US3339711A

US3339711A - Conveyor chain

Info

Publication number: US3339711A
Application number: US506531A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lacoste Georges; Petit Elphege; Racicot Donatien; Vincent Hector
Original assignee: CIE HYDROLIC VINCENT LTEE
Current assignee: CIE HYDROLIC VINCENT LTEE; LA HYDROLIC VINCENT LTEE Cie
Priority date: 1965-11-05
Filing date: 1965-11-05
Publication date: 1967-09-05
Anticipated expiration: 1984-09-05

Description

p 1967 G. LACOSTE ETAL CONVEYOR CHAIN Filed Nov. 5, 1965 IN l/E N TOR; Gearyes M6057! .d Elphq'ge PET/7' 7 F j Donafien INC/C07 Hec'ror VINCENT AGENT United States Patent 3,339,711 CONVEYOR CHAIN Georges Lacoste, St. Jean-Baptiste de Rouville, Quebec, Elphege Petit, St. Valerien, Quebec, Donatien Racicot, St. Paul dAbbotsford, Quebec, and Hector Vincent, St. Valerien, Quebec, Canada, assignors La Cie Hydrolic Vincent Ltee, St. Valerien, Quebec, Canada Filed Nov. 5, 1965, Ser. No. 506,531 2 Claims. (Cl. 198175) The present invention relates to a conveyor chain especially designed for use in a stable-cleaning system, but which can also have other applications which require a chain having a great resistance to traction relative to its weight per unit length and in which the chain comes into frictional engagement with stationary surfaces.

It is known that in stable-cleaning apparatuses, the conveyor chain is the weakest element of the assembly and the one which breaks more often. Stables on farms tend to become larger and larger and the conveyor chains of the stable-cleaning apparatus have to be longer and longer and are subjected to very large traction forces. Moreover, these chains are subjected to extensive wear because they come in frictional engagement with the concrete bottom of the manure-receiving trough and against stationary guiding elements.

The chains in turn cause wear of the concrete bottom of the trough and also of the sprocket wheels which guide and exert a pulling action on the chains.

The wear of these last-named elements is caused by the fact that the bearing surface of the chain links is relatively small, especially those of conventional chains wherein the links are made from completely circular steel rods.

The general object of the present invention resides, therefore, in the provision of a conveyor chain for stablecleaning apparatus and the like, which, for an equal weight per unit length, relative to the conventional chain, has a much larger resistance to traction and to wear.

Yet another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a chain of the character described, provided with simple means for securing thereto the scraper blades, the latter being such that they can be secured to the left hand or right hand side of the chain.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a chain of the character described, which can be turned in two planes at right angles, whereby the chain can be easily guided around conventional corner wheels or about inverted corners, and also around up-and-down wheels of a stable-cleaning apparatus, or other conveyor systems.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a chain of the character described, which is of relatively simple and inexpensive construction. The chain in accordance with the invention is characterized by the fact that each link of the chain consists of an elongated loop made of a bar of exactly semi-circular or half-round cross-section, with the flat face disposed on the outside of the loop and with the ends of the loop each forming in the median plane of the loop a semicircular internal line having a radius of curvature substantially equal to the radius of curvature of the crosssection of the bar forming the loop.

When the chain is used for barn cleaners, scraper blade securing brackets may be conveniently welded, or otherwise secured, flat against the outside flat face of spaced links of the chain.

The invention is also characterized by the fact that the scraper blade securing means have two mutually perpendicular wings extending transversely to the median plane of the links to which they are secured, the horizontal 3,339,711 Patented Sept. 5, 1967 'ice wing having a downward lip at its free edge, and that the scraper blade has an L-shaped cross-section fitting within the bracket and is provided with holes at the two ends for securing either end to the bracket so that the scraper blade may be used to the right or left of the chain.

The foregoing and other important objects of the pre sent invention will become more apparent during the following disclosure and by referring to the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a partial plan view of an assembly of the chain in accordance with the invention and of scraper blades attached thereto;

FIGURE 2 is a section taken along line 22 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a section, on an enlarged scale, taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 4 is a cross-section of a coupling link, on a still larger scale, and taken along line -44 of FIGURE 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings in which like reference characters indicate like elements throughout, the chain in accordance with the invention is generally indicated at 1 and consists of a series of links 2 engaging one another in conventional manner.

The chain is made of standard substantially equal lengths and the different lengths can be coupled one to the other by means of coupling links 3, in order to form an endless chain of the desired length.

In accordance with the invention, links 2 instead of being made from circular steel rods, are formed from steel bars having a semi-circular cross-section, the flat face 4 of each link being disposed at the exterior of the latter. The steel bar constituting one link is bent over itself at degrees at two spaced locations to form an elongated loop, and the free ends of the steel bar are welded together, as shown at 5.

