FLAT LINK CHAIN

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a link chain for use underground in mining. The link chain is produced from a steel material and has horizontal links and vertical links. Each horizontal link and each vertical link have sides running parallel to each other and connected to one another at the ends by means of rounded portions. Each side has a smaller cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of each rounded portion. The cross-sectional area of the sides of the horizontal link has a smaller width, with the same or smaller height, than the cross-sectional area of the rounded portion, and the cross-sectional area of the sides of the vertical link has a smaller height, with the same or smaller width, than the cross-sectional area of the rounded portion.

Claims

1-12. (canceled)

13. A link chain for underground use in mining, the link chain made of a steel material and comprising: horizontal links and vertical links, wherein each of the horizontal links and vertical links has legs running parallel to one another, and rounded portions connecting ends of the legs, wherein a cross-sectional area of each of the legs is smaller than a cross-sectional area of each of the rounded portions, wherein the horizontal links and the vertical links engage with one another at the rounded portions, wherein, in each of the horizontal links, the cross-sectional area of each of the legs has a width smaller than a width of the cross-sectional area of each of the rounded portions, and the cross-sectional area of each of the legs has a height equal to or smaller than a height of the cross-sectional area of each of the rounded portions, wherein, in each of the vertical links, the cross-sectional area of each of the legs has a height smaller than a height of the cross-sectional area of each of the rounded portions, and the cross-sectional area of each of the legs has a width equal to or smaller than a width of the cross-sectional area of each of the rounded portions, wherein the cross-sectional area of each of the legs of the horizontal links and vertical links is different from a circular contour, and wherein a height of each of the horizontal links is greater than a height of each of the vertical links.

14. The link chain as claimed in claim 13, wherein the cross-sectional areas of the legs of the horizontal link and the vertical link are the same.

15. The link chain as claimed in claim 13, wherein each of the horizontal links and vertical links comprises, at each end of each of the legs, a transitional region which starts from the cross-sectional area of the leg to the cross-sectional area of one of the rounded portions and extends in a side view over an angle greater than 0 to smaller than 45 degrees.

16. The link chain as claimed in claim 15, wherein the transitional region of each of the horizontal links is configured as a limit stop for a driver.

17. The link chain as claimed in claim 13, wherein, in each of the horizontal links and vertical links, an enveloping circle of the cross-sectional area of each of the legs lies in an enveloping circle of the cross-sectional area of one of the rounded portions.

18. The link chain as claimed in claim 13, wherein, in each of the horizontal links, the cross-sectional area of each of the legs is rounded on an outer side, and follows an outer side of the cross-sectional area of one of the rounded portions.

19. The link chain as claimed in claim 18, wherein the cross-sectional area of each of the legs of each of the horizontal links is flat on an inner side.

20. The link chain as claimed in claim 13, wherein the cross-sectional area of each the legs of each of the vertical links has a rectangular configuration with rounded corners.

21. The link chain as claimed in claim 13, wherein the cross-sectional area of at least one of the rounded portions of at least one of the vertical links varies.

22. The link chain as claimed in claim 13, wherein a cross-sectional area of each of the vertical links is configured from a center plane following one of the rounded portions, increasing to an angle between 45 and 80 degrees, and then decreasing towards one of the legs.

23. The link chain as claimed in claim 19, wherein the cross-sectional area of each of the legs of each of the horizontal links is flat on side areas which connect the inner side and the outer side.

24. The link chain as claimed in claim 19, wherein the cross-sectional area of each of the legs of each of the horizontal links has side areas which connect the inner side and the outer side, and the side areas each have two parts that run towards one another at an angle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] For an understanding of embodiments of the disclosure, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0024] FIG. 1 shows part of a link chain with a horizontal link in side view and a vertical link in plan view,

[0025] FIG. 2 shows the view from FIG. 1 with the vertical link in side view and the horizontal link in plan view,

[0026] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view through a horizontal link according to the line of intersection A-A from FIG. 1 and

[0027] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view according to the line of intersection B-B from FIG. 2.

