Patent ID: 7056248

Claim:
A chain comprising a plurality of parallel links articulately connected together in rows along a direction of travel, comprising: a plurality of first links, a plurality of second links, and a plurality of outside links, each of the links having a pair of apertures having a diameter and an inside surface; a plurality of cylindrical bushings having an outer surface and an outside diameter, and an open center having an inside surface and an inside diameter, the bushings passing through the apertures of the first links and the second links; and a plurality of cylindrical pins having an outer surface and an outer diameter, passing through the apertures of the outside links and through the open center of the bushings, and having a bearing area for contact between the outer surface of the pin and the inner surface of the bushing, such that the outer surface of the pin can move relative to the inner surface of the bushing and carries load from the bushing; the links being arranged in rows, alternating between a first row comprising at least one first link and a second row comprising at least one second link and at least one outside link on each edge of the chain; the diameter of the apertures of the first links and the outside diameter of the bushings being tightly fit such that no relative movement occurs between the inner surface of the apertures and the outer surface of the bushings; the diameter of the apertures of the second links being larger than the diameter of the apertures of the first links, and having a bearing area for contact between the outer surface of the bushing and the inner surface of the apertures, such that the outer surface of the bushing can move relative to the inside surface of the apertures of the second links and carries chain load; the outside diameter of the pins being press-fit into the apertures of the outside links; such that the chain is made up of alternating first rows of first links rigidly affixed to the bushings and second rows of second links movable on the bushings and outside links affixed to the pins.