ANTI-SKID CHAIN HAVING A ROTATION-BLOCKING ELEMENT BETWEEN ADJACENT CHAIN LINKS

Abstract

The invention relates to an anti-skid chain (1) for tires (3), in particular for bogie axles, wherein the anti-skid chain (1) has two laterally stable guide chains (5) which, when installed, are arranged to the side of the treads (9) of the tires (3), wherein the anti-skid chain (1) has a flexible chain mesh (7) which extends between the two guide chains (5), and wherein at least one guide chain (5) has chain links (15, 17) which are interconnected in an articulated manner by means of joint pins (19) in the circumferential direction (U), and at least one rotation-blocking element (27) by means of which a maximum joint angle (35) between two interconnected chain links (15, 17) is a defined. In order to prevent lateral pulling of the anti-skid chain (1) and, at the same time, to provide an anti-skid chain (1) that is easy to produce, according to the invention, a part of the rotation-blocking element (27) is located on at least one of the joint pins (19).

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. Anti-skid chain for tires, in particular for bogie axles, wherein the anti-skid chain has two laterally stable guide chains which, when installed, are arranged to the side of the treads of the tires, wherein the anti-skid chain has a flexible chain mesh which extends between the two guide chains, and wherein at least one guide chain has chain links which are interconnected in an articulated manner by means of joint pins in the circumferential direction (U), and at least one rotation-blocking element by means of which a maximum joint angle between two interconnected chain links is defined, characterized in that a part of the rotation-blocking element is located on at least one of the joint pins.

16. Anti-skid chain according to claim 15, characterized in that the at least one rotation-blocking element has at least one stop face at the joint pin which abuts against the inner side of an opening of the chain link holding the joint pin when the maximum joint angle is reached.

17. Anti-skid chain according to claim 15, characterized in that the at least one guide chain is composed of alternately standing and lying, each annular chain links, wherein in the standing chain links, the openings are oriented axially, and in the lying chain links, they are oriented radially, and wherein the lying chain links include the joint pins.

18. Anti-skid chain according to claim 16, characterized in that at least one joint pin has, for forming the at least one stop face, a non-circular cross-section.

19. Anti-skid chain according to claim 16, characterized in that the at least one joint pin is provided with at least one shoulder including the at least one stop face.

20. Anti-skid chain according to claim 16, characterized in that the at least one joint pin is provided with at least one joined additional element which includes the at least one stop face.

21. Anti-skid chain according to claim 20, characterized in that the at least one joined additional element is connected to the rest of the joint pin by a material bond.

22. Anti-skid chain according to claim 16, characterized in that the at least one stop face is arranged facing away from the rest of the chain link including the stop face.

23. Anti-skid chain according to claim 22, characterized in that two stop faces are opposed with respect to the opening of a standing chain link.

24. Anti-skid chain according to claims 16, characterized in that the at least one stop face is arranged at a radially external side of a joint pin.

25. Anti-skid chain according to claim 16, characterized in that the at least one stop face abuts, at least in sections, flatly against the inner side of the opening of a chain link holding the joint pin when the maximum joint angle is reached.

26. Anti-skid chain according to claim 17, characterized in that at least one standing chain link is provided with at least one guide web radially extending in the direction of the tire axis for laterally guiding the anti-skid chain at the tire.

27. Anti-skid chain according to claim 26, characterized in that the at least one standing chain link has a C-shaped partial link with an interruption in a leg, wherein the interruption is at least partially closed by the at least one guide web.

28. Anti-skid chain according to claim 26, characterized in that a radial length of the standing chain link is larger than a length of the standing chain link in a circumferential direction (U) of the anti-skid chain.

Description

[0031] In the drawing:

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a perspective representation of a partial section of an anti-skid chain according to the invention;

[0033] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the anti-skid chain with a view to a guide chain;

[0034] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged representation of a cross-section of a joint pin marked FIG. 2; and

[0035] FIG. 4 shows a cross-section transverse to the circumferential direction through a standing chain link with the guide web.

