GB2164414A - Connector for chain ends, especially for use in chain conveyors - Google Patents

Abstract

A connector for connecting two chains together, e.g. in a chain conveyor used in mining, consists of two blocks (2, 3) each of which is adapted to clamp the end link of one of the two chains (6, 7) to be joined. The two blocks are themselves connected together by links (4, 5). The links (4, 5) connecting the blocks together allow play enabling the connector to pass smoothly over chain drive wheels and through curved conveyor sections. The forward or leading one of the two blocks (2) may have lateral extensions (9', 10') which are guided in the walls of a chute or channel along which material e.g. broken coal or ore is conveyed. Each block (2, 3) consists of an upper (10) and lower (8) half, which can be bolted together (22, 23). The construction is advantageous as it can be assembled and disassembled with the chain conveyor still in its chute or channel, and only those parts which need replacement need to be replaced. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Connector for chain ends especially for use in chain conveyors This invention relates to connectors for use in drive chains especially useful for centre chain scraper conveyors used in mining.

In particular the invention relates to a drive chain connector or entrainer chain lock which has a leading and a trailing unit, each of which is adapted to be bolted on to a chain end link, and which units are connectable together to join the ends of successive chain runs or sections together.

The drive chain locks in accordance with the invention inter alia meet the object of chain connection members, chain locks or the like and they serve to connect the chain end members of successive chain runs of one or more middle chains which constitute the pulling members of the movable conveyor elements of a chain scraper conveyor. The drive members which are fixed on the central chain push small pieces of material to be graded in a scraping or scouring fashion in the steel sheet walls which form the stationary part of such a conveyor. The power requirements necessary for this are transmitted via rotating chain wheels or sprockets, which form the transferring end of one or more drives in each case at the end of the conveyor, and which act on the chains.The central chains used with the invention are usually round steel chains, i.e. chains where the links are made of round section steel. The teeth of the chain wheel or sprocket wheel can accordingly engage in the flat i.e. horizontally lying chain members which are arranged between the successive entraining elements, while the tooth gaps serve for receiving the entrainers or the vertically standing chain members. This requires on the one hand the maintenance of a predetermined chain separation and on the other hand a regular arrangement, the socalled pitch of the entrainers, in order to avoid any misengagement with the chain wheels and jumping or skipping of the chain on the drive, or tipping of the conveyor.

Chain conveyors of this type are used particularly in underground mining in particular because of their simple mode of construction for feeding away the mined material which is to be graded. In this connection such conveyors often overcome curvatures, in many cases in the plane of the feed trough, with so-called roll bends. In partial sections of the conveyor which are bent in this way, the entrainers, with their ends guided in the side walls of the conveyor trough, their so-called end blocks, transfer support forces from the inner curvature of the curve on to the centre chain. Since the centre chain transfers and conducts not only the movement energy but also point loadings, as arise inter alia on restrictions of the free space section e.g. via the supporting of cutting machines on the run of the trough in these components very high loads arise.In particular for the roll curves accordingly the entrainers must often be set or pitched to the smallest spacing given by the division of the chain wheel. Entrainer locks in accordance with the invention make it possible to maintain this measure even at the connections of the individual chain runs.

The entrainer locks according to the invention use as a rule at least one entrainer generally installed as the forward entrainer, which is provided with blocks or wings for guiding in the side walls of the conveyor trough. In this case the trailing entrainer has a diminished width, since it runs behind the other entrainer only displaced by the length of one chain member or chain link. This sort of entrainer chain lock runs smoothly over the chain wheels so long as the chain connection members maintain the above described separation.

Indeed the chain wheels are generally so dimensioned that the chain wheel separation is in proportion to the entrainer distance such as 2:2 or 2:4. The entrainers which are located between the entrainer locks are loaded directly by stretching forces with which they are held firm on to the round link chain. The parts of the entrainer which directly carry these forces one tries to make as free as possible from wear. Wear arises above all in that the traction of the entrainer with the chain member tensioned slackens and finally disappears. Best suited for this are two part entrainers with a horizontal separation plane. In this connection in the upper and in the lower portion there is in each case a half of a seating for a horizontally lying chain member formed.Entrainer upper and lower parts of such an entrainer are with pinching of the parallel chain member shoulders tightened up via the seating halves with vertically oriented bolts, which are mostly used in pairs.

