GB2138533A - Pinned coupling - Google Patents

Abstract

A pinned coupling comprising first and second members (13, 14) spaced apart to receive therebetween a component (16) to be coupled and having aligned bores (18, 19) in which a load bearing pin (17) is received and means (23, 24, 25) to retain the pin (17) in the bores (18, 19), wherein the bore (18) in the first member (13) is provided with abutment means (21) to engage the pin (17) to limit longitudinal movement of the pin (17) in a direction from the second member (14) towards the first member (13) when the pin (17) is in operative relationship with said bores (18, 19), one of said members (13) having a passage (23) extending chordally relative to the bore (18) therein to receive a retaining element (24) and the pin (17) having a circumferential groove (25) to receive said retaining element (24) tangentially therein, the groove (25) being dimensioned and positioned so that, in use, when the pin (17) is subjected to an axial load forcing the pin (17) against said abutment means (21), axial load is not transmitted through the retaining element (24). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Pinned coupling This invention relates to a pinned coupling comprising first and second members spaced apart to receive therebetween a component to be coupled and having aligned bores in which a load bearing pin is received and means to retain the pin in the bores.

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

According to the present invention, we provide a pinned coupling comprising first and second members spaced apart to receive therebetween a component to be coupled and having aligned bores in which a load bearing pin is received and means to retain the pin in the bores, wherein the bore in the first member is provided with abutment means to engage the pin to limit longitudinal movement of the pin in a direction from the second member towards the first member when the pin is in operative relationship with said bores, one of said members having a passage extending chordally relative to the bore therein to receive a retaining element and the pin having a circumferential groove to receive said retaining element tangentially therein, the groove being dimensioned and positioned so that, in use, when the pin is subjected to an axial load forcing the pin against said abutment means, axial load is not transmitted through the retaining element.

The bore in the first member may be a blind bore, the end of the bore providing said abutment means to engage on end face of the pin.

The chordally extending passage may be formed in said first member.

The retaining element may comprise a retaining pin of circular or oval cross-section and the chordally extending passage may be of circular cross-section or where the retaining element is of oval cross-section, of a complementary oval configuration.

The retaining element may comprise a rivet to provide a tamper-proof coupling.

If desired, a further chordally extending passage and retaining element may be provided in the other of said members and be received in a further circumferentially extending groove formed in the pin.

Because the chordally passage is provided at a predetermined distance from the abutment means in the first part, chosen in combination with the position of the circumferential groove on the pin and the size of the groove, so as to achieve nontransmittal axial load, the retaining element merely serves to retain the pin from displacement from its operative position under the infuence of gravity and the limited axial load which may be imposed on the pin as a result of engagement with the component being coupled, in use.

Furthermore, manufacture of the coupling is facilitated because it is merely necessary to ensure that the chordal passage is at the desired predetermined position relative to the end of the bore in the first member so that any variation in spacing between the first and second members does not affect the relative position of the chordal passage and the abutment means.

An example of the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a hook having a pinned coupling embodying the invention; FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary sectional view to an enlarged scale, on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view, to an enlarged scale, on the line 3-3 of Figure 1; and FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view on the line 4-4 of the Figure 3 to a further enlarged scale.

Referring to the Figures, a hook 10 comprises a hook part 11 and a pinned connection 1 2. The pinned connection 12 comprises first and second members 1 3, 14 respectively spaced apart to provide a clevis 1 5 within which a component 1 6 such as a chain link is received to be coupled to the hook 10 by means of a load bearing pin 17 received within bores 1 8, 1 9 formed in the members 1 3, 14 respectively. The bore 1 9 is a through bore of cylindrical configuration except for a countersunk outer end 20. The bore 1 8 is a blind bore having an end wall 21 which provides an abutment means for engagement with the end surface 22 of the pin 17.

