JP3206412U - Seal chain - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a seal chain that reduces chain bending resistance and has relatively excellent wear elongation performance. A seal member 13 is interposed between an inner link plate 6 and an outer link plate 8 so as to surround a protruding portion 7a protruding from the inner link plate 6 of the bush 7. The sealing member 13 is made of closed-cell porous rubber having a void ratio in the range of 10 to 50 [%], is soft and has a low repulsive force, and the lubricating oil is held in the porous cell k on the surface. [Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a seal chain used in all technical fields such as power transmission and conveyance, and more particularly, to a seal chain characterized by a seal member.

  In general, as shown in FIG. 5, the seal chain 1 is rotated by a pair of inner link plates 6, bushes 7 that are partially press-fitted and fixed to both end portions of these plates 6, and the bushes 7. An outer (roller) link 11 composed of a roller 10 that is freely inserted and inserted, a pair of outer link plates 8, and an outer (pin) link 12 composed of pins 2 that are caulked and fixed to both ends of these plates 8 The pins 2 of the pin links 12 are alternately inserted into the bushes 7 of the inner links 11 and connected endlessly so as to surround the protruding portions 7a of the bushes 7 and the inner link plates 6 and the outer links. An annular seal member 3 is interposed between the plate 8 and the plate 8.

  The seal chain 1 is filled with a lubricating oil such as grease in the bearing portion 16 between the pin 2 and the bush 7, and the sealing member 3 encloses the lubricating oil in the bearing portion. The function of the chain 1 is maintained for a long time in an oil-free environment. The seal member 3 is made of solid rubber, and various cross-sectional shapes such as an O shape and an X shape have been devised (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  On the other hand, there is also a sintered bush chain that uses an oil-impregnated bearing made of a sintered alloy for the bush, and maintains the relative rotation between the pin and the bush by the lubricating oil that has exuded from the sintered bush in an oil-free environment. (See, for example, Patent Document 2).

Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-48038 Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 63-43610

  In the seal chain 1, the seal member 3 is elastically deformed between the inner link plate 6 and the outer link plate 8, so that the lubricating oil leaks from the bearing portion 16 in close contact with both the link plates 6 and 8. To prevent that. Therefore, the seal chain 1 has a repulsive force due to the elastic deformation of the seal member acting on both the link plates regardless of the cross-sectional shape, and the seal member is made of solid rubber or the like. Combined with the friction and high repulsive force, a large frictional force acts between the seal member and the plate, and the resistance to the bending of the inner link 11 and the outer link 12 by the bearing portion 16 is large. Produce power. As a result, the seal chain 1 is stiffened, causing power loss and lowering transmission efficiency.

  On the other hand, since the sintered bush chain does not have a seal member, the chain is hardened and the transmission efficiency is not lowered.However, the amount of lubricating oil that oozes from the sintered bush is not sufficient. During this time, an adhesion phenomenon occurs or clogging occurs in the pores of the sintered bush, resulting in wear elongation of the chain relatively early.

  Then, this invention aims at providing the seal chain which solved the subject mentioned above by improving a seal member.

The present invention provides an outer link (12) in which both ends of two outer link plates (8) are connected by pins (2), and an inner in which both ends of two inner link plates (6) are connected by bushes (7). The links (11) and the bushes (7) are alternately connected by inserting the pins (2),
An annular seal is provided between the inner link plate (6) and the outer link plate (8) so as to surround a protrusion (7a) projecting the bush (7) by a predetermined amount from the inner link plate (6). In a seal chain (15), in which lubricating oil (J) is sealed in a bearing portion (16) composed of the pin (2) and the bush (7) through a member (13),
The sealing member (13) is made of closed-cell porous rubber having a rectangular cross section, and the left and right side surfaces (b, c) of the sealing member have a closed-cell porous (k) opening on the surface. The inner link plate (6) and the outer link plate (8) are in close contact with each other.

  Preferably, the sealing member (13) has a void ratio in a range of 10 to 50%, which is a ratio occupied by bubbles in the entire volume.

The sealing member (13) has a density of 0.15 to 0.25 [g / cm ³ ], a 25% compression load of 400 to 1000 [g / cm ² ], and a water absorption of 5 [%] or less.

  In addition, although the code | symbol in the said parenthesis is for contrast with drawing, it has no influence on the structure as described in the claim of a utility model registration by this.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the seal member is made of closed-cell porous rubber, the seal member is soft, has a small repulsive force with the link plate, and is linked by air bubbles on the surface of the seal member. In combination with the formation of the lubricating oil film between the plates, the frictional force between the seal member and the link plate can be reduced. Thereby, this seal chain has a small bending resistance, can reduce energy loss, and can improve transmission efficiency.

  In addition, since the seal member is made of a closed-cell porous body, the lubricating oil in the bearing portion does not bleed out through the bubbles, and the amount of crushing of the seal member is regulated by the protruding portion of the bush. In spite of being made of a soft member, the sealing performance of the sealing member is maintained, the lubricating oil of the bearing portion is maintained for a relatively long time, and the wear elongation performance is excellent.

