JP5427249B2 - Caterpillar chain for conveyor chain drive - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a caterpillar chain for driving a conveyor chain.

  As a system for driving the endless conveyor chain, there is an intermediate drive system in which a drive unit is arranged in a linear traveling portion of the conveyor. An intermediate drive device used in the intermediate drive system is composed of a caterpillar chain and its drive unit, and the caterpillar chain and its drive unit can be arranged at arbitrary positions.

  In the case of the intermediate drive system, a backup roller is disposed on the side facing the caterpillar chain with the conveyor chain interposed therebetween in order to prevent the conveyor chain from floating and to prevent poor engagement with the caterpillar chain dog. If the pitch line of the conveyor chain deviates from the pitch line of the dog, the conveyor chain excessively presses the backup roller due to pulsation or the like, and wear of the backup roller proceeds. Describes a technique for matching both pitch lines.

Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 62-24327

  Conveyor chains are usually used continuously for more than a dozen hours a day, and depending on the environment in which they are used, they may be lifted or laid diagonally. When held and engaged, as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 8, the shaft portion P1 of the connecting pin P that connects the two links wears as if it is surrounded by a diagonal line.

  FIG. 9A is a plan view showing a connection state between the center link C and the side link S connected by the worn connection pin P, and FIGS. 9B and 9C show the center link C and the side link, respectively. It is a side view of S. As shown in FIG. 9 (b), the center link C is a horizontally long plate-like member having semicircular ends, and a long hole Ca having the same diameter as the shaft portion P1 of the pin P is formed in the plate length direction. It has been drilled. As shown in FIG. 9 (c), the side link S is also a horizontally long plate-like member having semicircular ends, and a long hole Sa is formed at each end. On the outer surface of the side link S, a notch groove Sb for fitting the heads P2 and P3 of the connecting pin P is formed above and below the longitudinal ends of the side links S in the long holes Sa. . The connecting method of both is to insert the shaft portion P1 of the connecting pin P from the long hole Sa of one side link S, pass through the long hole Ca of the center link C and the long hole Sa of the other side link S, and connect the connecting pin P The head P2 is fitted into the cutout groove Sb of one side link S, and the tip of the shaft portion P1 is caulked to form the head P3 fitted into the cutout groove Sb of the other side link S.

  When the shaft portion P1 of the connecting pin P is not worn, the rear end surface Cb of the front center link C and the front end surface Cc of the rear center link C are shown by phantom lines in FIG. Located as shown. The distance between them is Q1. When the shaft portion P1 of the connecting pin P is worn, the rear end surface Cb and the front end surface Cc are positioned as indicated by a solid line, and the distance at that time is Q2 larger than Q1. In other words, the play (elongation allowance) of “Q2-Q1” occurs due to wear of the connecting pin P.

  On the other hand, in FIG. 7, the caterpillar chain KH includes a front pin hole 80a and a rear pin hole 80b formed at a pitch P1 which is a half pitch Ps (FIG. 9) of the connecting pins P and P of the conveyor chain CH. A pair of side plate portions 80, a connecting portion 81 for connecting the upper edges of the side plates 80, a link plate 55 having pin holes 55a and 55b formed at a pitch P1, and a pin hole formed at a pitch P1. It has a structure in which an inscribed plate 53 having 53 a and 53 b is connected by a pin 70. The pair of side plate portions 80 and the connecting portion 81 are integrally formed, and constitute an engaging member 82 having a U-shape (substantially bowl-shaped shape) opened downward in a sectional view.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the dog 50 of the caterpillar chain KH is formed to project from the upper surface of the connecting portion 81 in a substantially trapezoidal shape when viewed from the side. The conventional dog 50 is formed in such a shape that the length (length in the traveling direction) L1 of the top surface 50d is slightly smaller than the pitch P1, and the length L2 of the lower bottom 50f is larger than the pitch P1. A corner portion between the top surface 50d and the inclined surfaces 50a and 50b is formed as a curved surface 50e, and a corner portion between the lower base 50f and the inclined surfaces 50a and 50b is formed as a curved surface 50g.

  When the dog 50 is engaged with the conveyor chain CH as shown in FIG. 5, while the dog 50 is engaged with the rear end surface C1b of the center link C1 and pulls the conveyor chain CH, the rear side link S1, S2, S3... And center links C2, C3, C4... Are pulled forward and are stretched by play due to wear of the connecting pin P described above.

  In this state, when the dog 50 and the rear end surface C1b of the center link C1 are disengaged and the next dog 51 tries to engage the rear end surface C2b of the next center link C2, the rear end surface C2b is Since the rear side of the dog 51 is displaced from the normal side, the front inclined surface 50b of the dog 51 presses the rear end surface C2b of the center link C2. It will be in the state where surface C2c got on. Further, since each of the rear links S2, C3, S3 is in an extended state, the rear end surface C3b of the center link C3 is in a state of riding on the inclined surface 50b closer to the front of the dog 52.

