GB1568376A

GB1568376A - Chain support for cables

Info

Publication number: GB1568376A
Application number: GB5229075A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Mansign Engineering Ltd
Current assignee: Mansign Engineering Ltd
Priority date: 1975-12-20
Filing date: 1975-12-20
Publication date: 1980-05-29

Description

(54) CHAIN SUPPORT FOR CABLES (71) We, MANSIGN ENGINEERING LIMITED, a British Company of Eagle Close, Brookfield Works, Rolleston Drive, Arnold, Nottingham, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to chain supports for cables and is more particularly concerned with a modification of a chain support for power cables as disclosed in our U.K. patent 1,502,283.

In out U.K. patent 1,502,283 there is claimed a chain link for a cable supporting articulated chain, the chain link including a top wall, two opposed side walls interconnected by a base member to define in cross-section an open mouthed channel, the top wall having a longitudinally extending slot to define the mouth of the channel, both side walls being adapted for pivotal connection with similar links to form a chain, the channel being cap capable of receiving a cable extending longitudinally of the link, and closure means for preventing removal of the cable through the mouth of the channel.

According to the present invention there is provided a chain link for a cable supporting articulated chain, the chain link including a top wall, two opposed side walls interconnected by a base member to define in cross-section an open mouthed channel, the mouth wall of the channel being defined by a longitudinally extending slot, located between one of the side walls and the top wall, both side walls being adapted for pivotal connection with similar links to form a chain, the channel being capable of receiving a cable extending longitudinally of the link, and closure means for preventing removal of the cable through the mouth of the channel.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a cable supporting chain including links as defined above.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a plan view of two links according to the present invention shown pivotally connected to one another; FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along line Il-Il in Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is a side view of a chain composed of links according to the invention FIGURE 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing a modified construction.

As seen from Figures 1 and 2, each link includes a base 12, two side walls 14 and 15 and a top or an upper wall 16 which together in cross-section define a channel. As seen in Figure 2, side wall 14 is relatively taller than side wall 15 and the upper wall 16 is secured to side wall 14. A mouth 18 is defined between the upper wall 16 and the uppermost edge of side wall 15. The link may be a fabrication of pieces stamped from sheet metal and welded together or may be formed by bending of a suitably shaped blank stamped out of a metal sheet.

An internally threaded sleeve 20 is secured to side wall 14 which threadedly receives a bolt 22 which extends towards the mouth 18.

A bobbin 23 is received on the bolt 22. As seen in Figure 2, cables 25 are received within the links so as to extend longitudinally thereof and are retained in position by virtue of bobbin 23 which in effect restricts the mouth 18.

Each side wall is provided with a longitudinal extended projection 30, 31 each of which include apertures 32, 33 for the reception of pivot pins 35. In the illustrated embodiments, the pivot pins 35 are in the form of headed rivets but it is to be understood that the pivot pins 35 may be headless rivets or may be rivets which are adapted for releasable attachment to the links, for example, the rivets may have a shoulder or head for preventing axial movement in one direction and a removable circlip for preventing axial movement in the other direction. For a given link, the lateral spacing between projections 30 is greater than the lateral spacing between projections 31 so that projections 31 of one link may be introduced between projections 30 of another link to receive pivot pins as seen in Figure 1.

As for the chain link as described in our U.K. patent 1502283 the lateral edges 12a of the base 12 are upturned to facilitate sliding of the chain upon itself after having looped (for example see Figure 3).

As seen from Figure 3, the leading edge of side wall 14 is provided with a recess 36 which serves to permit the chain to loop (as seen in the lowermost bend of the chain) wherein the side wall 15 and upper wall 16 of the immediately preceding chain link are permitted to enter the recess.

As seen in Figures 3 and 4 the bobbin 23 may be differently shaped to that used in Figure 2 wherein in Figures 3 and 4, the bobbin 23 comprises a sleeve portion 23a of constant cross-section having a downwardly projecting flange portion 23b which serves to retain cables 25 within the link. It is also envisaged that the bobbin, in either embodiment, may be eccentrically mounted so as to be capable of accommodating varying size of cables.

It will also be noted, as for instance shown in Figure 3, that in a chain made up from links according to the invention not all of the links need be provided with a bobbin. In Figure 3 only every fourth link is provided with a bobbin.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A chain link for a cable supporting articulated chain, the chain link including a top wall, two opposed side walls interconnected by a base member to define in cross-section an open mouthed channel, the mouth of the channel being defined by a longitudinally extending slot located between one of the side walls and the top wall, both side walls being adapted for pivotal connection with similar links to form a chain, the channel being capable of receiving a cable extending longitudinally of the link, and closure means for preventing removal of the cable through the mouth of the channel.

2. A chain link according to Claim 1 wherein the top wall extends from the taller side wall across the base towards said one side wall, the mouth of the channel being defined between the top wall and an uppermost edge of said one side wall.

3. A chain link according to Claims 1 or 2 wherein the taller side wall releasably receives a projection which extends towards said one side wall, which projection defines said closure means.

4. A chain link according to Claim 3 wherein the projection comprises a bobbin supported on a bolt threadedly received on the taller side wall.

5. A chain link according to any preceding claim wherein a leading edge of the taller side wall is provided with a recess.

6. A chain link according to any preceding claim wherein the side walls have longitudinally extending projections which are adpated for cooperation with projections on similar links to provide said pivotal connection.

7. A chain link according to Claim 6 wherein the tranverse spacing of the projections extending in one longitudinal direction is greater that the transverse spacing between the projections extending in the opposite direction.

8. A chain link according to Claims 6 or 7 wherein the projections are provided with apertures for the reception of pivot pins to define said pivotal connection.

9. A chain link for a cable supporting chain sustantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

10. A cable supporting articulated chain including chain links according to any preceding chain.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. spacing between projections 30 is greater than the lateral spacing between projections 31 so that projections 31 of one link may be introduced between projections 30 of another link to receive pivot pins as seen in Figure 1. As for the chain link as described in our U.K. patent 1502283 the lateral edges 12a of the base 12 are upturned to facilitate sliding of the chain upon itself after having looped (for example see Figure 3). As seen from Figure 3, the leading edge of side wall 14 is provided with a recess 36 which serves to permit the chain to loop (as seen in the lowermost bend of the chain) wherein the side wall 15 and upper wall 16 of the immediately preceding chain link are permitted to enter the recess. As seen in Figures 3 and 4 the bobbin 23 may be differently shaped to that used in Figure 2 wherein in Figures 3 and 4, the bobbin 23 comprises a sleeve portion 23a of constant cross-section having a downwardly projecting flange portion 23b which serves to retain cables 25 within the link. It is also envisaged that the bobbin, in either embodiment, may be eccentrically mounted so as to be capable of accommodating varying size of cables. It will also be noted, as for instance shown in Figure 3, that in a chain made up from links according to the invention not all of the links need be provided with a bobbin. In Figure 3 only every fourth link is provided with a bobbin. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A chain link for a cable supporting articulated chain, the chain link including a top wall, two opposed side walls interconnected by a base member to define in cross-section an open mouthed channel, the mouth of the channel being defined by a longitudinally extending slot located between one of the side walls and the top wall, both side walls being adapted for pivotal connection with similar links to form a chain, the channel being capable of receiving a cable extending longitudinally of the link, and closure means for preventing removal of the cable through the mouth of the channel.