GB1588599A

GB1588599A - Chain for use as an endless chain track

Info

Publication number: GB1588599A
Application number: GB4474577A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Inventio AG
Current assignee: Inventio AG
Priority date: 1976-11-03
Filing date: 1977-10-27
Publication date: 1981-04-29
Also published as: DE2747271A1; DE2747271C2; CH605239A5; FR2369959A1; FR2369959B1

Description

(54) A CHAIN FOR USE AS AN ENDLESS CHAIN TRACK (71) We, INVENTIO AKTIENGESELL SCHAFT, 6052 Hergiswil (Nidw.), Switzerland, a joint stock company organised under the laws of Switzerland, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to a chain for use as an endless chain track on, for example, a vehicle capable of cross-country travel.

In known coupled chain tracks, for example according to the German Patent Specifications 1480766,1605523 or 1 950 947, the individual chain links are articulatedly connected with one another by connecting bolts as well as outer and inner metallic connectors arranged on the connecting bolts. This manner of construction is relatively expensive, increases the weight of the chain track appreciably and causes considerable disturbing noises. A further disadvantage is that the tensile forces are not uniformly distributed over the entire width of the chain, since the force transmission takes place only at the transitions between the connecting bolts and the connectors.

According to the present invention there is provided a chain for use as an endless chain track and comprising a plurality of links each connected to an adjacent link by a respective resilient connector, which extends across the entire width of the chain and within which are disposed rigid support means extending trans verselyof the intended direction of travel of the chain and flexible reinforcement means extending in said direction, the or each connector being of generally cruciform crosssection transversely of the width direction of the chain and comprising portions retained in guides of generally T-shaped cross-section disposed in the links to extend across the entire width of the chain.

Preferably, the chain links are made from a light metal.

To protect the chain links against wear by drive toothing, metallic wear parts, which have T-shaped projections and which are engageable in a second T-shaped flat guide of the chain links, are preferably arranged in a driving wheel engaging opening provided in each connector.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a plan view of a part of a coupled chain, Figure 2 shows a section of the coupled chain along line A-A of Figure 1 Figure 3 shows a section of the coupled chain track along line B-B of Figure 1, and Figure 4 shows a section of the coupled chain along line C-C of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings, Figures 1 to 4 show a chain link 1 which preferably consists of an aluminium profile. The chain links 1 are connected by means of connectors 2, of elastic material such as rubber, extending over the entire width of the chain.

Embedded in each connector 2 and extending transversely to the direction of motion of the chain is a rigid supporting body 3 preferably consisting of an aluminium alloy, while embedded in the connector and extending in the direction of motion are flexible metallic reinforcements 4, preferably steel ropes. The reinforcements 4 are anchored at their ends in rails 5 likewise embedded irk'the connector 2. The connector 2 has a cruciform cross-section, and the cross-arm 6 is constructed to be T-shaped at both its ends and engages into a first T-shaped flat guide 7 of the chain links 1. The connector 2 is secured by means of screws 8 against lateral displacement, whereby bending-open of the chain links 1 is prevented at the same time.

Wear resistant parts 10, preferably consisting of steel, are arranged in an opening 9 provided in the connector 2 for the engagement of the drive wheel (not shown). The wear parts 10 are arcuately constructed, matched to the profile of the chain links 1 and at their concave side have T-shaped projections 11, which engage into a second T-shaped flat guide 12 of the chain links 1. The wear parts 10 are pushed together with the connector 2 from the side into the T-shaped flat guides 7 and 12 of the chain links 2 and clamped fast by means of the screws 8.

A guide tooth 13, which is welded to the support body 3, is provided for the purpose of lateral guidance of the coupled chain track.

Rubber pads 15, which extend over the entire width of the chain and bear on the driving track, are inserted into U-shaped recesses 14 at the underside of the chain links 2.

Advantages of the above described exemplary embodiment are that instead of a plurality of metallic connecting bolts as well as outer and inner metallic connectors, only one connector, of a resilient material extending over the entire width of the chain, connects each two adjacent chain links. Thereby, the manufacturing costs are reduced and the weight appreciably lowered by use of light metal chain links. Beyond that, the tensile forces can be uniformly distributed over the entire width of the chain. A further advantage compared with known coupled chain tracks is that the guide teeth are arranged resiliently; thereby, shocks and noises are damped as well as loosening or knocking-out of the guide teeth avoided.

The reinforcements can consist, instead of steel ropes, of steel tapes, ropes of synthetic material and of fabrics of synthetic or of glass fibres. It is also possible to manufacture the support body 3 together with the guide tooth 13 as one cast body.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A chain for use as an endless chain track and comprising a plurality of links each connected to an adjacent link by a respective resilient connector, which extends across the entire width of the chain and within which are disposed rigid support means extending transversely of the intended direction of travel of the chain and flexible reinforcement means extending in said direction, the or each connector being of generally cruciform cross-section transversely of the width direction of the chain and comprising portions retained in guides of generally T-shaped cross-section disposed in the links to extend across the entire width of the chain.

2. A chain as claimed in Claim 1, the rigid support means comprising metal.

3. A chain as claimed in either Claim 1 or Claim 2, the flexible reinforcement means comprising metal.

4. A chain as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each link comprises a light metal.

5. A chain as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the connectors is provided with an opening for drive wheel means, exchangeable wear resistant members extending within the opening and each provided with a projection, which is of generally T-shaped cross-section in said direction and which is disposed in a corresponding further T-shaped opening in an associated one of the links.

6. A chain as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising screw means so screwed to each link as to prevent relative movement between that link and the respective connector transversely of the intended direction of travel of the chain.

7. A chain as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising guide means rigidly connected to the support means of each connector.

8. A chain substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. An endless chain track when made from the chain as claimed in any one of the preced

Claims

ing claims.

10. A vehicle provided with an endless chain track as claimed in Claim 9.