Patent ID: 6615974
Filing Date: 2003-09-09
Classification: B65G,F16G

Abstract:
A flexible chain for use as a conveyor chain in a conveying strand along a longitudinal axis with a multitude of successively secured conveyor buckets, wherein the conveying strand revolves around two reversing wheels mounted at the ends of the conveyor line, and one wheel is driven while the other functions as a tensioning wheel for supporting a single or double bucket system with at least one central chain, wherein each flexible chain comprises;a plurality of pairs of inner link plates spaced apart and disposed parallel with each other along the longitudinal axis of the chain, wherein each link plate has a pair of spaced apart apertures; a plurality of chain bolts, each having a center section, and an end segment, integrally formed on each side of said center section, and an intermediate section each integrally formed between said center section and said end segments, and extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the chain and, wherein the end segments of said pairs of said chain bolts connect and extend through the apertures of said pair of inner link plates to form an inner chain link and wherein said center section of said bolt is disposed in the space between said link plates and has a larger diameter than both said end segments and the aperture of said inner link plates; a plurality of tubular outer bushings each pivotably coupled to each end segment of each chain bolt, and having a lubricant chamber disposed between a distal end of said bushing and the end surface of the end segment of said chain bolt, and wherein a seal is provided between a running surface of said bolt end segment and said intermediate bolt section adjoining said running surface that is coupled to said inner link plates; a plurality of spaced apart pairs of outer link plates, wherein each outer link plate has an L-shaped cross-section with a first leg having a pair of spaced apart apertures coupled to adjacent bushings so as to pivotably join to adjacent inner chain links, and wherein a second leg of said outer link plate extends away from said inner link for connection in a fixed manner to a back wall of a conveyor bucket; and wherein each end section of said chain bolts extend through said inner link plates of said inner links and one leg of said outer link plates and into said outer bushings to form a complete flexible chain.