Patent ID: 8069645

Claim:
Link chain assembly, comprising: a chain defined by a plurality of chain elements arranged in two or more adjacent rows of chain elements in a chain plane, wherein the chain elements of one of said adjacent rows are rotatably connected to the chain elements of the other of said adjacent rows, two rotational spindles connecting each of said chain elements of one of said rows with two different chain elements in the other of said rows, and wherein the chain elements of each of said rows are connected to each other by means of a toothed drive at adjacent ends of said chain elements, wherein the chain is flexible in the chain plane; an actuator connected with one end of the chain with a toothed drive between the actuator and the chain; wherein the actuator comprises one chosen from a pneumatic actuator, a hydraulic actuator, an electromotive actuator and a manual actuator; wherein the actuator includes a latching fitting, wherein the latching fitting is provided with a connection plate that is adapted to be connected with a stationary member and a latching plate which is pivotally connected to said connection plate with a joint spindle, wherein said latching plate can be locked in various angular positions with respect to said connection plate, and wherein the toothed drive between the actuator and the chain comprises a toothed drive between said latching plate and one of said chain elements in one of said rows and a toothed drive between said stationary member and one of said chain elements in the other of said rows.