GB2386665A

GB2386665A - Interfacing link

Info

Publication number: GB2386665A
Application number: GB0302323A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Gregory Maloney
Original assignee: OCEANSIDE EQUIPMENT Ltd; ANSELL JONES Ltd
Current assignee: OCEANSIDE EQUIPMENT Ltd; ANSELL JONES Ltd
Priority date: 2002-02-02
Filing date: 2003-02-03
Publication date: 2003-09-24
Also published as: GB0202507D0; GB0302323D0

Abstract

An interfacing link comprises a body (1) having two oppositely directed mouthed parts (4, 5). The mouthed parts (4, 5) are of generally U or C shape and they are of different sizes. Retaining pins (2, 3) are provided attached to the mouthed parts (4, 5) across their mouths (6, 7). Being of different sizes the mouthed parts (4, 5) of the interfacing link can be connected, and retained by the retaining pins (2, 3), to chains, or other comparable elongate means of different link sizes, for example.

Description

INTERFACING LINK

This invention relates to an interfacing link intended for connecting together, whether alike or not, chains, hawsers, cables and comparable 5 elongate means of differing link sizes or diameters, or for attaching such elongate means to various articles.

Usually chains, hawsers, cables and comparable elongate means of different link sizes or diameters are connected together by shackles of 10 different sizes corresponding to, or graduating in sizes between, the differing link sizes or diameters which are attached to end links, loops or eyes of the respective elongate means. Two or more shackles of different sizes may be used to make a connection. Similarly, shackles of different sizes may also be used for connecting such elongate means to coupling 15 parts, such as eyes, loops or rings, of various articles when there are differences in the sizes of the coupling parts and the link sizes or diameters of the elongate means.

According to the present invention there is provided an interfacing link 20 which comprises a body having two mouthed parts of generally U or C shape and of different sizes, and retaining pins which attach to the mouthed parts across their mouths.

Being of different sizes the mouthed parts of the interfacing link can be 25 connected, and retained by the retaining pins, to chains, hawsers, cables or other comparable elongate means of different link sizes or diameters.

The interfacing link may also be used to attach such elongate means to coupling parts of various articles to accommodate differences in cross-

sectional sizes of the elongate means and coupling parts.

The mouthed parts may be fixed relative to one another. They may be integrally formed in the body. Their mouths may be oppositely directed.

In the latter arrangement the mouthed parts may be joined at portions thereof remote from the mouths.

The retaining pins may attach to the mouthed parts in various ways.

Preferably they engage in aligned holes in portions of the mouthed parts at their mouths. They may be a sliding or push fit in the aligned holes and they may be deformed to secure their engagement in the holes, or 10 suitable retainers may be applied to the mouthed parts and/or retaining pins to secure the retaining pins in place. In a preferred embodiment the retainers comprise taper pins which are driven into apertures in the mouthed parts and through holes in the retaining pins. The retaining pins may be headed. In another form the retaining pins may have 15 screwthreaded engagement with receiving apertures in the mouthed parts.

Preferably the body and retaining pins are made of metal, for example steel, but they may possibly be made of suitable plastics material.

20 An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of an interfacing link in accordance with the present invention, Figure 2 is a side view of the interfacing link, and Figures 3 and 4 show front and side views of a modified form of the interfacing link.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 the interfacing link has a rigid unitary body 1 and two retaining pins 2, 3. The body 1 and retaining pins 2, 3 are made of high tensile strength steel.

5 The body 1 is made as a forging or casting. It is formed with two mouthed parts 4, 5 of generally U shapes, each having parallel side limbs 4', 4" and 5', 5" respectively. One mouthed part 4 is larger than the other mouthed part 5. The two mouthed parts 4,5 have a common central plane through their side limbs 4', 4";5', 5", are disposed with 10 their mouths 6, 7 oppositely directed and are integrally joined at a medial section 8 of the body which provides the closed, base, portions of the two mouthed parts. Opposite faces 9, 9' of the larger mouthed part 4 are parallel, as shown in Figure 2, The free ends 10 of the side limbs 4', 4" of that part, at its mouth 6, are squared. Opposite faces 11, 11' of the 15 smaller mouthed part 5 converge towards the mouth 7 of the smaller mouthed part from the medial section 8, where they are stepped inwardly from the parallel opposite faces 9, 9' of the larger mouthed part 4. The free ends 12 of the side limbs 5', 5" of the smaller mouthed part are rounded between the opposite faces 11, 11'.