  Further, the seal member can improve the life of the seal member itself (reduction of wear and permanent strain) by regulating the amount of crushing by the bush protrusion and retaining the lubricating oil by the pores on the surface of the seal member. In addition, since the sealing member is made of closed-cell porous rubber, not only the leakage of the lubricating oil from the inside can be prevented, but also the entry of foreign matter from the outside can be prevented, and the cleaning agent can enter from the outside during cleaning. Can be prevented.

  Further, since the sealing member has a rectangular cross section, the sealing member is made of a soft and low repulsive material, but the sealing member has a large area in which the lubricating oil is held in the pores of the surface and the link plate. It is possible to reduce the leakage of lubricating oil from the bearing portion while maintaining low friction, and to maintain the lubrication of the bearing portion over a long period of time, thereby reducing wear elongation.

  Together, these functions as a chain that improves transmission efficiency by maintaining low friction, and reducing the leakage of lubricating oil, can prolong the life of the chain that maintains the lubrication of the bearings for a long period of time. It is possible to obtain a comprehensively excellent oil-free chain that balances functions and functions at a high level.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the closed-cell porous rubber of the seal member has a void ratio in the range of 10 to 50 [%], so that the low-cost structure can be manufactured relatively easily and is low. Both repulsive force and surface lubricant retention can be provided. When the void ratio is larger than 50 [%], the sealing member is too soft and the sealing function is not sufficient, and when it is smaller than 10 [%], the repulsive force is increased and sufficient transmission efficiency is exhibited. I can't.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the seal member having an appropriate density, a 25% compressive load, and a water absorption rate is combined with the restriction of the amount of crushing of the seal member by the bush protruding portion, so that the seal has excellent characteristics. You can get a chain.

The expanded sectional view of the principal part of the seal chain which concerns on this invention. Sectional drawing by the electron microscope which shows the closed-cell porous rubber | gum which forms the sealing member. The figure which shows the bending resistance value which compared the seal chain by this invention with another chain. The figure which shows the wear elongation which compared the seal chain by this invention with another chain. The top view which carried out the partial cross section which shows a seal chain.

  Hereinafter, a seal chain according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The overall structure of this seal chain is similar to the conventional seal chain 1 shown in FIG. 5 in that an outer (pin) link 12 in which two outer link plates 8 are connected by pins 2 and two inner link plates 6 are combined. And an inner (roller) link 11 connected by a bush 7 into which the roller 10 is rotatably inserted. The outer link 12 and the inner link 11 are alternately endless by inserting the pins 2 into the bush 7. It is connected and configured. An end portion of the bush 7 partially protrudes from the inner link plate 6, and an annular seal member is interposed between the inner link plate 6 and the outer link plate 8 so as to surround the protruding portion 7 a.

  The seal chain 15 is characterized by the seal member, and the seal member 13 is made of closed cell porous rubber having a rectangular cross section as schematically shown in FIG. The seal member 13 is in contact with its inner peripheral surface a so as to surround the outer periphery of the protruding portion 7a of the bush 7, and its left and right side surfaces b and c are in close contact with the inner link plate 6 and the outer link plate 8, respectively. Lubricating oil J such as grease filled in the bearing portion 16 composed of the pin 2 and the bush 7 is sealed. As shown in FIG. 2, the sealing member 13 is made of porous rubber in which a large number of bubbles are separated from each other by rubber walls and exist independently. Note that the magnification in FIG. 2 is displayed by indicating a length of 100 [μm]. The closed-cell porous rubber is mainly composed of chloroprene rubber or nitrile rubber. A material kneaded with a foaming agent is heated under pressure to decompose the foaming agent and dissolve the decomposition gas in the polymer. In this state, the pressure is expanded at a stretch to form a closed cell structure (primary molding). Thereafter, foaming is performed to the product dimensions, and at the same time, vulcanization and phenol curing are performed by three-dimensional bonding, curing, cooling, taking out from the mold with the product dimensions (secondary molding), finishing, A seal member 13 is formed.

The seal member 13 is not connected to the internal bubbles k, and is composed of independent bubbles each partitioned by a rubber wall, through which the lubricating oil or the like does not ooze out to the outer peripheral surface d, and the outside. Therefore, foreign substances such as cleaning agents do not enter the inside. An open-cell porous body such as sponge or sponge has high hygroscopicity and a high function of absorbing lubricating oil, but the lubricating oil leaks outside through the bubbles. The sealing member 13 made of the closed-cell porous body has a void ratio in a range of 10 to 50 [%], preferably 15 to 30 [%], which is a ratio occupied by the pores k in the total volume. It is made of a material that is significantly softer than a solid seal member. Specifically, the seal member 13, the density 0.15~0.25 [g / ^cm 3], the hardness _{20~50 [H R C], 25} % compressive load 400~1000 [g / ^cm 2], water absorption 5 [%] or less. Further, the link plates 6 and 8 in contact with the seal member 13 are made of a low friction coefficient material, for example, mechanical structural carbon steel such as S20C, SAE1050, alloy mechanical steel such as SCM435, SCM420, SAE8620, and the like. The portion with which the seal member 13 abuts is a smooth flat surface. In addition, you may embed the member which consists of a low friction coefficient in the part which the seal member 13 of the outer link plate 8 and the inner link plate 6 contact | abuts.

