Chain

Abstract

A chain made up of bush link plates, bushes fitted into bush fitting holes, and rollers fitted rotatably on an outer circumference of each of the bush. In order to make it possible to replace the roller without removing the bush from the bush link plates, in the chain made up of the bush link plates provided with bush fitting holes, the bushes fitted into the bush fitting holes, and the rollers fitted rotatably on the outer circumference of each of the bushes, the roller is formed from split rollers made by splitting the roller into two or more parts.

Claims

1. A chain comprising: bush link plates provided with bush fitting holes; bushes fitted into the bush fitting holes; rollers fitted rotatably on an outer circumference of each of the bushes, wherein the chain is formed from split rollers made by splitting the roller into two or more parts; and a groove is provided on at least one of end faces of the split roller and the split rollers are joined together by engaging a stop ring with the groove.

2. A chain comprising: bush link plates provided with bush fitting holes; bushes fitted into the bush fitting holes, rollers fitted rotatably on an outer circumference of each of the bushes, wherein the chain is formed from split rollers made by splitting the roller into two or more parts; a groove is provided on at least one of end faces of the split roller and the split rollers are joined together by engaging a stop ring with the groove; and on each combining surface of each of the split rollers, there are provided a protrusion and a depression which are allowed to engage with each other when combining the split rollers with each other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1(a) is a plain view of a chain according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 1(b) is a side view of a chain according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2(a) is a front view showing a split roller making up a roller of the chain according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 2(b) is a side view showing a split roller making up a roller of the chain according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 3(a) is a front view showing a stop ring making up the roller of the chain according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

(6) FIG. 3(b) is a side view showing a stop ring making up the roller of the chain according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

(7) FIG. 4(a) is a front view showing a split roller making up a roller of a chain according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

(8) FIG. 4(b) is a side view showing a split roller making up a roller of a chain according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

(9) FIG. 5(a) is a front view showing a split roller making up a roller of a chain according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

(10) FIG. 5(b) is a side view showing a split roller making up a roller of a chain according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

(11) FIG. 6(a) is a front view showing a split roller making up a roller of a chain according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

(12) FIG. 6(b) is a side view showing a split roller making up a roller of a chain according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

(13) FIG. 7(a) is a plain view of a chain according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

(14) FIG. 7(b) is a side view of a chain according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

(15) FIG. 8 is an overall view of a conventional chain.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(16) Hereunder is a specific description on embodiments of the present invention based on drawings. The descriptions on parts the same as in a conventional example are omitted.

(17) FIG. 1(a) is a plain view and FIG. 1(b) is a side view of a chain 2 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2(a) and FIG. 2(b) are views showing a split roller 20 (12) making up a roller 10 of a chain 2 according to the first embodiment of the present invention: FIG. 2(a) is a front view and FIG. 2(b) is a side view. FIG. 3(a) is a front view and FIG. 3(b) is a side view showing a stop ring 38.

(18) The roller 10 of the chain 2 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is formed by joining a couple of the split rollers 20 (12) shown in FIG. 2(a) and FIG. 2(b) by means of the stop ring 38 shown in FIG. 3(a) and FIG. 3(b). Drawings of stop rings for both axis and hole in second to fifth embodiments are omitted.

(19) As shown in FIG. 2(a) and FIG. 2(b), the split roller 20 is approximately semicylindrical and is formed, in each of both end faces 22, 24, with a groove 32 for engaging with the stop ring 38 for axis. In order to engage with the stop ring 38 for axis, the groove 32 is formed so that a deeper portion than the end faces 22, 24 thrusts into a portion in the radial direction (so as to thrust into a portion in the inner circumferential surface 30 direction) of the roller.

(20) The stop ring 38 for axis elastically deforms in such a direction as to expand its own diameter, and therefore with combining surfaces 26 combined with each other in the couple of the split rollers 20, the stop ring 38 for axis is allowed to elastically deform in such a direction as to expand its own diameter to work into a deeper portion of the groove 32 and engage with the groove 32, thereby enabling the couple of the split rollers 20 to be joined together and then integrated.

(21) The combining surface 26 of each split roller 20 is provided with a protrusion 34 and a depression 36. When combining a couple of the combining surfaces 26 with each other in joining the couple of the split rollers 20, since the protrusion 34 and the depression 36 are allowed to engage with each other, the couple of the split rollers 20 are joined together without being displaced from each other, thereby permitting the cylindrical roller 10 to be formed.

(22) In this manner, in the chain 2 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, by engaging the stop ring 38 for axis with the groove 32 formed in each split roller 20 with the couple of the split rollers combined with each other, the couple of the split rollers 20 are joined together to permit the roller 10 to be formed.

(23) By making up the roller of the chain as just described, when the roller has been abraded due to the repeated use over the years, and hence it has become necessary to replace the roller of the chain, it becomes possible to remove the roller readily from the chain and then fit a new roller thereon.

