MXPA98005338A - Assembly of movie reinforcement bar - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a drive chain assembly, for transferring power from a power source to a driven chain, the assembly comprises an endless drive chain, gear wheel means for coupling the drive chain of the power source, power, a support bar for guiding the drive chain, an actuator connected to the support bar for selectively predisposing the support bar against the drive chain, characterized in that the actuator is mounted to slide between the first predetermined position where the the actuator moves to properly connect the actuator chain to the driven chain and the second position where the actuator moves to properly disconnect the drive chain with the driven chain, and the actuator has a first indicating member to indicate the position of the first actuator. default position and a second indicator member for indi the position of the second predetermined position, by means of which an operator can operate the structure of the support bar by directly moving the actuator between the first and second indicator members

Description

Coupled with the drive chain. The drive chain is positioned in proximity to the driven chain and a support bar is used to guide the drive chain and hold it against the chain if it is not securely held there. Accordingly, drive chain assemblies with bolted support rods are constructed in place to hold the drive chain accurately in position.

It is sometimes necessary to uncouple the drive chain from the conveyor chain, such as when carrying out certain maintenance tasks or when joining or connecting auxiliary drives to the conveyor. In order to do this, it is necessary to unbolt the support bar and separate it or reposition it in such a way that it no longer reengages the drive chain against the conveyor chain and reattach the support bar in this new position. Because the unbending of the support bar can introduce clearance into the drive chain, the person carrying out this operation must carefully ensure that the drive chain is completely separate from the conveyor chain and does not fall over the chain. 1ransporter or on any other moving part. It may also be necessary to secure the drive chain to keep it separate from the conveyor chain. Be careful not to operate the drive chain when the clearance is present, because this could cause the drive chain to slip off the drive sprockets and cause damage to nearby equipment such as the drive shaft. This repositioning process requires a variety of special tools and skills and can take approximately 15 minutes, even if carried out by a technician or BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION These and other objects are carried out by the present invention, which comprises a mounting or support bar assembly for use in connection with a drive chain, which assembly or assembly can be repositioned with an actuator Operable either automatically or manually. The actuator is preferably fixable in either of the two positions to ensure that the support bar either positively retains the drive chain against the conveyor chain or is separated from the drive chain and that it is not in some intermediate position . In addition, the support bar assembly may include a structure for placing tension on the drive chain to keep it separate from the driven chain even when the drive chain i is separated from the driven chain.