A passage 23 is drilled through the member 1 3 so as to intersect chordally of the bore 1 8 and receives a retaining element in the form of a cylindrical pin 24 which is received tangentially within a part-circular cross-section circumferentially extending groove 25 formed in the pin 17.

The chordally extending passage 23 is located at a predetermined position relative to the end surface 21 of the bore 1 8 which is calculated, in view of the position of the circumferential groove 25 relative to the end surface 22 of the pin 1 7 and the size of the groove 25, which is of a greater radius than the pin 24 so that when the pin 17 is pressed against the end surface 21, the retaining element 24 remains unloaded from any axial load and hence the axial load applied to the pin 17 to force it against the end surface 21 is not transmitted through the retaining element 24.

It will be appreciated that in use, it is easy to locate the passage 23 in the correct position relative to the end surface 21 merely by measuring the depth of the bore 18 in the part 13 and then positioning the drill for forming the passage 23 appropriately, thus taking into account any minor variation in the position of the end surface 21, in practice. By providing the passage 23 in the same member, i.e. the member 13, as the end surface 21 any variation, in production, in the distance between the members 1 3 and 14 does not affect the correct location of the passage 23.

Because the bore 18 is a blind bore, it is impossible to apply any axial load to the pin 1 7 in the direction away from the member 1 3 towards the member 14 and thus the only load which the retaining element 24 has to withstand is the force of gravity acting on the pin 1 7 or such load as is imposed thereon having a resultant in the axial direction as a result of frictional engagement between the component 1 6 and the pin 17.

Although the connection has been described above as being an integral part of a hook, it may be provided as an integral part of any other desired component, such as a reevable link, a coupler, a shackle or chain connecting link.

In the example described and illustrated, the hook and pins are made in steel but the invention may be applied to components made of other material.

In the example illustrated, the load bearing pin 17 and boresl 18, 19 are of complementary cylindrical configuration so that the pin 17 can rotate within the bores. If desired however, the pin 17 could be of non-circular configuration such as oval, received within a bore of complementary configuration.

The retaining element 24 described above is a cylindrical pin received in a cylindrical passage 23 and being a fight fit therein so as to be retained by friction and removable by means of a drift. If desired however, the retaining element 24 may be of an oval pin received in either a cylindrical bore or an oval bore of complementary configuration, in both cases again being a tight fit.

Further alternatively, the retaining element 24 may be a rivet thereby providing a tamper-proof connection requiring the rivet to be drilled out to permit of removal of the pin 17.

If desired, the retaining element 24 may be of any other suitable configuration.

In its broadest aspect, the present invention comprises any novel and inventive feature described and/or illustrated herein.

Claims (9)

1. A pinned coupling comprising first and second members spaced apart to receive therebetween a component to be coupled and having aligned bores in which a load bearing pin is received and means to retain the pin in the bores, wherein the bore in the first member is provided with abutment means to engage the pin to limit longitudinal movement of the pin in a direction from the second member towards the first member when the pin is in operative relationship with said bores, one of said members having a passage extending chordally relative to the bore therein to receive a retaining element and the pin having a circumferential groove to receive said retaining element tangentially therein, the groove being dimensioned and positioned so that, in use, when the pin is subjected to an axial load forcing the pin against said abutment means, axial load is not transmitted through the retaining element.

2. A coupling according to Claim 1 wherein the bore in the first member is a blind bore, the end of the bore providing said abutment means to engage an end face of the pin.

3. A coupling according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the chordally extending passage is formed in said first member.

4. A coupling according to any of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the retaining element comprises a retaining pin of circular or oval cross-section and the chordally extending passage is of circular cross-section.

5. A coupling according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the retaining element is of oval cross-section, and the cordally extending passage is of a complementary oval configuration.

6. A coupling according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the retaining element comprises a rivet to provide a tamper-proof coupling.

7. A coupling according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a further chordally extending passage and retaining element are provided in the other of said members, the further retaining element being received in a further circumferentially extending groove formed in the pin.

8. A pinned coupling substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

9. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.