JP2005180601A - Roller chain - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a roller chain capable of achieving sufficient noise prevention effect without impairing the durability as advantage of a metallic roller chain. <P>SOLUTION: In this roller chain having inner links wherein both ends of two bushes 12 are respectively press-fitted into bush holes formed on a pair of inner plates 11, and rollers 13 are rotatably mounted at an outer side of the bushes, and outer links wherein both ends of two pins 15 freely inserted in the bushes of the adjacent inner link are respectively press-fitted into pin holes formed on a pair of outer plates 14 mounted at both outer sides of the pair of inner plates, in a state that the inner links and the outer links are alternately bendably connected by the pins, the rollers are respectively composed of a plurality of roller pieces divided in the width direction of a chain, and intermediate plates 16 composed of an elastic material and having two ring parts surrounding the bushes and a ring connecting part for connecting the ring parts, are respectively inserted between the roller pieces. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a roller chain used for a camshaft transmission mechanism of an automobile engine, a power transmission mechanism or a transport mechanism of an industrial machine or the like.

  In recent years, power transmission media used in automotive engine camshaft transmission mechanisms, etc. have superior durability in place of toothed belts, which have been widely used in the past, due to demands for high load, high speed and maintenance-free. The adoption of metal roller chains is increasing.

  In general, as shown in FIG. 3, in a metal roller chain, both ends of two cylindrical bushes 32 are press-fitted into bush holes 31a drilled in a pair of inner plates 31, respectively, and can be rotated outside the bushes. And a pair of outer plates in which both ends of two pins 35 loosely penetrated in the bush 32 of the adjacent inner link are disposed on both outer sides of the pair of inner plates 31. The outer link OL is press-fitted into each of the pin holes 34a, and the inner link IL and the outer link OL are connected by the pins 35 so that they can be bent alternately.

In the conventional metal roller chain having such a configuration, when the roller of the roller chain meshes with the teeth of the sprocket, metal collision occurs between the teeth and the rollers and between the rollers and the bushes. Noise is generated. Therefore, as a measure for reducing noise, there has been known a noise prevention roller chain in which a roller is divided and an elastic ring having an outer diameter larger than the outer diameter of the roller is provided between the divided rollers. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 61-37894

  However, in the noise prevention roller chain as described above, in order to obtain a sufficient noise prevention effect, the amount of deformation of the elastic ring must be sufficiently increased in order to absorb the impact when meshing with the sprocket. It was. On the other hand, if an attempt is made to secure a large amount of deformation of the elastic ring, the strength of the elastic body is lowered, causing a problem in terms of durability.

  Therefore, the object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the conventional roller chain as described above, and to obtain a sufficient noise prevention effect without impairing the durability that is an advantage of the metal roller chain. It is to provide a roller chain that can be used.

  In the roller chain according to claim 1, the roller is constituted by a plurality of roller pieces divided in the width direction of the chain, and the two bushes constituting one inner link are surrounded between the roller pieces. The above-described problems are solved by inserting at least one intermediate plate made of an elastic material having one ring portion and a ring connecting portion that connects these ring portions. Here, the type of the elastic material used in the present invention is not particularly limited. For example, synthetic rubber such as SBR, nitrile rubber, and butadiene rubber, and elastic plastic can be used.

  Moreover, it is also possible to comprise the elastic material which comprises a ring part, and the elastic material which comprises a ring connection part by a separate material. For example, the elastic material constituting the ring connecting portion is integrally molded by a two-color molding method using a material having a larger bending rigidity than the elastic material constituting the ring portion, so that the flexibility of the roller chain and the impact absorption are achieved. Can be improved.

  In the roller chain according to claim 2, in addition to the structure of the roller chain according to claim 1, the outer diameter of the two ring portions of the intermediate plate is set to be equal to or larger than the outer diameter of the roller, and the ring connecting portion is formed by sprocket teeth. The above-described problem is further solved by connecting the two ring portions at a position straddling the pre-insertion space.

  In the roller chain according to claim 1, the roller is composed of a plurality of roller pieces divided in the width direction of the chain, and the two bushes constituting one inner link are surrounded between the roller pieces. Since at least one intermediate plate made of an elastic material having a ring connecting part and a ring connecting part for connecting these ring parts is inserted, the amount of shock absorption can be reduced compared to the case where an elastic ring is provided for each bush. Can be bigger.

  The reason for this is not clear, but it is presumed as follows from the results of vibration analysis and the like. When the tip of the sprocket meshes with two rollers that do not have one inner link of the roller chain, an impact having an approximately opposite vibration direction is applied to the two rollers. When this impact is absorbed by an elastic ring provided individually for each bush, a deformation amount that can absorb the impact is required. However, by connecting two elastic rings, the directions of impact applied to the respective elastic rings are substantially opposite to each other, so that these impacts cancel each other. Therefore, even if the elastic ring does not have a very large amount of deformation, it can absorb the impact.

