SE517724C2 - Chain cooling arrangement during chain manufacturing - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a link-cooling arrangement (32), adapted for inclusion in a production line for producing, from a series of open links structures, a chain consisting of a series of closed links. The link-cooling arrangement consists of at least one helical flange (32n), which has gas conducting surfaces and an inwardly facing edge line of which is adapted for co-action with at least one helical pipe (32k), intended for conducting a cooling fluid. The closed chain links are intended to pass through apertures (32b), formed in said gas conducting flange, and its associated surfaces.

Description

5 30 35 517 724 2 for the rotatably or rotatably arranged disc is shown in more detail and described in a Swedish patent application filed on October 4, 2000, under the application number OO 03587-3, with the title "Arrangement at a chain feed".

These exposed links must then be fed by the rotary movement of the disc through a link welding arrangement, and then fed to a link cooling arrangement.

A link welding arrangement is shown in more detail and described in a Swedish patent application filed on this day, under the application number OO 04064-2, with the name "Link welding arrangement".

In addition, within such a production line, a removal product formed during the welding process is used.

Such an arrangement is shown in more detail and described in a Swedish patent application filed on October 25, 2000, under application number OO 03879-4, with the title "Arrangement for being able to remove slag products".

Like the prior art, the link-cooling arrangement, according to the present invention, is based on the use of means for lowering the temperature of the links joined together by welding in a chain with a cooled inert gas.

PRIOR ART OF THE ART A link-cooling arrangement, of an initially stated nature, and utilizing means for lowering the temperature of the links in the chain joined by means of a cooled inert gas is previously known in a number of different embodiments. With reference to what is previously known in a production line specially designated for the present invention, reference is made to the contents of the international patent application PCT / SE83 / 00371, with the international patent publication number WO 84/01788 .

Here is shown and described a method and a device for being able to produce allergy-free objects, especially objects formed from metals intended for a direct contact with skin parts of a living being, and which requirements the present invention also intends to meet.

Examples of such objects can be mentioned in addition to chains of various kinds with different link structures, necklaces, ankle and bracelets, etc. earrings and / or nose rings, jewels, watches, glasses in which completely pure metals, especially precious metals, as well as gold, silver, platinum, palladium or rhodium, alloyed with optimally pure zinc, copper, aluminum, nickel or chromium and where treatments performed within utilized heating and cooling processing stations are performed without access to air and without any contact with surface-reacting substances, such as salt or acid but occurs in an inert environment.

Preferably, all heating and cooling should be performed here while utilizing a shielding gas.

The arrangement shown here shows a production line for being able to produce a number of serially oriented closed links, which together form a bendable and elongate chain, from a number of serially oriented chain-coordinated and open links.

Existing production line processing stations are indicated here, a first which places open links to a belt, a second 10 15 20 25 30 35 c .- u Q n unc o o v -coq u u nosa noe n n coon o n own. v 517 724 4 which welds together the open links into closed links, a third which cools the newly welded links and a fourth which feeds cooled links from the production line. to be able to perform (61) in order thereby to allow cold-worked objects (66), in the form More specifically it is shown that the arrangement, the method, here shall consist of a rotatably arranged table of a chain with open links, (63) of a heating gas and / or a shielding gas (70) (68) cooling duct and utilizing the exhaust gases from the link welding (63), (71) cooling and a shielding gas during the cooling sequence, which pass through a linker welded arrangement or duct, during use and a subsequent link-cooling arrangement or the arrangement which is led via channels 73) as a displacement of the object (66) within the cooling channel takes place simultaneously with the supply of cooling and protective gas.

In particular, Figure 7 of the said patent publication can be considered to be of importance, with regard to the prior art related to the present invention.

REVIEW OF THE PRESENT INVENTION TECHNICAL PROBLEM Considering the fact that the technical considerations that a person skilled in the relevant technical field must make in order to offer a solution to one or more technical problems posed is initially a necessary insight into the measures and / or the sequence. measures to be taken and a necessary choice of the means or means required, the consequent technical problems should therefore be relevant in the creation of the present invention.

In view of the prior art, as described above, it should be seen as a technical problem to be able to designate a link cooling arrangement which is directly useful in a production line, where from a number of serially oriented open links, it must be possible to produce a number of serially oriented closed links, in order thereby to form an elongate chain, by creating such conditions that via the link-cooling arrangement, immediately followed by a link-welding arrangement, the fact that said link-cooling is utilized arrangement consists of at least one, preferably a number, helical, cooled gas conductive surfaces and the inwardly facing margins of surfaces are adapted to cooperate with one or more helical tubes, intended to guide a fluid intended for cooling and that chain-associated closed links are adapted to pass through recesses formed in said gas-conducting surfaces.

