HK1043175B - Method and apparatus for transfer of pressure and/or tensile load and a elongated chain used therein - Google Patents

Description

Method and device for transmitting pressure and/or tensile loads and an elongated chain for use therein

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for forming an elongated shaft member having high stiffness and strength against compressive and/or tensile loads as well as bending and torsional loads, while acting between two objects.

According to the invention, a transmission device for transmitting pressure and/or tension and possibly torsional loads between two relatively movable bodies is provided, which is suitable for a plurality of practical purposes and is based on previously unknown mechanical principles. As non-exhaustive examples intended to make use of the invention may be lifting/lowering means for relatively lifting an object, such as any type of jack or motor driven lifting device, and operating mechanisms for opening and closing windows, doors and gates.

The method according to the invention comprises the following steps:

-winding a plurality of interlocked links during axial displacement of the helical winding drum, thereby forming said elongated shaft member,

by means of links shaped with a substantially circular-arc outer side face and comprising corresponding engagement means,

-the chain link is drivingly connected to a rotatable drive means arranged in a winding guide coupled to one of the two objects,

-guiding the chain links during rotation of the drive means in the winding guide so that the chain links are connected in engagement with adjacent chain links in the same turn and adjacent chain links in adjacent turns in the elongate shaft member by associated engagement means.

-connecting the spiral wound bobbin to the other of said two objects by means of a connecting piece.

By winding the interlocking links around each other in a spiral winding drum in such a way that the individual links are effectively held in place in the spiral winding drum, a shaft can be formed which has considerable strength to withstand compressive and/or tensile loads as well as bending and torsional loads and which can be used as a pressure bar or a tension bar or a drive shaft between two objects.

According to a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, a reversible drive is used, which increases the length of the shaft by rotating in one direction of rotation during the winding of the chain link in the spiral winding drum, but decreases the length of the shaft by rotating in the opposite direction during the unwinding of the chain link from the spiral winding drum.

Further embodiments of the method and non-exhaustive examples of its application are described in the dependent claims 2-11.

To perform the method, the device according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises: a chain storage means associated with one of said two objects with an elongate chain formed by interlocking links and wherein said interlocking links have a generally circular outer side and include associated engagement means, a propulsion guide for driving the elongate chain, a winding guide associated with the propulsion guide, wherein the winding guide includes a guide portion for engaging with guide elements on the links for winding said links on a rotatable drive means provided in said winding guide and for driving said shaft means axially by means of the spiral winding drum, and a coupling member for coupling said spiral winding drum to the other of said two objects.

Preferred embodiments of the device and its individual components and non-exhaustive use are described in the dependent claims 13 to 34.

The elongated chain according to the invention is characterized in that: each link has an outer lateral surface substantially in the shape of a circular arc and, in expanded projection, substantially in the shape of a parallelogram with a first pair of engagement means for connecting adjacent links in the same turn of the spiral winding drum and being arranged on a first pair of opposite lateral surfaces, and with another engagement means for engaging with adjacent links in adjacent turns of the spiral winding drum and being arranged on a second pair of opposite lateral surfaces.

The invention will be explained below with the aid of an embodiment and with reference to a partial schematic drawing, in which

Fig. 1 and 2 are schematic perspective views, illustrating the basic principle of the method according to the invention,

figures 3 and 4 show an embodiment of the device according to the invention,

figure 5 shows an embodiment of the device with an integrated chain storage,

figures 6 and 7 show an embodiment of a winding guide and a drive for use in the device according to figures 3 and 4,

figures 8-12 show an embodiment of a link for use in the device according to figures 3 and 4,

fig. 14 is a perspective view showing the interlocked links wound in a helical winding drum under mutual clamping,

fig. 15 is a schematic perspective view of a first alternative embodiment, in which two equal diameter shaft elements are formed by independent helical winding from each independent link set,

fig. 16 is a schematic perspective view of a second alternative embodiment, in which two unequal diameter shaft elements are formed by independent helical winding of individual link sets, one extending inside the other,

FIG. 17 is a schematic perspective view of an alternative embodiment in which two separate sets of links form a single axis assembly

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the embodiment of fig. 15 in use in a window opening device.