  The lift of the conveyor chain CH due to these riding phenomena is actually prevented by the backup roller BR disposed above the conveyor chain CH. For example, when the backlash is small, the ride on the rear end surface C3b of the center link C3 is within the range of the inclined surface 50b closer to the front of the dog 52, that is, stays on the flat surface. The center link C3 moves forward in the traveling direction following the flat inclined surface 50b, so that the rear end surface C3b of the center link C3 gradually descends on the inclined surface 50b, and the center link C3 and the side link S3 float. Is resolved.

  However, conventionally, when the play becomes larger, the rear end surface C3b of the center link C3 rides up to the curved surface 50e beyond the inclined surface 50b, and the periphery of the rear end of the center link C3 is the top of the backup roller BR and the dog 52. There was a risk of being caught between the surface 50d. In this case, when a strong reaction force is applied from the pack-up roller BR side to the caterpillar chain KH side, the drive unit of the caterpillar chain KH is overloaded and stopped, and when the backlash increases, The front end surface C2c of the center link C2 climbs over the inclined surface 50a to the curved surface against the pressure, and similarly, a strong reaction force is applied from the backup roller BR side to the caterpillar chain KH side, and the drive unit of the caterpillar chain KH is excessive. Stops due to load. This causes a problem that the conveyor chain CH also stops. For this reason, the interval of periodic inspection of the conveyor chain CH has been shortened in the past, and the conveyor chain P is worn enough to be used as the conveyor chain CH alone, but the conveyor chain P is still worn. There was a problem that the connecting pin P of CH had to be replaced.

  The present invention was created to solve the above-described problems. A caterpillar chain capable of smoothly driving a conveyor chain even when the elongation of the conveyor chain is increased due to wear of a connecting pin. It is intended to provide.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a front pin hole and a rear pin hole which are disposed in an intermediate drive device for driving a conveyor chain and are formed at a pitch ½ of the pitch of the connecting pins of the conveyor chain. A caterpillar chain including an engaging member that includes a pair of side plate portions and upper and lower edges of the pair of side plates, and a connecting portion having a claw member protruding from the upper surface that engages the conveyor chain. The claw member has a front inclined surface in front of the traveling direction inclined obliquely rearward and upward, a rear surface in the rearward direction of traveling, and a top surface parallel to the upper surface of the connecting portion, and the front inclined surface; The front upper corner that is a corner with the top surface is a curved surface having a radius of curvature in the range of 2 to 4 mm, and the rear surface is an intersection of the upper surface of the connecting portion and a vertical line passing through the axis of the rear pin hole. From the rear lower end base point, A rear lower curved surface formed with a radius of curvature having a dimension in the range of 40 to 50% of the height of the surface, and rising to the position where the tangent line passing through the upper end of the surface becomes a vertical line, and the rear lower curved surface It is comprised from the rear upper part vertical surface formed perpendicularly | vertically from the upper end of this.

  According to the present invention, the length of the claw member in the traveling direction can be reduced while ensuring the strength of the claw member, and the linear length of the front inclined surface can be ensured long. Even in this case, it is possible to avoid the interference between the front end surface of the center link of the conveyor chain and the rear surface of the claw member, and the riding of the rear end surface of the center link of the conveyor chain with respect to the front upper end corner portion of the claw member.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that the front inclined surface is formed so as to form an angle in a range of 25 ° to 35 ° with respect to a vertical line.

  According to the present invention, the engagement / release state between the claw member and the conveyor chain can be further smoothed.

  According to the caterpillar chain of the present invention, the conveyor chain can be smoothly driven even when the elongation of the conveyor chain is increased due to wear of the connecting pins.

It is a schematic side view of the intermediate drive device which drives a conveyor chain. It is side surface explanatory drawing which shows the effect | action of the caterpillar chain of this invention. It is side surface explanatory drawing of the dog in the caterpillar chain of this invention. It is a top view of the caterpillar chain of this invention. It is side surface explanatory drawing which shows the effect | action of the conventional caterpillar chain. It is side surface explanatory drawing of the dog in the conventional caterpillar chain. It is a top view of the conventional caterpillar chain. It is a side view which shows the abrasion state of the connecting pin of a conveyor chain. (A) is a top view of a conveyor chain, (b), (c) is a side view of a center link and a side link, respectively.