In the entrainer locks according to the invention in contrast the connection chain members are mounted so that they can move rotationally in the horizontal and vertical plane relative to the entrainer. Thereby it is possible that the entrainer of the entrainer chain lock can carry out on the chain wheels, and in the horizontal and vertical curving runs of the conveyor, the relative movements necessary for force-free running through. Since the chain connection members in each case are arranged on the side of the central chain track, they additionally make possible the necessary change in distance of the entrainers on the inner curvature of a curve. Generally it is a case of using connection chain members likewise of round chain links of the same size as the chain links, having regard to the separation problems mentioned.

The invention proceeds from a previously known entrainer chain lock. In this for fixing the chain end members there was used a shackle with a double bolting in the entrainer which in addition was constructed as a one piece unit. The trailing edge of the preceding entrainer served for the guidance of both connection chain links, which were each threaded over a prong which was constructed integrally with the preceding entrainer which ran parallel to the entrainer. A corresponding prong arrangement was located on the leading edge of the trailing entrainer. In order to ensure that the connection chain links could not be lost, the fork opening constituted by the trailing entrainer edge and the prongs was welded over with a closure plate.In the trailing entrainer the pair of closure plates extend in each case from the prongs over the fork openings in the respective side of the entrainer, whereby the entrainer additionally receives an additional stiffening.

Substantial efforts need to be made in the manufacture of the known entrainer locks arising from the welding work and the need to obtain exactly fitting parts which is necessary for the welding. In use the damage which is unavoidable with a running conveyor, for example to the entrainer particularly however to the connection chain members by bending or dimensional changes under loading of the chain conveyor gives rise to difficulties. Indeed such damage cannot be avoided in a conveyor particularly under the special conditions of use in underground operations. It must however be the case that such damage puts into question satisfactory running of the entrainer chain locks around the chain wheels. In such cases the respective entrainer chain lock would need to be taken out of service and replaced by a replacement entrainer chain lock.That would give rise to substantial cost and interrupt the conveying work, because the entrainer chain locks belong to the standard equipment of a chain conveyor and are in this sense not provided for regular changing. Also the repair of the entrainer chain locks which have been changed is difficult, because the welds have to be undone in order to be able to separate the entrainers from one another and also to be able to replace the connection chain links or to repair them. Often as a result of this one simply abandons repair as an option and entrainer chain locks taken out of service are simply scrapped.

The object underlying the invention is to provide an entrainer chain lock which allows easy changing, repair and putting back into service if damage or deformation of individual components arises, and naturally the invention also seeks render the manufacture of such entrainer chain locks more simple.

In accordance with a first feature of the invention there is provided apparatus for connecting two chains together, the apparatus comprising a pair of chain engaging members, each such member consisting of upper and lower halves boltable together with interposition of an end link of a chain, the two chain engaging members each having one or more projections extending in a direction opposite the direction in which the chain extends from the respective chain engaging member, and the projections on the two chain engaging members being connected together by correspondingly one or more link members, the or each link member being engaged in the projections of both chain engaging members, and being releasable from such engagement by un- bolting and separating the upper and lower halves thereof.

In a particular embodiment, the invention provides an entrainer chain lock for attaching the ends of two chains together, e.g. for use in a chain scraper conveyor, the lock consisting of a leading entrainer having means for connection to the trailing terminal link of one chain run, and a trailing entrainer having means for engagement with the leading terminal link of a second chain run, in each case the entrainers having a connection chain link member connected thereto which is arranged adjacent the path of the central chain and which is engaged in both entrainers, wherein each entrainer consists of an upper and -a lower portion with seating halves constructed therein adapted to engage a horizontally arranged chain link end member the portions being bolted together vertically and the entrainers are provided at their mutually facing edges with projections which in each case are arranged formed half in the entrainer upper portion and half in the entrainer lower portion as well as having in their lower halves a seating for the connection halves of a connection member and having in their upper halves a seat closure wherein the bolting together of the entrainer halves serves to grasp the chain end link members and to lock the seat closures over the seatings with connection chain link members inserted therein.

The changing of an entrainer chain lock in accordance with the invention is facilitated in that all that is required for assembling together the upper and lower partial parts of the lock, and along with this to mount or release the chain end members, is a simple bolting operation, which even under the conditions of work underground and on the conveyor can be released, and which simultaneously uncovers the seats on which are set the connection chain links, so that the connection chain links, after separating the entrainer halves are likewise accessible, and can be changed. One can accordingly release all of the individual components of the entrainer chain lock in accordance with the invention on the conveyor and replace them individually. These components are also suitable, to the extent overall possible, of being repaired and in particular of being treated on an individual basis. If something has to be thrown away, it does not necessarily mean that simultaneously other components have to be thrown away. The manufacture of such entrainer chain locks is correspondingly made simpler.