As can be seen from fig. 1 and 2, the most essential aspect of the invention is the chain link 1, which is interlocked in an elongated chain 2 and wound into a helical winding drum 5 under mutual clamping action by means of a drive device comprising a propulsion wheel 3 coupled to a drive wheel 4, which via a transmission is coupled to a drive motor (not shown) which can be rotated in reverse.

Thus, a variable length shaft assembly can be formed by winding the spiral wound bobbin and the shaft has considerable rigidity and strength to resist compressive, tensile, bending and torsional loads.

During the rotation of the driving wheel 4 in one direction of rotation, the chain link 1 is wound in the helical winding reel 5, under the conditions of axial thrust and simultaneous rotation of the latter, the length of the shaft increases. If the direction of rotation of the drive wheel 4 is reversed, the chain link 1 will again be released from the spiral winding reel 5 and the shaft formed thereby will be shortened.

When performing the method, it is necessary to provide a chain storage device (not shown in fig. 1 and 2) with a propulsion guide and a winding guide (not shown) and a drive coupled to one of the two objects and also a power transmission device between them, preferably the object being a fixed first object and a second object which is relatively movable with respect thereto, which can be connected to the shaft 5 by means of a connecting piece 6 as shown in the cross-sectional view of fig. 2, wherein the connecting piece 6 is connected to the first chain turn 7 formed in the spiral winding cylinder 5 at the beginning of the winding of the chain link 1.

As shown in fig. 2, the spiral wound bobbin 5 will have many practical applications if the shaft means formed by the spiral wound bobbin 5 is shielded by an elongated cover element of variable length, such as a bellows 8.

The structure of the individual components of the device according to the invention will be explained in the following by way of example on the basis of the embodiment of the device shown in fig. 3 and 4.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 3 and 4, the interlocking chain links 12 are advanced from a chain storage device in an elongated chain 11 towards a winding guide 14 by means of a substantially linear advance guide 13, wherein the drive with the drive wheel 15 is coupled with the advance wheel (not shown) by means of a bearing arrangement (not shown) shaft diameter.

By means of the clockwise rotation of the drive wheel 15, the chain links 12 are wound up into a spiral winding drum 16, guided by the winding guide 14, wherein the chain links 12 are positioned in a tightly wrapped chain turn 17 under mutual clamping so that the wound chain links are not displaced relative to one another in the spiral winding drum.

In the winding guide 14, the first arriving link 12 engages with a connecting piece 18 shown in fig. 3. The propulsion guide 13, the winding guide 14 and the drive with the drive wheel 15 are each coupled to one of the two objects, between which pressure and/or tension and torsion loads are transmitted by said means, while the coupling 18 serves to couple the shaft means 16 to the other of said two objects. The drive means may also be selectively coupled with the second object together with the coupling member.

Fig. 5 shows in a schematic plan view how the winding guide 14 and the advance guide 13 can be integrated with a common chamber 9, which common chamber 9 carries the chain store 10 in the form of a rail 10 and in which the entire length of the elongate chain 11 can be accommodated.

The push guide 13 in the embodiment shown is designed as a straight track element with a bottom surface 19 for forming an elongated push guide surface for interlocking the convex side of the links 12 and an upper track 20 for guiding the links 12 safely to the winding guide 14 by engagement with engagement means on the concave side of the links 12.

The winding guide 14 is formed in the embodiment shown in fig. 6 with a substantially part-cylindrical wall 21 on the inner side of which a winding guide is formed by a threaded flange 22, in the embodiment shown the winding guide with a predetermined pitch extending over a section slightly exceeding 360 degrees of the inner circumference of the wall 21. At one end 23 of the threaded flange 22, the inner side of the part-cylindrical wall 21 is connected in a plane tangential to the extension 24 of the thrust guide surface 19. A thrust guide 25 in the form of a projecting element for engaging a track in the outer side of the link 12 is coupled to the thrust guide surface 24. Which will be described in detail hereinafter.

