BLOCK LOCK FOR ROUND STEEL CHAINS FOR MINING

Abstract

Block lock (100) for round steel chains, having two half elements (10) which are displaceable relative to one another for opening and closing the block lock (100) and which each have ends connected to one another via a longitudinal web (10.1), of which in each case one end has an insertion plug (11) with a width reduced in relation to the longitudinal web and with retaining webs (13.1, 13.2) integrally formed on both sides, wherein at least two parallel retaining webs (13.1, 13.2) are arranged above one another on each side, and of which in each case the other end has a receiving pocket (12) which serves to receive the insertion plug (11) and on the two lateral inner flanks of which there are in each case formed at least two retaining grooves (14.1, 14.2) above one another to form a toothing by receiving the retaining webs (13.1, 13.2). A central web (10.2) extends inwardly from at least one longitudinal web (10.1). The insertion plug (11) widens, as seen in side view, from the longitudinal web (10.1) towards its end, and the length of the retaining webs (13.1, 13.2) increases. At the same time, the receiving pocket (12), as seen in side view, narrows from the longitudinal web (10.1) to its end.

Claims

1. A block connecting link (100) for round steel chains, comprising: two half elements (10), which can be moved relative to one another in order to open and close the block connecting link (100), each of said half elements comprises ends that are interconnected by means of a longitudinal rib (10.1), one end of said ends comprises a insertion pin (11) having a smaller width than the longitudinal rib and retaining ribs (13.1, 13.2) that are integrally formed on either side, at least two parallel retaining ribs (13.1, 13.2) being arranged one on top of the other on either side, and the other end of said ends comprises a receiving pocket (12) for receiving the insertion pin (11), at least two retaining grooves (14.1, 14.2) formed one on top of the other on the two lateral inner flanks thereof in order to form teeth by receiving the retaining ribs (13.1, 13.2), characterized in that a middle rib (10.2) extends inward from at least one longitudinal rib (10.1) to a longitudinal axis (L); when viewed from the side, the insertion pin (11) widens from the longitudinal rib (10.1) towards its end and the length of the retaining ribs (13.1, 13.2) increases; and when viewed from the side, the receiving pocket (12) tapers from the longitudinal rib (10.1) to its end and the length of the retaining grooves (14.1, 14.2) decreases.

2. The block connecting link (100) as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the insertion pin (11) comprises two retaining ribs (7, 8) and the receiving pocket (12) comprises two retaining grooves (13, 14).

3. The block connecting link (100) as set forth in claim 2, characterized in that the retaining ribs (7, 8) and retaining grooves (14.1, 14.2) that are different lengths are arranged in the receiving regions formed by the insertion pins (11) and receiving pockets (12), wherein said receiving regions are trapezoidal when viewed in cross section, the insertion pin together with the outwardly projecting retaining ribs (7, 8) has the longer side in a parting plane and tapers towards the outer edge of the block connecting link, towards the longitudinal rib (10.1), and the receiving pockets (12), in the side flanks of which the retaining grooves (14.1, 14.2) are formed, have the narrow side in the parting plane in each case and widen outwards therefrom towards the longitudinal rib (10.1).

4. The block connecting link (100) as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that, when viewed from the side, the insertion pin (11) and the receiving pocket (12) of the half elements (10) are delimited by outer edges (11.1, 11.2) and flanks (11.2, 12.2) that are oriented obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis (L).

5. The block connecting link (100) as per claim 4, characterized in that, when viewed from the side, the insertion pin (11) and the receiving pocket (12) of the half elements (10) are delimited by outer edges (11.1, 12.1) and flanks (11.2, 12.2), which are oriented at an angle of from 60° to 85° with respect to the longitudinal axis (L).

6. The block connecting link (100) as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the insertion pin (11) and the receiving pocket (12) are each provided with a transverse hole (17.1, 17.2) for receiving a securing element (20).

7. The block connecting link (100) as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the middle rib (10.2) on each half element (10) extends up to the central axis of the block connecting link in each case to such an extent that, once the half elements (10) have been assembled, a gapless middle rib is formed.

8. The block connecting link (100) as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that, after the half elements (10) have been assembled, a middle rib having a gap is formed.

Description

[0022] The block connecting link according to the invention and a preferred method for mounting said lock will be explained in more detail in the following, with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0023] FIG. 1 is a detailed perspective view of a block connecting link according to the invention prior to mounting;

[0024] FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective view of a half element for a block connecting link;

[0025] FIG. 3A-3D are detailed side views of the block connecting link in various mounting steps; and

[0026] FIG. 4 is a detailed side view of the block connecting link once it has finished being put together.