[0036] Below, the general structure of the anti-skid chain 1 according to the invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2,

[0037] The anti-skid chain 1 is provided for tires 3 which are only indicated in a dashed line in FIG. 1. In particular, the anti-skid chain 1 can be used for tandem bogies or bogie axles.

[0038] The anti-skid chain 1 has two laterally stable guide chains 5 and one flexible chain mesh 7 extending between the guide chains 5. In a state installed at the tire 3, the guide chains 5 are arranged to the side of the treads 9 of the tires 3 at least in sections. In other words, parts of the guide chains 5 can abut against the tire wall 11 to ensure a lateral guidance of the anti-skid chain 1.

[0039] The tread 9 and the tire wall 11 are only outlined in FIGS. 1 and 2, The figures do not show that the anti-skid chain 1 preferably extends around two tires 3 each along its circumferential direction

[0040] The tires 3 have an axis 12 extending transversely to the circumferential direction U and defining an axial direction A. The tires 3 moreover have a radius 13 extending from the axis 12 to the tread 9, Both are only outlined in FIGS. 1 and 2. When installed, the flexible chain mesh 7 abuts against the tread 9 of at least one tire 3 at least in sections.

[0041] The guide chains each include chain links 15 and 17, the chain links 15 and 17 being interconnected in an articulated manner. To this end, the chain links 15 each include two joint pins 19 rotatably arranged in the chain links 17.

[0042] So, the connection between two interconnected chain links 15 and 17 each forms a swivel joint 21. Here, the chain links 15 and 17 are rotatable with respect to each other about a joint axis 23 coinciding with a longitudinal axis 25 of the joint pin 19, The joint axis 23 is here oriented approximately in parallel to the axial direction A. Deviations of the joint axis 23 from the axial direction A can result from a guide chain 5 lying, when installed at the tire 3, on a not flat tread 9 or having slipped in the direction of the tire wall 11.

[0043] The guide chains 5 moreover include rotation-blocking elements 27, The rotation-blocking elements 27 are formed by the interaction of a joint pin 19 and the inner side 29 of the opening 31 of the chain link 17 in which the joint pin 19 is received.

[0044] By a rotation-blocking element 27, the rotation of two interconnected chain links 15 and 17 towards the tire axis 12 is limited. In a movement about the joint axis 23, the chain links 15 and 17 include a joint angle 33 between them. The joint angle 33 can be determined between the longitudinal axes 37 and 39 of the chain links 15 and 17. By the rotation-blocking element 27, a maximum joint angle 35 is defined beyond which a further rotation of the chain links 15 and 17 with respect to each other about the joint axis 23 is not possible.

[0045] The rotation-blocking element 27 is at least partially arranged at the joint pin 19. This will be discussed later with reference to FIG. 3.

[0046] By the rotation-blocking elements 27 and the corresponding maximum joint angle 35, a self-supporting radius 41 for the guide chains 5 is defined. The guide chains 5 can consequently not occupy a smaller radius than the self-supporting radius 41 when being put on. Preferably, the self-supporting radius 41 is approximately within the range of the tire radius 13.

[0047] The chain links 15 including the joint pins 19 are preferably lying chain links, while the chain links 17 are preferably standing chain links, Here, the openings 31 of the standing chain links 17 are oriented axially. In other words, the openings 31 so through in parallel to the axial direction A. The openings 43 of the lying chain links 15 including the joint pins 19 are, however, oriented radially. In other words, the openings 43 extend going through along the radial direction R.

[0048] The lying chain links 15 are preferably each integrally formed. In other words, the joint pins 19 are preferably monolithically formed with the legs 45.

[0049] The standing chain links 17 are preferably formed of C-shaped partial links 47 including an interruption 51 in one leg 49 each. The interruption 51 is preferably arranged at the radially inner leg 49.

[0050] By the interruption 51, the opening 31 can be uncovered at least during the assembly of the guide chain 5, so that the joint pins 19 of the chain links 15 can be easily inserted into the opening 31. The interruption 51 is closed by the guide webs 53 when the guide chain 5 is readily installed. The guide webs 53 serve to laterally guide the guide chain 5 and abut against the tire wall 11 when installed.

