Chain for supporting energy conveying means, and chain link therefor

Abstract

A chain for supporting energy conveying means, especially power lines and hoses, and a chain link therefor, according to which the chain links are of H-shape having two oppositely located laterally elastically yieldable arms interconnected by a transverse wall while two oppositely located arm sections of each link are provided with holes and the other two oppositely located arm sections of the same link are provided with studs having a diameter corresponding to a slide fit in said holes, the arrangement being such that the studs of one chain link pivotally engage the holes of the next following chain link.

What we claim is: 
     
       1. A power-line supporting chain for supporting energy conveying means, especially power lines and hoses, which includes a plurality of chain links pivotally connected to each other, each of said links being H-shaped and having two oppositely located and substantially parallel plate-shaped arms .[.and a transverse.]. .Iadd.integrally formed with .Iaddend.wall .[.transverse.]. .Iadd.means extending transversely .Iaddend.to the longitudinal extension of said arms and interconnecting the same at an area between the ends of said arms, .Iadd.said transverse wall means defining at least one transverse opening in each link adapted to receive energy conveying means for retention between said arms, .Iaddend.each of said arms being laterally elastically yieldable relative to the other arm in a direction transverse to the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the respective link and having two sections connected to each other at the region of said transverse wall .[.while.]. .Iadd.means.Iaddend., one of said sections of each arm .[.is.]. .Iadd.being .Iaddend.provided with a bore and the pertaining other section of the same arm .[.is.]. .Iadd.being .Iaddend.provided with a stud having an outer diameter corresponding to a slide fit for said bore, said chain links being arranged so that the studs of one chain link pivotally engage the bores of the respective next following link while the bores of said one chain link are pivotally engaged by the studs of the respective next preceding link, the end portion of each side plate which bears the stud being offset from the end portion of the side plate which contains the .[.hole.]. .Iadd.bore.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       2. A chain according to claim 1, in which the two sections of each arm of each link are offset with regard to each other in a direction transverse to the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the respective chain link. 
     
     
       3. A chain according to claim 1, in which those end portions of the arms which contain the bores also contain cut-away portions each of which extends between the respective bore and the adjacent edge of the pertaining arm and provides a guide passage for guiding a stud into the respective bore. 
     
     
       4. A chain according to claim 1, in which the studs are in the form of cylindrical pins, and in which the bores extend fully through the respective arms. 
     
     
       5. A chain according to claim 1, in which the studs are chamfered on their leading sides with respect to the direction in which the link is moved relative to the next adjacent link to be connected therewith. .[.6. A chain according to claim 1 in which each transverse wall contains at least 
     
     
        one opening through which power lines can be passed..]. 7. A chain according to claim 1, in which the two sections of each arm are offset from each other where the transverse wall .Iadd.means .Iaddend.adjoins the 
     
     
        side plate. 8. A chain according to claim 1, in which stops for limiting the swiveling angle between the links are mounted on those ends of the 
     
     
        arms which carry the studs. 9. A chain according to claim 1, in which the chain links are made of synthetic material. .[.10. A chain according to 
     
     
        claim 1, in which each chain link is made in one piece..]. 11. A chain according to claim 1, in which each of the chain links is provided with abutment means for limiting the maximum angular position of each two adjacent chain links, and in which each link has a flat end face portion 
     
     
        for cooperation with abutment means of the respective adjacent link. 12. A chain for supporting energy conveying means, especially power lines and hoses, which includes a plurality of chain links pivotally connected to each other, each of said links being H-shaped and having two oppositely located and substantially parallel plate-shaped arms and .[.a transverse.]. wall .[.transverse.]. .Iadd.means extending transversely .Iaddend.to the longitudinal extension of said arms and interconnecting the same at an area between the ends of said arms, .Iadd.said transverse wall means defining at least one transverse opening in each link adapted to receive energy conveying means for retention between said arms, .Iaddend.each of said arms being laterally elastically yieldable relative to the other arm in a direction transverse to the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the respective link and having two sections connected to each other at the region of said transverse wall .[.while.]. .Iadd.means.Iaddend., one of said sections of each arm .[.is.]. .Iadd.being .Iaddend.provided with a bore and the pertaining other section of the same arm .[.is.]. .Iadd.being .Iaddend.provided with a stud having an outer diameter corresponding to a slide fit for said bore, said chain links being arranged so that the studs of one chain link pivotally engage the bores of the respective next following link while the bores of said one chain link are pivotally engaged by the studs of the respective next preceding link, those end portions of the arms which contain the bores also containing cut-away portions each of which extends between the respective bore and the adjacent edge of the pertaining arm and provides a guide passage for guiding a stud into the respective bore, the width of a 
     