[0027] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a block connecting link 100 formed of two half elements 10. The half elements 10 are preferably identical. The arrow between the half elements 10 denotes the mounting direction M, in which the top half element 10 is placed on the bottom half element 10 and the dot-dash line denotes the position of a longitudinal axis L.

[0028] Each half element 10 comprises a longitudinal rib 10.1, at one end of which an insertion pin 11 is formed, wherein the width thereof is considerably smaller compared with the other portions. Two retaining ribs 13.1, 13.2 having different lengths are formed on the lateral outer flanks of the insertion pin 11. The insertion pin 11 is delimited by a flank 11.2 that extends obliquely upwards, and specifically with an inclination towards the middle. By contrast, the end edge 11.1 of the insertion pin 11 extends obliquely outwards from the outer side towards a parting plane, which runs through the longitudinal axis L, in each case, such that the insertion pin 11 has a trapezoidal shape when viewed from the side.

[0029] A receiving pocket 12 is formed at the opposite end of the longitudinal rib 10.1 of the half element 10, which is likewise delimited by an oblique flank 12.2, wherein the inclination thereof corresponds to the inclination of the flank 11.2 on the insertion pin 11. Receiving pockets 12 and insertion pins 11 form complementary receiving portions; this means that receptacles and grooves on one side interact with projections and ribs on the respective mating part.

[0030] A middle rib 10.2 is formed between the insertion pin 11 and the receiving pocket 12 and protrudes transversely from the longitudinal rib 10.1. In addition, holes 17, 18 are provided, into which securing pins 20 can later be inserted after the half elements 10 have been assembled.

[0031] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an individual half element 10 in order to show in particular the shape of the retaining ribs 13.1, 13.2 in the insertion pin 11 and the associated retaining grooves 14.1, 14.2 in the receiving pocket 12. Ribs 13.1, 13.2 and grooves 14.1, 14.2 have axially parallel top and bottom edges, which are used to transmit force, are rounded and each taper towards the end faces in order to facilitate the mounting process.

[0032] FIG. 3A is a side view of a first mounting step. A chain link 1 is inserted into a bottom half element 10 on the left and is interlockingly held on a hook-shaped projection 18. Another half element 10 is shown thereabove. This receives a second chain link 2 on the right, which is likewise already guided and held by means of a hook-shaped rib 18 in an earlier mounting stage. The vertically dashed lines denote the position of the particular edge in the receiving pocket 12, which the longer retaining rib 13.1 of the insertion pin 11 has to pass through at first. Since both the retaining grooves 14.1, 14.2 and the associated retaining ribs 13.1, 13.2 are rounded at their end faces, the starting position of the two half elements 10 shown in FIG. 3A with just a very small axial offset with respect to one another is possible. As a result, a very short closing path is formed, which can take place in full inside the particular eye of the connected chain link 1, 2. The block connecting link 100 therefore does not need to be swung around into the path of the chain.

[0033] FIG. 3B shows the next mounting step, in which the retaining elements are moved closer to one another such that the particular longer retaining ribs 13.1 are positioned at the level of the particular shorter retaining grooves 14.2.

[0034] FIG. 3C once again shows this mounting step together with the adjacent chain links 1, 2, 3, 4 in order to show that the path available for closing the block connecting link is delimited due to the length and shape of the chain links. The two half elements 10 together with their insertion pins 11 and receiving pockets 12 are already fully positioned inside the eyes of the adjacent chain links 1, 2 in this intermediate mounting step, wherein the chain links can remain in the stretched path of the chain and do not have to be displaced in order to mount the block connecting link.

[0035] In order to finally join the half elements 10, another last stepped movement is carried out proceeding from the position according to FIGS. 3B and 3C, in which the half elements 10 are firstly pushed against one another longitudinally with respect to the longitudinal extension of the chain strand, then pushed apart in order to re-release the temporary engagement of the long retaining ribs 13.1 in the short retaining grooves 13.2, and then pushed transversely such that the position according to FIG. 3D is achieved. From here, the half elements 10 are moved into the end position by a final advancement movement in the longitudinal direction.

[0036] The end position is shown in FIG. 4. The long retaining ribs and retaining grooves 14.1, 13.1 likewise engage in one another like the short retaining ribs and retaining grooves 14.2, 13.2. The middle ribs 10.2 rest against one another such that two eyes 31, 32 are formed that are separated from one another. The ends of the eyes 31, 32 are each formed by the inner flanks 18 that are rounded in the shape of hooks. The securing pins 20 inserted secure the position of the two half elements 10 with respect to one another.