Drive chain

Abstract

The sprocket drive chain of this invention is particularly adapted for right angle drive but may also be used for straight or various other angular drive situations. The construction lends itself to ease of manufacture and especially for the automated manufacture of chain. In the preferred embodiment the chain comprises interlocked links rotatably coupled, such as by a pin and bushing combination, with stamped side plates to provide an intermediate tooth (sprocket) opening. The successive openings are adapted to receive a tooth at opposite 90° angles thus readily being adapted to a right angle drive. Other embodiments employ a common pivot to support the side plates in successive 90° opposite directions, and a single plate version useable with a slotted tooth sprocket.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A chain adapted for right angle sprocket drive and comprising; at least two successive sets of planar links with each set having at least one link,   a separate pivot link having opposite first and second ends,   means for pivotally securing the planar links to the pivot link comprising a first pivot pin member associated with the first end of the pivot link for disposing one planar link of a first set in a first direction and a second pivot pin member associated with the second end of the pivot link for disposing a second planar link of a second set in a second direction substantially alternated at a 90° angle to the first direction,   .[.and.]. a second pivot link including a third pivot pin member supporting an opposite end of said second planar link of said second set   each said pivot link having at each of said opposite first and second ends means defining an arcuate sprocket tooth engaging surface extending substantially circumferentially about the axis of said pivot pin member to enclose said pivot pin member.Iadd.,   and a third pivot link including a fourth pivot pin member supporting an opposite end of said one planar link,   the pivot pin members at opposite said ends of planar link set having a spacing therebetween,   the pivot pin members at opposite ends of said second planar link set having a spacing therebetween,   the spacing between pivot pin members at opposite ends of said one planar link set being substantially the same as the spacing between pivot pin members at opposite ends of said second planar link set,   and orthogonally driven sprockets of the same construction are engageable between respective orthogonally disposed planar link sets.Iaddend..   
     
     
       2. A chain as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second and third pivot .Iadd.pin .Iaddend.members are disposed in parallel and arranged, when the chain is in engagement with a sprocket, on opposite sides of a sprocket tooth of the sprocket. 
     
     
       3. A chain as set forth in claim 2 wherein the second and third pivot pin members are disposed symmetrically about the sprocket tooth. 
     
     
       4. A chain as set forth in claim 1 wherein each set of planar links comprises two parallel arranged links. 
     
     
       5. A chain as set forth in claim 4 wherein said pivot link includes a pair of oppositely disposed loop links each having means defining an arcuate sprocket engaging surface with the engaging surface of one link directed transversely to the engaging surface of the other link. 
     
     
       6. A chain as set forth in claim 5 wherein each loop link is U-shaped. 
     
     
       7. A chain as set forth in claim 6 wherein each pivot .Iadd.pin .Iaddend.member comprises a cylindrical bushing and associated pin which passes through to connect the planar links to the pivot link. 
     
     
       8. A chain as set forth in claim 7 wherein said bushing is dimpled to cooperate with a groove in the pin. 
     
     
       9. A chain as set forth in claim 4 wherein said pivot link comprises a pivot block having at one end an arcuate sprocket engaging surface permitting sprocket engagement in only one direction, and at the other end an arcuate sprocket engaging surface permitting sprocket engagement in only the opposite transverse direction to said one direction. 
     
     
       10. A chain as set forth in claim 9 wherein each pivot .Iadd.pin .Iaddend.member comprises a pivot pin and associated lock ring. 
     
     
       11. A chain as set forth in claim 1 wherein the single link set is adapted for use with a slotted sprocket tooth. 
     
     
       12. A chain as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pivot link comprises a pivot block having at one end an arcuate sprocket engaging surface cooperating with a similarly disposed surface of an adjacent pivot block to provide sprocket engagement in only one direction. 
     
     
       13. A chain as set forth in claim 12 including an arcuate sprocket engaging surface at the other end of the pivot block and extending at a right angle to the one end sprocket engaging surface. 
     
     
       14. A chain as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pivot link and planar links define an arcuate sprocket engaging surface wherein the arcuate surface is defined by a roller means. 
     
     
       15. A chain as set forth in claim 6 wherein said pivot .Iadd.pin .Iaddend.member comprises a spring and associated recessed pin. 
     