     
        cut-away tapering towards the corresponding adjacent bore. 13. A chain for supporting energy conveying means, especially power lines and hoses, which includes a plurality of chain links pivotally connected to each other, each of said links being H-shaped and having two oppositely located and substantially parallel plate-shaped arms and .[.a transverse.]. wall .[.transverse.]. .Iadd.means extending transversely .Iaddend.to the longitudinal extension of said arms and interconnecting the same at an area between the ends of said arms, .Iadd.said transverse wall means defining at least one transverse opening in each link adapted to receive energy conveying means for retention between said arms, .Iaddend.each of said arms being laterally elastically yieldable relative to the other arm in a direction transverse to the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the respective link and having two sections connected to each other at the region of said transverse wall .[.while.]. .Iadd.means.Iaddend., one of said sections of each arm .[.is.]. .Iadd.being .Iaddend.provided with a bore and the pertaining other section of the same arm .[.is.]. .Iadd.being .Iaddend.provided with a stud having an outer diameter corresponding to a slide fit for said bore, said chain links being arranged so that the studs of one chain link pivotally engage the bores of the respective next following link while the bores of said one chain link are pivotally engaged by the studs of the respective next preceding link, those end portions of the arms which contain the bores also containing cut-away portions each of which extends between the respective bore and the adjacent edge of the pertaining arm and provides a guide passage for guiding a stud into the respective bore, the depth of a cut-away decreasing with decreasing distance from the edge of the pertaining bore. 
     
     
         4. A chain according to claim 13, in which each cut-away terminates at 
     
     
        the edge of the adjacent bore. 15. A power-line supporting chain for supporting energy conveying means, especially power lines and hoses, which includes a plurality of chain links pivotally connected to each other, each of said links being H-shaped and having two oppositely located and substantially parallel plate-shaped arms and .[.a transverse.]. wall .[.transverse.]. .Iadd.means extending transversely .Iaddend.to the longitudinal extension of said arms and interconnecting the same at an area between the ends of said arms, .Iadd.said transverse wall means defining at least one transverse opening in each link adapted to receive energy conveying means for retention between said arms, .Iaddend.each of said arms being laterally elastically yieldable relative to the other arm in a direction transverse to the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the respective link and having two sections connected to each other at the region of said transverse wall .[.while.]. .Iadd.means.Iaddend., one of said sections of each arm .[.is.]. .Iadd.being .Iaddend.provided with a bore and the pertaining other section of the same arm  .[.is.]. .Iadd.being .Iaddend.provided with a stud having an outer diameter corresponding to a slide fit for said bore, said chain links being arranged so that the studs of one chain link pivotally engage the bores of the respective next following link while the bores of said one chain link are pivotally engaged by the studs of the respective next preceding link, the transverse wall .Iadd.means .Iaddend.of a chain link serving as a stop-face for the edge face of an adjacent chain link so as to limit the swiveling angle between the links. .[.16. A chain for supporting energy conveying means, especially power lines and hoses, which includes a plurality of chain links pivotally connected to each other, each of said links being H-shaped and having two oppositely located and substantially parallel plate-shaped arms and a transverse wall transverse to the longitudinal extension of said arms and interconnecting the same at an area between the ends of said arms, each of said arms being laterally elastically yieldable relative to the other arm in a direction transverse to the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the respective link and having two sections connected to each other at the region of said transverse wall, while one of said sections of each arm is provided with a bore and the pertaining other section of the same arm is provided with a stud having an outer diameter corresponding to a slide fit for said bore, said chain links being arranged so that the studs of one chain link pivotally engage the bores of the respective next following link while the bores of said one chain link are pivotally engaged by the studs of the respective next preceding link, the studs being made of a material different from the material of the chain links and being inserted into the latter..]. .[.17. A chain for supporting energy conveying means, especially power lines and hoses, which includes a plurality of chain links pivotally connected to each other, each of said links being H-shaped and having two oppositely located and substantially parallel plate-shaped arms and a transverse wall transverse to the longitudinal extension of said arms and interconnecting the same at an area between the ends of said arms, each of said arms being laterally elastically yieldable relative to the other arm in a direction transverse to the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the respective link and having two sections connected to each other at the region of said transverse wall, while one of said sections of each arm is provided with a bore and the pertaining other section of the same arm is provided with a stud having an outer diameter corresponding to a slide fit for said bore, said chain links being arranged so that the studs of one chain link pivotally engage the bores of the respective next following link while the bores of said one chain link are pivotally engaged by the studs of the respective next preceding link, and bushes made of a material other than that used for the studs and set into the bores of the respective link arm 
     