In the embodiment of the drive device shown in fig. 7, the drive device 15 is coupled with a propulsion wheel 26, wherein a plurality of helical teeth are provided on the circumferential surface of the drive wheel 26, said helical teeth having a predetermined pitch relative to the pitch of the thread grooves 22 on the inner side of the cylindrical wall 21 in the winding guide 14. As will be described in greater detail below, during winding of the links 12, the impeller wheel with teeth 27 engages helical tracks in the inside faces of the links 12, causing axial advancement of the spiral winding reel during simultaneous rotation thereof about its axis.

As can be seen in the perspective view of fig. 12, in an expanded perspective view, each individual link 12 is generally in the shape of a parallelogram having a first pair of opposed side surfaces 28 and 29 and a second pair of opposed side surfaces 30 and 31.

As can be seen more clearly in fig. 8-11, the chain links 12 have a generally circular arc shape with a convex side surface 32 and a concave side surface 33, so that, when winding takes place, the chain links 12 form a generally cylindrical spiral winding drum 16. To prevent the joint diameter between two links 12 in an individual turn 17 in the spiral winding cylinder 16 from being positioned opposite each other, the length of the links 12 is not an even fraction of a circle, preferably there is an odd number of links 12 in each turn, depending on the desired diameter of the spiral winding cylinder to be formed. In practice, it has been found that 5 links per turn can be used for a variety of purposes, as can be clearly seen in fig. 5 and 14.

For engagement with the winding guide formed by the thread flange 22 in the winding guide 14, a substantially straight rail 34 is provided as a guide on the convex flank 32 of each chain link, which rail forms an angle V with the first pair of opposite flanks 28 and 29, which is determined by the pitch angle of the thread flange 22 relative to the axis of the part-cylindrical wall 21 in the winding guide 14.

For engagement with the elements 25 protruding from the extensions 24 of the pusher guide surface as a pusher guide element, each link 12 comprises on its outer convex side 32 a rail 35 as a second guide element, which rail 35 is provided with two axially movable rail portions 35a and 35b, which are arranged on each of the first pair of opposite sides 28 and 29 of the link 12 and end in rail openings 36, 37 and move in a direction parallel to the sides 28, 29. This rail configuration allows each link 12 to pass from the advancing guide surfaces 19, 24 into the winding guide 14, wherein the winding guide 14 has an axial displacement component and the opening 38 of the rail 34, which is disposed at the downstream side 28 of the advancing direction, faces and aligns the inlet end 23 of the threaded flange 22.

In order to engage with the helical teeth on the impeller 26 in the embodiment shown, a helical track 39 is provided in the concave side 33 of each link, as shown in fig. 10 and 11, which in the embodiment shown is oriented substantially diagonally between the track openings 40 and 41 on each of the second pair of opposite sides 30 and 31. This form of construction of the tracks has the effect that a number of successive helical tracks 42 are formed in the inner side of the wound helical winding cylinder in order to engage in each case a corresponding number of helical teeth 27 on the impeller wheel 26. If the drive means is selectively coupled to the link 18, the inner track 39 can be omitted. Thus, the links may ultimately form an internal cavity that substantially encloses the shaft arrangement, thereby increasing its stiffness and strength.

To hold each individual link 12 in place within the chain turns 17 in the spiral winding drum 16, each link 12 is provided with various pairs of interengaging means.

Thus, a first pair of interengaging means for coupling each link 12 with an adjacent link includes a curved track 43 and a hook-shaped hinge element 44 on each of the first pair of opposed sides 28 and 29, respectively. The track 43 and hook-shaped element are shaped to receive one another and the track 43 has a depth such that in the wound spiral winding drum 16 the hook-shaped element is pushed fully into the slot 43, as shown in figure 14.

