BLOCK LOCK FOR ROUND STEEL CHAINS FOR MINING

Abstract

A block lock for round steel chains, having two half-elements which are displaceable relative to one another for opening and closing the block lock and which each have ends connected to one another via a longitudinal web, of which in each case one end has an insertion plug with a width reduced in relation to the longitudinal web and with retaining webs integrally formed on both sides, wherein at least two parallel retaining webs are arranged above one another on each side, and of which in each case the other end has a receiving pocket which serves to receive the insertion plug and on the two lateral inner flanks of which there are in each case formed at least two retaining grooves above one anotherto form a toothing by receiving the retaining webs. A central web extends inwardly from at least one longitudinal web.

Claims

1. A block lock for round steel chains, the block comprising: two half-elements, which for opening and closing the block lock, are displaceable relative to one another and have ends that are connected to one another by way of one longitudinal web, of which ends one end has in each case one insertion plug having a width that is reduced in comparison to the longitudinal web and retaining webs that are integrally molded on both sides, wherein at least two parallel retaining webs are disposed on top of one another on each side, and of which ends the respective other end has a receptacle pocket that serves for receiving the insertion plug; at least two retaining grooves for configuring a toothing by receiving the retaining webs and being configured on top of one another in each case on the two lateral internal flanks of said receptacle pocket; and a central web extending inward from at least one longitudinal web toward a longitudinal axis, wherein, when viewed laterally, the insertion plug widens and the length of the retaining webs increases from the longitudinal web toward the end of the insertion plug; and wherein, when viewed laterally, the receptacle pocket tapers and the length of the retaining grooves decreases from the longitudinal web toward the end of said receptacle pocket.

2. The block lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insertion plug has two retaining webs and the receptacle pocket has two retaining grooves.

3. The block lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retaining webs and retaining grooves configured in dissimilar lengths are disposed on the receptacle regions which, when viewed in the cross section, are trapezoid and formed by insertion plugs and receptacle pockets, wherein the insertion plug by way of the outward-projecting retaining webs at a separation plane has the longer side and tapers toward the external edge of the block lock, toward the longitudinal web, and wherein the receptacle pockets, the retaining grooves being configured in the lateral flanks of the latter, in the separation plane comprise in each case the narrow side and from said separation plane widen in an outward manner toward the longitudinal web.

4. The block lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insertion plug and the receptacle pocket of the half-elements, when viewed laterally, are delimited by external edges and flanks which are aligned so as to be oblique in relation to the longitudinal axis.

5. The block lock as claimed in claim 4, wherein the insertion plug and the receptacle pocket of the half-elements, when viewed laterally, are delimited by external edges and flanks which are aligned at an angle of 60° to 85° in relation to the longitudinal axis.

6. The block lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insertion plug and the receptacle pocket are in each case provided with one transverse bore that serves for receiving a securing element.

7. The block lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central web on each half-element extends in each case so far toward the central axis of the block lock that a seamless central web is formed once the half-elements have been joined.

8. The block lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein a central web with a gap is formed once the half-elements have been joined.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a block lock according to the invention in a perspective view prior to the assembly;

[0026] FIG. 2 shows a half-element for a block lock in a perspective view;

[0027] FIGS. 3A-3D show the block lock in various assembly steps, in each case in a lateral view; and

[0028] FIG. 4 shows the completely assembled block lock in a lateral view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] FIG. 1 in a perspective exploded view shows a block lock 100 which is formed from two half-elements 10. The half-elements 10 are preferably of identical configuration. The arrow between the half-elements 10 identifies the assembly direction M in which the upper half-element 10 is placed onto the lower half element 10, and the chain-dotted line identifies the position of a longitudinal axis L.

[0030] Each half-element 10 possesses a longitudinal web 10.1, one insertion plug 11 being configured at one end of said longitudinal web 10.1, wherein the width of said insertion plug 11 is significantly reduced in comparison to the other portions. Two retaining webs 13.1, 13.2 of dissimilar lengths are configured on the lateral external flanks of the insertion plug 11. The insertion plug 11 is delimited by a flank 11.2 which extends obliquely upward, specifically so as to be inclined in relation to the center. The end-proximal edge 11.1 of the insertion plug 11 however extends in each case from the external side obliquely outward to a separation plane which runs through the longitudinal axis L, such that a trapezoidal shape of the insertion plug 11 results in the lateral view.

