GB2161239A - Pinned chain coupling - Google Patents

Abstract

A pinned chain coupling comprises first and second members (14,16) with a gap (G) therebetween, a pin (P) extending between the members (14,16) and the ends (22,28) thereof each being received in a passage in one of the members (14,16), means (25) being provided in the gap (G) to restrain longitudinal movement of the pin (P) to prevent either end of the pin (P) being disengaged from its passage, said means in the gap (G) comprising a sleeve (25) which is an interference fit with said pin (P) the passage (16a) in the first member (16) being of generally constant cross-section throughout its length and comprising a through passage whereby the pin (P) may be driven longitudinally through the passage (16a) in the first member (16) into the gap (G) to be engaged by the sleeve (25), and into the passage (14a, 14b) in the second member (14), the passage (14a, 14b) in the second member (14) being entirely closed at its outer end by a wall (W) which is an integral part of the second member (14). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Pinned coupling This invention relates to a pinned coupling comprising first and second members with a gap therebetween, a pin extending between the members and the ends thereof each being received in a passage in one of the members, means being provided in the gap to restrain longitudinal movement of the pin to prevent either end of the pin being disengaged from its passage. Such a coupling will hereinafter be described as "of the kind specified".

A disadvantage encountered with such couplings is that is the pin may be removed and for example lost, in which case the pin may be replaced with an inferior member with lesser physical properties, which could break when the coupling it put under load.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a pinned coupling whereby the above mentioned disadvantage is overcome or substantially reduced.

According to the invention we provide a pinned coupling of the kind specified wherein said means in the gap comprise a sleeve which is an interference fit with said pin the passage in the first member being of generally constant cross-section throughout its length and comprising a through passage whereby the pin may be driven longitudinally through the passage in the first member into the gap to be engaged by the sleeve, and into the passage in the second member, the passage in the second member being entirely closed at its outer end by a wall which is an integral part of the second member.

Thus once the pin is engaged with the sleeve with its ends each received in the first and second passages, it is not possible to drive the pin out thereby ensuring a tamper proof pinned coupling of the kind specified.

The first and/or second member may have a Ushaped configuration with a space between the limbs of the U in which another element may be received, the element having an opening therethrough aligned with the parts of the passage in the U-shaped first and/or second members, whereby the pin may extend through said another element.

Preferably the second member only is of Ushaped configuration, the passage part in the outermost limb being closed whereby said another element may comprise a first member of a further pinned coupling of the kind specified. The second member of the further pinned coupling may have a U-shaped configuration with a space between the limbs of the U receiving the first member of the first mentioned pinned coupling, an opening being provided in each of an the limbs of the U to receive said pin, the openings in both the first and second members of said further pinned coupling comprising through bores to permit the pin to be driven through the opening in the outer limb of the second member of said further pinned coupling, through the through passage in the first member of the first mentioned pinned coupling, through the opening in the inner limb of the second member of said further pinned coupling, into the gap, to be engaged by said sleeve, then through the part of the passage in the inner limb of the second member of the first mentioned pinned coupling, through the opening in the first member of the further pinned coupling and into the closed passage part in the outer limb of the second member of the first mentioned pinned coupling.

The pin and each opening and passage may be of circular shape in cross-section.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which is a view partly in cross-section of the chain link embodying the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, a chain link is generally indicated at 10 and comprises a first U-shaped link part 12 having a U-shaped clevis 14 at one end and a rib 16 at the other end, the rib 16 providing a first member of a pinned coupling in accordance with the invention, and the clevis 14 a second member of a pinned coupling in accordance with the invention.

The link part 12 is connected to a second Ushaped link part 19 also provided with a U-shaped clevis 20 at one end and a rib 22 at the other end, the devises and ribs 14, 22 and 20, 16 respectively being of complementary configuration and being arranged so that the rib 16 and clevis 20 and rib 22 and clevis 14 engage to provide the chain link 10.

The rib 22 has a through opening 22a of constant circular cross-section, and each of the limbs 17 and 18 of the clevis 14 each have a passage part 14a, 14b which passage parts 14a, 14b together provide a passage in the clevis 14.

The passage part 14b extends entirely through limb 18 and is again of constant circular cross-section throughout, but the passage part 14a in limb 17 of the clevis 14, is entirely closed at its outer end by a wall W which comprises an integral part of the clevis 14. Thus no access can be gained to passage part 14a from the outside surface S of the wall W.

The rib 22 of the U-shaped link part 19 also comprises a first member of that part, and limbs 23, 24 of the clevis 20 together provide a second member of the link part 19.