Co-axial, plain-bore, retaining pin, holes 13, 14 are formed in the side limbs 4', 4";5', 5" of the respective mouthed parts 4, 5 near the mouths 6, 7 of those parts. The holes 13 in the larger mouthed part 4 are of larger diameter than the holes 14 in the smaller mouthed part 5. Each 25 mouthed part also has a small diameter, plain-bore, hole 15, 16 formed in one side limb 4', 5' which diametrically intersects the retaining pin hole 13, 14 in that side limb.

One retaining pin 2 attaches to the larger mouthed part 4 and the other 30 retaining pin 3 attaches to the smaller mouthed part5. Each retaining pin has a plain cylindrical shank 2', 3' and a domed head 2", 3". Instead of

being cylindrical with a round section, the shank 2',3' may have an oval or other section. The shank spans the side limbs and mouth of the respective mouthed part and is of complementary diameter to the retaining pin holes in the side limbs of the mouthed part. Each retaining pin 2, 3 5 has a diametral hole, not shown, formed in its shank 2', 3' which is registered with the small hole 15,16 in the one side limb 4', 5' of the respective mounted part when the retaining pin is fully inserted into the retaining pin holes of the mouthed part, with the head 2", 3" hard up against the other side limb 4", 5", as in Figure 1.

The retaining pins 2, 3 are anchored to the respective mouthed parts by means of taper pins 17, 18 which are driven into the small holes 15, 16 of the respective mouthed parts and through the diametral holes of the retaining pins, the taper pins 17, 18 wedging in the small holes.

In the embodiment described the side limbs 4', 4' '; 5', 5 " of the two mouthed parts 4,5 are all parallel. The interfacing link may be formed instead, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, such that the parallel side limbs 4', 4 " of the one mouthed part 4 are turned through 90 relative to the 20 parallel side limbs 5', 5" of the other mouthed part 5.

The interfacing link may be used, for example, to connect together end-toend two chains which have differing link sizes. For fitting the link to the chassis the retaining pins 2, 3 are removed from the mouthed parts.

25 The larger mouthed part receives an end link of the larger size chain and the smaller mouthed part receives an end link of the smaller size chain.

The retaining pins are then re-fitted, passing through the respective end links of the chains, and anchored in place by the taper pins 17, 18 in the manner described. If ends of the securely wedged taper pins protrude 30 from the side limbs of the mouthed parts the ends may be hammered or filed down to avoid snagging.

Claims

1. An interfacing link which comprises a body having two mouthed parts of generally U or C shape and of different sizes, and retaining pins 5 which attach to the mouthed parts across their mouths.

2. An interfacing link according to claim 1, in which the mouthed parts are fixed relative to one another.

10 3. An interfacing link according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the mouthed parts are integrally formed in the body.

4. An interfacing link according to any preceding claim, in which the mouths of the mouthed parts are oppositely directed.

5. An interfacing link according to claim 4, in which the mouthed parts are joined at portions thereof remote from the mouths.

6. An interfacing link according to any preceding claim, in which the 20 retaining pins engage in aligned holes in portions of the mouthed parts at their mouths.

7. An interfacing link according to claim 6, in which the retaining pins are a sliding or push fit in the aligned holes.

8. An interfacing link according to claim 7, in which the retaining pins are deformed to secure their engagement in the holes.

9. An interfacing link according to claim 6 or claim 7, in which 30 suitable retainers are applied to the mouthed parts and/or retaining pins to secure the retaining pins in place.

10. An interfacing link according to claim 9, in which the retainers comprise taper pins which are driven into apertures in the mouthed parts and through holes in the retaining pins.

5 11. An interfacing link according to any preceding claim, in which the retaining pins are headed.

12. An interfacing link according to any of claims 1 to 6 or claim 11 when dependent on any of claims 1 to 6, in which the retaining pins have 10 screw-threaded engagement with receiving apertures in the mouthed parts.

13. An interfacing link according to any preceding claim, in which the body and retaining pins are made of metal.

15 14. An interfacing link according to claim 13, in which the metal is steel. 15. An interfacing link according to any of claims 1 to 12, in which the body and retaining pins are made of suitable plastics material.

16. An interfacing link substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.