Abstract:
A plate-link chain, in particular a toothed plate-link chain, is composed of adjacent plates and opposing plates that form chain links by sets of the link plates. One or more spacer elements are installed between adjacent link plates to enable assembly of a wider chain at a reduced chain weight as compared with a chain in which additional link plate sets are installed to increase the chain width. The spacer elements have openings to receive hinge pins that pass through the link plates. The openings of the spacer elements can include pairs of openings, a single oblong opening, or openings that include gaps to enable assembly of a spacer element in a manner similar to a spring clip.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a plate-link chain, in particular a toothed plate-link chain composed of plates and opposing plates that form chain links by sets.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Such plate-link chains are known in the art. Examples thereof are DE 197 08 865 and the publications cited therein, EP 0 518 478, and EP 0 741 255. Such chains can be built up in connections of two plates or three plates.  
         [0005]     From U.S. Pat. No. 1,020,180 a plate-link chain of modular construction is known, wherein a widening of the plate-link chain is accomplished by adding additional sets of plates. From U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,933 it is known to combine two plate-link chains to form one wider plate-link chain.  
         [0006]     When plate-link chains are widened in accordance with the state of the art, additional plates or opposing plates are added to the sets of plates. While that results in greater tensile strength of the widened chain, it also increases the weight substantially.  
         [0007]     An object of the present invention is to provide a plate-link chain that undergoes only a slight increase in weight when the plate-link chain is widened.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     That object is achieved by a plate-link chain, in particular a toothed plate-link chain, composed of plates and opposing plates that form chain links by sets, wherein at least a part of the chain links include at least one spacer element. Preferably, the plates are connected at both ends with the opposing plates by means of a hinged hinge, where the hinged hinges include a one piece or multiple-piece hinge pin that joins the plates and opposing plates with each other, and there is at least one spacer element is arranged on the hinge pins. Preferably there is provision that at least one spacer element is arranged on all hinge pins.  
         [0009]     The plates, and/or the opposing plates, preferably have teeth so that the plate-link chain is a toothed plate-link chain. Preferably, there is provision that the hinge pin includes multiple parts and includes a rocker member that is associated with a plate that rolls with a roll section on a roll section of a rocker member that is associated with an opposing plate. Preferably, there is provision that the spacer element is positioned between two plates and/or between two opposing plates. The spacer element can also be positioned between a plate and an opposing plate. Preferably, there is provision that the spacer element is a spacer plate that is positioned between two hinge pins of a chain link. The chain links preferably have a guide plate on at least one side, with the spacer plate positioned between guide plates and plates, or between guide plates and opposing plates. A plurality of spacer plates can be arranged within a chain link. Preferably, there is provision that the spacer plate has an covering contour in the running plane of the chain that is smaller than the covering contour of the plates and/or opposing plates. Alternatively, it can be provided that the spacer plate has an covering contour in the running plane of the chain that is larger in the region of the teeth of the plates, and/or of the opposing plates, than the covering contour region of the teeth of the plates and/or of the opposing plates.  
         [0010]     The spacer plate can have two bores, each of which receives a hinge pin. Alternatively, the spacer plate can have an opening that receives both hinge pins in the manner of an oblong hole. Preferably there is provision that the spacer plate has two openings, each with a gap that enables attachment of a spacer plate in the manner of a clip. Preferably it is provided that the gaps are positioned on the side of the plate-link chain opposite the teeth.  
         [0011]     The object identified earlier is also achieved by a spacer element for use in a plate-link chain in accordance with the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     The structure, operation, and advantages of the present invention will become further apparent upon consideration of the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a portion of a known plate-link chain;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the plate-link chain shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is an end view of a first exemplary embodiment of a plate-link chain in accordance with the invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is an end view of a second exemplary embodiment of a plate-link chain in accordance with the invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is an end view of a third exemplary embodiment of a plate-link chain in accordance with the invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of the plate-link chain shown in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 7   a  is a side view of a first exemplary embodiment of a spacer plate in accordance with the invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 7   b  is a side view of a chain including the spacer plate shown in  FIG. 7   a;    
         [0021]      FIG. 8   a  is a side view of a second exemplary embodiment of a spacer plate in accordance with the invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 8   b  is a side view of a chain including the spacer plate shown in  FIG. 8   a;    
         [0023]      FIG. 9   a  is a side view of a third exemplary embodiment of a spacer plate in accordance with the invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 9   b  is a side view of a chain including the spacer plate shown in  FIG. 9   a;    
         [0025]      FIG. 10   a  is a side view of a fourth exemplary embodiment of a spacer plate in accordance with the invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 10   b  is a side view of a chain including the spacer plate shown in Figure  FIGS. 10   a ; and  
         [0027]      FIG. 11  is an enlarged side view of the chain area indicated by the designation XI in  FIG. 10   b.   
