JP7009682B2 - chain - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a chain having excellent lubricity and durability.

Conventionally, a chain is configured by flexibly connecting a plurality of outer plates and inner plates via pins and bushes. When the chain is used, the outer surface of the pin and the inner surface of the bush slide as the chain bends. Therefore, in order to prevent wear of this portion and smooth the bending operation of the chain, it is necessary to periodically refuel between the pin and the bush.

Since refueling work requires man-hours, it is desirable that the refueling interval is long. Therefore, a method of holding the lubricant on the pin itself has been proposed. As such a chain, for example, there is a method of providing a groove on the outer peripheral surface of the pin and holding the lubricating oil in the groove. (Patent Document 1).

Utility Model Registration No. 3126970 Gazette

However, even if the groove is refueled as in Patent Document 1, the lubricating oil may flow out from the groove during use, causing oil shortage. Therefore, even if a groove is provided, refueling is required at a reasonable frequency. In addition, the formation of the groove reduces the strength of the pin, which causes the durability of the chain to decrease.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a chain having excellent durability and capable of reducing the frequency of refueling.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention has a pair of outer plates having pin fitting holes at both ends, a pair of inner plates having bush fitting holes at both ends, and both ends are fitted into the bush fitting holes. The pin has a bush having a through hole and a pin inserted into the through hole and both ends fitted into the pin fitting hole, and the pin is placed on at least one of the outer surface of the pin or the inner surface of the bush. A groove substantially parallel to the axial direction is formed, and a resin member impregnated with a lubricant is arranged in the groove. The chain is characterized in that the cross-sectional area of the groove in the substantially central portion in the axial direction is smaller than the cross-sectional area.

The depth of the groove in the vicinity of the end portion in the axial direction may be deeper than the depth of the groove in the substantially central portion in the axial direction.

The width of the groove in the vicinity of the end portion in the axial direction may be wider than the width of the groove in the substantially central portion in the axial direction.

It is desirable that the groove is located on the side where the pin and the bush come into contact with each other when tension is applied to the chain, and is arranged within a range substantially half of the pin or the bush.

The cross-sectional shape of the resin member may be substantially circular or substantially elliptical, and a part of the resin member may protrude from the outer peripheral surface of the pin or the inner peripheral surface of the bush.

According to the present invention, the resin member impregnated with the lubricant is arranged in the groove provided on the contact surface of the pin or the bush. Therefore, the lubricant can be efficiently held and the outflow can be prevented, and the sliding property between the metals can be reduced due to the lubricity of the resin member itself. Further, at this time, by reducing the cross-sectional area of the groove in the substantially central portion in the axial direction with respect to the cross-sectional area of the groove in the vicinity of the end portion in the axial direction, the strength of the central portion of the pin or the like to which a larger stress is applied is reduced. It is possible to improve the lubricity in the vicinity of the end where more lubricity is required while suppressing the problem.

In this case, the cross-sectional area may be changed by changing the depth of the groove depending on the portion, or the cross-sectional area may be changed by changing the width of the groove. In any case, it is easy to process pins, bushes, and resin members.

Further, by arranging the groove within the range on the half-circumferential side on the side where the pin and the bush come into contact when tension is applied to the chain, it is possible to minimize the decrease in the strength of the pin or the like.

Further, the cross-sectional shape of the resin member is substantially circular or substantially elliptical, and a part of the resin member is projected from the outer peripheral surface of the pin or the inner peripheral surface of the bush, so that when tension is applied to the chain, the resin member is released. The resin member can be accommodated in the groove by being deformed and crushed and filling the gap between the groove and the resin member.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a chain having excellent durability and capable of reducing the frequency of refueling.