[0028] In the figures, the same reference signs are used for identical or equivalent components, even if and when a repeat description is dispensed with for reasons of simplification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] FIGS. 1 and 2 each show a detail from a link chain 1 with a horizontal link 2 and a vertical link 3. In this case, FIG. 1 shows the horizontal link 2 in side view and the vertical link 3 in plan view and FIG. 2 shows the vertical link 3 in side view and the horizontal link 2 in plan view. A further vertical link followed by a horizontal link, etc. are then organized on the right relative to the image plane in a manner not depicted in greater detail. A horizontal link followed by a further vertical link and so on are organized on the left relative to the image plane.

[0030] The horizontal link 2 has a rounded portion 4 at each end, said rounded portions being connected in the center via a leg 5 in each case. From one end 6 of the leg 5 there extends a transitional region 7 to the rounded portion 4. According to the disclosure, it is provided that the leg 5 has the same cross-sectional area 8 over its course. The transitional region 7 extends from the end 6 at an angle greater than 0 to an angle smaller than 45, so that the leg 5 then merges with the rounded portion 4. The rounded portion 4 has a cross-sectional area 9 in each case which is identical over the course of the rounded portion 4.

[0031] The sectional view A-A is depicted in FIG. 3. The cross-sectional area 8 of the leg 5 in each case is smaller in design compared with a cross-sectional area 9 of the rounded portion 4. The width 10 in the region of the leg 5 is smaller than the width 11 of the rounded portion 4. The height 12 of the leg 5 is smaller than or equal to the height 13 of the rounded portion 4. An inner side 14 in the region of the leg 5 is flat in design.

[0032] The inner side 32 of the rounded portion 4 is curved in cross section, or round in design. A side area 15 may likewise be flat in design. The side area 15 may, however, also have a two-part flat design, wherein two areas run towards one another at an angle . This angle is obtuse formed within an angle range of less than 180 and more than 150. Furthermore, an enveloping circle 16 formed about the cross-sectional area 8 of the leg 5 is smaller than or equal to the cross-sectional area 9 of the rounded portion 4. The outer side 29 of the leg 5 has a rounded form in cross section.

[0033] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view along the line of intersection B-B in FIG. 2. The vertical link 3 in this case has a cross-sectional area 18 in the region of its legs 17 which is smaller than a cross-sectional area 19 in the region of the rounded portion 20 of the vertical link 3. Initially, it can be seen by comparison with FIG. 3 that the absolute height 21 of the vertical link 3 is smaller than the height 22 of the horizontal link 2. The height 23 of the leg 17 of the vertical link 3 is smaller than the height 24 of the rounded portion 20 of the vertical link 3. The width 25 of the leg 17 of the vertical link 3 substantially corresponds to the width of the vertical link 3 or to the width 26 of the rounded portion 20 of the vertical link 3, but it may also be smaller. A respective transitional region extends in this case too.

[0034] The cross-sectional area 19 of the vertical link 3 varies along the rounded portion 20. From a center plane 27, the cross-sectional area 19 initially increases up to an angle y. The angle y lies between 45 and 80. In this case, the cross-sectional area 19 of the rounded portion 20 of the vertical link 3 diminishes again towards the leg 17 and then merges with the cross-sectional area 18 of the leg 17. The cross-sectional area 18 of the leg 17 may be constant over the course of the leg 17 up to the end 31 thereof. Here, too, transitional regions 28 are formed from the rounded portion 20 to the leg 17, in which transitional regions the cross section changes.

[0035] The inner side 33 of the legs 17 is flat in design. The inner side 33 may also have a two-part design formed by two areas configured at an angle to one another. The angle lies between 180 and 150.

[0036] An outer side 34 of the leg 17 is flat in design. The side areas 35 may be arched in cross section, but also flat in design, as depicted here.

[0037] The corners are rounded in cross section.

[0038] An inner side 36 of the rounded portion 20 is rounded in cross section, round in design.

[0039] The enveloping circle 30 in which the cross-sectional area 18 of the leg 17 lies is less than or equal to the cross-sectional area 19 of the rounded portion 20.

[0040] The foregoing description of some embodiments of the disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The specifically described embodiments explain the principles and practical applications to enable one ordinarily skilled in the art to utilize various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.