GB2027082A - Tenter Chain - Google Patents

Abstract

A tenter chain comprises chain links (1, 9) to which clip members and/or pin members are attached, the links being connected to one another by universal joint assemblies (3, 5, 7) which allows vertical and horizontal movements of the chain links (1, 9) relative to one another. The universal joint assemblies comprise U-shaped connecting elements (3, 7) having limbs (2, 8) which embrace the chain links (1, 9), the elements (3, 7) being interconnected by a bolt (5) and each element (3, 7) being connected to its link (1, 9) by a bolt (10). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Tenter Chain The invention relates to a tenter chain consisting of chain links pivotally connected to one another and to which clip members and/or needle members are fastened.

In the case of tenter chains which are equipped with needle members, a perpendicular chain reversal is preferred, in order to avoid the reciprocating motion of the row of needles which is caused in the case of horizontal chain reversal as a result of polygon formation. In the case of perpendicular chain reversal, namely the row of needles moves in the region of the polygon formation exclusively up and down, so that an exact needling of the goods web is not hindered.

In the case of tenter chains equipped with clips, in the past a horizontal chain reversal has been undertaken, so that the spacing, needed for the clipping-in and out operation of the goods web, between the chains and the edges of the goods web can be ensured.

An aim of the present invention is to provide a tenter chain which makes a perpendicular chain reversal possible even when the chain is equipped with clip members, in which respect it is ensured that in the reversal region of the chain between the clips and the edges of the goods web so much space remains that the clipping-in and out operation can be effected in an orderly fashion.

According to the present invention there is provided a tenter chain comprising a plurality of chain links to which clip members and/or needle members are fastened, said chain links being connected one to another by universal joint assemblies.

The arrangement, in accordance with the invention, of a universal or Cardan-joint-iike connecting member between adjacent chain links makes it possible to deflect the tenter chain, in addition to the perpendicular deflection, at the same time horizontally, so that in the chain deflection region the gauge of a pair of chains is enlargeable and in this way the clipping-in and out operation is not hindered by the goods web.

A refinement of the tenter chain in accordance with the invention provides for the fact that the connecting member consists of two connecting elements which are connected to one another by way of a joint bolt which is arranged perpendicular to the joint bolts of the chain links.

The connecting member consists of two individual elements which are simple in construction and which can easily be connected to one another by a commercially available joint bolt.

In a preferred embodiment of the tenter chain in accordance with the invention, the connecting elements are substantiaily U-shaped in configuration and embrace respectively with their limbs an end piece of the chain links and are penetrated by a bolt of the chain links, whilst bearing eyes which receive the joint bolt are coformed on the web of the U-shaped connecting elements.

The connecting member in accordance with the invention is preferably so dimensioned that the spacing of the joint bolts corresponds to the joint-bolt spacing of the chain link.

The invention will hereinafter be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a plan view of two chain links of a tenter chain in accordance with the present invention.

A chain link 1, shown broken away, is embraced by limbs 2 of a connecting element 3 which is U-shaped in configuration and which is connected by way of a bearing eye 4 to a joint bolt 5 in a bearing eye 6 of a connecting element 7. Limbs 8 of the connecting element 7, which is likewise U-shaped in configuration, embrace a chain link 9, which is connected by way of a bolt 10 hingedly to the connecting member.

The Cardan-joint-like connection between the chain links 1 and 9 makes possible, in addition to a deflection of the chain in the perpendicular direction to the drawing plane, at the same time a chain deflection parallel to the drawing plane.

Claims

1. A tenter chain comprising a plurality of chain links to which clip members and/or needle members are fastened, said chain links being connected one to another by universal joint assemblies.

2. A tenter chain as claimed in ciaim 1, in which the universal joint assemblies each respectively comprise two connecting elements which are connected to one another by way of a joint bolt arranged perpendicularly to joint bolts between the connecting elements and the chain links.

3. A tenter chain as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the connecting elements are substantially U-shaped in configuration and embrace respectively with their limbs an end piece of the chain links and are penetrated by a bolt of the chain links whilst bearing eyes which receive the joint bolt are co-formed on the web of the Ushaped connecting elements.

4. A tenter chain substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Tenter Chain The invention relates to a tenter chain consisting of chain links pivotally connected to one another and to which clip members and/or needle members are fastened. In the case of tenter chains which are equipped with needle members, a perpendicular chain reversal is preferred, in order to avoid the reciprocating motion of the row of needles which is caused in the case of horizontal chain reversal as a result of polygon formation. In the case of perpendicular chain reversal, namely the row of needles moves in the region of the polygon formation exclusively up and down, so that an exact needling of the goods web is not hindered. In the case of tenter chains equipped with clips, in the past a horizontal chain reversal has been undertaken, so that the spacing, needed for the clipping-in and out operation of the goods web, between the chains and the edges of the goods web can be ensured. An aim of the present invention is to provide a tenter chain which makes a perpendicular chain reversal possible even when the chain is equipped with clip members, in which respect it is ensured that in the reversal region of the chain between the clips and the edges of the goods web so much space remains that the clipping-in and out operation can be effected in an orderly fashion. According to the present invention there is provided a tenter chain comprising a plurality of chain links to which clip members and/or needle members are fastened, said chain links being connected one to another by universal joint assemblies. The arrangement, in accordance with the invention, of a universal or Cardan-joint-iike connecting member between adjacent chain links makes it possible to deflect the tenter chain, in addition to the perpendicular deflection, at the same time horizontally, so that in the chain deflection region the gauge of a pair of chains is enlargeable and in this way the clipping-in and out operation is not hindered by the goods web. A refinement of the tenter chain in accordance with the invention provides for the fact that the connecting member consists of two connecting elements which are connected to one another by way of a joint bolt which is arranged perpendicular to the joint bolts of the chain links. The connecting member consists of two individual elements which are simple in construction and which can easily be connected to one another by a commercially available joint bolt. In a preferred embodiment of the tenter chain in accordance with the invention, the connecting elements are substantiaily U-shaped in configuration and embrace respectively with their limbs an end piece of the chain links and are penetrated by a bolt of the chain links, whilst bearing eyes which receive the joint bolt are coformed on the web of the U-shaped connecting elements. The connecting member in accordance with the invention is preferably so dimensioned that the spacing of the joint bolts corresponds to the joint-bolt spacing of the chain link. The invention will hereinafter be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a plan view of two chain links of a tenter chain in accordance with the present invention. A chain link 1, shown broken away, is embraced by limbs 2 of a connecting element 3 which is U-shaped in configuration and which is connected by way of a bearing eye 4 to a joint bolt 5 in a bearing eye 6 of a connecting element 7. Limbs 8 of the connecting element 7, which is likewise U-shaped in configuration, embrace a chain link 9, which is connected by way of a bolt 10 hingedly to the connecting member. The Cardan-joint-like connection between the chain links 1 and 9 makes possible, in addition to a deflection of the chain in the perpendicular direction to the drawing plane, at the same time a chain deflection parallel to the drawing plane. Claims

1. A tenter chain comprising a plurality of chain links to which clip members and/or needle members are fastened, said chain links being connected one to another by universal joint assemblies.

2. A tenter chain as claimed in ciaim 1, in which the universal joint assemblies each respectively comprise two connecting elements which are connected to one another by way of a joint bolt arranged perpendicularly to joint bolts between the connecting elements and the chain links.

3. A tenter chain as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the connecting elements are substantially U-shaped in configuration and embrace respectively with their limbs an end piece of the chain links and are penetrated by a bolt of the chain links whilst bearing eyes which receive the joint bolt are co-formed on the web of the Ushaped connecting elements.

4. A tenter chain substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.