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0028]      FIG. 1 , by way of example, shows a side view, and  FIG. 2 a  top view of a plate-link chain in accordance with the state of the art, with a two-plate connection. The basic construction of plate-link chains and the terms used in the exemplary embodiments in accordance with the invention will be explained on the basis of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The exemplary embodiments will be described using the example of a plate-link chain having a two-plate connection, but are equally applicable to a plate-link chain having a three-plate connection.  
         [0029]     Plate-link chain  1  includes a large number of plates  2  and opposing plates  3 . Plates  2  and opposing plates  3  are arranged alternately, and are combined as a hinge with hinge pins  4 . Consequently, both ends of a plate are connected with one or two opposing plates by means of a hinge, and correspondingly both ends of an opposing plate are connected to one or two plates with a hinge. The hinge pins  4  can be a single piece, but are preferably in two pieces, with a rocker member  5  being associated with each of the plates  2  and that rolls on a rocker member  6  associated with the opposing plate  3 . In addition, rocker members  5 ,  6  each have a roller profile  7  and  7 ′ respectively, with which they can roll or slide on each other. The roller profiles  7 ,  7 ′ can be identical or different. The plates  2  and opposing plates  3  are stacked transversely to the direction of running L, which is identified in  FIGS. 1 and 2  by a double-headed arrow, so that an overlapping opposing plate is positioned between two hinge pins  4  that are arranged side-by-side perpendicular to the running direction L. Conversely, a plate is positioned between and overlaps two opposing plates that are side-by-side transversely in relation to the running direction. Of course, that does not apply to the plates  2  or opposing plates  3  that are located on the outside transversely to the running direction L, which have a neighboring plate on only one side. The sets of plates  2  constructed in that way form a chain link  8 , and correspondingly, the sets of opposing plates  3  form a chain link  8 ′. The plates  2  and opposing plates  3  can be identical parts, a differentiation between plates  2  and opposing plates  3  being visible only from the arrangement.  FIG. 2  shows a stack of three plates  2  and two opposing plates  3 , wherein it is also possible to provide stacks with any other number of plates  2  and opposing plates  3 .  
         [0030]     As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the plates  2  are each provided with teeth  9 . With the teeth  9 , plate-link chain  1  can mesh with a tooth arrangement, for example of a gear. The spacing between plates  2  and opposing plates  3  is designed so that when the chain is extended a uniform spacing results overall between the teeth  9 . Alternatively, the opposing plates  3  can additionally be provided with teeth, so that all plates and opposing plates are provided with teeth. It is however equally possible to provide plates and opposing plates with only one tooth.  
         [0031]      FIGS. 3 through 5  show embodiments of plate-link chains in accordance with the invention, each in cross section in a view taken in the direction of line I-I in  FIG. 1 , i.e., in a cross section through the plate-link chain  1 , as shown, and viewed in the running direction L. In each case the illustration shows a plate-link chain  1  and a toothed wheel  10  with which the teeth  9  of the plate-link chain mesh. In  FIG. 1 , a single spacer plate  11  is positioned as a spacer element between two plates  2  or opposing plates  3 .  FIG. 6  shows the plate-link chain in accordance with  FIG. 3  in a perspective view. As can be seen, spacer plates  11  are positioned between two plates  2 , the plate sets being equally thick on both sides of spacer plates  11 , which each include three of plates  2 . The spacer plate is thus situated in a central position. Viewed in the running direction, in accordance with  FIGS. 3 through 6 , there are guide plates  12  positioned on both sides of the plate sets, which surround toothed wheel  10  and thus provide in a known way for guiding the plate-link chain  1  on toothed wheel  10  transversely to the running direction L.  
         [0032]      FIG. 4  shows a further exemplary embodiment of a plate-link chain in accordance with the invention. Here two narrow spacer plates  11 ′ and  11 ″ are positioned between two plates  2 . The spacer plates  11 ′ and  11 ″ can be positioned at any desired location within a chain link, and consequently of a plate set, and likewise, instead of two spacer plates a larger number of spacer plates can be provided.  