[0031] A receptacle pocket 12 which is likewise delimited by an oblique flank 12.2 is configured at the opposite end of the longitudinal web 10.1 of the half-element 10, wherein the inclination of said flank 12.2 corresponds to the inclination of the flank 11.2 on the insertion plug 11. The receptacle pockets 12 and the insertion plugs 11 form mutually complementary receptacle regions, that is to say that recesses and grooves on the one side interact with protrusions and webs on the respective mating piece.

[0032] A central web 10.2 which projects transversely from the longitudinal web 10.1 is configured between the insertion plug 11 and the receptacle pocket 12. Moreover provided are bores 17, 18 into which safety pins 20 can be inserted after the half-elements 10 have been joined.

[0033] FIG. 2 shows a single half-element 10 in a perspective view so as to highlight in particular the design of the retaining webs 13.1, 13.2 in the insertion plug 11, and the associated retaining grooves 14.1, 14.2 in the receptacle pocket 12. The webs 13.1, 13.2 and the grooves 14.1, 14.2 possess upper and lower edges which are axially parallel and serve for transmitting force and in each case taper off so as to be radiused toward the end sides in order to facilitate the assembly.

[0034] FIG. 3A in a lateral view shows a first assembly step. A chain link 1 which is held in a form-fitting manner on a hook-shaped protrusion 18 is placed into a lower half-element 10 on the left. A further half-element 10 is depicted thereabove. Said further half-element receives a second chain link 2 on the right, the latter by way of a hook-shaped protrusion 18 being likewise already guided and held in an early stage of the assembly. The vertical dashed lines identify the position of that respective edge in the receptacle pocket 12 that first has to be passed by the longer retaining web 13.1 of the insertion plug 11. Since the retaining grooves 14.1, 14.2 as well as the associated retaining webs 13.1, 13.2 are radiused at the end sides, the initial position of the two half-elements 10 illustrated in FIG. 3A is possible only by way of a very minor mutual axial offset. On account thereof, a very short closing distance which can be completely covered within the respective eye of the connected chain links 1, 2 is implemented. Any later pivoting of the block lock 100 into the profile of the chain is thus not required.

[0035] The next assembly step in which the retaining elements are mutually converged further such that the respective longer retaining webs 13.1 are positioned so as to be level with the respective shorter retaining grooves 14.2 is shown in FIG. 3B.

[0036] FIG. 3C shows this assembly step once again together with the adjacent chain links 1, 2, 3, 4 in order to highlight that the distance available for closing the block lock is limited by virtue of the length and the design of the chain links. In this assembly intermediate step, both half-elements 10 by way of the insertion plugs 11 and receptacle pockets 12 thereof are already positioned completely within the eyes of the adjacent chain links 1, 2, wherein the chain links can remain in the stretched profile of the chain and do not have to be repositioned for assembling the block lock.

[0037] Proceeding from the position according to FIGS. 3B and 3C, in order to finally join the half-elements 10, another final staircase-shaped movement is performed in which the half-elements 10 are first pressed against one another along the longitudinal extent of the part of the chain, are pressed apart so as to cancel again the temporary engagement of the long retaining webs 13.1 in the short retaining grooves 13.2, and then pushed transversely such that the position according to FIG. 3D is reached. Proceeding from the latter, the half-elements 10 are moved to the terminal position by a final advancing movement in the longitudinal direction.

[0038] The terminal position is depicted in FIG. 4. The long retaining webs and retaining grooves 14.1, 13.1 mutually engage as do the short retaining webs and retaining grooves 14.2, 13.2. The central webs 10.2 bear on one another such that two mutually separate eyes 31, 32 are configured. The ends of the eyes 31, 32 are in each case formed by the radiused inner flanks 18 in the shape of hooks. The inserted safety pins 20 secure the mutual position of the half-elements 10.

[0039] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.