An exploded perspective view showing the chain 1. (A) is an assembled perspective view showing the chain 1, and (b) is a sectional view taken along line AA of (a). It is a figure which shows the pin 9, (a) is a plan view, (b) is a side view. 9 is a diagram showing a pin 9, FIG. 3A is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 3A, FIG. 4B is a sectional view taken along line C of FIG. 4A, FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the resin member 25 in the D portion of (a). (A) is a cross-sectional view of the pin 9a, and (b) is a cross-sectional view of the pin 9b. (A) is a plan view of the pin 9c, (b) is a plan view of the pin 9d, (c) is a plan view of the pin 9e, and (d) is a plan view of the pin 9f. (A) is a side view of the bush 7a, and (b) is a side view of the bush 7b.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a chain 1, and FIG. 2A is an assembled perspective view. The chain 1 is mainly composed of outer plates 3a and 3b, inner plates 5a and 5b, bushes 7, pins 9, and the like.

The outer plates 3a and 3b are plate-shaped members, and pin fitting holes 13 which are through holes are provided in the vicinity of both ends in the longitudinal direction. Similarly, the inner plates 5a and 5b are also plate-shaped members having substantially the same outer shape as the outer plates 3a and 3b, and bush fitting holes 17 which are through holes are provided in the vicinity of both ends in the longitudinal direction.

The bush 7 is a cylindrical member provided with a hole 11 which is a through hole inside. Further, the pin 9 is a rod-shaped member having a slightly longer length than the bush 7. Further, the outer diameter of the pin 9 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the bush 7 (hole 11). The details of the pin 9 will be described later.

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 2A. The chain 1 is configured such that a pair of outer plates 3a and 3b are arranged to face each other, a pair of inner plates 5a and 5b are arranged to face each other inside each, and are connected by a bush 7 and a pin 9. ..

Both ends of the bush 7 are fitted and fixed to the bush fitting holes 17 at the opposite portions of the inner plates 5a and 5b. A pin 9 is inserted into the hole 11 of the bush 7. Both ends of the pin 9 projecting from both ends of the bush 7 are fitted and fixed to the pin fitting holes 13 at the opposite portions of the outer plates 3a and 3b.

That is, the outer plates 3a and 3b are connected and fixed by the pin 9, and the inner plates 5a and 5b are connected and fixed by the bush 7. At this time, since the outer diameter of the pin 9 is smaller than the inner diameter of the bush 7, the pin 9 can freely rotate with respect to the bush 7. Therefore, the chain 1 in the connected state can freely rotate and bend at the connecting portion.

The outer plates 3a and 3b, the inner plates 5a and 5b, the bush 7, and the pin 9 need only have a certain level of strength, and for example, stainless steel can be used.

Next, the details of the pin 9 will be described. 3A and 3B are views showing the pin 9, FIG. 3A is a plan view of the pin 9, and FIG. 3B is a side view. Further, FIG. 4A is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 3A.

Outer plate fitting portions 23 are provided at both ends of the main body portion 19 of the pin 9. The outer plate fitting portion 23 has a slightly smaller outer diameter than the main body portion 19, and is a portion that fits into the pin fitting holes 13 of the outer plates 3a and 3b described above.

A groove 21 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the main body 19 substantially parallel to the axial direction of the pin 9. The groove 21 is formed continuously in a straight line over a substantially total length in a range other than the outer plate fitting portion 23 of the pin 9. That is, the groove 21 is formed over the entire length of the pin 9 at the portion where it may come into contact with the bush 7. The number of grooves 21 is not limited to the illustrated example, and may be one, and as shown in the figure, a plurality of grooves 21 may be arranged at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction. Further, the groove 21 is arranged within a range on the substantially half-circumferential side of the side where the pin 9 and the bush 7 come into contact with each other (part E in FIG. 2) when tension is applied to the chain 1, and the groove 21 is arranged on the other substantially half-circle. , It is not necessary to form the groove 21.

In each groove 21, a resin member 25 corresponding to the cross-sectional form (depth and width) of the groove 21 is arranged. The resin member 25 is a member impregnated with a lubricant and is a porous body such as polyethylene. As the lubricant, for example, a fluorine-based lubricating oil is applied. The outer surface of the resin member 25 is arranged on substantially the same surface as the outer surface of the pin 9 or slightly projecting from the outer surface of the pin 9.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the groove 21 has a different depth with respect to the axial direction of the pin 9, and the depth near the end of the groove 21 is deep. The width of the groove 21 is constant in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, in the cross section in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the pin 9, the cross-sectional area of the groove 21 in the substantially central portion in the axial direction is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the groove 21 in the vicinity of the end portion in the axial direction.