The second pair of interengaging means comprises a forked element 45 provided on the inner wall 46 of the curved track 43 and a rib-shaped element 47 provided on the inner side of the hook-shaped hinge element 44. By engaging the fork element 45 and the rib element 47 on adjacent links in the same turn with a rib element 47 and a fork element 45, respectively, it is possible to prevent adjacent links in the same turn 17 from being displaced from each other in the axial direction of the helical winding drum.

On the inner side of the hook-shaped hinge element 44 there is also provided a rest surface 48 for the branch 45a of the fork-shaped element 45. By abutment between the fork branch 45a and the surface 48, the winding action of the links 12 is stopped, so that adjacent links in the same turn 17 are held in their mutually angled position, which is determined by the number of links in the turn.

As shown in fig. 3, the fork member 45 is also used as a member for engaging with the rail 20 in the pusher guide 13.

As can be seen from fig. 10, 11 and 14, the fork elements 45 and the rib elements 47 on the individual links 12 are axially displaceable relative to one another. Thus, when the spiral winding drum is wound, the curved track 43 in the entrance side 28 on each link, in addition to remaining engaged with the hook-shaped hinge element 44 in the previously entered link 12, also comes into overlapping engagement with the hook-shaped hinge element 44 on the next link in the turn adjacent to that previously entered link. This engagement has the effect that adjacent turns 17 in the spiral wound bobbin 16 are retained against mutual displacement in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction.

Finally, each link 12 is disposed on each of the second pair of opposite sides 30 and 31 and carries further engagement means comprising a track 49 on the outer convex side 32 of the link and a rib-shaped element 50 extending along the sides 30 and 31 respectively. By ensuring that the rails 49 and rib elements 50 engage with corresponding engagement means on adjacent links in adjacent turns, by winding the links 12 in the spiral winding drum, side-by-side positioning of the links in adjacent turns can be ensured by interengagement.

The connecting element 18, with which it can be coupled during the winding of the chain link 12 to the first formed chain turn 17 in the helical winding drum 16, is configured in the embodiment shown in fig. 13 as a substantially disk-shaped cover element and has a substantially cylindrical circumferential surface 51, in which a track 52 is provided which serves as a track element for engaging the helical flange 22 in the winding guide element 14, said track being substantially identical to the track 34 on the convex side 32 of the respective chain link.

On the side surface 53 facing the spiral winding drum 16, the tie member 18 is provided with a number of projecting engagement means 54 corresponding to a number of links 12 in each turn of the spiral winding drum, said projecting engagement means 54 increasing in height from the side surface 53 in correspondence with the pitch of winding of the spiral winding drum 16.

As previously described, since the links 12 are introduced into the winding guide 14 with the front side 28 with the curved track 43 and the side 31 with the ribbed element 50 facing outwards towards the link 18, each engaging element 54 carries a hook-shaped articulation element 55 corresponding to the hook-shaped articulation element 44 on each link 12, and an engaging track 56 for engaging with the ribbed element 50 on one of the links formed first.

By providing the said interengaging means on the links 12 and the links 18, the links 12 will be securely clamped and locked to each other in the wound helical winding drum 16, and the wound helical winding drum 16 together with the links 18 form a shaft arrangement of considerable rigidity and strength for withstanding compressive and tensile loads as well as bending, torsional and torque loads.

In fig. 15, an embodiment of the device according to the invention is shown, by means of which two shafts 57 and 58 can be formed on respective rectilinear extensions from respective individual chains in separate spiral winding drums having the same diameter, by winding the chain links 59 and 60, respectively. By the construction consisting of separate advance and winding guides for the two shafts 57 and 58 interconnecting the two objects, respectively, the chain store must be able to form a total shaft arrangement of a given maximum length so as to be evenly distributed between the two objects.

