Long wear conveyor assembly

Abstract

A chain conveyor assembly having the combination of a polymeric material and a hard diamond-like coating at the frictional interface of the chain links. The conveyor chain preferably includes male and female links connected to one another by connector pins. The shaft of each connector pin is coated with a diamond-like coating having high hardness, low friction and low wear characteristics. Opposite ends of the connector pins are connected to the female link while the shaft of the connector pin passes through the male link. A polymeric bushing is fitted to the male link in engagement with the shaft of the connector pin. Accordingly, relative movement between the links occurs at the interface of the DLC connector pin and the polymeric bushing.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . A chain, such as for use in a conveyor assembly, comprising: 
 a male link;    a polymeric bushing secured to said male link;    a female link movable secured to said male link, said female link secured to said male link by a connector member, said connector member secured to said female link and extending through said bushing, said connector member having a surface engaging said bushing; and    a diamond-like coating disposed on said surface of said connector member to provide a low wear interface between said bushing and said connector member.    
     
     
         2 . The chain of  claim 1  wherein said connector member includes a cylindrical shaft extending through said bushing, said diamond-like coating being applied to said shaft.  
     
     
         3 . The chain of  claim 2  wherein said bushing defines a semi-circular void receiving said shaft, an inner diameter of said void corresponding to said outer diameter of said shaft.  
     
     
         4 . The chain of  claim 3  wherein said male link is annular defining a longitudinally extending internal void and wherein connector members of adjacent female links extend through opposite ends of said void, said male link include a bushing disposed at each of said opposite ends of said void.  
     
     
         5 . The chain of  claim 4  wherein at least one of said bushings is fitted within a corresponding recess in said male link, said recess and said bushing being shaped to preclude movement of said bushing with respect to said male link.  
     
     
         6 . The chain of  claim 5  wherein at least one of said bushings is manufactured from a nylon.  
     
     
         7 . The chain of  claim 5  wherein at least one of said bushings is manufactured from a nylon containing strength and rigidity enhancing additives.  
     
     
         8 . The chain of  claim 5  wherein at least one of said bushings is manufactured from a nylon containing Molybdenum disulphide.  
     
     
         9 . The chain of  claim 5  wherein said diamond-like coating is a thin carbon film layer.  
     
     
         10 . A chain comprising: 
 a male link;    a female link disposed adjacent to said male link;    a connector means for securing said male link to said female link, said connector means including interfacing first and second components that move with respect to one another as said male link moves with respect to said female link, said first component including a surface coated with a diamond-like coating, said second component including a polymeric material engaging said surface coated with said diamond-like coating.    
     
     
         11 . The chain of  claim 10  wherein said connector means includes a pin having a shaft, said surface being further defined as said shaft of said pin.  
     
     
         12 . The chain of  claim 11  wherein said connector means includes a bushing surrounding at least a portion of said shaft, said bushing being said polymeric material engaging said surface.  
     
     
         13 . The chain of  claim 12  wherein—said bushing is manufactured from a polymeric material containing strength and rigidity enhancing additives.  
     
     
         14 . The chain of  claim 12  wherein said bushing is manufactured from a nylon containing Molybdenum disulphide.  
     
     
         15 . The chain of  claim 13  wherein said bushing is secured to said male link.  
     
     
         16 . The chain of  claim 15  wherein said bushing defines a substantially semicircular void, said shaft being rotatably seated within said void.  
     
     
         17 . A conveyor chain, which comprises: 
 a male link including a pair of opposing arcs disposed toward opposite ends of said male link;    a polymeric bushing fitted within each of said male link arcs;    female links mounted to opposite ends of said male link, each including top and bottom plates;    connector members securing each of said female links to said male link, each connector member including a shaft extending between said top plate and said bottom plate through said bushing, said shaft being capable of rotation movement with respect to said bushing; and    a diamond-like coating disposed on said shaft of said connector member to reduce wear at the interface of said bushing and said connector member.    
     
     
         18 . The conveyor chain of  claim 17 , wherein said bushing and said male link are configured to preclude rotational movement of said bushing with respect to said bushing.  
     
     
         19 . The conveyor chain of  claim 18  wherein said connector members and said male links are configured to preclude rotational movement of said connector members with respect to said female links.  
     
     
         20 . The conveyor chain of  claim 19  wherein said diamond-like coating is a thin, carbon film coating.  
     
     
         21 . The conveyor chain of  claim 20  wherein—said bushing is manufactured from a polymeric material containing strength and rigidity enhancing additives.  
     
     
         22 . The conveyor chain of  claim 20  wherein said bushing is manufactured from a nylon containing Molybdenum disulphide.  
     
     
         23 . A long-wear interface assembly comprising: 
 a first member;    a second member mounted adjacent said first member, said second member capable of movement relative to said first member, said first member including a surface engaging said second member, said surface coated with a diamond-like coating, said second member including a polymeric material engaging said surface coated with said diamond-like coating.    
     
     
         24 . The assembly of  claim 23  wherein said first member includes a shaft, said shaft including an outer surface coated with a diamond-like coating.  
     
     
         25 . The assembly of  claim 24  wherein said second member includes a bushing, said bushing manufactured from a polymeric material.  
     
     
         26 . The assembly of  claim 25  wherein said diamond-like coating is a thin, carbon film coating.  
     
     
         27 . The assembly of  claim 26  wherein—said bushing is manufactured from a polymeric material containing strength and rigidity enhancing additives.  
     
     
         28 . The assembly of  claim 26  wherein said bushing is manufactured from a nylon containing Molybdenum disulphide.  
     
     
         29 . A bearing assembly comprising: 
 a first part defining an annular raceway;    a second part defining an annular raceway and being disposed adjacent to said first ring;    a plurality of bearings disposed between said first part and said second part, said bearings riding within said raceways and permitting relative movement between said first part and said second part, either of said bearings or said raceways including a polymeric material and the other being coated with a diamond-like coating, whereby said polymeric material engages said coating at an interface between said bearings and said raceways.    
     
     
         30 . The bearing assembly of  claim 29  wherein said bearings are coated with said diamond-like coating and said raceways include said polymeric material, said bearings engaging and riding along said polymeric material.  
     
     
         31 . The bearing assembly of  claim 30  wherein at least one of said first part and said second part is manufactured from said polymeric material.  
     
     
         32 . The bearing assembly of  claim 30  wherein at least one of said first part and said second part includes a bushing defining said raceway, said bushing being manufactured from said polymeric material.  
     
     
         33 . The bearing assembly of  claim 29  wherein said bearings are manufactured from said polymeric material and said raceways are coated with said diamond-like coating.  
     
     
         34 . A chain for a roller chain conveyor comprising: 
 a male link;    a female link mounted to said male link by a connector member, said connector member including a shaft, said shaft being coated with a diamond-like coating;    a roller rotatably mounted to said connector member with said male link and said female link; and    a polymeric bushing fitted within said roller, said bushing surrounding said shaft, such that said coating directly interfaces with said bushing.    
     
     
         35 . The chain of  claim 34  wherein said bushing includes an end portion protruding axially from said roller, said male link including a plate defining a void fitted over said end portion of said bushing.  
     
     
         36 . The chain of  claim 35  wherein said diamond-like coating is a thin, carbon film coating.  
     
     
         37 . The chain of  claim 36  wherein—said bushing is manufactured from a polymeric material containing strength and rigidity enhancing additives.  
     
     
         38 . The chain of  claim 36  wherein said bushing is manufactured from a nylon containing Molybdenum disulphide.