     
        sections..]. 18. A .[.chain.]. link .Iadd.for a power-line supporting chain .Iaddend.for supporting energy conveying means, especially power lines and hoses, which includes two oppositely located substantially parallel and laterally elastically yieldable plate-shaped arms and .[.a transverse.]. wall .[.transverse.]. .Iadd.means extending transversely .Iaddend.to the longitudinal extension of said arms, .Iadd.said transverse wall means interconnecting said arms at an area between the ends of said arms and defining at least one transverse opening in said link adapted to receive energy conveying means for retention between said arms, .Iaddend.each of said arms having two sections offset with regard to each other where said transverse wall adjoins said two sections and in a direction transverse to the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the chain link, so that the distance between one pair of opposite arm sections is less than the distance between the other pair of opposite arm sections, one pair of opposite arm sections being provided with axially aligned holes and the other pair of opposite arm sections being provided with studs corresponding in diameter to a slide fit in said holes. .Iadd.19. The link of claim 18 wherein said arms, said transverse wall means and said studs are integrally formed of the same material. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. The link of claim 18 wherein said arms and said transverse wall means are integrally formed of the same material and said studs are separately made of a different material. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. The link of claim 18 wherein said arms and said transverse wall means are integrally formed of the same material and wherein bushings made of a different material are set into 
     
     
        the bores of the respective link arm sections. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22.  A power-line supporting chain for supporting energy conveying means, especially power lines and hoses, which includes a plurality of chain links pivotally connected to each other, each of said links being H-shaped and having two oppositely located and substantially parallel plate-shaped arms and wall means extending transversely to the longitudinal extension of said arms and interconnecting the same at an area between the ends of said arms, said transverse wall means defining at least one transverse opening in each link adapted to receive energy conveying means for retention between said arms, each of said arms having two sections connected to each other at the region of said transverse wall means, one of said sections of each arm being provided with a bore and the pertaining other section of the same arm being provided with a stud having an outer diameter corresponding to a slide fit for said bore, each of said sections of said arms being laterally elastically yieldable in a direction transverse to the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the respective link to an extent such that the said sections of the arms provided with bores on one link and the said sections of the arms provided with studs on a following link may be flexed relative to each other to enable entry of the studs into the bores, said chain links being arranged so that the studs of one chain link pivotally engage the bores of the respective next following link while the bores of said one chain link are pivotally engaged by the studs of the respective next preceding link, the end portion of each side plate which bears the stud being offset from the end portion of the side plate which contains the bore. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. The chain of claim 22 in which each of the sections of the arms provided with a bore also includes a cut-away portion extending between the bore and the adjacent edge of the arm section which provides a guide passage for guiding a stud into the respective bore. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. The chain of claim 23 in which the width of said cut-away portion tapers inwardly from the edge of the arm sections toward the bore. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25. The chain of claim 23 in which the depth of the cut-away portion decreases with decreasing distance from the edge of the bore. .Iaddend.