In each spiral winding drum, the previously formed turns 61 and 62 are connected to links 63 and 64, respectively, and the links are linked at intermediate portions of two objects, which are not shown in fig. 15.

The pitch directions of the spiral wound cylinders in the two shafts 57 and 58 are diametrically opposed as indicated by arrows 65 and 66, respectively, so that the lengths of the shafts 57 and 58 can be simultaneously increased or decreased due to the opposite directions of rotation.

Fig. 16 shows an alternative embodiment in which a shaft means 67 consisting of two separate shafts 67 and 68 with opposite pitch directions performs the same function as in the previously described method, and said shaft means 67 is formed by means of an external thread 69 engaging an internal thread 70, wherein the internal thread 70 is formed by a helical track on the inner side of a link in the other shaft 68.

In this case as well, the advancing and winding guides 71 and 72 for the spiral winding drums in the shaft arrangements 67 and 68, respectively, are arranged on two objects 73 and 74, which may consist of, for example, a main frame and sash of an openable window, while each shaft arrangement 67 and 68 in turn serves as a coupling for the other shaft, so that separate couplings for previously formed chain turns in each shaft can be dispensed with. By simultaneously winding the two shaft means 67 and 68 from the two objects, it will be easy to screw the shaft means 67 step by step into the shaft means 68.

With this design the stiffness and strength of the entire shaft combined by the independent shaft arrangements 67 and 68 will be further increased.

Fig. 17 shows a further alternative embodiment, in which the single-axis device 75 is an axis formed by winding two separate sets of chain links 76 and 77 in different turns of the spiral winding drum, the two chains comprising the chain links 76 and 77 being urged towards a common winding guide (not shown) of the same construction as shown in fig. 3 and 4, so that the part-cylindrical walls in the winding guide enter at two points, preferably diametrically opposite. In contrast to the previously described embodiments, the winding guide must have internally threaded flanges for the individual link sets 76 and 77, respectively, each of which has a pitch, and the shape of the outer tracks of the links, corresponding to tracks 34 and 35 in fig. 8 and 9, is machined to impart an axial displacement component to the links into the winding guide so that links 72 and 73 of different turns are wound.

With such a structure of the turns in the shaft, the chain for forming a shaft of a given length can be divided into two separate chains arranged on either side of the winding guide. The use of such a device for a window operating device facilitates the arrangement of the housing of the operating device, which includes the winding guide arranged in the middle of the main frame or sash.

Fig. 18 shows an example of the application of the embodiment schematically shown in fig. 15 to an operating device for a window having a main frame 78 and an openable sash 79, and the main frame 78 and the openable sash are connected to each other by hinge means (not shown) provided on opposing bottom members 80 and 81 of the main frame and sash. Operating device housings 82 and 83 provided on opposed top members 84 and 85 of the main frame and sash are adapted to receive a chain storage device with associated advance guides, winding guides and drive means for forming two shafts 57 and 58 by winding the links in each chain of the spiral winding drum, which shafts are connected end to end by means of links 63 and 64.

It is considered to be within the scope of the present invention to design each individual component of the device in other ways. The number of links of each turn in the spiral winding drum depends on the diameter of the shaft suitable for the purpose. The coupling member for connecting the shaft to the second of the two objects may be connected to the spiral wound bobbin in other ways, for example by means of a sleeve member secured to the inside of the spiral wound bobbin as shown in fig. 2. In addition, the links may be otherwise designed to provide functional conditions (functional conditions) that are capable of achieving winding, axial advancement in the spiral winding drum and mutual fastening, the purpose of which is to prevent relative displacement between individual links and between individual turns in the spiral winding drum.