In a preferred embodiment of the subject invention, the drive chain assembly comprises first and second gear wheels, each supported by a rotary shaft for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the shaft. At least one of the axes is a drive shaft connected to a power source. An endless drive chain is connected between the sprockets and I rotates around the sprocket when the drive shaft rotates. A support bar is connected to an I support of the support bar and the support of the support bar is connected to an actuator, which in turn is connected to a structure which is fixed with respect to the sprockets . The support bar is positioned inside the curve defined by the endless drive chain and in alignment with the drive chain. The actuator can be manipulated by the hand to move the support bar against the drive chain to drive the drive chain to a coupling with the chain that is driven and then fixed in place to retain the drive chain against the chain driven. The actuator may also be locked in a second position to retain the support bar remote from the drive chain. PreferablyWhen the actuator is in this second position, the support of the support bar places tension on the drive chain to hold it away from the drive that is driven. The drive chain may still be rotating when it is separated from the driven chain. Therefore, it is important to stay away from the driven chain, so that the driven chain n will change position when it is supposed to be at rest. Also, the drive chain can continue to be driven by an auxiliary drive after whichThe main drive chain is separated. Therefore, it is important that the drive chain be retained separately from the driven chain to prevent it from interfering with the free running of the chain. It is therefore, the main object of the present invention, to provide an apparatus for moving a drive chain and out of engagement with another object. It is another object of the present invention to provide an appendix of the prior character, which can be put into operation without the use of tools It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of the prior character which can be put into operation by a person without special skills.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an actuator for a support bar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading and understanding of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, together with the following drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a front elevation view of a drive chain and a set assembly of movable support rods according to the present invention, with the support bar shown in the downward position; Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the movable support bar assembly and drive chain of Figure 1, with the support bar or support shown in the upward position; Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the support bar assembly or assembly of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the support bar assembly of Figure 1; and Figure 5 is a top plan view of the bar assembly of Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODE 1 '"Referring now to the drawings, in which they are shown for the purposes of illustrating a preferred embodiment I of the present invention only and not for the purpose of limiting the same, FIG. assembly of support bar designated in general by the number 10, comprising support 12 of the support bar, having an upper wall 14, a front wall 16 and a rear wall 18, two legs 20 extending as far as possible. far from the upper wall 14 and having lower walls 22 and an inner wall 24 located between the lower walls of the leg A perforation 26, connects the upper wall 14 with the inner wall 24 'and is located closest to the wall I posterior 18 than to the front wall 16. A support bar 28 is connected to the lower walls 22 of the support 12 and closer to the front wall 16 than to the rear wall 18, such as by welding or bolting and the support bar is preferably made of aluminum or steel or any of the other materials from which ordinary support rods are normally constructed. The support bar q support 28 comprises a length of a channel section in the general form of C comprising a bottom 30 of the channel and side fs 32 of the channel and the sides of the channel are II enlarged at the end portions 34 to assist guide a mobile chain through the channel. Bolts are used to hold the support bar 28 to the support 12, the bolt heads must be adjusted below the bottom 30 of the channel, so as not to interfere with the movement with a chain through the lower part of the channel. The support 12 includes a channel 36 in the upper wall 14 located near the front wall 16 and directly above and aligned with the support bar 28. An insert 38 of the channel, made of the same material as the support bar fits within the channel 36, although this insert 38 could be omitted if the misplate 12 is made of the same material as the support bar. The insert 38 has enlarged end portions 40 which fit within the by incorporating two holes 58 and 60 into the housing 46 and a third hole 62 through the handle 54, such that a bolt 64 can be inserted through I the opening 62 and one of the openings 58, 60 to have the handle 54 and hence the rod 52, in a specific position with respect to the housing. The stationary structure 48 is the housing of a motor for driving a drive chain. Two axes 66 extend from the openings in the housing 48 and at least one of the axes is connected to a housing for rotating the axle, A pair of sprockets 68 are supported on the axes and a drive chain 70 is supported i the cogwheels. Chain 70 includes a plurality of pawls 72 extending away from the sprocket and the chain is long enough from such a chain of actuators. When the drive chain 70 is held against, the driven chain 74 with the ratchets 72 in engagement with the driven chain 74, the rotation of the drive chain will be transmitted to the driven chain to cause it to rotate as well. II The rod 52 passes through the bore 26 and is secured with respect to the support 12 with bolts 76 or any other suitable masonry, such as by the use of bolts or by welding. The actuator 44 is positioned in such a way that the support bar 28 is aligned with the part of the drive chain adjacent to the driven chain 74. This portion is the lower portion of the drive chain, as seen in the figures and reference will be made to "the same as the lower portion of the chain herein, it is understood that the drive chain could be oriented differently, such that this portion of the drive chain would no longer be the lower portion When the support bar 28 is in its folded position, as shown in Figure 1, the drive chain 70 is received within the support beam 28 I and stopped in engagement with the driven chain 74, such that rotation of the driving chain I will be transmitted to the driven chain When the actuator 44 is moved to the second position, shown in the Figure 2, the support bar 28 is separated from the driven chain and the drive chain no longer drives the driven chain, even if the drive chain continues I with its rotation. The upper portion of the drive chain 70 is supported by the channel 36 in the upper wall 14 of the support 12 to retain the tensioning drive chain 70 and to prevent the drive chain from coming into contact with the driven chain: ? which could still be moving, such as when an auxiliary drive is present in the conveyor line. The actuator 44 is freely movable between these two positions and thus the support bar assembly can be moved coupled or uncoupled i from a drive chain of a driven chain in a matter of seconds and without the use of any tool.