  In the roller chain of the present invention, since the roller is composed of a plurality of roller pieces divided in the width direction of the chain, lubricating oil is easily supplied to the sliding contact surfaces of the roller and the bush, and the quietness of the chain is improved. improves.

  In the roller chain according to claim 2, in addition to the effect produced by the roller chain according to claim 1, the outer diameter of the two ring portions of the intermediate plate is set to be equal to or larger than the outer diameter of the roller, and the ring connecting portion has a sprocket tooth tip. By adopting a configuration in which the two ring portions are connected at a position straddling the insertion space, the sprocket teeth are preferentially in contact with the intermediate plate rather than the roller, so that the impact can be absorbed more effectively. In addition, since the intermediate plate and the sprocket tip do not interfere, the standard sprocket can be used as it is.

  These effects provide a roller chain that is excellent in quietness and durability and that bends and slides smoothly over a long period of time. In addition, since a standard sprocket can be used as a sprocket used with the roller chain, a roller chain with high versatility is provided.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described based on an example with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a part of a roller chain according to an embodiment of the present invention and a sprocket meshing therewith, and FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an outer link and an inner link of the roller chain shown in FIG. .

  In the roller chain 10, both ends of two bushes 12 are press-fitted into bush holes 11a drilled in a pair of inner plates 11, and adjacent to an inner link IL having a rotatable roller on the outside of the bush 12. Both ends of the two pins 15 loosely penetrated into the bush 12 of the inner link are respectively press-fitted into pin holes 14 a drilled in a pair of outer plates 14 arranged on both outer sides of the pair of inner plates 11. The outer link OL is connected to the inner link IL and the outer link OL so that they can be bent alternately by pins 15. The roller rotatably inserted outside the bush 12 is composed of two roller pieces 13 divided in the width direction of the chain, and one inner link is formed between the roller pieces 13. An intermediate plate 16 having a ring portion 16a surrounding the two bushes 12 and a ring connecting portion 16b connecting the two ring portions 16a is inserted.

  Here, by setting the outer diameter of the two ring portions 16a constituting the intermediate plate 16 to be equal to or larger than the outer diameter of the roller, the teeth of the sprocket come into contact with the intermediate plate preferentially over the roller, which is more effective. It is preferable because it can absorb impact. The ring connecting portion 16b is preferable because it can avoid interference between the intermediate plate and the sprocket tooth tip by connecting the two ring portions 16a at a position straddling the sprocket tooth tip insertion space. In that case, since it is not necessary to change the shape of the sprocket, the roller chain of the present invention can be applied to an existing chain transmission device as it is.

  In this embodiment, as the roller extrapolated to the bush 12, a roller composed of two roller pieces 13 divided into two in the width direction of the chain is used, and one intermediate plate is provided between the two roller pieces. 16 is inserted, but a roller made of a plurality of roller pieces divided into three or more in the width direction of the chain is used as a roller to be externally inserted into the bush, and one sheet is provided between the plurality of roller pieces. It is also possible to further increase the shock absorbing power by inserting the intermediate plate. Moreover, it is also possible to insert at least one intermediate plate between any of the plurality of roller pieces according to the required shock absorbing force.

  The present invention can be manufactured without using special manufacturing equipment and expensive materials, and since it is not necessary to change the sprocket, it can be easily applied to an existing chain transmission, and the industrial applicability is , Very big.

It is a perspective view which shows a part of roller chain of this invention. It is an exploded view of the outer link and inner link of the roller chain shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows a part of conventional roller chain.

Explanation of symbols

10, 30 ... Roller chains 11, 31 ... Inner plates 11a, 31a ... Bush holes I2, 32 ... Bush 13, 33 ... Rollers 14, 34 ... Outer plates 14a, 34a .... Pin holes 15, 35 ... Pin 16 ... Intermediate plate 16a ... Ring part 16b ... Ring connecting part

Claims (2)

Both ends of the two bushes are respectively press-fitted into bush holes bored in a pair of inner plates, and an inner link having a rotatable roller on the outside of the bush, and loosely penetrates into the bush of the adjacent inner link. The two ends of the two pins are provided with outer links respectively press-fitted into pin holes drilled in a pair of outer plates disposed on both outer sides of the pair of inner plates. In a roller chain in which links are connected to be alternately bent by the pins,
The roller is composed of a plurality of roller pieces divided in the width direction of the chain,
At least one intermediate plate made of an elastic material having two ring portions surrounding the bush and a ring connecting portion connecting the ring portions is interposed between the roller pieces. . The two ring portions of the intermediate plate have an outer diameter equal to or greater than the outer diameter of the roller, and the ring connecting portion connects the two ring portions at a position straddling the sprocket tooth tip insertion space. The roller chain according to claim 1, wherein:

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