In the invention it is evident that the connection chain links are constructed for the first time in the same fashion as the chain end links as flat lying chain links. This is more advantageous than vertically arranged chain connection members, since the seating, because of the necessary movability of the connection chain members, can be introduced only in one of the entrainer halves, and this can thus be done more easily on both chain link shoulders without interruption of the edges which are necessary for the scraping.

Additionally the invention makes possible the advantageous pinching of the chain end members in the form of horizontal chain links which are tensioned away from the entrainers pitched between the entrainer chain locks. The wear on the entrainers is thereby substantially reduced. Finally it is advantageous that because of the pinching of the chain members, the smallest division 2:2 can be maintained.

The protection against wear of the entrainers can be improved by providing that the seatings for the chain terminal links consist of channels partly surrounding the straight chain link legs and constructed in the entrainer upper and entrainer lower portion whereby the lower entrainer portion has a bracket for the vertical chain links adjacent the terminal chain links and the entrainer upper part has a cantilever cooperating with this which projects over the curved parts of the engaged horizontal chain terminal links and which carries on its underside for each curved part a projecting boss which is arranged outwardly adjacent curved part of the chain link and which has a support surface arranged relative to the curved part. Because of the channel formation the seating in accordance with this embodiment brings with it a strong clamping of the respective chain end link.On the other hand, however, if despite this clamping tendencies to loosening arise, these are countered in good time with both of the bosses applied to the underside of the cantilevers. Since these bosses lead to a closed shape with the outer curve of the rounded pieces arranged relative thereto on the straight chain link shoulders of horizontal chain members put in either from the front i.e. already on the installation of the new entrainer or having regard to the tolerances at latest after the generally unnoticeable shifting of the entrainer on the horizontal chain member arises with loosened clamping. This then has an impact of the entrainer as a result which suppresses the relative movement before a wear of the chain channels takes place, which increases the pinching of the entrainer, that is its force fit with the horizontal chain end link.

Preferably the seatings and the seating closures for the chain link connection members and the central sections of the entrainer upper and entrainer lower portions are constructed identically for both entrainers. This assists inter alia in ensuring that the 2:2 separation can be maintained also in the entrainer chain lock, because the entrainers of the entrainer chain lock behave relative to one another just as the entrainers of the chain conveyor do relative to one another.

Preferably the seatings for the chain link connection members consist of a groove matched to their curvature and adjacent brack halves the support surfaces of which lie against the parallel chain link connection member legs are inclined to enable inclination of the entrainer. Mounting the connection chain links in the entrainers in this way ensures that for the mounting and thereby on the entrainer chain lock in accordance with the invention as a whole comparatively small forces arise. This mode of mounting, in connection with the mode of mounting described for the chain end links makes possible the forging of the halves of the entrainers in a die, wherein the components serving for the mounting constitute an integral component with the entrainer. On the other hand parts can be welded on to the entrainer if desired.For the last noted possibility it is in any event valid that in general the one part construction is to be seen as inferior because inter alia it requires additional preparation steps.

Further details, features and other advantages of the entrainer chain lock in accordance with the invention are evident from the subsequent description of a preferred embodiment of the invention which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a plan view of an entrainer chain lock in accordance with the invention in plan, wherein in the left-hand portion of the drawing only the under parts of the entrainer are illustrated, Figure 2 is a section along the line A-B shown in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a section along the line C-D in Figure 1, both Figure 2 and Figure 3 being rotated through 90 relative to the view taken in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the Figures show an entrainer chain lock designated generally by 1 which has a leading entrainer 2 and a trailing entrainer 3. The trailing entrainer 3 is connected to the leading entrainer 2 by two chain link members 4, 5. The entrainer chain lock serves to connect together two successive chain runs 6 and 7 of a central chain which is put together from several such chain runs.

The length of the chain runs is greater than the respective distance of the not illustrated entrainer of the chain conveyor.

The leading entrainer differs from the trailing entrainer 3 insofar as its lower part 8 has on each of its ends a wing or blade 9' or 10'.

The blades engage in a non illustrated guide in the conveyor chute and thereby transfer lateral support forces on to the central chain. Other than this, the leading entrainer 2 and the trailing entrainer 3 are constructed essentially identically.

