GB1596815A - Coupling means - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO COUPLING MEANS (71) We, WHEWAY WATSON HOLD INGS LIMITED, a British Company of P.O.

Box No. 3 Colquhoun Avenue, Hillington, Glasgow, 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:- This invention relates to coupling means.

The invention is particularly concerned with a coupling means for coupling a chain to components such as a hook or a reevable link.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved coupling means.

According to the invention we provide a coupling means comprising a pair of spaced elements defining a gap therebetween, a cylindrical passage extending through and transversely of the elements and a pin received within the passage to span the gap between the elements, the pin being noncircular in cross section.

The pin may have a larger cross-sectional dimension in a direction in or parallel to a plane containing the longitudinal axis of the passage and the longitudinal axes of the elements than in a direction normal to said plane.

The pin may be generally elliptical and preferably has parallel planar sides with part cylindrical ends.

The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of a reevable link embodying the invention FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the link of Figure 1, FIGURE 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, FIGURE 4 is a side elevation of a load pin for use with the link of Figure 1, FIGURE 5 is an end elevation of the pin of Figure 4, and Figures 6 to 9 illustrate other components in which a coupling means according to the invention may be embodied.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 there is illus .trated generally at 10 a reevable link having a coupling means 11 comprising a pair of spaced parallel elements 12, 13 which define a gap 14 therebetween.

The gap 14 is of such dimension as to receive a link of a chain which is to be connected to the link 10. A circular in cross section passage 15 is formed transversely of each element 12, 13 and extends completely through the element 13 at a constant diameter to give a cylindrical passage part 15a whilst in the other element 12 one end of the passage part 15b is of frusto-conical configuration as indicated at 1 Sc so that in the outer surface 16 of the element 12 there is a small diameter aperture 17 to permit access to be gained to the end of a pin, hereinafter to be described, received in the passage 15 so that it can be driven from the passage 15.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5 a load pin is received in the passage 15. The load pin is indicated generally at 18 in Figures 4 and 5 and is of the cross sectional shape shown in Figure 5 comprising two parallel planar side surfaces 19 and to opposite part cylindrical end surfaces 20.

The load pin 18 is of such a length that it extends from the junction between the passage parts 15b and 15c to a position spaced slightly inwardly of a passage 21 formed in the element 13 and extendmg transversely of the passage 15 which receives a retaining pin, of cylindrical configuration, not shown, so that the load pin 18 is retained in position by the pin, not shown, received in the passage 21.

By making the load pin 18 of the noncircular configuration shown in Figures 4 and 5 its strength is increased as its dimensions X can be made of the desired length to achieve the desired strength whilst its dimension Y is limited to the available space within the chain link with which it is to be engaged.

It will also be appreciated that engagement between the planar surfaces 19 and the chain link with which it is engaged prevents rotation of the pin 18.

Although in the above example the coupling means has been described as being embodied in a reevable link if desired the coupling means may be provided on other components such as the link and hooks shown in Figures 6 to 9.

If desired the pin may be of other shapes than described hereinbefore so long as the pin has a larger cross-sectional dimension in a direction in or parallel to a plane containing the axis of the passage and the longitudinal axes of the elements than in a direction normal to said plane. Also, although the pin has been described hereinbefore as being retained in the passage by virtue of a reduced cross sectional part at one end of the passage and a transversely extending pin at the other end of the passage other means may be provided to retain the pin in position.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS 1. A coupling means comprising a pair of spaced elements defining a gap therebetween, a cylindrical passage extending through and transversely of the elements and a pin received within the passage to span the gap between the elements, the pin being noncircular in cross section.

2. A coupling means according to Claim 1 wherein the pin has a larger cross sectional dimention in a direction in or parallel to a plane containing the longitudinal axis of the passage and the longitudinal axes of the elements than in a direction normal to said plane.

3. A coupling means according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the elements are parallel.

4. A coupling means according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the pin is generally elliptical.

5. A coupling means according to Claim 4 wherein the pin has parallel planar sides with part cylindrical ends.

6. A coupling means according to any one of the preceding claims wherein means are provided to retain the pin within the passage.

7. A coupling means according to Claim 7 wherein the retaining means comprise a pin received in a bore extending transversely of the passage adjacent one end thereof and adapted to engage one end of the first mentioned pin.

8. A coupling means according to Claim 8 wherein the passage is of reduced crosssection at its other end to prevent removal of the first mentioned pin from said other end.

9. A coupling means according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the coupling is provided on a hook.

10. A coupling means according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the coupling is provided on a reevable link.

11. A coupling means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings or Figure 6 or Figure 7 or figure 8 or figure 9 of the accompanying drawings.

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

Claims (11)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. embodied in a reevable link if desired the coupling means may be provided on other components such as the link and hooks shown in Figures 6 to 9. If desired the pin may be of other shapes than described hereinbefore so long as the pin has a larger cross-sectional dimension in a direction in or parallel to a plane containing the axis of the passage and the longitudinal axes of the elements than in a direction normal to said plane. Also, although the pin has been described hereinbefore as being retained in the passage by virtue of a reduced cross sectional part at one end of the passage and a transversely extending pin at the other end of the passage other means may be provided to retain the pin in position. WHAT WE CLAIM IS

1. A coupling means comprising a pair of spaced elements defining a gap therebetween, a cylindrical passage extending through and transversely of the elements and a pin received within the passage to span the gap between the elements, the pin being noncircular in cross section.

2. A coupling means according to Claim 1 wherein the pin has a larger cross sectional dimention in a direction in or parallel to a plane containing the longitudinal axis of the passage and the longitudinal axes of the elements than in a direction normal to said plane.

3. A coupling means according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the elements are parallel.

4. A coupling means according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the pin is generally elliptical.

5. A coupling means according to Claim 4 wherein the pin has parallel planar sides with part cylindrical ends.

6. A coupling means according to any one of the preceding claims wherein means are provided to retain the pin within the passage.

7. A coupling means according to Claim 7 wherein the retaining means comprise a pin received in a bore extending transversely of the passage adjacent one end thereof and adapted to engage one end of the first mentioned pin.

8. A coupling means according to Claim 8 wherein the passage is of reduced crosssection at its other end to prevent removal of the first mentioned pin from said other end.

9. A coupling means according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the coupling is provided on a hook.

10. A coupling means according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the coupling is provided on a reevable link.

11. A coupling means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings or Figure 6 or Figure 7 or figure 8 or figure 9 of the accompanying drawings.