Two adjacent links are engaged one with the other in conventional manner and such that their inner convex faces are in direct contact. Two adjacent links are in planes perpendicular one with respect to the other.

Because the bends at the ends of the links have a radius of curvature of very close tolerance, the internal convex surfaces of the links mate exactly with each other, to thereby decrease localized wear. Moreover, the links can pivot with respect to each other into perpendicular planes; in practice, in a horizontal and in a vertical plane.

The coupling links 3 are also made of a half-round steel bar, but the free ends of the steel bar are spaced from each other and are interconnected by an external plate 6 in direct contact with the external flat face 4 of the link and are rigidly secured to the latter by means of bolts 7 having a high resistance to tension and to shear.

Bolts 7 are screwed within threaded holes of the link 3. Preferably, plate 6 is secured to link 3 by means of four bolts 7.

Certain ones of links 2 are provided with means for securing stable-cleaning blades 8 when the chain is used in a stable-cleaning apparatus.

These blades have an L-shaped cross-section and, in accordance with the invention, the vertical flange of the blade is provided with a hole 9 at each end of the blade.

The blade-securing means consist of a blade-securing element 10 having an L-shaped cross-section and having a length slightly greater than the thickness of the link 2.

The horizontal wing 11 of the element 10 is disposed transversely to the link 2 and is directly secured to the flat face 4 of the latter by welding, as shown at 12. Link 2 is in a plane perpendicular to wing 11.

The vertical wing 13 of element 10 is provided with a hole with which one or the other of holes 9 of blade 8 comes in register for receiving a bolt and nut 14 to secure the blade 8 to element 10*.

Wing 11 is provided with a lip 15 at its free edge having a height substantially equal to the thickness of the steel plate forming blade 8. The latter is inserted within element and with the free edge of its horizontal flange in contact with lip of element 10.

Blade 8 can be secured to the chain, such as to extend to the left or right of the latter in accordance with the selected one of the holes 9 used for securing blade 8 to element 10, in such a position that the horizontal flange of blade 8 is leading, that is, extending forwardly in the direction of movement of the stable-cleaning chain.

Because the chain links in accordance with the invention are made from half-round steel bars instead of completely round steel rods, the following advantages are obtained:

For an equal weight of chain per unit length, the convex inside surfaces of the links are much greater than in conventional chains made of completely round stock. Therefore, the wear produced by the frictional engagement of the chain links one with the other during pivotal movement and when the links engage sprocket wheels, is much less than in conventional chains. In fact, comparative trial uses have been made with chains of the same weight per unit length and made of the same steel alloy, and it has been found that the chains in accordance with the present invention have 40% less wear than chains made of completely round rods.

Moreover, because the external faces 4 or 4' of the chain links are flat, they provide a much larger bearing surface than chain links having a round outside surface. Thus, the chain in accordance with the invention is subjected to less wear when it comes in frictional contact with any stationary surface, such as the concrete surface of the stable-cleaning trough and the guiding plates of a stable-cleaning apparatus. Inversely, there is less wear on these concrete surfaces and guiding plates.

Another advantage resides in the fact that the coupling plates 6 are made of flat stock and are in contact with the entire surface of the flat faces 4 of links 3.

Also, elements 10 can be very rigidly welded to the links 2, because of the flat faces 4 of the links 2 and the flat faces of the horizontal flange of elements 10. This also enables to secure element 10 to the link 2 in such a manner that the latter will stand in a vertical plane with blade 8 disposed horizontally in the trough to be cleaned. This allows the links 2 provided with blades 8 to engage in an accurate manner the teeth of the sprocket wheels guiding and driving the chain.

Traction experiments have been made on various stablecleaning chains of conventional construction and actually on the market and having links of various forms and shapes, and it has been found that the best chain which has been tried, which had a weight of 3% pounds per foot, becomes non-usable due to excessive elongation when subjected to a traction of 17,000 pounds. On the other hand, the chain in accordance with the invention, when made of a size weighing 4 pounds per foot, remains usable up to a traction of 40,000 pounds. Thus, the chain in accordance with the invention has a resistance to traction of more than twice that of the best chains on the market for stable-cleaning purposes, for an equal weight per foot.

While a preferred embodiment in accordance with the invention has been illustrated and described, it is understood that various modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. A conveyor chain for a stable-cleaning system consisting of chain disposed in substantially perpendicular planes, each link consisting of a bar bent back over itself to form an elongated loop, said bar having an exactly semi-circular and uniform cross-section with the convex face of the steel bar disposed in the interior of the loop and the flat face of the bar disposed at the exterior of the loop, the ends of the bar being aligned and secured one to the other, fixation elements secured to certain ones of said links, said fixation elements consisting of a piece providing two mutually perpendicular flat wings, the first one of said wings being secured flat against the flat exterior face of the link transversely to the latter and disposed in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop of said link, and a-blade, of L-shaped crosssection, inserted at one end within said fixation element in such a manner that the flanges of said blade be in contact with the wings of said fixation element respectively, and means for removably securing said blade to said fixation element and, wherein said first one of said wings of said fixation element is provided at its free edge with a lip adapted to overlap the free edge of the flange of said blade in contact with said first-named wing on said fixation element, and said means for securing said blade to said fixation element comprises a bolt passing through aligned holes made at one end of said blade and in the second wing of said fixation element, and a nut screwed on said bolt, said blade being provided with a second hole made at its other end to enable securing said blade to the right or left of said chain.

