JP3238152U - Roller chain plate - Google Patents

Abstract

The roller chain plate for the roller chain used to transmit the driving force includes a plurality of inner plates 110 and a plurality of outer plates 210 connected to each other by a plurality of pins 40 and a plurality of bushes 30. As a result of the inner plate 110 having the boss portion 170 and the outer plate 210 having the annular projecting portion 270, the durability of the roller chain can be increased.

Description

The present invention relates to a roller chain plate.

Existing means for transmitting mechanical power include a roller chain containing a fixed number of repetitive units linked together in a loop. The main component of each unit is multiple metal plates. Plates can generally be classified as inner and outer plates. Pins are used to join each pair of outer plates, while bushes are used to join each pair of inner plates, for the purpose of linking and fastening the plates to form a roller chain. A typical roller chain is configured such that the pins are inserted into a pair of outer and paired inner plates through a common opening in the plate, and the bushes generally concentrically surround the pins. .. During intended use, the roller chain is coupled and engaged with a set of sprockets. Roller chains are moving parts of heavy machinery or heavy vehicles and are therefore exposed to high tension and wear and have substantially shorter life cycle predictions than the sprocket to which the roller chains are coupled.

The main cause of wear on the roller chain is that the pins and bushes attract and rub against each other. As the wear progresses, the gap between the two components becomes wider, resulting in the extension of the roller chain. This process continues until the roller chain breaks or the sprocket fit becomes unacceptable.

A conventional method of keeping the roller chain free from such wear is, for example, lubrication with grease or the like. Patent Document 1 (US Pat. No. 2,185,702) is larger at the inner surface of the roller chain, that is, at the contact point between the pin and the bush, where the lubricating oil applied from the outside is almost inaccessible. It suggests that a percentage of wear will occur. Therefore, the book discloses improvements to the preceding roller chains of the time by constructing the roller chains so that such lubricants can easily reach the inner surface. However, the durability of the roller chain can be further improved by other means.

US Pat. No. 2,185,702

An object of the present application is to provide a novel roller chain configuration that enhances the durability of the roller chain.

An object of the present invention is to provide a roller chain plate with improved durability.

To achieve the above-mentioned object, one embodiment of the present invention proposes a roller chain plate including an inner plate and an outer plate. The inner plate has an inner plate inner side, an inner plate outer side opposite to the inner plate inner side, two inner end portions each having one bush hole, and an inner connecting portion connecting the two inner end portions. The outer plate has an outer plate inner, an outer plate outer opposite the second inner surface, two outer ends each having one pin hole, and an outer connecting portion connecting the two outer ends. ..

The inner plate has a boss portion arranged around each bush hole on the outer side of the inner plate, and the outer plate has an annular protrusion arranged around each pin hole on the inner side of the outer plate. This annular projecting portion is in contact with and engaged with the boss portion when the roller chain is assembled.

According to embodiments of the present invention, this engagement allows the load on the bush to be distributed to both the inner and outer plates. Compared to a conventional roller chain in which the load on the bush is distributed only to the inner plate, both the outer plate and the inner plate are formed as load-bearing parts of the bush, which improves the load distribution. It is possible to reduce the wear of each component of this embodiment. As a result, the durability of the roller chain is increased.

Further, when the annular projecting portion is engaged with the boss portion when the roller chain is assembled, the position of the inner plate is fixed, so that the position of the bush is also fixed. As a result, the elongation rate of the chain decreases.

Other objects, advantages and salient features of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description which, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, discloses preferred embodiments of the invention.

It is an exploded view of the roller chain which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view of the inner plate which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a back view of the inner plate which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the inner plate which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the inner plate which concerns on embodiment of this invention along the cutting line AA of FIG. 2c. It is a front view of the outer plate which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a back view of the outer plate which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the outer plate which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the outer plate which concerns on embodiment of this invention along the cutting line BB of FIG. 3c. It is sectional drawing of the roller chain which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Throughout the drawings, the same reference numbers are understood to mean the same parts, components and structures.

Here, the selected embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The following description of embodiments is provided for purposes of illustration only and is not intended to limit the invention as defined by the accompanying claims and their equivalents. However, this disclosure makes it clear to those skilled in the art.

