GB2046203A

GB2046203A - Attaching conveyor elements to chain links of a chain conveyor

Info

Publication number: GB2046203A
Application number: GB8011441A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: RUD Kettenfabrik Rieger und Dietz GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: RUD Kettenfabrik Rieger und Dietz GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 1979-04-12
Filing date: 1980-04-03
Publication date: 1980-11-12
Also published as: GB2046203B; BR8002287A; DE2915694A1; IT8053122V0; IT1128271B; ATA169580A; BE882727A; IT8067570A0; AT388542B; DE2915694C2

Abstract

In a chain conveyor with endless chains to which conveyor elements are secured by means of drivers (3), pivot bearings for the drivers are provided in the region of the links (5) co-operating with the drivers, which bearings simultaneously maintain the drivers substantially in the centre of the open interior of the links (5) associated with them. The pivot bearings are constituted either by troughs (8, 9), distance pieces or bearing bushings, which at least partially enclose the drivers (3) in the region of the links (5). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A chain conveyor The invention relates to a chain conveyor with endless chains which are constituted by circular links with a pitch of more than 3.5 times the circular material diameter and to which conveyor elements are secured by means of drivers which engage into the open interior of individual links and are secured there against disturbing displacements in the endless chain direction.

In a chain conveyor of the above-mentioned type known from German Patent 1248547, the drivers are constituted by bolts arranged in spoke-like configuration between two endless chains and provided at their ends with headpieces largely filling the open interior of the links holding them. The bolt axes are maintained centrally in the links surrounding the bolts by the headpieces firmly connected to the bolts. Because, due to the construction described, pivotal or rotational movements of the drivers in the links associated with them are impossible, it is necessary for the bolts to be mounted pivotably on the conveyor elements. The bearing outlay necessary for this purpose is undesirable, particularly when the conveyor elements have to be exchanged comparatively frequently due to heavy wearing stress.Since the bearings for the bolts are constituted by sleeves, the inside diameter of which corresponds to the bolt outside diameter, it is also impossible to exchange the bolts in view of the headpieces connected firmly to the bolts.

It is the underlying aim of the invention, in a chain conveyor of the type considered, to shift the pivot points of the conveyor elements into the region of the chain links, and in this way to simplify the bearings of the conveyor elements and to facilitate exchanging them.

This aim is achieved according to the invention in that the drivers are maintained in the chain links associated with them by means of pivot bearings.

The chain conveyor according to the invention offers the advantage that pivot bearings on the conveyor elements can be omitted and that due to the shifting of the pivot bearings into the links, additional precautions to prevent displacements of the drivers in the chain links are made superfluous.

In a particularly simple solution the pivot bearings are constituted by troughs, each on the insides of at least one longitudinal member of the chain links surrounding the drivers.

A likewise convenient solution is characterised in that the pivot bearings are constituted by distance pieces which at least partially surround the drivers and are braced against the noses of the chain links hooked into the links surrounding the drivers.

The invention is explained hereinbelow with reference to a number of exemplary embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein: Figure 1 shows a plan of a joint position of a conveyor element to an endless chain of a chain conveyor; Figure 2 shows a second made along the line Il-Il in Fig. 1; Figure 3 shows a section made along the line Ill-Ill in Fig. 1; Figure 4 shows a plan of a joint position of variant construction; Figure 5 shows a section made along the line V-V in Fig. 4; Figure 6 shows a section made along the line VI-VI in Fig. 4; Figure 7 shows a plan of a further joint position; Figure 8 shows a section made along the line VIII-VIII in Fig. 7; Figure 9 shows a section made along the line IX-IX in Fig. 8; Figure 10 shows a section corresponding to Fig. 8, through a variant exemplary embodiment;; Figure 11 shows a section, corresponding to Fig. 8, through a further variant exemplary embodiment of a joint position; Figure 12 shows a plan of a further joint position; Figure 13 shows a section made along the line XI I I -XI I I in Fig. 12; Figure 14 shows a section made along the line XIV-XIV in Fig. 12; Figure 15 shows in elevation a stirrupshaped distance piece; Figure 16 shows in side elevation the distance piece according to Fig. 15; Figure 1 7 shows in plan the distance piece according to Fig. 15; Figure 18 shows in plan a further joint position; Figure 19 shows a section made along the line XIX-XIX in Fig. 18; Figure 20 shows a section made along the line XX-XX in Fig. 18; Figure 21 shows in plan a further joint position; Figure 22 shows a section made along the line XXII-XXII in Fig. 21;; Figure 23 shows a section made along the line XXIII-XXIII in Fig. 21; Figure 24 shows in plan a further joint position; Figure 25 shows a section made along the line XXV-XXV in Fig. 24; and Figure 26 shows a section made along the line XXVI-XXVI in Fig. 24; In Fig. 1, 1 designates a part of a conveyor element, to which are welded bushings 2 which accommodate bolt-shaped drivers 3.

