GB2553179A

GB2553179A - Chain couplings and chain-coupling kits

Info

Publication number: GB2553179A
Application number: GB1708133.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Minasian Harvey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-05-21
Filing date: 2017-05-22
Publication date: 2018-02-28
Anticipated expiration: 2037-05-22
Also published as: GB201708133D0; GB201609078D0; GB2553179B

Abstract

A chain coupling and a kit for coupling together chain-links (15, fig 4) involves a body 9 of substantially C-shape that has its two opposite ends 7,11 entered through the two chain-links (15, fig 4) and restrained by a bolt 1 from withdrawal of the chain links. The bolt 1 has a screw thread 2 and is inserted through a bore 8 in a first 7 of the two ends 7, 11, and after extending through a loose collar 5, engages its thread 2 in a threaded bore 12 of the second end 11. A tag 3 for tightening the bolt 1 is attached by a weakened joint 16 to the bolt 1 so as to break from the fully-tightened bolt 1, giving security against loosening and release of the coupling; a blind end 10 to the threaded bore 12 and the looseness of the collar 5 add to the security.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Chain couplings and chain-coupling kits Abstract Title: C-shaped chain coupling having a threaded bolt (57) A chain coupling and a kit for coupling together chain-links(15, fig 4) involves a body 9 of substantially C-shape that has its two opposite ends 7,11 entered through the two chain-links (15, fig 4) and restrained by a bolt 1 from withdrawal of the chain links. The bolt 1 has a screw thread 2 and is inserted through a bore 8 in a first 7 of the two ends 7, 11, and after extending through a loose collar 5, engages its thread 2 in a threaded bore 12 of the second end 11. A tag 3 for tightening the bolt 1 is attached by a weakened joint 16 to the bolt 1 so as to break from thefullytightened bolt 1, giving security against loosening and release of the coupling; a blind end 10 to the threaded bore 12 and the looseness of the collar 5 add to the security.

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Chain Couplings and Chain-Coupling Kits

This invention relates to chain couplings for coupling individual chain-links together, and kits for use in providing such couplings. The chain-links may be separate links of the same chain (for example end links of the chain), or links of different chains .

It is an object of the present invention to provide a chain coupling of the above kind that is applicable where security of the coupling is required, and where by virtue of features and configuration adopted for the coupling, it can be largely unobtrusive and unobstructive.

According to one aspect of the present invention a chain coupling for coupling two chain-links together comprises a body of substantially C-shape wherein opposite ends of the Cshape body project through the two chain-links respectively, and a bolt which engages with the two ends of the C-shape body where they project respectively through the two chain-links, retains the two ends of the body against withdrawal from the chain-links .

The bolt may extend through a bore in a first of the two ends of the C-shape body for engaging with that end, and may extend further to engage within a bore in the second of the two ends. The bore of the second of the two ends may be threaded for engagement by a screw-thread of the bolt, and may be blind at its furthest extremity from the first of the two ends.

In the circumstances where the bolt has a portion which is for use in manual tightening of screw-threaded engagement between the bolt and the body, this portion of the bolt may be adapted to be broken away from the bolt so as thereby to hamper subsequent attempts at tampering with the coupling for loosening of its engagement.

A collar may be threaded onto the bolt between the two projecting ends of the C-shape body; the collar may have a loose freedom to rotate about the bolt by way of enhancing security of the coupling.

The present invention, as well as being applicable to the provision of an assembled chain coupling retaining two chainlinks coupled to one another, is also applicable according to a further aspect of the present invention in the provision of a kit of components for assembly into a chain coupling between two chain-links of the same chain, or of different chains.

The chain-coupling kit according to this other aspect of the invention comprises a body of substantially C-shape, the body having opposite ends for projecting through the two chainlinks respectively, and a bolt which is for engaging with the two ends of the C-shape body where they project respectively through the two chain-links for thereby retaining the two ends of the body against withdrawal from the chain-links.

A chain-coupling kit and a chain coupling, both according to the present invention, will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1 and 2 are exploded views from different viewpoints, of the components of the chain-coupling kit of the present invention;

Figure 3 show the components of the chain-coupling kit of Figures 1 and 2 when assembled together without the chainlinks that are to be coupled together;

Figure 4 and 5 are illustrations of the chain coupling according to the invention provided by the chain-coupling kit of the invention when assembled to couple together chain-links of two lengths of the same chain or of different chains; and

Figure 6 is an exploded view of the chain-coupling kit including a modified form of bolt.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the chain-coupling kit comprises :

• a bolt 1 having a screw thread 2 at its distal end and a tag 3 at the proximal end of its shank 4;

• a cylindrical collar 5 having a smooth internal bore 6 for loosely fitting onto the bolt 1; and • a body 9 of substantially C-shape that at a proximal end 7 of the C-shape body has a smooth internal bore 8, and at its other, distal end 11 has an internal screwthreaded bore 12 that is axially aligned with the bore 8 and is blind at its furthest extremity 10.

The components of the kit, which may be of metal or plastics, can be assembled by way of trial, without involvement of the chain-links that are to be coupled together. This is illustrated in Figure 3, and in it the screw-threaded distal end of the bolt 1 is first inserted through the bore 8 of the C-shape body 9 in the direction of the arrow A of Figure 1.