Claims (48)

1. A method for forming an elongate shaft having high stiffness and strength against compressive and/or tensile loads and bending and torsional loads, said shaft acting between two objects, comprising the steps of:

-winding a plurality of interlocking links (1, 12) during axial displacement of the helical winding drum, so as to form said elongated shaft element,

by means of links shaped with a substantially circular outer side and comprising corresponding engagement means,

-the chain link is drivingly connected to a rotatable drive (3, 4; 15, 26) arranged in a winding guide (14) coupled to one of the two objects,

-guiding said links during rotation of said drive means in the winding guide so that the links are connected and held in engagement with adjacent links in the same turn and adjacent links in adjacent turns in said elongate shaft member by associated engagement means.

-connecting the spiral winding drum to the other of said two objects by means of a connecting member (6, 18).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein: a counter-rotatable drive (3, 4; 15, 26) is used as the drive for increasing and decreasing the length of the shaft element by rotation of the drive in one direction of rotation and in the opposite direction of rotation, respectively.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein: the links (6, 18) are coupled to the first formed chain turns in the helical winding drum.

4. A method as claimed in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: two elongate shafts (57, 58; 67, 68) are formed by winding independent consecutive groups of links (59, 60) in two helical winding drums having opposite pitch directions (65, 66), the winding guides of said groups of links (59, 60) being connected to one and the other of said two objects, respectively.

5. The method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that: the two spiral winding drums (57, 58) have equal diameters, and a connecting piece (63, 64) connected with the first formed chain loop (61, 62) in each winding drum is connected with the middle part of the two objects.

6. The method according to claim 2 or 4, characterized in that: one of the spiral winding drums (67) advances inside the other spiral winding drum (68) and has links with external threads (69) for engaging with internal threads on the links in the other spiral winding drum so that each of the spiral winding drums functions as a coupler for the other spiral winding drum.

7. A method as claimed in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: a single axis device is formed by winding two separate sets of links (76, 77) in different turns in the same spiral winding drum, and both sets of links (72, 73) are provided to the same winding guide.

8. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein: which is used in a raising/lowering device to cause relative height displacement of two objects.

9. Method according to one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that: which is used as an operating device for opening and closing windows or doors, wherein the two objects consist of a fixed frame structure and an openable sash structure.

10. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein: which is used as a drilling apparatus, said connecting member being connected to a drill bit or a cutting head.

11. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein: which is used for reversing the relative displacement of telescopically connected tubular parts.

12. An apparatus for performing the method of any preceding claim, comprising: a chain storage device (10) associated with one of said two objects with an elongated chain (11) formed by interlocking links (12), and wherein said interlocking links (12) have a substantially circular-arc-shaped outer side and comprise associated engagement means, a propulsion guide (13) for driving the elongated chain (11), a winding guide (14) coupled to the propulsion guide (13) and further comprising a guide (22) engaging with a guide element (34) on the link (12) for winding said spiral winding drum (16), a rotatable drive (3, 4; 15, 26) provided in said winding guide for axial advancement of the shaft means formed by the spiral winding drum (5) and a coupling (6) for connecting the spiral winding drum to the other of said two objects, 18).

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein: the chain magazine (10) comprises an elongate track connected to the advance guide (13) for accommodating the entire length of chain (11).

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein: the chain reservoir is formed by a winch connected to the advance guide, on which winch the elongate chain is wound.

15. The apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein: the winding guide (14) comprises a substantially part-cylindrical wall (21) on the inner side of which a guide (22) is provided for engagement with a guide element (34) on the chain link (12).

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein: the guide is designed as at least one threaded flange (22) having a predetermined pitch across a portion of the inner side of the wall (21).

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein: the advancement guide (13) comprises a substantially rectilinear track (20) for the controlled advancement of the chain link (12) towards the winding guide, and guide surfaces (19, 24) of the outer lateral surface (32) of the chain link, said guide surfaces being joined substantially in a plane tangential to the inner lateral surface of the part-cylindrical wall (21) of the winding guide, said guide surfaces (19, 24) having at least one advancement guide element (25) in the vicinity of their junction with said inner lateral surface.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein: the push guide element (25) comprises an element projecting from the push guide surface (24) for guiding the individual chain links (12) into the winding guide (14) with an axial displacement component.