4 (b) and 4 (c) are cross-sectional views of the resin member 25 in portions C and D of FIG. 4 (a), respectively. As described above, since the depth of the groove 21 differs depending on the portion, the cross-sectional area of the resin member 25 also differs depending on the portion. More specifically, the cross-sectional area of the resin member 25 in the substantially central portion in the axial direction is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the resin member 25 in the vicinity of the end portion in the axial direction in the cross section in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the pin 9. .. The position of the outer peripheral surface of the resin member 25 exposed on the outer surface side of the pin 9 is constant regardless of the position in the axial direction, and the outer peripheral surface of the resin member 25 is formed in a straight line in the axial direction.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the chain 1 rotates at the connecting portion, the lubricant is applied to the sliding portion between the pin 9 and the bush 7. Therefore, wear of the sliding portion between the pin 9 and the bush 7 can be suppressed, and the operation of the chain 1 can be made smooth. Further, since the resin member 25 impregnated with the lubricant is arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the pin 9, lubrication between the bush 7 and the pin 9 can be performed for a long period of time. Therefore, the refueling interval can be lengthened.

Further, the groove 21 in which the resin member 25 is arranged is designed so that the vicinity of the central portion in the axial direction is shallow. Therefore, in the pin 9, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the strength of the portion where the largest bending force is applied. On the other hand, by deepening the depth of the groove 21 near the axial end where lubricity is particularly required and increasing the cross-sectional area of the resin member 25, more lubricant can be retained and high lubrication can be achieved. It can exert its sexuality.

Further, since a force is applied to the chain 1 in the traveling direction, the groove 21 is formed only in the portion where the pin 9 and the bush 7 are in strong contact with each other and slide, thereby suppressing the influence of the decrease in the strength of the pin 9. , The strength of the pin 9 can be ensured.

Next, other embodiments will be described. FIG. 5A is a diagram showing pins 9a having different shapes of the grooves 21. Unlike the pin 9, the pin 9a is formed so that the depth of the groove 21 is deep only at the end portion in the axial direction. In this way, the depth of the groove 21 is not changed gently like the pin 9, but is formed deep only in the vicinity of the end like the pin 9a, and the depth of other parts is made substantially constant. You may. Further, the depth of the groove 21 may be changed linearly as in the pin 9b shown in FIG. 5 (b).

Further, the width of the groove 21 may be changed in the axial direction as in the pin 9c shown in FIG. 6A. That is, the width of the groove 21 in the vicinity of the axial end portion of the pin 9c may be wider than the width of the groove 21 in the substantially central portion in the axial direction. Even in this way, the cross-sectional area of the resin member 25 in the vicinity of the axial end portion, which is particularly required to have lubricity, can be increased, and high lubricity can be exhibited.

In this way, when the width of the groove 21 is changed, the vicinity of both ends of the groove 21 may be substantially circular as in the pin 9d shown in FIG. 6 (b), and the pin shown in FIG. 6 (c) may be substantially circular. As in 9e, the vicinity of both ends of the groove 21 may be made substantially rectangular. In any case, high lubricity can be exhibited by increasing the cross-sectional area of the resin member 25 in the vicinity of the axial end portion where lubricity is particularly required.

Further, the groove 21 may be branched into a plurality of lines in the vicinity of both ends of the groove 21 as in the pin 9f shown in FIG. 6 (d). Even in this way, the total cross-sectional area of the resin member 25 in the vicinity of the axial end portion, which is particularly required to have lubricity, can be increased, and high lubricity can be exhibited.