Both entrainers consist of an entrainer lower portion 8 and an entrainer upper portion 10.

The division necessary to effect this is ef felted along a horizontal separation plane with upwardly angled ends, one of which is denoted 11 in Figure 1. From the sectional illustration of Figure 2 it is evident that the middle horizontally running portion of the separation plane runs parallel to the plane upper face 11 of the entrainer lower portion 8 and parallel to the underside 12 of the entrainer upper part 10. These surfaces are interrupted by a tongue and groove connection 13, which provides in both directions of the central chain a fixed position connection of the entrainer upper part with the entrainer lower part.

Constructed in the entrainer lower part 8 is one half 14 of a seating 15 for the end link 16 of the chain run 6. This seating consists in each case of an upwardly open channel 17 which, as shown in Figure 1, is restricted in length to the length of the straight line portion 18 or 19 of the chain link which fits in it.

Additionally, these chain link channels are so constructed that, together with chain link channels 20 they only partly enclose the other halves 21 of the seating 15, which is formed in the upper portion 10. As a result of this there is in the seatings 15 a play between the upper and lower portions.

This play is used for clamping the end links 16. The clamping forces are applied with the aid of threaded bolts for which apertures 22 are provided in the upper entrainer portion 10 and 23 in the lower entrainer portion 8. Hexagonal head bolts are provided, the nuts for which are schematically illustrated at 24 and which are fixedly held in the lower portion. By means of this it is possible by releasing the threaded bolts to separate the upper portion from the lower portion without needing to remove the chain conveyor from the conveying chute.

As is evident from the preceding description, the terminal chain link 16 which is engaged is a horizontally lying link, adjacent to which there is consequently a vertically lying chain link 26 of the chain run 6. For the round end portion of this chain link there is a support 28 provided in the lower portion 8, whereby the vertical chain link 26 is guided in the seating 15. A cut-out 29 for the rounded portion 27 of the chain link in a projecting portion 30 of the upper entrainer portion 10 serves the same purpose. This projection 30 extends at 31 over the round portion 32 of the trapped horizontal chain link 15. On its underside, it has for each curving section 33 a boss 34 projecting from its underside. This lies outwardly adjacent the chain link curving portion 32 and often has a support surface curved in relation to the rounded section.

The parts described above are all constructed in the trailing entrainer. In this way the chain end link 35 of the chain run 7 is engaged in the same fashion as the terminal chain link 16 of the chain run 6. Additionally the adjacent vertically lying chain link 36 of the chain run 7 is guided in the same fashion as the vertical chain member 26 which is adjacent chain link 16 in the chain run 6. Different however from the entrainer construction which has been described above in connection with the leading entrainer 2 is only the shortening of the entrainer upper and lower portions in the trailing entrainer 3 which extends only as far as line 37.

Not only are the seatings 15 for the end members 16 or 35 of the chain runs 6 and 7 identical and described to that extent, but also the entrainer upper and lower portions 8 or 10 agree in both entrainers 2 and 3 and the seatings for the chain link connection members 4 and 5 are alike to one another. It is therefore sufficient to describe these parts in more detail with reference to the chain link connection member 4 and its illustration in Figure 2.

In accordance with this the entrainer 2 for the leading half 40 of the chain connection member 4 or chain connection member 5 on its edge 41 turned towards the trailing entrainer 3 has in each case a projection 42, 43 on the entrainer lower portion 8 and in each case a projection 44 on the entrainer upper part 10. The same arrangement of projections on the entrainer upper and lower portion is provided on the front edge 45 of the trailing entrainer 3 turned towards the leading entrainer 2. By means of this the rearward curved part 46 of both link connection members 4, 5 is engaged in the entrainer 3 in the same fashion as the forward curved part 40 in the leading entrainer 2.

As is evident from the illustration of Figure 2, in the respective projection 43 of the entrainer lower portion 8 there is constructed a seating 47 for the respective halves 40 or 46 of the chain link connection members. This seating consists of a groove 48 (Figure 1) which guides the curving 49 of the inserted chain link connection member and which is limited inwardly by a boss 50. Furthermore the seating has in each case a bracket half 51 or 52 the support surfaces 53' of which, drawn in Figure 2 in dotted lines, for angling the entrainers for example on the chain wheels is obliquely downwards. The support surface acts in each case with one of the two parallel chain member legs 53, 54. The boss 50 has converging side faces 55, 56 which make it possible for the chain link connection member to rotate horizontally in the groove guide 48.