2. A conveyor chain for a stable-cleaning system consisting of chain links engaged one with the other, any two adjacent chain links being disposed in substantially perpendicular planes, each link consisting of a bar bent back over itself to form an elongated loop, said bar having an exactly semi-circular and uniform cross-section with the convex face of the steel bar disposed in the interior of the loop and the flat face of the bar disposed at the ex terior of the loop, the ends of the bar being aligned and secured one to the other, fixation elements secured to certain ones of said links, said fixation elements consisting of a piece providing two mutually perpendicular flat wings, the first one of said wings being secured fiat against the flat exterior face of the link transversely to the latter and disposed in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop of said link, and a blade, of L-shaped cross-section, inserted at one end within said fixation element in such a manner that the flanges of said blade be in contact with the wings of said fixation element respectively, and means for removably securing said blade to said fixation element and wherein said chain is composed of several lengths and comprising coupling links for coupling said lengths one to the other, each coupling link consisting of a bar bent back over itself to form an elongated loop, the ends of said bar being spaced from each other, said bar having an exactly semi-circular and uniform cross-section with the convex face of said steel bar disposed within said loop and the flat face of said bar disposed exteriorly of said loop, each end of the loop forming in the median plane of the loop a semi-circular internal line having a radius of curvature substantially equal to the radius of curvature of the cross-section of said bar and a coupling plate having a fiat face in direct contact with the flat faces of said bar at the two ends of the latter and bolts passing through said plate and screwed within the ends of said bar.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 759,429 10/1956 Great Britain.

EVON C. BLUNK, Primary Examiner.

R. J. HICKEY, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A CONVEYOR CHAIN FOR A STABLE-CLEANING SYSTEM CONSISTING OF CHAIN DISPOSED IN SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR PLANES, EACH LINK CONSISTING OF A BAR HAVING AN EXSELF TO FORM AN ELONGATED LOOP, SAID BAR HAVING AN EXACTLY SEMI-CIRCULAR AND UNIFORM CROSS-SECTION WITH THE CONVEX FACE OF THE STEEL BAR DISPOSED IN THE INTERIOR OF THE LOOP AND THE FLAT FACE OF THE BAR DISPOSED AT THE EXTERIOR OF THE LOOP, THE ENDS OF THE BAR BEING ALIGNED AND SECURED ONE TO THE OTHER, FIXATION ELEMENTS SECURED TO CERTAIN ONES OF SAID LINKS, SAID FIXATION ELEMENTS CONSISTING OF A PIECE PROVIDING TWO MUTUALLY PERPENDICULAR FLAT WINGS, THE FIRST ONE OF SAID WINGS BEING SECURED FLAT AGAINST THE FLAT EXTERIOR FACE OF THE LINK TRANSVERSELY TO THE LATTER AND DISPOSED IN A PLANE PERPENDICULAR TO THE PLANE OF THE LOOP OF SAID LINK, AND A BLADE, OF L-SHAPED CROSSSECTION, INSERTED AT ONE END WITHIN SAID FIXATION ELEMENT IN SUCH A MANNER THAT THE FLANGES OF SAID BLADE BE IN CONTACT WITH THE WINGS OF SAID FLANGES ELEMENT RESPECTIVELY, AND MEANS FOR REMOVABLY SECURING SAID BLADE TO SAID FIXATION ELEMENT AND, WHEREIN SAID FIRST ONE OF SAID WINGS OF SAID FIXATION ELEMENT IS PROVIDED AT ITS FREE EDGE WITH A LIP ADAPTED TO OVERLAP THE FREE EDGE OF THE FLANGE OF SAID BLADE IN CONTACT WITH SAID FIRST-NAMED WING ON SAID FIXATION ELEMENT, AND SAID MEANS FOR SECURING SAID BLADE TO SAID FIXATION ELEMENT COMPRISES A BOLT PASSING THROUGH ALIGNED HOLES MADE AT ONE END OF SAID BLADE AND IN THE SECOND WING OF SAID FIXATION ELEMENT, AND A NUT SCREWED ON SAID BOLT, SAID BLADE BEING PROVIDED WITH A SECOND HOLE MADE AT ITS OTHER END TO ENABLE SECURING SAID BLADE TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT OF SAID CHAIN.