WO2017077173A1

WO2017077173A1 - Formed piece for chain use

Info

Publication number: WO2017077173A1
Application number: PCT/FI2016/050608
Authority: WO
Inventors: Heikki Orpana; Leena Tuomikoski
Original assignee: Finnchain Oy
Priority date: 2015-11-06
Filing date: 2016-09-02
Publication date: 2017-05-11

Abstract

The invention relates to a formed piece for use of an essentially plastic structured chain, wherein the chain is formed of formed pieces (1) to be connected to each other by means of joint pins one after the other at jointing points (4, 5) in jointing parts (1b), existing at opposite ends of the formed piece in longitudinal direction (s) of the chain. The chain is meant to be used by a drive arrangement, which includes at least one chain wheel, whereby a supporting surface (1k) existing in a center part (1a) of the formed piece (1) forming the chain comprises essentially crosswise (p) in respect to the moving direction of the chain a notch (2) that is during conveying of the chain in cooperation with counterpart surfaces (9), belonging to the chain wheel (7) and being arranged according to the notches (2a) of the chain essentially crosswise in respect to the moving direction of the chain. The formed piece (1) is a hybrid structure, which has an essentially plastic based casing structure (X) and inside the casing structure a reinforcing arrangement (Y) that is manufactured from an essentially stronger material than the manufacturing material of the casing structure and that connects the holes (6) of the jointing points (4,5).

Description

Formed piece for chain use

The invention relates a formed piece for chain use according to the preamble of the independent claim directed thereto.

Regarding a traditional chain structure, power transmission for using a chain is usually transmitted by a drive wheel, the shape of the teeth of which is standardized. A more developed chain structure in this respect is previously known e.g. from Finnish patents FI 64707 and FI 101098. The chains presented in these patents consist of formed pieces to be coupled with each other one after the other by jointing points thereof, whereby the supporting surfaces of the formed pieces comprise notches existing crosswise in respect to the moving direction to the chain, the notch in each formed piece being placed advantageously near one of the jointing points of the formed piece. In this case, when the chain gets bent over the drive wheel, an advantageous lever arm is achieved, thanks to which the chain force influencing the chain structure presses the notches of the chain harder against the pins of the drive wheel . This solution decreases significantly so called skipping. Also thanks to the level arms being formed, the chain structure gets easily loose from the drive wheel on its return side, thanks to which a so called non-engagement of the chain is prevented.

The chain structure according to Patent FI 64707 has proved to be significantly better than corresponding earlier solutions, particularly thanks to the lever arms being achieved therewith. In certain purposes, such as in chain structures, being used in water refineries, plastics or corresponding non-metallic materials have been exploited, because e.g. of corrosion and in order to decrease the specific weight of the chain. In this case, in certain environments, such as e.g. in acid conditions, problems have arisen due to duration of the plastic material of the formed pieces.

Improving the tensile strength and the bending stiffness of the formed pieces have been tried usually by increasing material thickness of the formed pieces at the point of the notch on the opposite side with respect to the supporting surface, which can not be carried out optimally under all circumstances from the point of view of functionality of the use of chain. This is first of all due to the fact that increasing the distance of the back part of the formed piece from a center line defined by the joint pins of a chain brings about problems particularly in the guiding of the passage of the chain as well as in the controlling of its passage i.e. in the functioning of e.g. so called chain guides. On the other hand, it is more profitable to arrange the depth of a notch in a formed piece to extend in the formed piece essentially at the center line of the chain, which enables an optimal power transmission between the drive wheel driving the chain and the formed pieces of the chain. In this way it is made possible carrying out of the chain in an optimized manner both structurally and regarding its functioning without extra swing and vibration.

With chains that are put together with formed pieces being in use at present, the problems described above cannot be satisfactorily solved due to the chemical and mechanical characteristics that are required from formed pieces to be used particularly in acid circumstances, wherein fulfilling such requirements in the purpose in question by utilizing customarily used plastic materials has been found in practice unreliable.

It is the aim of the formed piece according to the present invention to achieve a decisive improvement in the problems presented above and thus to raise substantially the level of knowledge in the field. To achieve this aim, the formed piece aimed for chain use according to the invention is primarily characterized by what has been presented in the characterizing part of the independent claim directed thereto.

As the most important advantages of the formed piece according to the invention may be mentioned simplicity and reliability of the chain use and constructions of the chain enabled by the same, whereby both chemical and strength/durability properties of the formed pieces forming the chain as well as also functioning of the chain formed of the same can be optimized by minimizing at the same time the material consumption in manufacturing thereof. By virtue of the reinforcing arrangement inside the casing structure of the formed piece, the invention makes thus possible characteristics of the formed piece that deviate from traditional constructions thanks to the fact that an adequate mechanical strength of the formed piece is achieved with the reinforcing arrangement, being manufactured advantageously e.g. from metal, ceramic, composite material and/or the like, being partially or in practice most advantageously totally hermetically surrounded by plastic material. This makes furthermore possible manufacturing of the plastic casing of the formed piece from a more modest material e.g. particularly regarding its tensile strength, which has, however, optimized chemical characteristics .