Locking pins 4 serve to secure the drivers 3 in the respective bushing 2. As may be seen particularly from Figs. 2 and 3, the driver 3 projects through the open interior of a chain link 5, whilst the diameter D of the driver is greater than the inside width b, of the link 5.

In order to maintain the driver 3 centrally in the link 5, the longitudinal members 6 and 7 of the link 5 are provided on their interior with troughs 8 and 9 which constitute pivot bearings of the respective driver 3.

In order to limit the transverse mobility of the drivers 3 with reference to the links 5 surrounding them, stops 10 and 11 constituted by oblique surfaces are arranged on the driver 3 and on the bushing 2. The interval of said stops from the noses of the links 1 2 and 1 3 hooked into the links 5 surrounding the drivers 3 must be sufficiently great to exclude any interference with the running of the links over sprocket wheels.

The bolt-shaped section of the driver 3 which is surrounded by the longitudinal members 6 and 7 of the chain link 5 has a diameter D which is approximately equal to 1.6 times the nominal thickness d or the links 5, 12 and 1 3. The pitch of all the chain links is t = 4d. For an internal link width of b1 = 1.2d, the depth of each trough is approximately 0.2d. The driver 3 is mounted correctly pivotably in the centre of the chain link 5 by the troughs 8 and 9. It has been discovered that the strength of the chain links 5 and the service life of the endless chain is virtually unprejudiced by troughs up to a depth of 0.3d.

The fixing arrangement illustrated in Figs.

4-6 differs only slightly from the arrangement according to Figs. 1-3. The same reference numerals are therefore used for mutually corresponding parts. For the solution according to Figs. 4-6, a driver 1 4 is used which is constituted by a bolt which is mounted as a force-fit in a recess 1 5 of the conveyor element 1. The stops 10 and 11 in this case are constituted by oblique surfaces of discs which are mounted on the driver 14 with slight play.

The outer of the two discs is locked by an adaptor sleeve 16.

For the fixing arrangement according to Figs. 7-9, the driver 1 7 is mounted in a bearing bushing which is itself mounted in turn in troughs 8 and 9 of a chain link 5. In this construction the troughs have the same shape as in the solutions previously described.

In order to secure the endless chains against transverse displacements on the driver 17, no stops 10 and 11 are provided here, but rather lateral guide rails 1 9. Constructions with troughs deviating from the circular shape are illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11. In the solution according to Fig. 10 the troughs 20 and 21 have a substantially U-shaped cross-section whilst in the solution according to Fig. 11 the cross-section of the troughs 22 and 23 is substantially V-shaped. In both cases the bearing bushings 24 and 25 have a substantially square external contour.

Figs. 12-14 illustrate an arrangement for attaching conveyor elements to a chain conveyor, wherein a bolt-shaped driver 26, which is firmly attached to the conveyor element, not shown, is mounted pivotably in a distance piece 27. Said distance piece 27 surrounds the free end of the driver 26 on a portion of the circumference of the driver. On the one hand it forms a pivot bearing for the driver 26, and on the other hand it has the function of maintaining the driver 26 centrally in the chain link 5. In order to fulfil the latter function, the distance piece is braced against the noses 28 and 29 of the chain links 1 2 and 13.

The distance pieces 27 are constituted by sleeves which are provided at their one end with mutually opposite U-shaped cut-outs 30 and 31. An adaptor sleeve 32 on the one hand, and a shoulder 33 on the other hand, serve to secure the distance piece 27 on the driver 26.

Instead of a sleeve-shaped distance piece, a stirrup-shaped distance piece 34 of the type illustrated in Figs. 1 5-1 7 may also be used.

Both the distance pieces 27 and the distance pieces 34 are provided with stop surfaces 35 and 36 for the chain link 5.

Figs. 18-19 show a driver 37 with which two distance pieces 38 and 39 are associated.

Said distance pieces 38 and 39 each project on only one side of the driver 37 into the region of the chain link 5 surrounding the driver 36. The distance pieces 38 and 39, like the distance piece 37, are produced from a tubular section which is provided with a recess on part of its circumference.