"Inside", "outside", "inside", "outside", etc., as used herein to describe the parts of the roller chain plate, specifically the inner plate 110 and the outer plate 210. The term for orientation as well as any other similar orientation refers to these orientations in relation to the roller chain plate at the assembly position. The terms indicating such directions, used in conjunction with the following description of the drawings, should not be considered to limit the scope of the invention in any way not expressly expressed.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 illustrates a roller chain 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the roller chain 1 basically includes a plurality of pairs of inner plates 110, 110 and a plurality of pairs of outer plates 210, 210. The inner plates 110 and 110 of each pair are connected together by a pair of pins 40 and 40 to form an inner link 10, and the outer plates 210 and 210 of each pair are connected together by a pair of bushes 30 and 30 to form an outer link 10. Form the link 20. Each pin 40 is slidably positioned within each corresponding bush 30 such that the outer links 20 are alternately flexibly connected to the inner links 10. Preferably, the roller chain 1 has a roller 50 rotatably positioned outside each bush 30.

FIG. 1 shows the shape of a pin 40 which is a solid cylinder and the shape of a bush 30 and a roller 50 which are hollow cylinders. The bush 30, pin 40 and roller 50 are well known structures. Therefore, no details are given here except as needed to illustrate the configuration of the roller chain 1. Moreover, the shapes of the bush 30, pins 40 and rollers 50 can vary as needed, for example the pins 40 can be hollow cylinders, if necessary.

2a to 2d show the inner plate 110 of the roller chain 1. The inner plate 110 has an inner plate inner side 120a, an inner plate outer side 120b opposite the inner plate inner side 120a, and an inner plate outer edge portion 130 arranged between the inner plate inner side 120a and the inner plate outer side 120b.

Each inner plate 110 includes two inner end portions 140, 140 and an inner connecting portion 160 connecting the two inner end portions 140, 140. Preferably, the contour of each inner end 140 is curved. More preferably, the contour of each inner end portion 140 has a circular shape. Preferably, the contour of the inner connecting portion 160 is curved toward the inside of the inner plate 110. However, the contour of the inner connecting portion 160 is not limited to the curved shape. For example, the contour of the inner connecting portion 160 can be a straight line, if desired.

Each inner end 140 has a bush hole 150 defined by a cylindrical wall 155 of the inner plate for accommodating one end of the bush 30. The diameter of each bush 30 is slightly larger than the diameter of the bush hole 150. In this way, the end of the bush 30 can be press-fitted into the bush hole 150.

In this embodiment, the boss portion 170 is formed on the inner plate outer side 120b by projecting axially from the inner plate outer side 120b. Boss portions 170 are arranged on the perimeter of each bush hole 150 to extend the height of the inner plate cylindrical wall 155. The boss portion includes a boss portion inner wall 172 and a boss portion outer wall 174. The shape of the boss portion 170 is preferably a hollow cylinder. However, the shape of the boss portion 170 is not limited.

In this arrangement, the strength of the inner plate 110 increases when the height of the inner plate cylindrical wall 155 is increased. Moreover, this arrangement can lead to an increase in the contact surface area between the bush 30 and the inner plate 110, thereby reducing the contact stress on the bush 30 as a result. Therefore, as compared with the conventional inner plate 110, the thickness of the inner plate 110 excluding the boss portion 170 can be reduced with respect to a desired load, and cost reduction can be achieved.

The boss portion 170 is arranged around each bush hole 150. The boss portion 170 engages the annular projecting portion 270 of the outer plate 210 when the roller chain 1 is assembled, which will be described in detail later.

The inner plate 110 is preferably formed as a monoblock from a rigid material such as a metal material. Preferably, the inner plate 110 is manufactured by a precision punching process.

The inner plate 110 preferably has the same minimum thickness between the inner plate inner side 120a and the inner plate outer side 120b except for the boss portion 170. The inner plate outer side 120b and the inner plate inner side 120a excluding the boss portion 170 are preferably smooth and flat.

3a to 3d show the outer plate 210 of the roller chain 1. The outer plate 210 has an outer plate inner 220a, an outer plate outer 220b opposite the outer plate inner 220a, and an outer plate outer edge 230 disposed between the outer plate inner 220a and the outer plate outer 220b.