The invention also makes possible placement of the notch in the formed piece essentially at the center line of the chain without a need for increasing the distance of the back surface of the formed piece with respect to the back surface of the "notchless" part of the formed piece. In this case, thanks to the chain vibration also being prevented, it is possible to increase remarkably the lifetime of a whole chain drive apparatus. When utilizing advantageously furthermore formed pieces with arched support surfaces, the contact surface of mutual supporting surfaces of successive formed pieces forming the chain and a turning wheel or a drive wheel can be efficiently increased in a way that the jointing points do not cause momentum that brings about vibration. In the a chain being put together from formed pieces according to the invention, it is naturally possible furthermore to utilize advantageously e.g. continuously conical joint pins according to the patent FI 101098 being cited earlier, which for their part furthermore simultaneously minimize bending of the chain.

Other advantageous embodiments of the formed piece for chain use according to the invention are presented in the dependent claims directed thereto.

In the following description, the invention is illustrated in detail with reference to the appended drawings, wherein in figures la-lc

is shown an advantageous formed piece according to the invention with a clarifying view from the side and as seen from above while being put together in successive phases, in figure 2

is shown as an exemplary side view of a formed piece according to the invention deviating from the formed piece as shown in figures la-lc, and in figure 3

is shown bending over a chain wheel of a chain, being put together from formed pieces according to the invention, The invention relates to a formed piece for use of an essentially plastic structured chain, such as a transmission chain, conveyor chain and/or like, wherein the chain is formed of formed pieces 1 to be connected to each other by means of joint pins one after the other at jointing points 4, 5 in jointing parts lb, existing at opposite ends of the formed piece in longitudinal direction s of the chain. A first jointing point of the jointing parts lb is arranged as a projection assembly 4 and a second jointing point when viewed in a cross section P, as an external fork assembly 5 with respect to the projection assembly. Both of the jointing points 4, 5 have a hole 6 in order to form a uniform chain by placing the said projection assembly 4 of a previous formed piece in connection with the fork assembly 5 of a following formed piece with a lap joint and by placing the joint pin in the hole 6.

The chain is meant to be used e.g. on the principle shown in figure 3 by a drive arrangement, which includes at least one chain wheel 7, such as a drive wheel, a turning wheel or like, whereby a supporting surface lk existing in a center part la of the formed piece 1 forming the chain comprises essentially crosswise p in respect with the moving direction of the chain a notch 2 that is formed of a recess 2c having a driving edge 2a and a trailing edge 2b and that is during conveying of the chain in cooperation with counterpart surfaces 9, belonging to the chain wheel 7 and being arranged according to the notches 2a of the chain essentially crosswise in respect to the moving direction of the chain. The formed piece 1 is a hybrid structure to be put together e.g. on the principle manifesting itself e.g. particularly in figures la-lc, which has an essentially plastic based casing structure X and inside the casing structure a reinforcing arrangement Y that is manufactured from an essentially stronger material than the manufacturing material of the casing structure and that connects the holes 6 of the jointing points 4,5.

In figures la-lc is shown as an example an advantageous formed piece 1 according to the invention, in which the notch 2 is formed of recesses 2c at opposite ends of the formed piece, whereby the first one thereof has a driving edge 2a and the second one a trailing edge 2b. With reference to the exemplary alternative shown in figure 2, the notch 2 of the formed piece 1 presented therein is arranged in connection with the formed piece's first jointing point 4. In this case the trailing edge 2b of the formed piece's notch 2 is formed from the back edge of the first jointing point, wherein the driving edge 2a of the notch 2 for its part ends on the support surface Ik of the formed piece.

As an advantageous embodiment of the formed piece according to the invention, the reinforcing arrangement Y is manufactured from metal, ceramic, composite material and/or the like.

Furthermore, as an advantageous embodiment according to the invention, particularly with reference to the exemplary series of drawings la-lc, the casing structure X of the formed piece is manufactured from two or more plastic materials that differ from each other by chemical and/or physical characteristics thereof. In this case, the casing structure X comprises as shown e.g. in figure lb in both jointing parts lb of the formed piece 1 a structural part XI, being manufactured from a wear resistant and strong material, such as polyacetal (POM) or like.

Furthermore, particularly with reference to figure lc, the casing structure X comprises in the formed piece's 1 center part la) and on outer surface of the jointing parts lb a structural part X2, being manufactured from chemically resistant material, such as polyethylene (PE) , polypropylene (PP) or like.

Furthermore, as an advantageous embodiment of the formed piece according to the invention, particularly with reference to figures la-lc, the reinforcing arrangement Y comprises at least two structural parts Yl, Y2, existing parallelly in the formed piece and being provided with holes 6 of the projection assembly and the fork assembly 4,5, which make possible a firm articulation between the successive formed pieces that keeps its shape.

