US3379005A

US3379005A - Chain clamp

Info

Publication number: US3379005A
Application number: US539536A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alpha L Jones
Original assignee: MELVIN J DENNEY
Current assignee: MELVIN J DENNEY
Priority date: 1966-04-01
Filing date: 1966-04-01
Publication date: 1968-04-23
Anticipated expiration: 1985-04-23

Description

April 23, 1968 A. L. JQNES 3,379,005

- CHAIN CLAMP f Filed April 1, 1966 /4"'k g /A 4s A /2 34 40 4, 42 36 l l 42 n@v INVENTOR. u ,BH4 y.. don/Es,

f4 7' 70E/WE YS.

United States Patent C) 3,379,005 CHAIN CLAMP Alpha L. Jones, Stockton, Calif., assignor of twentyfive percent to Alpha L. Jones, twenty-tive percent to Jimmie M. Jones, and fifty percent to Melvin J. Denney, all of Stockton, Calif., as tenants in common Filedf Apr. 1, 1966, Ser. No. 539,536 8 Claims. (Cl. 59-7) This invention relates to a clamp for use in removing and replacing links in conveyor, sprocket, and other chains.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a more compact and efficient device of the kind indicated; and which is of reduced width so that the device can be used in confined places, such as on chains partially covered by chain guards.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an economical and low cost device of the character indicated above which is more easily and positively operable, by means of different available forms of wrenches, and the like, including ratchet wrenches, applied to the hex head of the clamping bolt of the device; and which is composed of a small number of simple and easily assembled parts.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of Ithe character indicated above, wherein cornponents of different lengths are readily interchangeable to enable the device to be used to clamp chains having dilferent lengths and sizes of links.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic side elevation, showing a device of the invention in clamping relation to a chain, the links between the jaws of the device being in relaxed condition, preparatory to removal thereof;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the device;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal section, taken on the line 3 3 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a transverse section, taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the illustrated device comprises a clamping bolt 10, having an elongated threaded shank 12, on the outer end of which is a xed hex head =14. The shank 12 is substantially longer tha-n the distance between the pins 16 connecting links 18 of a chain, such .as a roller chain 20, wherein the pins 16 are covered by sleeves 22. The bolt shank 12 preferably has a smooth portion 24, adjacent to the head 14.

A spacer sleeve 26 is slidably a-nd rotatably circumposed on the smooth portion 24, of the bolt shank 12, and bears against the head 14. A number of spacers 26 is contemplated, of different lengths, to accommodate the device to clamp chains having links of different lengths. Similarly, bolts having different length Shanks 12 are contemplated.

Spaced along the bolt shank 12, from each other, are the smooth bore sleeves 28 of similar but reversed rst and

second jaws

30 and 32, respectively. The sleeve 2S of the first jaw 30 normally abuts the spacer 26. For use with different types and sizes of chain links, the

jaws

30, 32 are adapted to be varied in shape and dimensions.

As herein illustrated, the jaws 30, '32 comprise, besides their sleeves 28, hooks 34, which, as to the two jaws are similar but are reversed with respect to each other. The hooks 30, as shown in FIGURES 1, 3 and 4, comprise longitudinal bars 36, as of rectangular cross section, of substantially the lengths of the sleves 28, which are welded or otherwise suitably fixed along the sides of the sleeves, as indicated at 38, or can be integral with the sleeves. The bars 36 merge, at one end thereof, into downwardly or laterally, and inwardly curved crooks 40, which provide, at their inner or facing sides, arcuate concave surfaces 42,

3,379,005 Patented Apr. 23, 196s ICC which preferably conform in curvature to the roller sleeves 22 of chain pins 16, with which the device is to be used. The crooks 40 are preferably tapered, away from the bars 36, so as to provide relatively sharp or thin terminals 44, on their ends, which facilitate placing the crooks between chain link sides 46, into engagement with selected chain pins, as shown in FIGURE 1, with the concave sides 42 ofthe crooks engaged with the remote vsides of two selected chain link pins, located to permit of the relaxing of intervening chain links which are to be removed or replaced, as shown in FIGURE l.