Each outer plate 210 includes two outer ends 240, 240 and an outer connecting portion 260 connecting the two outer ends 240, 240. Preferably, the contour of each outer end 240 is curved. More preferably, the contour of each outer end 240 has a circular shape. Preferably, the contour of the outer connecting portion 260 is curved toward the inside of the outer plate 210. However, the contour of the outer connecting portion is not limited to the curved shape. For example, the contour of the outer connecting portion 260 can be straight, if desired.

Each outer end 240 has a pin hole 250 defined by a cylindrical wall 255 of the outer plate for accommodating one end of the pin 40. The diameter of each pin 40 is slightly larger than the diameter of the pin hole 250. In this way, the end of the pin 40 can be press-fitted into the pin hole 250.

In this embodiment, the annular protrusion 270 is formed on the outer plate inner side 220a by projecting axially from the outer plate inner side 220a. The annular protrusion 270 is arranged around each pin hole 250 and shares a central axis with the pin hole 250. The annular protrusion 270 includes a protrusion inner wall 272 and a protrusion outer wall 274. The radius of the protruding portion inner wall 272 is substantially the same as the radius of the boss portion outer wall 174 so that the boss portion 170 fits into the annular protruding portion 270 and the inner plate 110 and the outer plate 210 are separated from each other. Although it prevents the roller chain 1 from moving to, it is possible to allow rotational movement of both plates 110, 210 along the central axis when the roller chain 1 is assembled. Preferably, the shape of the annular projecting portion 270 is a hollow cylinder. However, the shape of the annular protrusion 270 is not limited.

When the roller chain 1 is assembled, this engagement allows the load on the bush 30 to be distributed to both the inner plate 110 and the outer plate 210. Compared to the conventional roller chain in which the load on the bush is distributed only to the inner plate, the wear of each component of this embodiment is because the outer plate 210 and the inner plate 110 are both formed as load-bearing components of the bush 30. It is reduced because the load distribution is improved. As a result, the durability of the roller chain 1 is increased.

The outer plate 210 is preferably formed as a monoblock from a rigid material such as a metal material. Preferably, the outer plate 210 is manufactured by a precision punching process. As a result of pressing the outer plate 210 to form the annular protrusion 270, the annular recess 280 is formed. Therefore, the annular recess 280 is arranged around each pin hole 250 on the outer plate outer side 220b. The annular recess 280 shares a central axis with the pin hole 250. This arrangement makes it possible to increase the strength around the annular recess 280 due to the precision punching process that affects the physical properties of the outer plate 210.

The outer plate 210 preferably has the same minimum thickness between the outer plate inner 220a and the outer plate outer 220b, except for the annular protrusion 270 and the annular recess 280. The outer plate inner side 220a excluding the annular protrusion 270 and the outer plate outer side 220b excluding the annular recess 280 are preferably smooth and flat.

Here, the assembly of the roller chain 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 4. The roller chain 1 includes at least an inner link 10 and an outer link 20.

The inner link 10 has at least a pair of inner plates 110, 110 and a pair of bushes 30, 30. The inner plate 110a of each pair and the inner plate inner 120a of the 110 face each other in each inner link 10 and define a sprocket accommodating space for accommodating the teeth of the sprocket (not shown). The two ends of each bush 30 are press-fitted into the bush holes 150 of the pair of inner plates 110, 110 installed on opposite sides of each other.

The outer link 20 has at least a pair of outer plates 210, 210 and a pair of pins 40, 40. The outer plate 210 is in a state where the annular protrusion 270 of the outer plate 210 is in contact with and engages with the boss portion 170 of the inner plate 110, and the boss portion 170 is fitted into the annular protrusion 270 to fit the inner plate 110. And the outer side of the inner plate of the inner plate 110 so as to allow rotational movement of both plates 110, 210 along the central axis while preventing the outer plate 210 from moving away from each other. It is arranged on 120b. Each pin 40 is slidably positioned inside the bush 30. The two ends of each pin 40 are press-fitted into the pin holes 250 of the pair of outer plates 210 such that the outer links 20 are alternately flexibly connected to the inner links 10. Preferably, the roller chain 1 has a roller 50 that is rotatably positioned outside each bush 30.

Normally, when the roller chain operates, the outer surface of the pin and the inner surface of the bush rub against each other, leading to wear of the contact surface between the pin and the bush. As the surface of the pins and bushes wears, the roller chain stretches further until stretch adjustment is no longer possible. In this embodiment, when the annular projecting portion 270 is engaged with the boss portion 170 at the time when the roller chain 1 is assembled, the position of the bush 30 is fixed because the position of the inner plate 110 is fixed. It will be fixed. As a result, the elongation rate of the chain is reduced.

