 begins exclusively with a linear wear. However, this linear wear is lower in its slope due to the operation of the link chain 4 itself not upstream running on the system, so effectively results in a longer life t3 until a inventively provided provided link chain 4 a division extension of substantially 3 to 3, 5% achieved has, so that here again, a progressively increasing wear makes replacement necessary.

Reference numerals:

1 -

Chain inlet device

2 -

left sprocket

3 -

right sprocket

4 -

link chain

5 -

fixed bearing

6 -

movable bearing

7 -

device

8th -

standing chain link

9 -

lying chain link

10-

Rounding to 8

11 -

Rounding to 9

12 -

bearing surface

13 -

cam

14 -

safety pin

15 -

groove

16 -

Transition surface

17 -

lateral guide surface

18 -

axially

U -

direction of rotation

X -

X-direction

a -

distance

R -

radial direction

t -

Time

t1 -

run-in phase

t2 -

linear wear

t3 -

Life extension

Claims (12)

1. Method for providing a link chain having a longer service life, in particular a plane chain, comprising the following method steps:

   - provision of a link chain (4) made of a steel alloy, in particular a round steel link chain,

   - running-in of the link chain (4) on a chain inlet device (1),

   - removal of the run-in link chain (4) from the chain inlet device (1) and delivery of the link chain (4) to the point of use thereof and use of the link chain (4), characterised in that the link chain (4) undergoes a pitch extension from 0.2 % to 1.2 %, in particular 0.3 % to 0.7 % as it runs in on the chain inlet device (1).
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the link chain (4) runs in segments in the chain inlet device (1) and after this running-in the individual segments are assembled into a chain strand.
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the link chain (4) is produced from a steel alloy with a normal pitch which is reduced by the pitch extension set during running-in.
4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the link chain (4) runs in in a figure-of-eight movement or that the link chain (4) runs in on a front face and a rear face.
5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that, on the chain inlet device (1), during the running-in a tensile force is applied to the link chain (4) and/or that a sanding means is applied to the link chain (4) during the running-in or the link chain (4) is guided through a sanding means.
6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the running-in on a chain inlet device (1) is carried out in the manner of a pulley.
7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that in the region of the pitch extension the link chain (4) has a material build-up, in particular the cross-section of the chain links (8, 9) is rounded in an oval shape, wherein due to the pitch extension the cross-section is abraded in such a way that it is substantially round.
8. Method according to claim 7, characterised in that the material build-up of the link chain (4) is formed by forging or compression.
9. Chain inlet device for carrying out a method according to the features of at least claim 1, comprising two sprocket wheels (2, 3) spaced apart from one another, characterised in that at least one sprocket wheel (2, 3) has a central circumferential groove (15) on its outer shell surface, wherein, on the left and right sides of the groove (15), bearing surfaces (12) are formed to accommodate a chain link (9) lying thereon and replaceable cams (13) associated with the bearing surfaces (12) are arranged in the circumferential direction.
10. Chain inlet device according to claim 9, characterised in that the chain links (9) located there come to rest flat on the bearing surfaces (12).
11. Chain inlet device according to claim 9 or 10, characterised in that the link chain (4) is guided in a figure-of-eight configuration between the two sprocket wheels (2, 3).
12. Chain inlet device according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterised in that the spacing (a) of the sprocket wheels (2, 3) relative to one another can be adjusted by means of a device (7), in particular a tensile force can be applied to the link chain (4) by means of the device (7).

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