The depth of the groove 21 may also be changed in the pins 9c to 9f. Further, also in the pins 9c to 9f, a plurality of grooves 21 may be provided side by side within a range of about half a circumference.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7A, a groove 21a may be provided on the inner peripheral surface of the bush 7a. Also in this case, the resin member 25 is arranged in the groove 21a, and the resin member 25 is exposed on the inner surface of the bush 7a. A plurality of grooves 21a are arranged in parallel in the axial direction in a range of about half the circumference of the inner surface of the bush 7a. The number of grooves 21a is not limited to the illustrated example. In this way, instead of forming the groove 21 on the pin side and arranging the resin member 25, the groove 21a may be formed on the bush side and the resin member 25 may be arranged.

Also in this case, the depth and width of the groove 21a are changed with respect to the axial direction, so that the cross-sectional area of the groove 21a in the vicinity of the end portion in the axial direction is relative to the cross-sectional area in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction. The cross-sectional area of the groove 21a at the substantially central portion in the axial direction may be reduced.

Further, as in the bush 7b shown in FIG. 7B, a substantially circular or substantially elliptical resin member 25 may be arranged so as to project toward the inner surface side with respect to the groove 21a. When the cross-sectional shape of the resin member 25 is substantially circular, it also includes the case where it is partially elliptical. As described above, since the diameter of the resin member 25 is changed according to the change in the depth and width of the groove 21a, the cross-sectional shape of the resin member 25 is partially elliptical.

In this way, by projecting a part of the substantially circular or elliptical shape to the inner surface of the bush 7b, the resin member 25 is strongly pressed by the pin 9 inserted into the hole 11. Therefore, the resin member 25 is deformed and pushed into the groove 21a. Although it is difficult for the shape of the groove 21a to completely match the shape of the resin member 25, the resin member 25 can be arranged in the groove 21a without a gap by deforming and pushing the resin member 25.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the attached drawings, the technical scope of the present invention does not depend on the above-described embodiments. It is clear that a person skilled in the art can come up with various modifications or modifications within the scope of the technical ideas described in the claims, and these are naturally within the technical scope of the present invention. It is understood that it belongs to.

For example, the present invention may combine the above-described embodiments with each other. For example, the form of the groove 21a of the bush 7a and 7b may be changed to the groove 21 of the pins 9 to 9f, and the resin member of the bush 7b is applied to the pin side to form the resin member 25 on the outer periphery of the pin. It may be projected. Further, the resin member 25 may be arranged by forming grooves in both the pin and the bush. Further, the chain of the present invention may have the above-mentioned pins and the like, and other configurations such as rollers may be used.

1 ………… Chain 3a, 3b ………… Outer plate 5a, 5b ………… Inner plate 7, 7a, 7b ………… Bush 9, 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, 9e, 9f ………… Pin 11 …… … Hole 13 ………… Pin fitting hole 17 ………… Bush fitting hole 19 ………… Main body 21, 21a ………… Groove 23 ………… Outer plate fitting part 25 ………… Resin member

Claims (5)

A pair of outer plates with pin fitting holes on both ends,

A pair of inner plates with bush fitting holes on both ends,
A bush having both ends fitted into the bush fitting hole and having a through hole,
A pin inserted into the through hole and both ends fitted into the pin fitting hole,
Have,
A groove substantially parallel to the axial direction of the pin is formed on at least one of the outer surface of the pin or the inner surface of the bush, and a resin member impregnated with a lubricant is arranged in the groove.
A chain characterized in that, in a cross section in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, the cross-sectional area of the groove in a substantially central portion in the axial direction is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the groove in the vicinity of the end portion in the axial direction. The chain according to claim 1, wherein the depth of the groove in the vicinity of the end portion in the axial direction is deeper than the depth of the groove in the substantially central portion in the axial direction. The chain according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the width of the groove in the vicinity of the end portion in the axial direction is wider than the width of the groove in the substantially central portion in the axial direction. Claim 1 is characterized in that the groove is on the side where the pin and the bush come into contact with each other when tension is applied to the chain, and is arranged within a range substantially half of the pin or the bush. The chain according to any one of claims 3. Claims 1 to 4 are characterized in that the cross-sectional shape of the resin member is substantially circular or substantially elliptical, and a part of the resin member protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the pin or the inner peripheral surface of the bush. The chain described in any of.

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