GB2235675A

GB2235675A - Chain assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2235675A
Application number: GB9018680A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Edward Starkey
Original assignee: Parsons Chain Co Ltd
Current assignee: Parsons Chain Co Ltd
Priority date: 1989-09-01
Filing date: 1990-08-24
Publication date: 1991-03-13
Also published as: GB9018680D0

Abstract

A chain assembly in general in which a chain link or links and an associated component are located together, and in particular a scraper bar located on spaced links of a continuous chain scraper conveyor, is provided with a deformable seating forming a close fit with the link or links. Figure 1 shows a scraper bar 2 formed with a pair of saddles and associated grooves 12 arranged to mate with respective horizontally extending chain links. A pocket or recess 18 is formed in the face of each groove, to extend transverse to the chain link, and is provided with an insert 20 of resilient material such as rubber, rubber composite or plastics, bonded into the recess and dimensioned to have a thickness slightly greater than the depth of the pocket or recess. A retaining strap (not shown) spanning the saddles is similarly provided with resilient inserts. The chain link is a push or close fit within the insert and, with the retaining strap in position is held rigidly thereby avoiding wear and noise and improving stability and facilitating manufacture of the scraper bar by forging or casting. In an alternative arrangement, the complete saddle is formed of the resilient material and is bonded into a pocket or recess on the scraper bar. Deformable metal seatings may also be used. <IMAGE>

Description

CHAIN ASSEMBLIES DESCRIPTION This invention relates to chain assemblies and, more particularly, to chain assemblies in which a chain link or links and an associated component are located together, such as a continuous chain scraper conveyor having scraper bars located on spaced links of the continuous chain.

According to the present invention, there is provided a chain assembly including a chain link or chain links and an associated component located together in which a deformable seating is positioned on the component intermediate the chain link or links and the component and serves to restrain movement of the chain link or links relative to the component.

Preferably, the seating is of resilient material.

- Desirably, the seating extends only partially intermediate the chain link or links and the associated component.

Alternatively, the seating extends fully intermediate the chain link or links and the associated component.

SuitabLy, the component is formed with a pocket and the seating forms an insert intothe pocket.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying, partLy diagrammatic, drawings in which Figure 1 is an end elevation of a scraper bar; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional elevation taken on the Line II-II of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the scraper bar; Figure 4 is an end elevation of a retaining strap; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional elevation taken on the Line V-V of Figure 4; Figure 6 is an end elevation of an alternative form of scraper bar; Figure 7 is a cross-sectional elevation taken on the Line VII-VII of Figure 6; and Figure 8 is a pLan view of the aLternative form of scraper bar.

The scraper bars form a part of an endless chain scraper conveyor including a pair of endless chains (not shown) passing over sprocket wheeLs and running in upper and lower races formed by inwardLy lipped pans or troughs extending along the Length of the conveyor. The conveyor chains are disposed centrally, or inboard, of the pans and carry, at spaced intervals, the scraper bars.

As shown in Figures 1 to 5, each scraper bar 2 includes a main portion 4 formed, to either side of the centre line, in the face remote from the pan or trough base, with a pair of saddles 6 and a retaining strap 8 arranged to be bolted or riveted to the main portion with horizontal links of the endless chains positioned on the saddles being retained therebetween.

Each saddle 6 includes a raised central land 10 bounded by a pair of semi-cylindrical based grooves 12 corresponding to the profile of a horizontally extending chain link and a pair of part cylindrical notches 14, one at each fore and aft edge of the scraper bar, corresponding to the profile of - and accommodating end portions of vertically extending chain links interlinked with the horizontaLLy extending chain link seated on the saddle. The retaining strap 8 seats on or in close proximity to the raised central lands 10 and is formed with edge notches 16 to accommodate the verticalLy extending chain Links.

A pocket or recess 18 is formed in the face of each groove 12 and the associated face of the raised central Land 10. An insert 20 of resilient material, such as rubber, rubber composite or plastics, is bonded in each pocket or recess such as by a vulcanising process or by means of adhesive, and is dimensioned to have a thickness sLightly greater than the depth of the pocket or recess Wo stand slightly proud of the faces of the groove.

Additionally, pockets or recesses 22 are formed in the retaining strap 8 spanning the saddles in register with the pockets or recesses 18 in the main portion 4 of the scraper bar. The pockets or recesses 22 in the retaining strap 8 also are provided with inserts 24 of the resilient material bonded into the pockets or recesses and dimensioned to have a thickness slightly greater than the depth of the pocket or recess to stand sLightLy proud of the adjacent face of the retaining bar. The thickness of the insert 20 in the main portion of the scraper bar is such that the horizontally extending chain Link is a push or close fit into the insert 20 and when the retaining strap 8 is bolted or riveted in position, by virtue of the effect of the insert 24, is urged intto tight contact with the portion of the insert 20 at the base of the groove, simultaneously developing tight contact between the horizontal extending chain Link, the insert 20, the strap 8 and the bar body 4. Thus the horizontally extending link is held rigidly in the scraper bar, thereby restraining any movement between. the horizontaLLy extending chain link and the scraper bar and thus avoiding wear and noise, and improving stability of the assembly.

