Patent ID: 12234885

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1shows a section through a short section of a sprocket chain1of a chain type in a plane parallel to the longitudinal direction L of the sprocket chain1. The sprocket chain1includes alternately arranged outer chain links2and inner chain links3. Each inner chain link3includes two inner link plates4arranged at a distance from each other and aligned parallel to the longitudinal direction L of the sprocket chain1, and two sleeves6. Each inner link plate4has two openings5. The sleeves6are pressed into the openings5of each inner link plate4, with the sleeves6holding the inner link plates4at a distance from one another.

Each outer chain link2includes two outer link plates7, each with two openings8. Two pins9are pressed into the openings8of each outer link plate7. The pins9hold the outer link plates7spaced apart from each other. The outer link plates7are also aligned parallel to the longitudinal direction L of the sprocket chain1. The pins9of the outer chain links2are guided through the sleeves6of two adjacent inner chain links3, thus connecting inner chain links3arranged next to each other. The sleeves6of the inner chain links3and the pins9of the outer chain links2guided through the sleeves6form chain joints10. The pins9of the outer chain links2therefore have two different functional areas. These are, on the one hand, a central joint region11, i.e. the area of the pins9which is guided through the sleeves6of the inner chain links3and together therewith forms the chain joint10, and two joining regions12which adjoin the central joint region11at both ends of the pins9. The pins9are pressed into the openings8of the outer link plates7by means of these joining regions12.

InFIG.2, there is shown an enlarged view (not to scale) of a pin9of the sprocket chain1ofFIG.1. The pin9has joining regions12at each of its ends13,14. The joining regions12differ in shape from the central joint region11of the pin9. In the joint region11, the pin9is cylindrical in shape and has a constant joint diameter DG. In the embodiment shown inFIG.2, in the joining regions12the pin9is conical in shape and has a mean diameter, i.e., the joining diameter DF. The joining diameter DFis less than the joint diameter DG. Due to the conical shape of the joining regions12, they are formed as a joining chamfer15. The joining regions12and thus also the joining chamfers15at both ends13,14of the pin6are formed identically to one another. The joining regions12are the areas of the pin6which, in the fully assembled state of the chain1, are arranged in the openings8of the outer link plates7. In the present context, a joining chamfer is to be understood as an area of the pin, in which the diameter of the pin decreases so that the assembly of the pins9in the respective opening8of the outer link plates is facilitated. In the case shown inFIG.2, the two joining chamfers15are formed by a conical taper. Each joining chamfer15has a length LF. This length LFis approximately 0.4 to 2.5 mm, preferably 0.6 to 1.5 mm. The length LFof the joining chamfer15approximately corresponds to the thickness d of the outer link plates7. The chamfer angle α of the joining chamfers15is in a range of approximately 0.3° to 2°, preferably 0.5° to 1°. In the present case, the chamfer angle α is the angle between the extension of the lateral surface AGof the cylindrical central part of the pin and the lateral surface AFof the joining chamfers15. As already described, the lateral surface AFof the joining chamfers15is conical and therefore corresponds essentially to a straight truncated circular cone. The pin9has a rounding17on its two end faces16. This rounding17has a radius r of approximately 0.4 mm.

The outer surface of the joining chamfer, however, need not be an exact conical surface. It is sufficient if the range of chamfer angles described above is maintained. A progressive or degressive chamfer profile is then also possible.

In further embodiments, the joining regions of the pins may be formed without a joining chamfer and then have a cylindrical shape, for example. It is important that the joint diameter of the joint region of the pins may be changed without changing the joining diameter of the pins. This may be realized, for example, by the joining diameter of the joining regions being different from the joint diameter of the joint region. The joint diameter of the joint region may then be adjusted without changing the joining regions or the joining diameter. Regardless of the joint diameter, the joining regions then always have the same shape, so that the deformation of the outer link plates when the pins are pressed into the outer link plates is always identical and the chain length control is not affected by this.

InFIG.1, only a short section of the sprocket chain1is shown, namely an outer chain link2and an inner chain link3connected thereto with the respective following outer and inner chain links. The complete sprocket chain of the one chain type includes a certain number of outer chain links2and inner chain links3and a fixed chain length. In order to precisely set the chain length of the sprocket chain of the specific chain type, a chain length control method is used, which is described in more detail below with reference toFIGS.1and2.

The chain length control is realized by installing pins9with different joint diameters DG. Therefore, in order to adjust the chain length of a sprocket chain of one chain type, a pin set including a plurality of pins9is provided. As described above, each of these pins9has a joint region11with a joint diameter DGand two joining regions12with a joining diameter DF. Pins9with different joint diameters DGare included in the pin set. The joining diameter DFis identical for all pins9. First, the joint diameter DGrequired for the specified chain length of the sprocket chain of the particular chain type is then determined. The corresponding pins9with the determined joint diameter DGare then selected from the pin set. The inner chain links3with the sleeves6pressed into the inner link plates4are provided. The selected pins9are guided through the sleeves6of the inner chain links3so that the joint region11of the pins9is arranged in the sleeves6of the inner chain links. The pins9are pressed into the openings8of the outer link plates7. In this manner, the outer chain links2are closed and, thus, the sprocket chain is completed.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

1Sprocket chain2Outer chain link3Inner chain link4Inner link plate5Opening of the inner link plate6Sleeve7Outer link plate8Outer link plate openings9Pin10Chain joint11Joint region12Joining regions13End of pin14End of pin15Joining chamfer16End surface of pin17RoundingL Longitudinal direction of sprocket chainDGJoint diameterDFJoining diameterLFLength of joining chamferd Thickness of outer link platesα Chamfering angleAGCurved surface area of joint regionAFCurved surface area of joining chamfer