Patent EA-002311-B1 (EA)
Title: A method and apparatus for transfer of pressure and/or tensile loads and an elongate chain for use therein
Inventor: SORENSEN JENS JORREN
IPC: F16H19/00
Filed: 1999-03-25
Abstract: 1. A method of making an elongate spindle member having significant rigidity and stability against pressure and/or tensile loads as well as bending and torsional loads, whereby said spindle member acts between two objects, including the steps of: - winding-up of a plurality of mutually interlocking chain links under axial displacement in a helical winding to form said elongate spindle member, - using chain links formed with a substantially circular curvature on their exterior sides and including associated engagement means, - drivingly connecting said chain links to a rotatable driving device arranged in a winding guide means connected with one of said two objects, - guiding said chain links during rotation of said driving device in said winding guide means so that the chain links are interconnected and retained in engagement by their associated engagement means with neighbouring chain links in the same turn as well as adjacent chain links in neighbouring turns of said elongate spindle member, and - coupling the helical winding with the other of said two objects by means of a coupling member. 2. A method according to claim 1, including the use of a reversibly rotatable driving device as said driving device to increase and reduce the length of the spindle member by rotation of said driving device in one and the other direction of rotation, respectively. 3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the coupling by means of said coupling member is effected by connection with the first produced turn of the helical winding. 4. A method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein two elongate spindle members are formed by winding-up individual coherent sets of chain links in two helical windings with opposite pitch directions, the winding guide means of said sets of chain links being connected with one and the other of said two objects, respectively. 5. A method according to claim 3 and 4, wherein the two helical windings have the same diameter and wherein coupling members connected with the first produced turn of each winding are connected with each other intermediate said two objects. 6. A method according to claim 2 and 4. wherein one of said helical windings are advanced inside the other and have chain links provided with an external threading to engage an internal threading in the chain links of the other helical winding to enable each of said helical windings to function as a coupling member for the other helical winding. 7. A method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a single spindle device is formed by winding two separate sets of chain links in alternating turns in the same helical winding, both sets of chain links being supplied to the same winding guide means. 8. A method according to any of claims 2 to 7, characterized by its use in a raising/lowering device for mutual displacement of the two objects. 9. A method according to any of claims 2 to 7, characterized by its use as an operator device for opening and closing windows or doors, in which said two objects are constituted by a stationary frame structure and an openable sash structure. 10. A method according to any of claims 2 to 7, characterized by its use as a drilling instrument, said coupling member being connected with a drill or cutter head. 11. A method according to any of claims 2 to 7, characterized by its use for reversible mutual displacement of telescopically connected tube members. 12. An apparatus for carrying out the method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein it includes, in connection with one of said two objects, a chain storage with an elongate chain of interlocking chain links having a substantially circular curvature on their exterior sides and including associated engagement means, a guide means for advancing the elongate chain, a winding guide means connected with the advancing guide means and including a guide for engagement with a guide member on the chain links for winding said helical winding, a rotatable driving device arranged in said winding guide means for axial advancement of the spindle device produced by the helical winding and a coupling member for coupling the helical winding with the other of said two objects. 13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the chain storage includes an elongate track connected with the advancing guide means for receiving the chain in its entire length. 14. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the chain storage is constituted by a winch connected with the advancing guide means, on which winch the elongate chain is wound. 15. An apparatus according to any of claims 12 to 14, wherein the winding guide means includes a substantially part-cylindrical wall, on the interior side of which a guide is provided for engagement with a guide member on the chain links. 16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said guide is designed as at least one thread-rib with a predetermined pitch across part of the interior side of said part-cylindrical wall. 17. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the advancing guide means includes a substantially linear guide rail for controlled advancement of the chain links towards the winding guide means and a guide surface for the exterior side of the chain links, which guide surface is connected substantially in a tangential plane with the interior side of the part-cylindrical wall of the winding guide means, said guide surface having near its connection to said interior side at least one advancing guide member. 18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the advancing guide member includes a member protruding from the advancing guide surface for introducing each chain link into the winding guide means with an axial displacement component. 19. An apparatus according to any of claims 15 to 18, wherein the drive means includes an advancing wheel, which is provided in a peripheral surface with a number of oblique teeth having a predetermined second pitch directed opposite to the pitch of said thread-rib, said advancing wheel being journalled coaxially in the winding guide means for engagement with the chain links and being connected with a drive wheel coupled to drive means via a transmission. 20. An apparatus according to claim 12 and any of claims 15 to 19, wherein said coupling member is designed as a substantially disc-shaped cover member with a substantially circular edge surface, in which a guide member is provided for engagement with said guide in the winding guide means, whereas the cover member is provided, on one side surface, with protruding engagement means for engagement with each their respective chain link in the fist turn formed in the helical winding. 21. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said protruding engagement means includes a hook member. 22. An apparatus according to claim 20 or 21, wherein said protruding engagement means includes a groove. 23. An apparatus according to any of claims 20 to 22, wherein said guide member on the edge surface of the coupling member includes a track for receiving said thread-rib in the winding guide means. 24. An apparatus according to any of claims 12 to 23, wherein the helical winding formed by the winding of the chain links is surrounded by a casing of variable length. 25. An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said casing is a bellow. 26. An apparatus according to any of claims 12 to 25, wherein a chain storage, advancing guide means and winding guide means are provided in connection with each of said two objects for producing two elongate spindle members by winding-up of two helical windings with opposite pitch directions. 27. An apparatus according to claims 12 and 26, wherein the two helical windings have the same diameter and wherein coupling members connected with the first produced turn of each winding are connected with each other intermediate said two objects. 28. An apparatus according to claim 18 and claim 26, wherein one of said helical windings is advanced inside the other and has chain links provided with an external threading to engage an internal threading formed by said helical track in the interior side of the chain links of the other helical winding to enable each of said helical windings to function as a coupling member for the other helical winding. 29. An apparatus according to any of claims 12 to 28, wherein a single spindle device is formed including a helical winding of alternating turns of chain links supplied from two separate sets of chain links. 30. An apparatus according to any of claims 12 to 29, characterized by its use in a raising/lowering device for mutual height displacement of the two objects. 31. An apparatus according to any of claims 12 to 29, characterized by its use as an operator device for opening and closing windows or doors, in which said two objects are constituted by a stationary frame structure and an openable sash structure. 32. An apparatus according to any of claims 12 to 29, characterized by its use as a drilling instrument, said coupling member being connected with a drill or cutter head. 33. An apparatus according to any of claims 12 to 29, characterized by its use for reversible mutual displacement of telescopically connected tube members. 34. An elongate chain including interlocking chain links with associated engagement means for use in an apparatus according to any of claims 12 to 34, wherein each chain link has a substantially circular curvature on its exterior sides and, in unfolded projection, substantially the shape of a parallelogram with a first pair of engagement means for connection with neighbouring chain links in the same turn of the helical winding provided at a first pair of opposite sides and further engagement means for engagement with corresponding engagement means on adjacent chain links in neighbouring turns of the helical winding provided at a second pair of opposite sides. 35. A chain according to claim 34 for use in an apparatus according to claim 16, wherein each chain link is in its exterior