The seating 47 has a seat enclosure 58 which ensures that with the entrainer chain lock 1 constructed the chain link connection members 4, 5 cannot become free. This seat enclosure is constructed in the projection 44 of the upper portion of the entrainer and has a flat covering surface 59 as well as a tongue and groove connection 59' 60, wherein the groove 59' is formed in the projections 42, 43 of the entrainer lower portion.

The entrainer chain lock which has been described can be dismantled into its individual parts by loosening the bolted connections which are provided in the apertures 22, 23.

This is possible within the conveyor chute.

Then both the terminal chain link members 16 and 35 of chain runs 6 and 7 are released as well as the chain link connection members 4 and 5. Then the entrainer lower portion or the entrainer upper portion or the chain runs or the chain run connection members can be changed as desired. The entrainer chain lock which has been described can be reassembled just as easily. The entrainer chain lock can accordingly also be useful for repair purposes with broken chains. The embodiment illustrated has forged and worked parts for the parts of the entrainer, which do not require any welding work. If the seatings become worn, they can be subsequently treated in order to be able to use the respective entrainer anew. The distance of the entrainers 2, 3 corresponds to two links of the central chain because the chain end links are tightened directly in the entrainers. For this reason the entrainer chain locks are particularly suited for use in connection with the above described roll curves.

In accordance with the exemplary embodiment described a simple central chain is used.

Embodiments of the entrainer chain lock for a double central chain can easily be realised.

The integral forged construction of the entrainer lower portion 8 and upper portion 10 can be replaced if desired also be a welded construction which is made from a multi-part arrangement.

Claims (10)

1. Apparatus for connecting two chains together, the apparatus comprising a pair of chain engaging members each such member consisting of upper and lower halves boltable together with interposition of an end link of a chain, the two chain engaging members each having one or more projections extending in a direction opposite the direction in which the chain extends from the respective chain engaging member, and the projections on the two chain engaging members being connected together by correspondingly one or more link members, the or each link member being engaged in the projections of both chain engaging members, and being releasable from such engagement by unbolting and separating the upper and lower halves thereof.

2. An entrainer chain lock for attaching the ends of two chains together, e.g. for use in a chain scraper conveyor, the lock consisting of a leading entrainer having means for connection to the trailing terminal link of one chain run, and a trailing entrainer having means for engagement with the leading terminal link of a second chain run, in each case the entrainers having a connection chain link member connected thereto which is arranged adjacent the path of the central chain and which is engaged in both entrainers, wherein each entrainer consists of an upper and lower portion with seating halves constructed therein adapted to engage a horizontally arranged chain link end member the portions being bolted together vertically, and the entrainers are provided at their mutually facing edges with projections which in each case are arranged formed half in the entrainer upper portion and half in the entrainer lower portion as well as having in their lower halves a seating for the connection halves of a connection member and having in their upper halves a seat closure wherein the bolting together of the entrainer halves serves to grasp the chain end link members and to lock the seat closures over the seatings with connection chain link members inserted therein.

3. An entrainer chain lock according to claim 2 wherein the seatings for the chain terminal links consist of channels partly surrounding the straight chain link legs and constructed in the entrainer upper and entrainer lower portion whereby the lower entrainer portion has a bracket for the vertical chain links adjacent the chain terminal links and the entrainer upper part has a cantilever cooperating with this which projects over the curved parts of the engaged horizontal chain terminal links and which carries on its underside for each curved part a projecting boss which is arranged outwardly adjacent curved part of the chain link and which has a support surface arranged relative to the curved part.

4. An entrainer chain lock according to claim 2 or 3 wherein the seatings and the seating closures for the chain link connection members and the central sections of the entrainer upper and entrainer lower portions are constructed identically for both entrainers.

5. An entrainer chain lock according to any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the seatings for the chain link.connection members consist of a groove matched to their curvature and adjacent bracket halves the support surfaces of which which lie against the parallel chain link connection member legs are inclined to enable inclination of the entrainer.

6. An entrainer chain lock according to any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein the seating closures have a tongue connection which engages in a groove on the seating.

7. An entrainer chain lock according to any one of claims 2 to 6 and including bosses engaged in the rounded portions of the chain link connection members, which bosses have converging side flanks to allow horizontal os cillation of the chain link connection members.

8. An entrainer chain lock according to any one of claims 2 to 7 wherein the projections on the entrainer upper or entrainer lower por tions are welded on.

9. An entrainer chain lock substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. Apparatus for connecting two chains together substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.