GB981486A - Improvements in and relating to conveyor chains - Google Patents

Abstract

981,486. Conveyers. F. D. HOLDER. April 2, 1963 [June 20, 1962], No. 23838/62. Heading B7L. [Also in Division B8] A universally jointed conveyer chain consists of ball-ended rods alternating with socket-ended rods or tubes, the ball links having the form shown in Fig. 1 and the socket links consisting of a rod or tube 17, Fig. 2, each end of which has a concave part bearing 21 and a separate flanged sleeve 18 which is fitted over the ball 22 and then secured to the rod 17 to complete the bearing. Each rod 13 of the ball links is centrally divided to allow for such assembly, the junction at its centre being secured by screw fitting the rod parts in a surrounding sleeve 15, Fig. 1, or by means of dovetailing members 27, Fig. 2, again surrounded by a sleeve which, as shown in Fig. 3, may incorporate a bearing boss 56 for use when the chain runs in a guideway 30. Various guiding and conveying attachments (see below) may be carried by the links. Conveyer applications.-The rods of the links may carry axles for guide rollers and/or hangers for attached loads. Such hangers may alsoas at 29, Fig. 3-be used as pushers for detached loads running on a track beside the chain. The chain may run in a slotted conduit from which the hangers or pushers project and, where the conduit changes direction the slot 34, Fig. 5, may be helically led along the vertical section 33 between two horizontal sections 32, 35 so that the projections 36 can extend on the same side of both horizontal sections. The bearers 56, Fig. 3, on the rods 13 are effective to prevent these rods entering the open ends of the conduit slot at bends in the track where the conduit wall is cut away to allow sprockets to engage the chain. Such sprockets may be discs 53, Fig. 11, to whose periphery are secured teeth in the form of slotted brackets 54, the slots 55 therein embracing the chain link rods 13.