Threaded on the bolt shank 12, outside of the sleeve of the second jaw 32, is a hex stop nut 48, which is adapted to bear against the outer end of this sleeve. In order to prevent the putting of the stop nut wrongly on the bolt shank, and in order to preclude rotation thereof in wrong directions, as the bolt 10 is rotated, the stop nut 48 has suitably affixed to diametrically opposed corners thereof, as by means of weldings 50, longitudinally elongated stop bars 52, preferably of round stock, and which reach beyond the ends of the stop nut 48. As shown in FIGURE 4, the stop bars 52 are adapted to engage related sides of the bars 36 of the second jaw 32, in accordance with the direction of rotation of the bolt 10, to arrest following rotation of the stop nut 48.

In use and operation, the components of the device having been selected for length, in accordance with the length and type of chain links, the hooks 34 of the

jaws

30, 32 are engaged with the link pins, the bolt 10 having been backed oif sufficiently to allow ample manual spread of the jaws away from each other for this purpose, the bolt 10 is then rotated, by means of any suitable implement applied to the bolt head 14, so that the jaws are forced toward each other, until the desired relaxation of intervening chain links has been obtained. The intervening chain links having been removed and replaced, the bolt 10 is rotated in the opposite direction, to enable the

jaws

30, 32 to be spread apart, either manually or by tension residing in the chain.

What is claimed is:

1. A chain clamp comprising a clamping bolt having a shank formed with a fixed head on one end thereof, a pair of rst and second chain link pin engaging jaws sleeved on the bolt shank for rotational and sliding movements thereon, the iirst jaw being located adjacent to the bolt head and the second jaw being spaced from the iirst jaw along the bolt shank, and a stop nut threaded on the bolt shank at the side of the second jaw remote from the irst jaw.

2. A chain clamp according to claim 1, wherein said bolt head is a hex nut.

3. A chain clamp according to claim 1, wherein a spacer sleeve is slidably and rotatively circumposed on the bolt shank between the bolt head and the first jaw.

4. A chain clamp according to claim 1, wherein said stop nut is a hex nut, said stop nut having diametrically opposed stop bars affixed thereto, said stop bar being arranged to engage related sides of the second jaw in accordance with the direction of rotation of the clamping bolt relative thereto.

5. A chain clamp according to claim 1, wherein said jaws comprise sleeves circumposed on the bolt shank, and facing hooks affixed to sides of the jaw sleeves.

6. A chain cl-amp according to claim 1, wherein said jaws comprise sleeves circumposed on the bolt shank, and facing hooks aixed to sides of the jaw sleeves, said hooks comprising longitudinal bars fixed to the jaw sleeves, said bars having lateral crooks formed with concave facing sides adapted for conforming engagement with chain link pins.

7. A chain clamp according to claim 1, wherein said bolt head is a hex nut, said jaws comprising sleeves rotatably and slidably circumposed on the bolt shank, said hooks comprising bars xed to sides of the jaw sleeves, said bars merging into lateral crooks having concave facing sides adapted to embrace chain link pins.

8. A chain clamp according to claim 1, wherein said bolt head is a hex nut, said jaws comprising sleeves rotatably :and slidably circumposed on the bolt shank, said hooks comprising bars xed to sides of the jaw sleeves, said bars merging into lateral crooks having concave facing sides adapted to embrace chain link pins, said stop nut having aixed thereto diametrically opposed stop bars adapted to make stop engagements with related sides of the hook bar of the second jaw hook in accordance with the direction of rotation of the clamping screw relative to the stop nut.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 752,074 2/ 1904 Jackson 74-25 8 '762,060 6/1904 Huhn 74-258 1,710,092 4/ 1929 Hitchcock 59-7 l0 CHARLES W. LANHAM, Prmaly Examiner.

G. P. CROSBY, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A CHAIN CLAMP COMPRISING A CLAMPING BOLT HAVING A SHANK FORMED WITH A FIXED HEAD ON ONE END THEREOF, A PAIR OF FIRST AND SECOND CHAIN LINK PIN ENGAGING JAWS SLEEVED ON THE BOLT SHANK FOR ROTATIONAL AND SLIDING MOVEMENTS THEREON, THE FIRST JAW BEING LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE BOLT HEAD AND THE SECOND JAW BEING SPACED FROM THE FIRST JAW ALONG THE BOLT SHANK, AND A STOP NUT THREADED ON TH BOLT SHANK AT THE SIDE OF THE SECOND JAW REMOTE FROM THE FIRST JAW.