In addition, it is a technical problem to be able to create such conditions with simple measures, within a link-cooling arrangement, that within the arrangement the cooling effect is so adapted that it can absorb from the links an adapted heat energy with concomitant temperature reduction, within an inert atmosphere, leading to a formation of intact closed links, at the end of the link cooling arrangement.

It is also a technical problem to be able to realize the significance of and the advantages associated with allowing said link-cooling arrangement to consist of a plurality of parallel helical gas-conducting surfaces and which surfaces inwardly facing edges are adapted to cooperate with a corresponding plurality of parallel helical tubes. , intended to allow the media intended for cooling to be conducted according to the countercurrent principle and that chain-associated closed links are adapted to pass through recesses formed close to the disc in said gas-conducting surfaces.

In addition, it is a technical problem to be able to realize the significance of and the advantages associated with allowing said recesses to be assigned a curvature, corresponding to a part of a radius assigned to a rotatable disc.

It is a technical problem to be able to realize the significance of and the advantages associated with allowing said gas-conducting surfaces to be adapted for a boundary-related interaction with said pipe within an area located within and adjacent to the interface for adjacent pipe sections.

It is also a technical problem to be able to realize the significance of and the advantages associated with allowing the gas intended for cooling to be conducted between said surfaces and that the edges of the surfaces are enclosed by a casing, as part of a torus format.

It is a technical problem to be able to realize the significance of and the advantages associated with allowing a number of parallel gas streams within said casing to be assigned a flow direction opposite a selected flow direction for a corresponding number of parallel pipes intended for said gas streams cooling fluid.

In addition, it is a technical problem to be able to realize the significance of and the advantages associated with allowing the number of said helical gas-conducting surfaces to be selected from between 2 and 5 parallel-related continuously screwed wall portions.

It is also a technical problem to be able to realize the significance of and the advantages associated with allowing the number of said helical, fluid conducting, pipes to be selected to between 2 and 5 parallel-related continuously screwed pipe sections.

It is further a technical problem to be able to realize the significance of and the advantages associated with allowing a proportion of said cooling gas to be constituted by a part of the exhaust gases obtained from an upstream link welding arrangement and where the gas content is subject to cooling.

It is also a technical problem to be able to realize the significance of and the advantages associated with allowing said gas to be cooled to a temperature around and preferably below 0 ° C and that said fluid is allowed to be cooled to a temperature around and preferably slightly above 0 ° C.

In addition, it is a technical problem to be able to realize the significance of and the advantages associated with allowing said torus-shaped housing to be assigned an extent, along the peripheral surface area of the disc, corresponding to an angle of between 110 ° and 140 °, preferably about 130 ° .

It is a technical problem to be able to realize the significance of and the advantages associated with allowing the torus-shaped housing to be assigned a diameter which, relative to a disc assigned diameter, has values ranging between 5/45 and 10/45, such as about 6 / 45.

Solution The present invention is thus based on a link-cooling arrangement, adapted to be able to be part of a production line in order to be able to produce a number of serially oriented closed links from a number of serially oriented open links, in order thereby to be able to form an elongate chain.

The link-cooling arrangement is adapted to preferably be able to be included as part of a production line, utilizing a rotatably arranged disc, to the peripheral edge area of which an elongated chain orientation consisting of open links and 10 15 20 25 30 35 51 7 7 2 4 in '' Äifiš is fed. 8 with the individual links slightly joined together, that these links to one and then to a link cooling are fed, by a disc assigned rotational movement, link welding arrangement, arrangement, in accordance with the present invention, and to a slag product removing arrangement, said link cooling arrangement , in order to be able to solve one or more of the above-mentioned technical problems, consists of one or more helical, cooling gas conductive surfaces and which resp. surface inwardly facing edge line is adapted to cooperate with one or more helical tubes, intended to lead a fluid intended for cooling and that chain-associated closed links are adapted to pass through recesses formed in said gas-conducting surfaces.

As proposed embodiments, falling within the scope of the present invention, it is indicated that said recesses are assigned a curvature, the rotatable disc assigned, corresponding to a part of a radius.