As a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the structural parts Yl, Y2 of the reinforcing arrangement Y are manufactured from steel, which makes possible e.g. to provide the same easily with necessary gripping surfaces e.g. with perforations therein or the like. In this context, as a further advantageous embodiment in practice, it is also possible to manufacture the reinforcing arrangement Y e.g. from reinforced plastics, such as glass fiber, aramid fiber, carbon fiber or the like, not to mention natural fibers. The strength of the formed pieces can be adjusted in this case by controlling orientation of the fibers in manufacturing of the composite material. As binding materials can be used e.g. polyester resin or epoxy resin. It is naturally also possible to exploit metal and/or stone in the composite material etc.

Depending on the operating purpose and circumstances of use of the formed piece, it is possible to use in its manufacturing thermoplastic, such as commodity plastic (PE, PP) , engineering plastic (PET, PMMA, PC, PA, POM, ABS+PC) , speciality plastic (PTFE) or thermoset plastic (PUR, UP, EP, VE, PF, MF/AF) etc.

It is clear that the invention is not limited to the embodiments presented or described above, but instead it can be modified even to a great extent depending on the applications at any given time. It is thus first of all clear that the formed piece according to the invention and components belonging to the same can be manufactured from most heterogeneous materials, by utilizing most heterogeneous manufacturing techniques . On the other hand also the drive notches in the formed pieces can be placed in a deviating manner in respect with what has been presented above e.g. in connection with a, so to say, driving jointing part of the formed piece or in a more centralized manner on the middle part of the supporting surface of the formed piece. In the invention, it is also possible and advantageous to exploit a conical joint pin known as such in the jointing parts of the successive formed pieces, in which context it might be possible also to use in the successive jointing points of the formed pieces joint pins that expand in opposite directions. It is also possible to manufacture the joint pins e.g. from suitable materials in a way that in the joint pins there is a readymade fastening arrangement that enables to some degree a snap lock etc .

Claims

Claims :

1. Formed piece for use of an essentially plastic structured chain, such as a transmission chain, conveyor chain and/or like, wherein the chain is formed of formed pieces (1) to be connected to each other by means of joint pins one after the other at jointing points (4, 5) in jointing parts (lb) , existing at opposite ends of the formed piece in longitudinal direction (s) of the chain, whereby a first jointing point of the jointing parts (lb) is arranged as a projection assembly (4) and a second jointing point, when viewed in a cross section (P) , as an external fork assembly (5) with respect to the projection assembly, whereby both of the jointing points (4, 5) have a hole (6) in order to form a uniform chain by placing the said projection assembly (4) of a previous formed piece in connection with the fork assembly (5) of a following formed piece with a lap joint and by placing the joint pin in the hole (6) , and, wherein the chain is meant to be used by a drive arrangement, which includes at least one chain wheel (7) , such as a drive wheel, a turning wheel or like, whereby a supporting surface (lk) existing in a center part (la) of the formed piece (1) forming the chain comprises essentially crosswise (p) in respect with the moving direction of the chain a notch (2) that is formed of a recess (2c) having a driving edge (2a) and a trailing edge (2b) and that is during conveying of the chain in cooperation with counterpart surfaces (9) , belonging to the chain wheel (7) and being arranged according to the notches (2a) of the chain essentially crosswise in respect to the moving direction of the chain, characterized in that the formed piece (1) is a hybrid structure, which has an essentially plastic based casing structure (X) and inside the casing structure a reinforcing arrangement (Y) that is manufactured from an essentially stronger material than the manufacturing material of the casing structure and that connects the holes (6) of the jointing points (4,5).

2. Formed piece according to claim 1, characterized in that, the reinforcing arrangement (Y) is manufactured from metal, ceram, composite material and/or the like.

3. Formed piece according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, the casing structure (X) of the formed piece is manufactured from two or more plastic materials that differ from each other by chemical and/or physical characteristics thereof.

4. Formed piece according to claim 3, characterized in that, the casing structure (X) comprises in both jointing parts (lb) of the formed piece (1) a structural part (XI) , being manufactured from a wear resistant and strong material, such as polyacetal (POM) or like.

5. Formed piece according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, the casing structure (X) comprises in the formed piece's (1) center part (la) and on outer surface of the jointing parts (lb) a structural part (X2) , being manufactured from chemically resistant material, such as polyethylene (PE) , polypropylene (PP) or like.

6. Formed piece according to any of the preceding claims 1-5, characterized in that, the reinforcing arrangement (Y) comprises at least two structural parts (Yl, Y2) , existing parallelly in the formed piece and being provided with holes (6) of the projection assembly and the fork assembly (4,5) .

7. Formed piece according to any of the preceding claims 1-6, characterized in that, the reinforcing arrangement (Y) is manufactured from steel .

8. Formed piece according to any of the preceding claims 1-6, characterized in that, the reinforcing arrangement (Y) is manufactured from reinforced plastics, such as glass fiber, aramid fiber, carbon fiber or the like.