         [0033]      FIG. 5  shows a third exemplary embodiment of a plate-link chain in accordance with the invention, where in each case a spacer plate  11 ′″ and  11 ″″ is positioned between a plate  2  and a guide plate  12 .  
         [0034]     Instead of between plates  2 , the spacer plates  11  can also be positioned between opposing plates  3 . It is equally possible—in particular with a three plate connection—to position the spacer plates  11  between plates  2  and opposing plates  3 .  
         [0035]      FIGS. 7   a  through  10   b  show exemplary embodiments of spacer plates  11  in profile or side views corresponding to the view in  FIG. 1 . Spacer plate  11  corresponds essentially to the cross section of a plate  2  without its teeth  9 . Thus, spacer plate  11  in accordance with  FIG. 7   a  does not reach into the teeth of toothed wheel  10  when the teeth  9  of plates  2  mesh, in particular on the side facing toothed wheel  10  in the installed position. That corresponds to the illustration in  FIGS. 3 through 5 . As can be seen from  FIGS. 3 through 5 , spacer plates  11  do not touch the upper edges of the tooth faces of toothed wheel  10  (shown as a dashed line  14 ). In  FIG. 7   b  spacer plate  11  in accordance with  FIG. 7   a  is shown in the installed position in a longitudinal section through plate-link chain  1  in the running direction L. Bores  13  are in contact with both rocker members  5 ,  6  and are thus held in position.  
         [0036]      FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b  show an alternative configuration of a spacer plate  11 , which is identified there with the reference numeral  11  a for easier differentiation. Instead of two bores  13 , there a receiving opening  13   a  in the manner of an oblong hole is made. Thereby the spacer plate is only in contact with the two rocker members  5  that are associated with plate  2  having teeth  9 , and hold spacer plate  11   a  in its position in the running direction L. In the side view in accordance with  FIG. 8   a , spacer plate  11   a  thus essentially has the form of a closed ring. Indentations  15  on both sides of spacer plate  11   a  create a greater distance from tooth face upper edge  14  in all four possible installation locations.  
         [0037]      FIGS. 9   a  and  9   b  show a further exemplary embodiment of a spacer plate  11   b  in accordance with the invention. Instead of closed bores  13  as in  FIG. 7   a , here in each case an opening  16  is made which is provided with a gap  17  on the same side and thus embrace rocker members  5 ,  6  in the manner of a clip. That enables subsequent installation of spacer plates  11   b  in plate-link chain  1 , in that plate-link chain  1  is first pre-installed with plates  2 , opposing plates  3 , rocker members  5 ,  6 , and guide plates  12 , with a space remaining between individual plates  2  or opposing plates  3 . After the preliminary installation of plate-link chain  1 , the spacer plates  11   b  can be installed subsequently, by pressing them onto rocker members  5 ,  6  in the manner of a clip with the help of the gaps  17 .  
         [0038]      FIGS. 10   a  and  10   b  show a further alternative embodiment  11   c  of a spacer plate. Openings  16  and gaps  17  correspond to the embodiment in accordance with  FIGS. 9   a  and  9   b . In the embodiment in accordance with  FIGS. 10   a  and  10   b , there are teeth  18  situated on the sides of spacer plates  11   c  opposite gaps  17 . The teeth can be designed so that with plate-link chain  1  in the installation position they are congruent with the teeth  9  of plates  2  in the running plane of the chain in the view in accordance with  FIG. 10   b , consequently transversely to the running direction L of plate-link chain  1 . Alternatively, spacer plate teeth  18  in accordance with  FIG. 11  can extend past the contour of teeth  9  at least in some regions, which is shown in  FIG. 11  by arrows  20 . Extending beyond means here that they project beyond the tooth face profile of teeth  9 , so that the teeth  9  penetrate into the teeth of toothed wheel  10  as they mesh with toothed wheel  10 , i.e., they overlap with the tooth face profile of toothed wheel  10 . The covering contour of spacer plate  11   c  in the running plane of the chain is larger in the area of the teeth of the plates and/or of the opposing plates than the covering contour of the teeth of the plates and/or of the opposing plates themselves. The consequence of that, when plate-link chain  1  meshes with toothed wheel  10 , is that the bulges  20  of the spacer plate teeth  18  become elastically deformed, which causes noise damping during the running of plate-link chain  1 .  
         [0039]     Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It is therefore intended to encompass within the appended claims all such changes and modifications that fall within the scope of the present invention.