Before the bolt 1 is fully inserted, however, the collar 5 is located in the space between the ends 7 and 11 of the body 9 so that it is threaded onto the shank 4 of the bolt 1 as the bolt 1 is then pushed through the bore 8 to engage its threaded distal end with the internallythreaded bore 12. Full engagement of the bolt 1 with the body 9 is then achieved manually by turning the tag 3 to tighten the thread 2 of the bolt 1 within the threaded bore 12.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the use of the kit to form the chain coupling of the invention in coupling together two chain-lengths 13 and 14 of separate chains or of the same chain. In this respect, the body 9 of the coupling of the invention is engaged with end links 15 of the two lengths 13 and 14, with the ends 7 and 11 of the C-shape body 9 inserted through the links 15 before the bolt 1 is inserted and tightened within the body 9 using the tag 3.

The presence of the bolt 1 blocks withdrawal of the ends 7 and 11 of the body 9, from within the links 15, and so maintains the two links 15 coupled together. For security in hampering any attempt to release the coupling between the links 15 by loosening and withdrawing the bolt 1, the tag 3 is broken away from the bolt 1 once the coupling has been established with the bolt 1 tightly screwed into the C-shape body 9; this breaking away is facilitated by a weakened joint 16 (Figures 1 and 3) between the tag 3 and the shank 4 leaving the proximal end of the bolt 1 without any means by which the bolt 1 can be loosened to release the coupling, as represented in Figure 5.

The coupling has features for imparting security in addition to that of the breaking away of the tag 3. In this regard, the blind end 10 of the bore 8 precludes the possibility of access to the threaded end of the bolt 1 to loosen it. Similarly, the rotational looseness of the collar 5 on the shank 4 of the bolt 1 throughout the space between the bores 8 and 12, precludes access to the shank 4 to turn it.

A chain-coupling kit that involves a modification to the bolt 1 to avoid the necessity for breaking the tag 3 away, is illustrated by Figure 6. In this case, the tag 3 is replaced by a small projection or other formation 17 at the proximal end of the bolt; the projection or other formation 17 is configured or is small enough that it cannot be gripped readily by the fingers or normal tools to turn the bolt in tightening or loosening the threads 2 within the threaded bore 12. For these purposes, especially for that of loosening the bolt 1 and removing it, the use of a special key (not shown) to engage the projection or other formation 17 is required.

The chain coupling of the present invention is of advantage where a permanent or semi-permanent tie or other fixing is required using a chain. In this regard, the chain-coupling kit may be used to establish a secure coupling between the two end links of the chain or between a link of the chain and a link of a chain to be attached to the tie. The resultant chain coupling, in addition to providing security with proof against tampering, is generally unobstructive to use of the chain or chains.

More especially, the body of the coupling may readily have a configuration comparable with that of the links of the chain or chains with which it is used, so that the chain coupling is unobtrusive within the context of its use.

Claims

Claims :

1. A chain coupling for coupling two chain-links together, wherein the coupling comprises a body of substantially C-shape wherein opposite ends of the C-shape body project through the two chain-links respectively, and a bolt which engages with the two ends of the C-shape body where they project respectively through the two chain-links, retains the two ends of the body against withdrawal from the chain-links.

2 . A chain coupling according to claim 1 wherein the bolt extends through a bore in a first of the two ends of the Cshape body to enter a bore in the second of the two ends.

3. A chain coupling according to claim 2 wherein the bore of the second of the two ends is internally screw-threaded for engagement by a screw-thread of the bolt.

4 . A chain coupling according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the bore of the second of the two ends is blind at its furthest extremity from the first end.

5. A chain coupling according to any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the bolt has a portion for use in tightening screwthreaded engagement between the bolt and the body, and wherein this portion is adapted to be broken away from the bolt so as thereby to hamper loosening of that engagement.

6. A chain coupling includes a collar for threading onto the bolt between the two projecting ends of the C-shape body with freedom to rotate about the bolt by way of enhancement of security of the coupling.

7 . A chain-coupling kit for assembly with two chain-links of the same chain or of different chains in coupling the two chain-links together, wherein the kit comprises a body of substantially C-shape, the body having opposite ends for projecting through the two chain-links respectively, and a bolt which is for engaging with the two ends of the C-shape body where they project respectively through the two chainlinks for thereby retaining the two ends of the body against

5 withdrawal from the chain-links.

8 . A chain-coupling kit according to claim 7 wherein a first of the two ends of the C-shape body has a bore through which the bolt can project.

9. A chain-coupling kit according to claim 8 wherein the

10 second of the two ends of the C-shape body has an internallyscrew-threaded bore that is axially aligned with the bore of the first of the two ends.

10. A chain-coupling kit according to claim 9 wherein the bore of the second of the two ends is blind at its furthest

15 extremity from the first end.

11. A chain-coupling kit according to claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the bolt has a screw-thread for screw-threaded engagement with the internally screw-threaded bore of the second of the two ends, and a portion of the bolt for use in

20 tightening the screw-threaded engagement is adapted to be broken away from the bolt.

12. A chain-coupling kit according to any one of claims 1 to 11 including a collar for threading onto the bolt with freedom to rotate about the bolt.

Intellectual

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