  Since the seal chain 15 is configured as described above, the lubricating oil J filled with the bearing portion 16 by the pin 2 and the bush 7 is sealed by the seal member 13 made of a closed-cell porous body, and the outer link 12 and the inner link 15 are sealed. The link 11 is bent by the bearing portion 16 in the lubrication state, and the seal chain 15 smoothly transmits power between the drive sprocket and the passive sprocket. The seal member 13 is significantly softer than a solid conventional seal member, and therefore the repulsive force from the seal member 13 is also greatly reduced. Frictional force is small. Further, when the seal chain 15 is bent, the seal member 13 exclusively slides relative to the outer link plate 8 (same as relative slide between the inner link plate 6 and the bush 7). The lubricating oil J of the bearing portion 16 oozes out into the closed bubbles k opened on the surface of the seal member 13 and forms a lubricating oil film with the link plate 8 made of a low friction material to further reduce the frictional force. As a result, the bending resistance of the seal chain 15 is greatly reduced, and the power loss associated with the bending resistance is reduced to improve the power transmission efficiency.

  FIG. 3 shows a bending resistance value A according to the present seal chain 15 (invention), a conventional seal chain, an O-ring type with an O-shaped seal member, an X-shaped X-ring type, and a standard chain without a seal. It is the figure compared with each bending resistance value B, C, D of these. The bending resistance value A by the seal chain according to the present invention is lower than that of the standard chain D without the seal member due to the effect of the lubricant J, and is 88% compared to the O-ring type B having a large frictional force of the seal member. It has a reduction effect of 72 [%] even for the X ring type C having a relatively small frictional resistance.

  The seal chain 15 has a small repulsive force of the seal member 13, and therefore has a low function of suppressing the force that moves the inner link 11 in the width direction with respect to the outer link 12, but the bush 7 has a predetermined amount from the inner link plate 6. The protrusion 7a restricts the movement in the width direction by the protrusion 7a, and restricts the amount of crushing of the seal chain in the width direction and the seal member 13. As a result, the performance of the seal chain 15 is maintained, and the seal member 13 is held within a predetermined deformation amount, so that the life and seal function of the seal member 13 itself can be maintained.

  The seal member 13 of the seal chain 15 has a rectangular shape such as a rectangle whose cross section is long in the longitudinal direction of the chain, and the left and right side surfaces b and c come into contact with the link plates 8 and 6 with a large area, so And is made of a closed-cell porous body, and does not leak the lubricating oil J to the outer peripheral surface d through the bubbles unlike the open-cell porous body, and is soft and has a small repulsive force. The lubricating oil J of the bearing portion 16 can be held for a relatively long time while maintaining the sealing function.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing wear elongation of each chain, and shows the chain elongation rate A of the seal chain 15 according to the present invention, the elongation rate C of the conventional seal chain of the X ring type, and the oil-free chain with respect to the driving time. It is the figure which compared with the elongation rate E of the sintered bush chain. The elongation A of the seal chain of the present invention is slightly inferior (85%) to the elongation C of the X-ring type, which is one of the most excellent seal chains. It is much better (200%). Therefore, the seal chain according to the present invention has excellent performance as a total force of bending performance (transmission efficiency) and wear elongation (life).

  The sealing member 13 has a rectangular cross section that is long in the longitudinal direction of the chain, but is not limited thereto, and may be a square or a rectangular shape that is short in the longitudinal direction. Moreover, the roller 10 is not necessarily required for the seal chain, and the present invention can also be applied to other chains such as a bush chain without a roller.

2 Pin 6 Inner link plate 7 Bush 7a Protruding portion 8 Outer link plate 10 Roller 11 Inner (roller) link 12 Outer (pin) link 13 Seal member 15 Seal chain 16 Bearing portion J Lubricating oil k Bubble (porous)

Claims (3)

An outer link in which both ends of two outer link plates are connected by pins and an inner link in which both ends of two inner link plates are connected by bushes are alternately connected by inserting the pins into the bushes,
An annular seal member is interposed between the inner link plate and the outer link plate so as to surround a protrusion that protrudes a predetermined amount from the inner link plate, and a bearing portion comprising the pin and the bush is provided. In a seal chain filled with lubricating oil,
The seal member is made of closed-cell porous rubber having a rectangular cross section, and the left and right side surfaces of the seal member are in close contact with the inner link plate and the outer link plate, respectively, over the entire plane having closed-cell porosity opened on the surface. A seal chain characterized by that. The sealing member has a void ratio in a range of 10 to 50 [%], which is a ratio occupied by bubbles in the entire volume.
The seal chain according to claim 1. The sealing member has a density of 0.15 to 0.25 [g / cm ³ ], a 25% compressive load of 400 to 1000 [g / cm ² ], and a water absorption of 5 [%] or less.
The seal chain according to claim 1 or 2.

Images