[0051] Preferably, one guide web 53 extends to the radially external leg 49 of the chain link 17. By the guide web 53 arranged centrically in the chain link 17 along the longitudinal axis 39, two partial openings 57 in which the joint pins 19 are formed are received in the curves of the chain link 17. The joint pins 19 are here captively held in the partial openings 57.

[0052] The partial openings 57 are preferably dimensioned such that the chain links 15 or their joint pins 19 can be rotated about the joint axes 23, at least until the maximum joint angle 35 is reached. A movement in the other direction, in particular along the axial direction A, however, is only possible in a restricted manner. Thereby, the lateral stability of the guide chain is ensured.

[0053] The guide webs 53 are preferably welded to the C-shaped partial link. The guide webs 53 are preferably connected to the chain mesh 7. Preferably, a radial length 59 or, in other words, the height 59 is at least as large as the length 61 of the standing chain link in the circumferential direction. Here, the radial length 59 relates to the complete chain link 17, that means including the guide web 53.

[0054] Below, the rotation-blocking element according to the invention will be further described with reference to FIG. 3. The joint pin 19 has an essentially circular cross-section 63. The continuous circularity is represented with a dashed line in FIG. 3. At least at one point 65, the cross-section 63 deviates from the circularity. This point 65 represents a stop 65. The stop 65 represents a shoulder 67 in the cross-section 63.

[0055] The stop 65 includes a stop face 69. When the maximum joint angle 35 is reached, the stop face 69 abuts against the inner side 29 of the opening 31 of the chain link 17. The stop face 69 here abuts against a radially external section 71 of the inner side 29 of the opening 31. A region 73 of the joint pin 19 opposite the stop face 69 across the joint axis 23 can here abut against a radially internal section 75 of the inner side 29 of the opening 31, or be supported thereon.

[0056] In the region of the stop 65, in particular in the region of the stop face 69, the joint pin 19 has a diameter 77 which is on the one hand larger than a diameter of the circularity without the stop 65. On the other hand, the diameter 77 is larger than the inner diameter 79 of the opening 31, or the partial opening 57, respectively, in the radial direction R.

[0057] In order to obtain a particularly reliable rotation-blocking element 27, and to keep the wear of the joint pin 19 low, the stop face 69 is as large as possible. Therefore, it preferably extends across the complete joint pin 19 along the longitudinal axis 25 of the pin 19. The shoulder 65 can here extend along the longitudinal axis 25 on the joint pin like a bead or rib.

[0058] The stop 65 can be monolithically formed with the rest of the joint pin 19. As an alternative, it can be produced by a joined additional element 81 connected with the rest of the joint pin 19. In particular, an additional element 81 can be joined to the rest of the joint pin 19 by forging. As an alternative, an additional element 81 can be welded to the rest of the joint pin 19. Preferably, an additional element 81 is connected with the rest of the joint pin 19 by a material bond 83.

[0059] The stop face 69 preferably abuts flatly against the inner side 29 or 71, respectively, of the opening 31 when the maximum joint angle 35 is reached. In other words, it is preferably formed in parallel to the section of the inner side 71 where it abuts when the maximum joint angle 35 is reached.

[0060] The stop face 69 is preferably arranged to face away from the rest of the chain link 15 including the stop face 69. In other words, a surface normal 85 of the stop face 69 is oriented such that it faces away from the rest of the chain link 15 or, in other words, that an angle between the surface normal 85 and the longitudinal axis 37 of the chain link is greater than 90°. Consequently, the two surface normals 85 of two joint pins 19 received in a chain link 17 at least partially face each other or intersect. This means that two stop faces 69 of the joint pin 19 received in a chain link 17 are opposed to each other with respect to the opening 31 of the chain link 17.

[0061] To be able to abut against the radially external section 71 of the inner side 29 of the opening 31, the stop face 69 is preferably arranged at the radially external side 87 of the joint pin 19. Simultaneously, the stop face 60 is preferably arranged within a cross-sectional half 88 opposed to the rest of the chain link 15 across the joint axis 23.