It is further indicated that said gas-conducting surfaces shall be adapted for a co-operation with said pipe within an area located within the interface for adjacent pipes.

It is further indicated that the gas may be guided between said surfaces and that the surfaces be enclosed by a casing, as part of a torus.

The gas within said housing is assigned a flow direction opposite to a selected flow direction for said fluid.

It is further indicated that the number of said helical gas-conducting surfaces is selected from between 2 and 5 parallel-related continuously screwed wall portions.

It is further indicated that the number of said helical, fluid conductive tubes is selected to be between 2 and 5 parallel-related continuously screwed tube portions.

Said cooling gas consists of cooled exhaust gases obtained from an upstream link welding arrangement.

Said gas is cooled to a temperature around, preferably below 0 ° C and said fluid is cooled to a temperature around, preferably slightly above 0 ° C.

It is further indicated that the casing formed as part of a torus shape is assigned an extension along the peripheral surface area of the disc corresponding to an angle of between 110 and 140 °, preferably about 130 °.

It is further indicated that the casing has been assigned a diameter which, in relation to a diameter assigned to the disc, has values ranging between 5/45 and 10/45, such as about 6/45.

ADVANTAGES The advantages that can mainly be considered to be characteristic of a link-cooling arrangement, in accordance with the present invention, are that in this way conditions have been created for obtaining a very good sequential cooling of links welded together within a link-welding arrangement, in order to in a simple manner and at the end of the link cooling arrangement can create such conditions that the amount of energy successively absorbed from the links has been so adapted that it not only has an adapted low temperature at the end of the arrangement but also has cooled down in an atmosphere, where the links are intact. What can primarily be considered as characteristic of a link-cooling arrangement, in accordance with the present invention, is stated in the characterizing part of the appended claim 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A presently proposed link cooling arrangement, exhibiting the significant features associated with the present invention, will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 shows a production line with a number of processing stations in order to be able to produce an elongated and bendable chain formed with closed links from a number of serially oriented chain-coordinated open links and during the utilization of e.g. a link welding arrangement and a link cooling arrangement according to the invention as processing stations, shows in a horizontal view the housing for a link cooling arrangement according to the invention, shows the arrangement according to figure 2 in a side view, shows in side view and in section a coordination between three helical exhaust gas conducting surfaces and helical tubes, shows an enlarged subsection of Figure 4, 10 15 20 25 51 7 7 2 4 - _ 11 _ Figure 6 shows one, of three utilized, helically cooled exhaust gases conductive, surface and Figure 7 shows a, of three utilized, helical format refrigerant conductive, pipe.

Bzsmuvzuns OVER NOW THE PROPOSAL UvFÖRINGs fi- onn Thus, with reference to Figure 1, there is shown a production line 1 which, from an elongated chain link forming a number of serially oriented open links, should be able to produce a number of serially oriented closed links so as to thereby form an elongated chain 2.

In Figure 1, the serially oriented open links have been assigned the reference numerals 21 ', 22' and 23 'while the closed links have been assigned the reference numeral 21, 22, 23.

The welding areas 21a, 22a, located within openings 2la ', 22a', which form the closed links 21, 22 are thus formed within the link welding arrangement.

The open links 21 ', 22' 23 'are to be fed down on a flat upper surface 3' for a rotatably arranged disc 3, at a position designated by the reference numeral 3a.

The downgrading of the elongated chain coordination, with open links 211, 22 ', 23', 4 October 2000 filed in the Swedish patent application, is shown in more detail and described in the assigned application number 00 03587-3, and which the content of the application is to be regarded as a part of the present application, in order to thereby be able to clarify a suitable application for the present 10 10 20 20 25 30 nn n nnnn n nunn nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn nnn nn nn nnnn n _12._ ande invention within a production line with sequential processing stations.

The elongate chain coordination 2 ', with open links, resting against the flat upper surface 3' of the disc 3, is transported via subsections upon subsections through a welding or soldering station 31 serving as a processing station, and a subsequent cooling station 32, thereby feeding the elongate the chain, with joined and closed links 21, 22, 23, along a radially related circular surface section 3b of the disc 3.

A link welding arrangement is shown in more detail and described in a Swedish patent application filed on this day, assigned the application number OO 04064-2, and entitled "Link welding arrangement" and which the content of the application is to be regarded as part of the present application, in order thereby provide a suitable application for the present invention within a production line with sequential processing stations.