19. The apparatus of any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein: the drive device comprises a propulsion wheel (26) arranged on the circumferential surface and provided with a plurality of helical teeth (27), the helical teeth (27) having a predetermined second pitch opposite to the pitch of the threaded flange (22), the propulsion wheel being coaxially supported in the winding guide (14) so as to engage with the chain links (12) and being coupled via a transmission to a drive wheel (15) connected to the drive device.

20. The apparatus according to any of claims 15-19, wherein: the coupling element (18) is designed as a substantially disc-shaped cover element and has a substantially circular circumferential surface (51), wherein guide elements (52) are provided for engagement with the guide (22) in the winding guide (14), and the cover element is provided with a projecting engagement means (54) on a side surface (53) for engagement with the respective corresponding chain link (12) formed in the first turn (17) in the spiral winding drum (16).

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein: the male engagement means (54) comprises a hook-shaped element (55).

22. The apparatus of claim 20 or 21, wherein: the male engagement means (54) includes a slot (56).

23. The apparatus of any one of claims 20 to 22, wherein: said guide elements on the circumferential surface (51) of the coupler (18) comprise a track (52) for receiving said threaded flange (22) of the winding guide.

24. The apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 23, wherein: the spiral winding cylinder (5) formed by winding the chain links is surrounded by a jacket of variable length.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein: the outer sleeve is a corrugated pipe.

26. The apparatus of any one of claims 12 to 25, wherein: a chain storage device, a pushing guide device and a winding guide device are provided, each associated with each of the two objects, so as to form two elongated shaft members (57, 58; 67, 68) by winding two helical winding drums having opposite pitch directions.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein: the two spiral wound cylinders (57, 58) have the same diameter, and a link (63, 64) connected to the first forming chain turn (61, 62) in each coil is connected to the intermediate portion of the two objects.

28. The apparatus of claim 18 or 26, wherein: one of the spiral winding drums (67) advances inside the other spiral winding drum (68) and has links with external threads to engage internal threads (70) formed by the spiral tracks on the inside of the links in the other spiral winding drum (68) so that each spiral winding drum functions as a tie for the other spiral winding drum.

29. The apparatus of any one of claims 12 to 28, wherein: a single-axis apparatus (75) is formed comprising a spiral wound bobbin of alternating turns formed by chain links (76, 77), the chain links (76, 77) being provided by two separate sets of chain links.

30. The apparatus of any one of claims 12 to 29, wherein: which is used in a lifting/lowering device to displace two objects relative to each other in height.

31. The apparatus of any one of claims 12 to 29, wherein: which is used as an operating device for opening and closing windows or doors, wherein the two objects are formed by a fixed frame structure and an openable sash structure.

32. The apparatus of any one of claims 13 to 29, wherein: which is used as a drilling instrument, said coupling member having a drill bit or cutting head attached thereto.

33. The apparatus of any one of claims 12 to 29, wherein: which is used to reverse the relative movement of telescopically connectable tubular members.

34. An elongated chain comprising interlocking links (12) with associated engagement means for use in a device according to any one of claims 12 to 33, characterized in that: each link (12) has a substantially circular arc shape on its outer side and, in expanded projection, has a substantially parallelogram shape with a first pair of engagement means (43, 44) for connecting adjacent links in the same turn in the spiral winding cylinder and being arranged on a first pair of opposite sides (28, 29), each link (12) further having further engagement means (49, 50) for engaging with adjacent links in adjacent turns in the spiral winding cylinder and being arranged on a second pair of opposite sides (30, 31).

35. A chain according to claim 34 for use in the apparatus of claim 16, wherein: each link (12) carries on its outer side (32) a track (34), which track (34) is adapted to receive the threaded flange (22) in the winding guide and is at an angle (V) to the first pair of opposite sides (28, 29) adapted to the predetermined pitch.