     
       16. A chain as set forth in claim 1 wherein the axes of the first and second pivot pin members are orthogonal. .Iadd. 
     
     
       17.  A chain adapted for right angle sprocket drive and comprising; at least two successive sets of planar links with each set having at least one link,   a separate pivot link having opposite first and second ends,   means for pivotally securing the planar links to the pivot link comprising a first pivot pin member associated with the first end of the pivot link for disposing one planar link of a first set in a first direction and a second pivot pin member associated with the second end of the pivot link for disposing a second planar link of a second set in a second direction substantially alternated at a 90° angle to the first direction,   a second pivot link including a third pivot pin member supporting an opposite end of said second planar link of said second set,   each said pivot link having at each of said opposite first and second ends means defining an arcuate sprocket tooth engaging surface extending substantially circumferentially about said pivot pin member to enclose said pivot pin member,   and a third pivot link including a fourth pivot pin member supporting an opposite end of said first planar link,   each said pivot link including a common wall disposed substantially transverse to both said planar link sets and first and second pairs of ears integral with and supported from said common wall,   said first pair of ears extending in the same direction as said first planar link set and said second pair of ears extending in the same direction as said second planar link set. .Iaddend. .Iadd.   
     
     
       18.  A chain as set forth in claim 17 wherein said means defining an arcuate sprocket tooth engaging surface includes a roller means and each ear has a hole therethrough for receiving a pivot pin member. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 
     
     
       19.  A chain as set forth in claim 17 further including a third pivot link including a fourth pivot pin member supporting an opposite end of said first planar link, the spacing between pivot pin members at opposite ends of said first planar link set being substantially the same as the spacing between pivot pin members at opposite ends of said second planar link set, and orthogonally driven sprockets of the same construction are engageable between respective orthogonally disposed planar link sets. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. A chain for drivingly engaging with sprockets having orthogonally disposed rotational axes, comprising: first and second link means including respective planar link plates, of the same constructional form, and first, second and third pivot links, the first pivot link being pivotally connected to one end of the first link means, the second pivot link being pivotally connected to the other end of the first link means and to one end of the second link means, and the third pivot link being pivotally connected to the other end of the second link means, the first and second link means being pivotally connected to the second pivot link by respective pivot pin means in such a manner that the planes of the link plates of the first and second link means are orthogonally disposed and the plates are mounted for rotation in their respective planes, the first and second pivot links including means defining first and second guide surfaces extending transversely to the plane of the plate of the first link means and arranged to cooperate therewith to define a receptacle for a tooth of a first of said orthogonally disposed sprockets wherein said guide surfaces are arranged to engage simultaneously opposite flanks of the tooth, the second and third pivot links including means defining third and fourth guide surfaces extending transversely to the plane of the second link means and arranged to cooperate therewith to define a receptacle for a tooth of a second of said orthogonally disposed sprockets wherein the third and fourth guide surfaces are arranged to engage simultaneously opposite flanks of a tooth of the second sprocket, all of the guide surfaces being of the same constructional form, such that the receptacles for the teeth of the orthogonally disposed sprockets are of the same constructional form. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. A chain according to claim 20 wherein each said link means comprises a pair of parallel link plates. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. A chain according to claim 21 wherein each said pivot link includes a pair of oppositely disposed loop links each 
     
     
        providing one of said guide surfaces. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23.  A chain according to claim 22 wherein each loop is U-shaped. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. A chain according to claim 23 including a cylindrical bushing in each said loop link and a pivot pin passing through the bushing and pivotally connected to the link plates. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25. A chain according to claim 24 wherein the bushing is dimpled and the pin includes a groove 
     
     
        which receives the dimple of the bushing. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26.  A chain according to claim 23 wherein said link means are pivotally mounted on pivot pins received in the pivot links and retained therein by means 
     
     
        including a coiled spring around the pin. .Iaddend. .Iadd.27.  A chain according to claim 21 wherein the second pivot link comprises a pivot block having at one end an arcuate said guide surface extending transversely of the link plates of the first link means, the block having at the other end thereof an arcuate said guide surface extending transversely of the plates of the second link means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.28. A chain according to claim 26 wherein the link plates are pivotally mounted on the block by pivot pins and retained on the pins by locking rings. 
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.29.  A chain according to claim 21 wherein said guide surfaces are defined by roller means received in the pivot links. 
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.30.  A chain according to claim 20 wherein the first and second link means each comprise a respective single said link plate. 
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.31.  A chain according to claim 20 adapted for use with slotted teeth, wherein the guide surfaces for each said receptacle are arcuate and are disposed on opposite sides of the planar link plate for each said receptacle. .Iaddend. .Iadd.32. A chain according to claim 20 wherein said means defining guide surfaces includes means defining an arcuate surface. .Iaddend. .Iadd.33. A chain according to claim 32 wherein said means defining an arcuate surface includes roller means. .Iaddend.