Thus, the elongate chain 2, with said closed links 21, 22, 23, will be adapted to be transported in an arcuate shape along the surface section 3b of the rotatably arranged disc 3.

A deflection roller 4 intended for the chain 2 is adapted to cause said chain 2 and the sub- or chain section of the chain to move from the upper flat surface 3 'of said disc 3 in an arcuate shape radially out from said disc 3 and out over the rounded edge 3c of the disc 3.

Here, the utilization of a movement assigned to the deflection roller 4, rotatably arranged in the direction of the arrow, about its center axis 4c is indicated.

Here is also shown a grinding wheel 6, adapted to be able to grind from the flat surface 3 'of the board stuck any slag products.

The chain 2 here has a sub-section 2a, which leaves the link-cooling arrangement 32 and has a section 2c which is to be bent around the deflection roller 4 and in addition a section 2e which by its own weight is to press the sub-section 2c against the peripheral surface 4a.

The deflection 2c of the closed chain 2 around the deflection roller 4 with associated arrangement constitutes a processing station in order to be able to remove slag products which are stuck on the links within the welding station 31.

This arrangement is shown in more detail and described in a Swedish patent application filed on October 25, 2000, assigned the application number OO 03879-4, and entitled "Arrangements for being able to remove slag products" and which the contents of the application are to be regarded as part of the present application, in order thereby to clarify a suitable application for the present invention within a production line with sequential processing stations.

The present invention thus relates to a link-cooling arrangement 32, useful within the production line shown in Figure 1, with the processing stations (3a, 31, 32 and 4) indicated therein.

The link cooling arrangement 32 consists of a housing 32a shown in Figure 2, with an inlet opening 32b in an upstream end portion 32c and an outlet opening 32b 'in a downstream end. . _14 .. position end portion 32d.

The housing 32a has been assigned an outer shape that connects to a portion of a torus shape.

Adjacent the downstream end portion 32d are a number, illustrated herein as three, of connections 32e, which are connected to hoses for conducting cooling fluid.

Adjacent the upstream end portion 32b there is a connection 32f intended to supply cooled inert gas to the arrangement 32 via a connection.

This cooled inert gas consists of a divided proportion of the exhaust gases formed within an upstream link welding arrangement 31.

Attached to the housing 32a by the end portion 32c are connections 32e 'to the connection 32d' for diverting fluid. The housing 32a is adjacent to the end pair to divert exhaust gases.

With reference to Figures 4 to 7, the constructive design of the link-cooling arrangement 32 will be clarified.

The arrangement 32 consists partly of one or more, in the exemplary embodiment illustrated as three, pipe sections.

In the case of a pipe, this must be wound tightly with a constant radius of curvature and a constant pitch, and the pipe thereby forms a helical shape.

In the case of two pipes, these must be oriented in parallel and tightly wound with a constant radius of curvature and a constant pitch 10 15 20 25 30 un:: o non onoonno on o oooo o uno oooooononoonononoo non oo oo soon n _] _ 5_ and each of these tubes forms its helical shape with a pitch twice as large as that of a tube.

Referring to Figure 7, there is shown one, of three utilized, tubes 32k, with a constant radius of curvature "r" and with a pitch "s" so adapted that two further such tubes may be inserted into the helical shape of Figure 7, which Figure Figures 4 and 5 show.

Referring to Figure 6, there is shown a gas-conducting flange 32n utilized by three, with decoupled gas-conducting surfaces 32n ', 32n ".

The flange 32n has here been assigned a constant radius of curvature "r1" substantially corresponding to the radius of curvature of a virtual cylinder enclosing the tube 32k. Here, too, a pitch "s" is shown so adapted that two further flanges 320, 32p, can be inserted into the helical shape according to Figure 6.

The coordination of three pipes 32k, 321 and 32m with three flanges 32n, 320 and 32p is primarily shown in figure 5.

The inner edge line 32na belonging to the flange 32n is adapted to cooperate with the tube 32k and the outer edge line 32nb belonging to the flange 32n is adapted to cooperate with the inner surface 32a 'of the housing 32a.

Thus, the present invention consists of one, or a number of, helical gas-conducting surfaces 32n 'and 32n "and which inwardly facing edge line 32na is adapted to cooperate with a helical tube 32k and more particularly oriented between adjacent tubes.

These pipes are thus intended to conduct a fluid intended for cooling, such as in the form of water, and to divert heat energy absorbed by the flanges from the newly welded links.