Besides being easy to use, it is also significantly easier to manufacture, which reduces manufacturing time by approximately 25%. The present invention has been described with respect to a preferred embodiment, in which the bar assembly

Claims (4)

1. CLAIMS 1. In a drive chain assembly, to transfer power from a power source to a driven chain, the assembly comprises an endless drive chain, cogwheel means for coupling the drive chain to the power source t and a bar of support for guiding the drive chain, the improvement is characterized in that it comprises: a manually operable actuator connected between the drive chain assembly and the support bar for selectively predisposing the support bar against the drive chain.
2. 2. A drive chain assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the support bar comprises a support of the support bar.
3. 3. A chain of drive according to claim 2, characterized in that the support of the support bar includes a first surface and a second surface and wherein the support bar is connected to the first surface.
4. 4. A drive chain assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that the second surface includes a portion adapted to be brought into contact with the drive chain. 6. A drive chain assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuator is movable between a first position and a second position e -I includes fixing means for fixing the actuation in the first or second position. 7. A drive chain assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that the actuator comprises a linear actuator. 8. A drive chain assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that the linear actuator comprises a push / pull clamp. 9. In a drive chain assembly for transferring power from a power source to a driven chain, the assembly comprises: a housing; a first axis having an axis and supported in the housing for rotation about said first axis of the shaft; a second axis having an axis and supported in the housing for rotation about the second axis of the shaft; a power source supported by the housing for rotating at least one of the first and second axes; a first gear wheel supported on the first l | axis for its rotation around the first axis of the axis; a second sprocket supported on the second axis for rotation about the second axis of the shaft; an endless drive chain supported by the first and second gear wheels for rotation about it; a support of the support bar connected to the housing; and a support bar connected to the support of the support bar; the improvement is characterized in that it comprises: an actuator connected between the support of the support bar and the housing for moving the support bar between the first position and a second position relative to the first and second axes. 10. A drive chain assembly in accordance with the. claim 9, characterized in that the actuator is manually operable. 11. A drive chain assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that the actuator comprises a push / pull clamp. 12. A drive chain assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that the actuator is blogable in the first and second positions. 13. A drive chain assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that the support of the support bar includes a surface for guiding the drive chain. 14. A drive chain assembly according to claim 13, characterized in that the support bar is located on the opposite side of the support bar support from the surface to guide the drive chain. 15. A drive chain assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that the drive chain is retained against the drive chain when the support of the support bar is in the first position and where the drive chain is nest away from the driven chain when the support bar is in the second position.; 16. A chain drive assembly of compliance with the? claim 9, characterized in that the support bar engages with the drive chain when the support of the support bar is in the first position and where the surface to guide the drive chain is coupled with the drive chain when the support of the support bar is in the second position. the support bar holds the drive chain away from the driven chain in the second position. 20. A support bar assembly according to claim 19, characterized in that the actuator is lockable for. retain the support bar and support in one of the first or second positions, 21. A drive chain assembly for transferring power from a power source to a driven chain, the assembly is characterized in that it comprises: a housing; a first one having an axis and supported in the housing for its rotation about the first axis of the axis; a second axis having an axis and supported in the housing for rotation about the second axis of the axis; i a power source supported by the housing I to rotate at least one of the first and second axes; a first gear wheel supported on the first axis for rotation about the first axis of the shaft; a second sprocket supported on the second axis for gn rotation about the second axis of the shaft; 'an endless drive chain supported by the first and second gear wheels for rotation about it; a support of the support bar connected to? housing and comprising a first wall and a second wall spaced apart from and generally parallel to the first wall, the second wall is adapted to be coupled with the drive chain; I a support bar connected to the first wall I of the support of the support bar; and a lockable push / pull tab connected between the support bar holder and the housing to move the support bar between a first position, gn where the support bar is retained against the drive chain and a second position wherein the second wall is retained against the drive chain.