Each of the limbs 23 and 24 of the second Ushaped member of the link part 19 have an opening 23a, 24a therethrough aligned with a passage 16a in rib 16 of generally the same diameter. Thus a pin which is indicated at P can be driven through the opening 23a in the outer limb 23 of the link part 19, through the passage 16a in the rib 16 of link part 12, and through the opening 24a in the inner limb 24 of the link part 19 into gap G between the first and second members of each of the parts 12 and 19.

The pin P comprises a central part 26 of smaller diameter than the outside parts 27, 28, the diameter of each of the outside parts 27, 28 being slightly smaller than the diameters of the openings 23a, 24a, 22a and the passage 16a and passage parts 14a, 14b.

A split-sleeve 25 presents an internal opening which is normally not greater than the diameter of the part 27, 28 pin P. However, with the sleeve 25 positioned in the gap, adjacent the inner end of the opening 24a of limb 24, the pin P may be driven longitudinally into the sleeve 25 to expand the sleeve so that the sleeve 25 becomes an interference fit with the outside part 27 or 28 of the pin.

As the pin P is driven further inwardly, the sleeve 25 will be received by central part 26 of the pin P.

However the sleeve 25 will still be expanded so that its external dimensions are greater than the diameters of the passage part 14b in limb 18 of the U-shaped link part 12, and the opening 24a in limb 24 of the U-shaped link part 19.

Further driving of the pin longitudinally thereof enables the pin to pass through the passage part 14b in limb 18 of the clevis 14, through the opening 22a in the rib 22 of link part 19 and into the passage part 14a of limb 17 of the clevis 14. As shown, there is a small gap indicated at 28 between the end of the pin P and the wall W of the closed end of the passage part 14a although the end of the pin P could contact the wall W if required.

It will be seen that when the pin P is driven fully home, that the other end thereof lies slightly inwardly of the outer end of opening 23a so as not to extend therefrom.

Although in the embodiment shown, the pin P is of reduced diameter over the central part 26 thereof which extends through the gap G, in another embodiment, the pin P could be of constant cross-section throughout.

Instead of a split-sleeve 25 such as shown, any other means to engage the pin in the gap G to prevent the pin moving longitudinally out of engagement with the passage in the clevis 14 may be provided.

Although the invention as described above in relation to a chain link, a pinned coupling in accordance with the invention has many other applications.

In this event, the second member of the pinned coupling need not comprise a U-shaped clevis such as shown at 14, but could comprise further rib such as rib 16, or a member of any other configuration. If desired instead of rib 16, a further Ushaped clevis such as shown at 14 could be provided, but the passage extending entirely through both the limbs of the clevis, to permit introduction of the pin.

The pin P may be used to connect any further member, such as another chain link, to the chain link 10 shown in the gap to, or in another application, may be used to attach a chain to for example a hook wherein instead of a U-shaped chain link part 12, the first and second members extend from the body of a hook or any other component.

Claims (7)

1. A pinned coupling of the kind specified wherein said means in the gap comprise a sleeve which is an interference fit with said pin the passage in the first member being of generally constant cross-section throughout its length and comprising a through passage whereby the pin may be driven longitudinally through the passage in the first member into the gap to be engaged by the sleeve, and into the passage in the second member, the passage in the second member being entirely closed at its outer end by a wall which is an integral part of the second member.

2. A coupling according to claim 1 wherein the first and/or second member has a U-shaped configuration with a space between the limbs of the U in which another element is received, the element having an opening therethrough aligned with the parts of the passage in the U-shaped first and/or second members, whereby the pin extends through said another element.

3. A coupling according to claim 2 wherein the second member only is of U-shaped configuration, the passage part in the outermost limb being closed, said another element comprising a first member of a further pinned coupling of the kind specified.

4. A coupling according to claim 3 wherein the second member of the further pinned coupling has a U-shaped configuration with a space between the limbs of the U receiving the first member of the first mentioned pinned coupling, an opening being provided in each of the limbs of the U to receive said pin, the openings in both the first and second members of said further pinned coupling comprising through bores to permit the pin to be driven through the opening in the outer limb of the second member of said further pinned coupling, through the through passage in the first member of the first mentioned pinned coupling, through the opening in the inner limb of the second member of said further pinned coupling, into the gap, to be engaged by said sleeve, then through the part of the passage in the inner limb of the second member of the first mentioned pinned coupling, through the opening in the first member of the further pinned coupling and into the closed passage part in the outer limb of the second member of the first mentioned pinned coupling.

5. A coupling according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the pin and each opening; where provided, are of circular shape in cross-section.

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

7. Any novel feature or novel combination of features hereinbefore described and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.