In Figs. 21-23 a driver 40 is mounted pivotably in distance pieces 41 and 42. Said distance pieces 41 and 42 expose portions of the drivers 40 over a length L which is greater than the width B of sprocket wheels 43 which guide the endless chains. Each of the two distance pieces 41 and 42 possesses a short nose 44 and a long nose 45. The free ends of the noses are in mutual abutment outside the chain link 5 in each case, as may be seen from Fig. 21.

Lastly, Figs. 24-26 show a distance piece 46 produced from a tubular section, which surrounds a driver 47. The distance pieces 46 is constituted by a sleeve which exhibits at one end a cut-out 48 open to one side which is produced by a curved milling of the sleeve as far as the sleeve end face, and which is provided with a port 49 on the side opposite the cut-out 48. Before the driver 47 is introduced into the chain link 5, the distance piece 46 is pivoted into the open interior of said chain link 5 and the driver 47 is then introduced into the distance piece. Finally the adaptor sleeve 50 is fitted.

Claims

1. A chain conveyor with endless chains which are constituted by circular links having a pitch of more than 3.5 times the circular material diameter and to which conveyor elements are secured by means of drivers which engage into the open interior of individual chain links and are secured there against disturbing displacements in the endless chain direction, in which the drivers are maintained in the chain links associated with them by means of pivot bearings.

2. A chain conveyor according to claim 1, in which the pivot bearings are constituted by troughs each on the inside of at least one longitudinal member of the chain links surrounding the drivers.

3. A chain conveyor according to claim 2, in which the depth of the troughs is smaller than or equal to 0.3 times the nominal thickness d of the chain links surrounding the drivers.

4. A chain conveyor according to claim 2 or claim 3, in which each chain link surrounding a driver exhibits on the insides of its longitudinal members two diametrically opposite troughs for the driver.

5. A chain conveyor according to claim 1, in which the pivot bearings are constituted by distance pieces which at least partially surround the drivers and are braced against the noses of the chain links hooked into the chain links surrounding the drivers.

6. A chain conveyor according to claim 1, in which the pivot bearings are constituted by bearing bushings which are secured against displacements in the endless chain direction by troughs each on the inside of at least one longitudinal member of the chain links surrounding the drivers.

7. A chain conveyor according to claim 6, in which the bearing bushings have an external contour deviating from the circular form.

8. A chain conveyor according to claim 7, in which the troughs have a substantially Ushaped cross-section considered at right angles to the plane of the link.

9. A chain conveyor to claim 7, in which the troughs have a substantially V-shaped cross-section considered at right angles to the plane of the link.

1 0. A chain conveyor according to any one of claims 1 to 9, in which the drivers are provided with stops to limit the transverse mobility of the drivers with reference to the chain links surrounding them.

11. A chain conveyor according to claim 10, in which the stops exhibit oblique surfaces to brace the noses of the chain links hooked into the chain links which surround the driver.

1 2. A chain conveyor according to claim 11, in which the drivers are constituted by bolts which are mounted integrally in rotation in bushings or cut-outs on the conveyor elements.

1 3. A chain conveyor according to claim 5, in which the distance pieces are constituted by sleeves which are provided at their one end with mutually opposite U-shaped recesses.

1 4. A chain conveyor according to claim 5, in which two distance pieces are associated with each driver.

1 5. A chain conveyor according to claim 14, in which the distance pieces associated with each driver project each on only one side of the driver into the region of the chain link surrounding the driver.

1 6. A chain conveyor according to claim 14 or claim 15, in which the distance pieces expose mutually opposite portions of the drivers, the length of which is greater than the width of sprocket wheels for the endless chains.

1 7. A chain conveyor according to claim 5, in which the distance pieces are constituted by sleeves which exhibit at one end a cut-out open to one side and are provided with a port on the side opposite to said cut-out.

1 8. A chain conveyor according to claim 5, in which the distance piece is constituted by a U-shaped stirrup.

1 9. A chain conveyor according to claim 5 or any one of claims 1 3 to 18, in which the distance pieces are provided with stop surfaces to limit the transverse mobility of the drivers with reference to the chain links surrounding them.

20. A chain conveyor substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1 to 3, or to Figs. 4 to 6, or to Figs. 7 to 9, or with reference to Figs. 10 or 11, or with reference to Figs. 12 to 14, orto Figs. 15 to 17,ortho Figs. 18 to 20, or to Figs. 21 to 23 or to Figs. 24 to 26 of the accompanying drawings.