(24) FIG. 4(a) and FIG. 4(b) are views showing a split roller 40 making up a roller of a chain according to the second embodiment of the present invention: FIG. 4(a) is a front view and FIG. 4(b) is a side view.

(25) As shown in FIG. 4(a) and FIG. 4(b), the split roller 40 is approximately semicylindrical and is formed, in each of both end faces 42, 44, with a groove 52 for engaging with a stop ring for axis. Besides, each lateral face in the split roller 40 is provided with a protrusion 54 and a depression 56.

(26) Also in the split roller 40 making up the roller of the chain according to the second embodiment, by engaging the stop ring for axis with the groove 52 formed in the split roller 40 and joining the couple of the split rollers 40 together to form the roller, when the roller of the chain has been abraded due to the repeated use over the years and hence has become necessary to be replaced, it becomes possible to remove the roller readily from the chain and then fit a new roller thereon.

(27) FIG. 5(a) and FIG. 5(b) are views showing a split roller 60 making up a roller of a chain according to the third embodiment of the present invention: FIG. 5 (a) is a front view and FIG. 5 (b) is a side view.

(28) As shown in FIG. 5(a) and FIG. 5(b), the split roller 60 is approximately semicylindrical and is formed, in each of both end faces 62, 64, with a groove 72 for engaging with a stop ring for hole. In order to engage with the stop ring for hole, the groove 72 is formed in such a manner that a deeper portion than the end faces 62, 64 expands in the outer circumferential surface 68 direction.

(29) The stop ring for hole elastically deforms in such a direction as to reduce its own diameter, and therefore with a couple of the split rollers 60 combined with each other, the stop ring for hole is allowed to deform elastically in such a direction as to reduce its own diameter. Accordingly, the stop ring for hole is allowed to work into the deeper portion of the groove 72 and engage with the groove 72, thereby making it possible to join and integrate the couple of the split rollers 60 together.

(30) Further, each combining surface of the split roller 60 is provided with a protrusion 74 and a depression 76. When combining the combining surfaces 60 with each other in joining the split rollers 60 together, since the protrusion 74 and the depression 76 are allowed to engage with each other, the couple of the split rollers 60 are combined without being displaced from each other to permit the cylindrical roller to be formed.

(31) FIG. 6(a) and FIG. 6(b) are views showing a split roller 80 making up a roller of a chain according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention: FIG. 6(a) is a front view and FIG. 6(b) is a side view.

(32) Also by combining a couple of such split rollers 80 with each other, it becomes possible to join and integrate the couple of the split rollers 80 together as is done in the third embodiment.

(33) As above, the embodiments of the present invention are described. A technical scope of the present invention, however, does not limit the embodiments described above. Those skilled in the art obviously make various altered embodiments and various modifications even within the technical scope described in claims. Therefore, these altered embodiments and modifications are considered to obviously fall within the technological scope of the present invention.

(34) In the embodiments, e.g., the chain provided with (made up of) the pin link plates (the outer link plates) and the bush link plates (the inner link plates) has been described. Not limiting to these chains, however, the present invention is applicable also to a type of a chain provided with rollers in an outer circumference of each of bushes.

(35) Specifically, e.g., the present invention is applicable also to a chain of an offset type as shown in FIG. 7(a) and FIG. 7(b).

(36) Further, in the embodiments, the examples where the grooves are provided on both the end faces of the split roller to engage with the stop rings have been described. The groove, however, may be provided on one end face to engage with the stop ring. Furthermore, in the embodiments, the examples where the roller is formed from the couple of the split rollers have been shown. Three or more split rollers, however, may be combined to form the roller.

EXPLANATION OF NUMERALS

(37) 2. chain 4. pin link plate (outer link plate) 6. bush link plate (inner link plate) 8. bush 10. roller 12. split roller 14. stop ring 16. cotter pin 18. T pin 20. split roller 22, 24 end face 26. combining surface 28. outer circumferential surface 30. inner circumferential surface 32. groove 34. protrusion 36. depression 38. stop ring 40. split roller 42, 44 end face 46. combining surface 48. outer circumferential surface 50. inner circumferential surface 52. groove 54. protrusion 56. depression 60. split roller 62, 64 end face 66. combining surface 68. outer circumferential surface 70. inner circumferential surface 72. groove 74. protrusion 76. depression 80. split roller 82, 84 end face 86. combining surface 88. outer circumferential surface 90. inner circumferential surface 92. groove 94. protrusion 96. depression 100. chain 102. offset link plate 108. bush 110. roller 112. split roller 114. stop ring 116. cotter pin 118. T pin 160. chain 162. pin link plate (outer link plate) 164. bush link plate (inner link plate) 166. bush 168. roller 170. pin