In another embodiment of the invention, as shown in Figures 6 to 8 each scraper bar 32 includes a main portion 34 formed, to either side of the centre line, in the face remote from the pan or trough base, with a pair of straight sided pockets or recesses 36 extending fore and aft across the thickness of the scraper bar. An insert 38 of resilient material, such as rubber, rubber composite or plastics is bonded in each recess such as by a vulcanising process or by means of adhesive. Each insert, on the face remote from the base of the recess or pocket, is formed as a saddle 40 including a raised central land 42 bounded by a pair of semi-cylindrical based grooves 44 corresponding to the profile of a horizontally extending chain link.Fore and aft notches 46 are formed in each insert 38 and the adjacent portion of the scraper bar, corresponding to the profile of and accommodating - end portions of vertically extending chain links interlinked with the horizontally extending chain link seatedton the saddle. The grooves 44 and land 42 in each insert 38 have dimensions such that the horizontaLly extending chain Link is a push or close fit therein.

A retaining strap 8 similar in form to that described in conjunction with Figure 4 seats on or in close proximity to the Land 42 and is secured to the main portion 34 of the scraper bar by means of bolts or rivets.

Thus, in use, the horizontally extending links are inserted as a push or close fit into the resilient material saddles 40 and are retained in tight contact therewith by means of the retaining 'strap 8 bolted or riveted to the main portions 34 of the scraper bar 32.

In this embodiment of the invention the horizontally extending chain link is in total contact with insert 38 whilst being kept remote from direct contact with bar body 34 and strap 8. Since this has the effect of restraining any movement between the horizontally extending chain link and the scraper bar, wear and noise are avoided and stability of the assembly improved. In addition, since the inserts 38 may be formed repetitively with greater accuracy than is normally achieved in the cast or forged scraper bars of conventional form a better fit is in any case consistently achieved whilst at the same time simpLifying the casting or forging process.

Whilst the provision of resilient inserts in a scraper conveyor having a pair of endless chains adjacent the centre line has been described, it will be appreciated that the invention is applicable to all other forms of endless chain scraper conveyors in which scraper bars are mounted directly on chain links.

Indeed, the invention is appLicable in any arrangement in which a component is mounted on a chain and it is desired to limit relative movement between the component and the associated chain Link or Links, particularly to lessen or avoid wear and noise, and improve stability.

In addition, it will be appreciated that the inserts may be secured in position by bolts, studs or other mechanicaL fastening elements, and that in some instances, inserts of a readily deformable metal composition might, with advantage, be utilised.

Claims

1. A chain assembly incLuding a chain link or chain Links and an associated component Located together wherein a deformabLe seating is positioned on the component intermediate the chain link or links and the component and serves to restrain movement of the chain link or links relative to the component.

2. A chain assembly as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the seating is of resilient material.

3. A chain assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the seating extends only partially intermediate the chain link or links and the associated component.

4. A chain assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or Calim 2, wherein the seating extends fuLly intermediate the chain Link or links and the associated component.

5. A chain assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the component is formed with a pocket or recess and the seating forms an insert into the pocket or recess.

6. A chain assembly as claimed in any preceding cLaim, wherein the assembLy incudes a scraper bar for a continuous chain scraper conveyor, the scraper bar being formed with a saddle and a retainer adapted to co-act with a link on the continuous chain to locate the scraper bar on the link with the deformable seating being provided at the saddle and at a portion of the retainer contacting the link.

7. A chain assembly as claimed in Claim 1, Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the assembly includes a scraper bar for a continuous chain scraper conveyor, the scraper bar being formed with a saddle and a retainer adapted to co-act with a link on the continuous chain to locate the scraper bar on the link with the deformable seating being provided as inserts in pockets or recesses formed in the scraper bar at the saddle and at the retainer, the pockets or recesses being positioned to extend transversely of the link and the inserts having a thickness slightly greater than the depth of the pockets or recesses.

8. A chain assembly as claimed in Claim 1, Claim 2 or Claim 4, wherein the assembly includes a scraper bar for a continuous chain scraper conveyor, the scraper bar being formed with a saddle and a retainer adapted to co-act with a link on the continuous chain to Locate the scraper bar on the Link with the deformable seating being provided as the saddle and as an insert at a portion of the retainer contacting the link, the saddle being formed of deformable material conforming to the shape of the link and Located in a pocket or recess extending transversely of the scraper bar and the retainer being formed with pockets or recesses extending transverseLy of the link to receive inserts having a thickness sLightLy greater than the depth of the associated pockets or recesses.

9. A chain assembLy as cLaimed in any preceding cLaim, wherein the inserts are formed of any one from the group of rubber, rubber composite and plastics.

10. A chain assembLy as claimed in Claim 9 wherein the inserts are secured in the pockets or recesses by means of adhesive.

11. A chain assembly as cLaimed in CLaim 9, wherein the inserts are secured in the pockets or recesses by a vulcanisation process.

12. A chain assembLy arranged and constructed substantiaLLy as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 or with reference to Figures 6 to 8 together with Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.