  In FIG. 1, the intermediate drive device 100 that drives the conveyor chain CH includes an endless caterpillar chain KH that travels by the drive unit E and engages with the conveyor chain CH. In FIG. 1, only three dogs 90 are depicted, but in reality, a large number of caterpillar chains KH are attached. A backup roller BR for preventing the conveyor chain CH from floating is disposed above the conveyor chain CH. The structure of the conveyor chain CH is the same as that already described with reference to FIG. In the following description of the engaging member 82, the “up and down” relationship is based on the up and down direction in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the caterpillar chain KH has a front pin hole 80a and a rear pin hole 80b having a pitch P1, which is a half of the pitch Ps (see FIG. 9) of the connecting pins P and P of the conveyor chain CH. A pair of side plate portions 80, a connecting portion 81 for connecting the upper edges of each side plate portion 80, a link plate 55 having pin holes 55a and 55b with a pitch P1, and an inner portion having pin holes 53a and 53b with a pitch P1. The contact plate 53 is connected by a pin 70. The pair of side plate portions 80 and the connecting portion 81 are integrally formed, and constitute an engaging member 82 having a U-shape (substantially bowl-shaped shape) opened downward in a sectional view. As shown in FIG. 3, a dog 90 (claw member 91) is projected and formed on the upper surface of the connecting portion 81 by welding or the like.

  In FIG. 2, in order from the front in the traveling direction, reference signs C1, C2, C3, and C4 as the center links of the conveyor chain CH, reference signs S1, S2, and S3 as side links, and reference signs 90A, 90B, and 90C as the caterpillar chain KH dogs. Explaining each of them, the connecting portion of the caterpillar chain KH with respect to the conveyor chain CH is generally such that the front lower end curved surface portion 95 and the front inclined surface 92 of the dog 90B press the rear end surface C2b of the center link C2 so that the conveyor chain CH Engaging portion 101 to which a driving force is transmitted to, a rising inclined portion 102 in which dog 90C is inserted between front end surface C4c of center link C4 and rear end surface C3b of center link C3, and a front lower end curved surface portion of dog 90A 95 and the front inclined surface 92 and the rear end surface C1b of the center link C1 Releasing the composed descending inclined portion 103.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the dog 90 (claw member 91) according to the present invention includes a front inclined surface 92 that is inclined forward in the forward direction, a rear surface that is closer to the rear in the moving direction, and an upper surface of the connecting portion 81. And a top surface 93 parallel to the surface. A front upper end corner portion 94 that is a corner between the front inclined surface 92 and the top surface 93 is a curved surface having a radius of curvature R1 in the range of 2 to 4 mm. The rear surface is a dimension in the range of 40 to 50% with respect to the height dimension H of the top surface 93 from the rear lower end base point 98 which is the intersection of the upper surface of the connecting portion 81 and the vertical line passing through the axis O2 of the rear pin hole 80b. A rear lower curved surface 97 which is formed to rise to the position where the tangent line passing through the upper end thereof becomes a vertical line with a curvature radius R2 and a rear upper vertical surface which is formed vertically from the upper end of the lower curved surface 97 96. That is, the height dimension H1 up to the upper end of the rear lower curved surface 97 is in the range of 40 to 50% with respect to the height dimension H of the top surface. In the present embodiment, the front lower end base point 91 that is the intersection of the upper surface of the connecting portion 81 and the front inclined surface 92 is located on a vertical line passing through the axis O1 of the front pin hole 80a.

  The conventional dog 50 shown in FIG. 6 has a long dog shape in the traveling direction because the length L1 and L2 are long and the rear surface is formed as a rear inclined surface 50a inclined linearly. Since the curvature radius of the curved surface 50e, which is the corner portion of the surface 50d and the front inclined surface 50b, is formed with a large curvature radius of about 10 mm, that is, the linear dimension of the front inclined surface 50b is reduced accordingly, in FIG. As described above, when the conveyor chain CH extends due to wear of the connecting pin P, the front end surface C2c of the center link C2 rides on the inclined surface 50a near the rear of the dog 50, and the rear end surface C3b of the center link C3 The event that the dog 52 climbs up to the curved surface 50e beyond the front inclined surface 50b is likely to occur.

  On the other hand, according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3, first, the rear surface of the dog 90 is composed of the rear lower curved surface 97 and the rear upper vertical surface 96, so that the entire dog shape progresses. The length in the direction can be easily reduced. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, it is possible to avoid riding on the front end face C2c of the center link C2 with respect to the dog 90A. In particular, as shown in FIG. 3, if the dog 90 is formed so that the front lower end base point 91, which is the intersection of the upper surface of the connecting portion 81 and the front inclined surface 92, is located on the vertical line passing through the axis O1 of the front pin hole 80a. The overall dog-shaped traveling direction length can be made sufficiently small. In FIG. 3, a front lower end corner portion 95 that is a corner portion between the front inclined surface 92 and the upper surface of the connecting portion 81 is formed as a curved surface having a radius of curvature of about 10 mm as in the conventional case.