The chain-linked closed links 21, 22, 23 are adapted to pass through recesses formed in the gas-conducting surface.

In Figure 6 it has been indicated by a line 60 that for each turn for 32p) the flange has within a surface area adjacent to the disc 3 and the links supported by this flange 32n (and of course also the other flanges 320) formed with recesses, the dimension of which is indicated suitable to only slightly exceed the cross section of the links.

The housing 32a is thus formed next to the disc 3 with a slot for forming said recesses.

Said recesses are assigned a curvature "R1" corresponding to a, part of, the rotatable disc 3 assigned, the radius "R".

Said gas-conducting surfaces 32n are adapted via the edges 32na for a heat-conducting interaction with said pipe within an area located within a boundary area between adjacent pipes.

The cooled exhaust gas is led via the connection 32f between the three parallel surfaces and that the surfaces are enclosed by a housing 32a formed as part of a torus.

The exhaust gases within said housing are assigned a flow direction which is selected opposite a selected flow direction for said fluid through said pipe section.

Said helical gas-conducting flanges with their surfaces are in number selected from between 2 and 5 parallel-related continuously screwed wall portions.

Said helical fluid conducting pipes are equal in number selected, to between 2 and 5 parallel-connected continuously screwed pipe sections.

Said housing 32a is assigned an extension along the peripheral surface area of the disc 3 corresponding to an angle of between 110 and 140 °, preferably about 130 °.

The housing 32a has been assigned a diameter (D1), which in relation to a disc assigned diameter (D2 = 2R), has values ranging between 5/45 and 10/45, such as about 6/45.

The invention is of course not limited to the above-mentioned exemplary embodiment, but may undergo modifications within the scope of the inventive concept illustrated in the following claims.

Claims (11)

l0 15 20 25 30 ooo ooo oo oo o oo oo oo oo oo o _, o oo oo oo oo oo o nu ~ o 00 o oo oo ooooo oo o oo o ooo ooooooo oo o oooo o oooo ooooooooovooooooooooo ooo oo oo oo oooo o _18 .. Patent claims 1. A link cooling arrangement (32), adapted to be included in a production line in order to be able to produce a number of serially oriented closed links from a number of serially oriented open links, to thereby form an elongate chain, preferably a production line using a rotatably arranged disc, to the peripheral edge area of which an elongated chain orientation consisting of open links is fed, with the links slightly joined, that these links are fed by the movement of the disc into a link welding arrangement (31) (32) to a slag product removal arrangement, wherein said and then to a link cooling arrangement and the link cooling arrangement comprises means for lowering with a cooled inert gas the temperature of the links joined together by welding within the chain, characterized in that said link cooling arrangement consists of at least one helical flange ( 32n) with gas-conducting surfaces and which inwardly facing flange is adapted to cooperate (32k), lead a fluid intended for cooling and that the chain with at least one helical tube is intended for audible closed links to be adapted to pass through recesses formed in said gas-conducting flange and associated surfaces. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that successive recesses are assigned a curvature corresponding to a part of a radius assigned to a rotatable disc. Arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said gas-conducting flange with deflected surfaces is adapted for a co-operation with said pipe, within an area located within a formed interface for adjacent pipe sections. 10 15 20 25 30 517 724 _l9_ Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the gas is guided between said flanges and their surfaces and that the flanges and surfaces are enclosed by a casing, as part of a torus. Arrangement according to claim 1 or 4, characterized in that the gas within said casing is of flanges assigned a flow direction opposite to a selected flow direction for said fluid within said pipe. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the number of helical gas-conducting flanges with surfaces is selected to be between 2 and 5 parallel-connected continuously screwed flanges. Arrangement according to Claim 1 or 6, characterized in that the number of helical, fluid-conducting pipes is chosen for between 2 and 5 parallel-connected continuously screwed pipes. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that said gas consists of cooled exhaust gases obtained from an upstream link welding arrangement. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that said gas is cooled to a temperature around, preferably below 0 ° C and said fluid is cooled to a temperature around, preferably slightly above 0 ° C. Arrangement according to claim 1 or 4, characterized in that said housing is assigned an extension along the peripheral surface area of the disc corresponding to an angle of between 110 and 140 °, preferably about 130 °. 10 15 20 25 30 517 724 _2Û_ 11. ll. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the casing has a diameter which, in relation to a diameter assigned to a disc, has values ranging between 5/45 and 10/45, such as about 6/45.