36. A chain according to claim 35 for use in the apparatus of claim 17, wherein: the inner side (33) of each chain link (12) is formed with an engagement device (45) for engaging with the substantially linear track (20) in the advancing guide (13), and the outer side of each chain link (12) is provided with a second guide element (35) for guiding the chain link (12) into the winding guide (14), and the winding guide (14) is provided with an opening (38) of the track (34) located towards the first end (23) of the threaded collar (22), said opening being open on the downstream side (28) of the first pair of opposite sides with respect to the advancing direction.

37. The chain as set forth in claim 36, wherein: the second guide element (35) comprises a second track which is arranged on the outer side and ends in the first pair of opposite side faces (28, 29) and which is displaced in a track opening (36, 37) in a direction parallel to the first pair of side faces (28, 29).

38. Chain for use in a device according to claim 20, according to any of claims 35 to 38, characterized in that: a guide element (39) is formed on the inner side (33) of each chain link (12), the guide element (39) being designed as a helical track which forms a plurality of consecutive helical tracks (42) on the inner side of the helical winding drum (16) formed by the chain links, the helical tracks (42) having the second pitch for engaging a single one of the helical teeth (27) on the propeller wheel (26) in the drive.

39. The chain as set forth in claim 36, wherein: the engagement elements (45) form part of a second pair of engagement means (45, 47) provided on the first pair of opposite sides (28, 29) and by winding of a chain link into engagement with corresponding means on an adjacent chain link in the same turn (17), the chain link (12) is held in position in the winding drum.

40. Chain for use in a device according to claim 21, according to any of claims 34 to 39, characterized in that: the first pair of engagement means for each link (12) comprises a hook-shaped articulation element (44) and a curved track (43) for receiving the articulation element (44), the curved track (43) being adapted to receive a hook-shaped element (55) in the link (18).

41. A chain according to claim 39 or 40 for use in an apparatus according to claim 17, wherein: the second pair of engagement means for each link (12) comprising a fork-shaped element (45) on a free edge of a wall portion defining the curved track (43) which is intended, on the one hand, to engage with the track (20) in the advance guide (13) and, on the other hand, to engage with a rib-shaped element (47) provided on the inner side of the hook-shaped hinge element (44), with a rib-shaped element (47) engaging with a fork-shaped element (45) on each adjacent link, respectively, so that the fork-shaped and rib-shaped elements (45, 47) are able to prevent relative displacement of adjacent links in the same chain turn in the axial direction of the spiral winding drum, the hook-shaped hinge element (44) being provided, on each side of the rib-shaped element, with a pressing surface (48a, 48b) which is intended to act as a stop for a branch (45a) in the fork-shaped element (45), so that adjacent links are held in a predetermined angular position in the turns.

42. The chain as set forth in claim 41, wherein: the interengaging fork and rib elements (45, 47) are arranged relative to one another in such a way that the curved track (43) on a link (12) engages with the hook-shaped hinge element (44) in a link arranged side by side in the same turn and in an adjacent turn.

43. The chain for use in the device according to claim 23, according to any one of claims 34 to 42, wherein: the further engagement means comprises a track (49) on the outer side of the link (12) and a rib member (50) extending along one and the other of the second pair of opposed sides (30, 31), respectively, the rib member (50) being adapted to engage with a groove (56) on the link member (18).

44. A chain according to any of claims 34 to 43, wherein: the length of each link (12) is different from an even fraction of a circle having a radius equal to the radius of the spiral wound bobbin.

45. The chain as set forth in claim 44, wherein: the length of each chain link (12) is formed by an odd fraction of a circle.

46. The chain as set forth in claim 45, wherein: the length of each chain link (12) is one fifth of the circumference of the inner wall of the winding guide (14).

47. A chain according to any of claims 34 to 46, wherein: the links (12) are moulded from a plastics material.

48. A chain according to any of claims 34 to 46, wherein: the chain links (12) are produced as cast or sintered metal bodies.