[0062] Below, FIG. 4 will be discussed which represents a standing chain link 17 with a guide web 53 in a cross-section transverse to the circumferential direction U.

[0063] As already described above, the guide web 53 is arranged in the opening 31 of the chain link 17 such that an interruption 51 of the radially internal leg 49 is closed by the guide web 53. Here, the guide web 53 abuts against the inner side 29, in particular at the inner side 29 opposed to the interruption 51.

[0064] The guide web 53 has a shoulder 89 through which the guide web 53 extends axially further to the chain mesh 7 than the remaining part of the guide web 53 arranged in the chain link 17.

[0065] The shoulder 89 extends towards the chain mesh 7 or in parallel to the axial direction A approximately as far as a chain link 15 connected to the chain link 17. In other words, the guide web 53 and the chain link 15 are essentially flush in the axial direction at one level.

[0066] The guide web 53 is preferably structured in a dished way, wherein a wall 91 is arranged axially internally, and a cavity 93 accessible from outside is arranged axially externally. By the dish-type embodiment, weight can be saved.

[0067] The wall 91 can abut, when installed, against the fire wall 11 which is only indicated in a dashed line in FIG. 4. Through the guide web 53, in particular through its radially external end 95 arranged within the chain link 17, two legs 97 of one terminal link 99 of the chain mesh 7 extend.

[0068] The terminal link 99 can be formed as a U-shaped bow whose base or curve 101 is connected to the rest of the chain mesh 7 or a chain link thereof, respectively. In contrast, the legs project through the guide web 53, as already described.

[0069] Additionally, the legs 97 project through an axially external closing plate 103 in parallel to the axial direction A. The free ends 105 of the legs 97 can be connected to the closing plate 103, in particular by welded joints. The closing plate 103 flatly abuts against the radially external end 95 of the guide web 53 transverse to the axial direction A. The closing plate 103 can also be welded to the end 95 of the guide web 53.

[0070] The legs 97 can be radially bent to the outside in a region between the chain link 17 and the curve 101, so that an opening 107 of the chain link attached to the curve 101 is located radially further to the outside than the free ends 105 of the legs 97.

[0071] From the region of the shoulder 89 towards the radially internal end 109, the guide web 53 can become narrower in the axial direction A.

Reference Numerals

[0072] 1 anti-skid chain [0073] 3 tire [0074] 5 guide chain [0075] 7 chain mesh [0076] 9 tread [0077] 11 tire wall [0078] 12 tire axis [0079] 13 tire radius [0080] 15 lying chain links [0081] 17 standing chain links [0082] 19 joint pin [0083] 21 swivel joint [0084] 23 joint axis [0085] 25 longitudinal axis of a pin [0086] 27 rotation-blocking element [0087] 29 inner side [0088] 31 opening [0089] 33 joint angle [0090] 35 maximum joint angle [0091] 37 longitudinal axis of the chain link 15 [0092] 39 longitudinal axis of the chain link 17 [0093] 41 self-supporting radius [0094] 43 openings of the chain links 15 [0095] 45 leg of the chain link 15 [0096] 47 C-shaped partial link [0097] 49 leg of the chain link 17 [0098] 51 interruption [0099] 53 guide web [0100] 55 curve [0101] 57 partial opening [0102] 59 radial length [0103] 61 length in the circumferential direction [0104] 63 cross-section of the joint pin [0105] 65 stop [0106] 67 shoulder [0107] 69 stop face [0108] 71 radially external section of the inner side [0109] 73 section opposed to the stop face [0110] 75 radially inner section [0111] 77 diameter of the joint pin [0112] 79 inner diameter of the opening [0113] 81 joined additional element [0114] 83 material bond [0115] 85 surface normal [0116] 87 radially external side [0117] 88 cross-sectional half [0118] 89 shoulder [0119] 91 wall [0120] 93 cavity [0121] 95 radially external end [0122] 97 leg [0123] 99 terminal link [0124] 101 curve [0125] 103 closing plate [0126] 105 free end [0127] 107 opening [0128] 109 radially internal end of the guide web [0129] A axial direction [0130] radial direction [0131] U circumferential direction