  The reason why the radius of curvature R2 of the rear lower curved surface 97 is in the range of 40 to 50% with respect to the height dimension H of the top surface 93 is that if the value is less than 40%, the rear upper vertical surface 96 is rearward in the traveling direction. Therefore, the front end surface C2c of the center link C2 in FIG. 2 can easily ride on the rear upper vertical surface 96, and if the value is larger than 50%, the overall dog-shaped traveling direction length is small. This is because the strength of the dog 90 tends to decrease.

  The front upper corner portion 94 is a curved surface having a small radius of curvature in the range of 2 to 4 mm from the conventional large radius of curvature of about 10 mm, so that the height dimension H of the top surface 93 remains unchanged. The straight line length L3 can be made longer than before. Thus, in FIG. 2, even if the connection pin P is worn out and the conveyor chain CH is increased in elongation, the rear end surface C3b of the center link C3 does not ride on the front upper end corner portion 94. The center link C3 stays within the range of the front inclined surface 92, and the center link C3 moves forward along the front inclined surface 92 by the reaction force from the backup roller BR, so that the rear end surface C3b of the center link C3 is gradually inclined. 50b is lowered and the floating of the center link C3 and the side link S3 is eliminated.

  The reason why the radius of curvature R1 of the front upper corner portion 94 is 2 to 4 mm is that if the radius of curvature R1 is larger than 4 mm, the rear end surface C3b of the center link C3 may ride on the front upper corner portion 94 and is less than 2 mm. This is because smooth engagement / disengagement between the dog 90C and the center link C3 may not be possible. The radius of curvature R1 of the front upper corner portion 94 is most preferably 3 mm even in the range of 2 to 4 mm.

  According to the present invention, since the possibility of the rear end of the center link C3 being sandwiched between the backup roller BR and the top surface 93 of the dog 90C is reduced, the driving unit E (FIG. 1) of the caterpillar chain KH is overloaded. Thus, the problem that the conveyor chain CH is also stopped can be avoided. Therefore, the exchange cycle of the connecting pin P with which the conveyor chain CH is worn can be lengthened.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the front inclined surface 92 is preferably formed so as to form an angle θ in the range of 25 ° to 35 ° with respect to the vertical line. If the angle θ is larger than 35 °, for example, when the front inclined surface 92 of the dog 90B pushes the rear end surface C2b of the center link C2 in FIG. 2, the center link C2 may be displaced upward and a poor engagement may occur. If the angle is less than 25 °, it is difficult to release the front inclined surface 92 and the rear end surface C1b of the center link C1 in the descending inclined portion 103, and a load is easily applied to the drive unit E (FIG. 1). From the above, the angle θ is most preferably 30 °.

70 Pin 80 Side plate portion 80a Front pin hole 80b Rear pin hole 81 Connecting portion 82 Engaging member 90 Dog 91 Claw member 92 Front inclined surface 93 Top surface 94 Front upper end corner portion 96 Rear upper vertical surface 97 Rear lower curved surface 98 Rear lower end base point 100 Intermediate drive E Drive unit BR Backup roller CH Conveyor chain C Center link S Side link KH Caterpillar chain

Claims (2)

Arranged in an intermediate drive that drives the conveyor chain,
A pair of side plate portions each having a front pin hole and a rear pin hole formed at a pitch of ½ of the pitch of the connecting pins of the conveyor chain and the upper edges of the pair of side plates are connected, and the conveyor chain is connected to the upper surface. A caterpillar chain including an engaging member formed of a connecting portion projecting a claw member engaging with
The claw member has a front inclined surface that is inclined forward and obliquely rearward, a rear surface that is rearward in the traveling direction, and a top surface that is parallel to the upper surface of the connecting portion,
The front upper corner portion that is a corner between the front inclined surface and the top surface is a curved surface having a radius of curvature in the range of 2 to 4 mm.
The rear surface is a curvature having a dimension in a range of 40 to 50% with respect to a height dimension of the top surface from a rear lower end base point that is an intersection of an upper surface of the connecting portion and a vertical line passing through an axis of the rear pin hole. It is composed of a rear lower curved surface that is formed with a radius, and a tangent line passing through the upper end of the lower surface rises to a position where it becomes a vertical line, and a rear upper vertical surface that is formed vertically from the upper end of the lower curved surface. A caterpillar chain for driving a conveyor chain.   The caterpillar chain for driving a conveyor chain according to claim 1, wherein the front inclined surface is formed to form an angle in a range of 25 ° to 35 ° with respect to a vertical line.

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