A particular embodiment has been selected to illustrate the invention, but one of ordinary skill in the art will make various changes and amendments to it without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims. Understand that it can be added.

1 Roller chain 10 Inner link 110 Inner plate 120a Inner plate inner 120b Inner plate outer 130 Inner plate outer edge 140 Inner end 150 Bush hole 155 Inner plate Cylindrical wall 160 Inner connecting part 170 Boss part 172 Boss part Inner wall 174 Boss part Outer wall 20 Outer link 210 Outer plate 220a Outer plate inner 220b Outer plate outer 230 Outer plate outer edge 240 Outer end 250 Pin hole 255 Outer plate Cylindrical wall 260 Outer connecting part 270 Circular protrusion 272 Protruding part Inner wall 274 Protruding part Outer wall 280 Circular recess 30 Bush 40 Pin 50 Roller

Claims (9)

In the roller chain plate for the roller chain,
The inner plate inner side 120a, the inner plate outer side 120b on the opposite side of the inner plate inner side 120a, the two inner end portions 140, 140 having one bush hole 150 each, and the two inner end portions 140, 140 are connected. An inner plate 110 having an inner connecting portion 160 and
The outer plate inner side 220a, the outer plate outer side 220b on the opposite side of the outer plate inner side 220a, the two outer end portions 240 and 240 each having one pin hole 250, and the two outer end portions 240 and 240 are connected. An outer plate 210 having an outer connecting portion 260 and
The inner plate 110 has a boss portion 170 arranged around each bush hole 150 on the inner plate outer side 120b, and the outer plate 210 is on the outer plate inner side 220a. The annular projecting portion 270 is arranged around each pin hole 250 of the above, and the annular projecting portion 270 is in a state of being in contact with and engaged with the boss portion 170 when the roller chain is assembled.
A roller chain plate featuring. The roller chain plate according to claim 1, wherein the inner end portion 140 and the outer end portion 240 have a curved contour. The roller chain plate of claim 1 or 2, wherein the outer plate 210 further comprises an annular recess 280 disposed around each pin hole 250 on the outer plate outer side 220b. 13. The roller chain plate according to any one item. Inner plate inner side 120a, inner plate outer side 120b on the opposite side of the inner plate inner side 120a, two inner end portions 140, 140 having one bush hole 150 each, and two inner end portions 140, 140 connected to each other. An inner link 10 having a pair of inner plates 110, 110 each having a pair of bushes 30, 30 each having two ends that are press-fitted into the connecting portion 160 and the bush hole 150.
A pair of outer plates 210, 210 arranged on the inner plate outer side 120b of the pair of inner plates 110, 110, the outer plate on the side opposite to the outer plate inner side 220a and the outer plate inner side 220a. The outer 220b and the outer connecting portion 260 connecting the two outer end portions 240 and 240 having the pin holes 250, respectively, and the outer connecting portion 260 connecting the two outer end portions 240 and 240 are positioned slidably inside the bush 30. A pair of pins 40, 40 having two ends that are press-fitted into the pin hole 250 such that the outer link 20 is alternately flexibly connected to the inner link 10, respectively. With an outer link 20 with a pair of outer plates 210, 210,
In the roller chain including
Each inner plate 110 has a boss portion 170 disposed on the perimeter of each bush hole 150 on the inner plate outer side 120b, and each outer plate 210 is around each pin hole 250 on the outer plate inner side 220a. The annular projecting portion 270 is arranged in the above, and the annular projecting portion 270 is in a state of being in contact with and engaged with the boss portion 170 when the roller chain is assembled.
A roller chain featuring. The roller chain of claim 5, further comprising a roller 50 rotatably positioned outside each bush 30. The roller chain according to claim 5 or 6, wherein each of the inner end portion 140 and each of the outer end portions 240 has a curved contour. The roller chain according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein each outer plate 210 further includes an annular recess 280 disposed around each pin hole 250 on the outer plate outer side 220b. 5. 8. The annular protrusion 270 has a protrusion inner wall 272, and the boss portion 170 has a boss portion outer wall 174 having a radius substantially the same as the radius of the protrusion inner wall 272, claim 5-8. The roller chain according to any one item.

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