Concave Surface Of One Connector Or Bearing Member Abuts Convex Surface Of Another Connector Or Bearing Members Patents (Class 474/216)
  • Patent number: 10889344
    Abstract: A track link assembly includes a plurality of link subassemblies including a first link subassembly and a second link subassembly. Each link subassembly includes a pair of links coupled together. Each link includes a first aperture and a second aperture, and the second aperture of each link is C-shaped. The track link assembly also includes a pin element pivotably coupling each of the first link subassembly and the second link subassembly. The pin element includes a centrally positioned central portion and end portions on opposite sides of the central portion. The central portion of the pin element is configured to pass through the first aperture of a first link in each of the first link subassembly and the second link subassembly, and the end portions are configured to pass through the second apertures of a second link in each of the first link subassembly and the second link subassembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. Galat, Temitope O. Akinlua, Kevin L. Steiner
  • Patent number: 9408710
    Abstract: An intervertebral device comprises a plurality of struts that are rotatably associated with each adjacent strut to form a modifiable inner volume V for bone graft containment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas Purcell, Morgan Lorio
  • Patent number: 9051992
    Abstract: There is provided a silent chain that is reduced in weight and widthwise size by reducing the length of a short pin while preventing the occurrence of excessive stress concentration in the short pin of a rocker pin including a long pin and the short pin. The short pin of the rocker pin extends through all plates of the guide row and all plates of the non-guide row in the width direction. The short pin is provided with a first stopper, and a second stopper. A first end surface of the short pin is prevented from being positioned in a first adjacent pin hole by contact between the first stopper and the first contact portion, and a second end surface of the short pin is prevented from being positioned in a second adjacent pin hole by contact between the second stopper and the second contact portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventors: Takeo Sasaki, Takashi Tohara
  • Patent number: 8708851
    Abstract: With a view to suppressing fretting in a power transmission chain, when a chain straight-line area is seen from a chain widthwise direction W, a flat portion 18 of a first pin 3 of the chain extends in an inclination direction D. A point of intersection P0 is formed by an imaginary line L1 which passes through a center position of an overall height h of the first pin 3 along the inclination direction D intersecting the flat portion. A point of intersection P2 is formed by an imaginary line L2 which passes through a contact portion A0 and which extends in a chain advancing direction X intersecting the flat portion 18 between the point of intersection P0 and one end P1 of the flat portion. When assuming that a distance between the point of intersection P0 and the point of intersection P2 is referred to as h1 and a distance between the point of intersection P2 and the one end P1 of the flat portion 18 is referred to as h2, 0.1·h1?h2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Tada, Shigeo Kamamoto
  • Patent number: 7874952
    Abstract: A power transmission chain includes a plurality of links aligned in a chain travel direction and a coupling member that includes a first power transmission member and a second power transmission member. The first power transmission member includes an opposing portion that opposes the corresponding second power transmission member and contacts the corresponding second power transmission member on a contact portion that undergoes displacement in association with a change of a bending angle between corresponding links in a contact state including at least one of rolling contact and sliding contact. The opposing portion includes an arc-shaped portion having a predetermined radius of curvature and a rate-of-change increasing portion. The arc-shaped portion includes a portion that forms the contact portion when the bending angle is equal to or greater than zero and equal to or smaller than a predetermined boundary angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Tada, Shigeo Kamamoto
  • Patent number: 7806794
    Abstract: A power transmission chain includes a plurality of links, a plurality of pins, and a plurality of interpieces. By pressing upper and lower edges of the pin into upper and lower edges of a through hole, the pin is connected to the link. The end of the pin which is located at a front end side when the pin is pressed is formed in a shape into which the upper and lower edges of the pin are pressed at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Masaru Fuse
  • Patent number: 7658690
    Abstract: A plate link chain for a motor vehicle drive system. A number of link plates are hingedly connected by pairs of rocker members that extend transversely to the longitudinal direction of the chain. Curved contact surfaces are located on each of the rocker members and link plates, along which contact surfaces the rocker members and link plates contact each other to transmit power. The rocker members also include curved pitch surfaces along which rocker member pairs roll against each other to transmit power. The rocker members are shaped asymmetrically in the height direction and about a cross section plane extending in the longitudinal direction of the chain. Contact surfaces are provided on each of the upper and lower contact surface areas in the height direction of the rocker members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Luk Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Michael Pichura, Martin Vornehm, Anton Simonov
  • Patent number: 7438179
    Abstract: A modular plastic conveyor belt formed by rows of belt modules connected together at hinge joints by non-circular hinge rods. Each hinge rod has an arcuate outer face that forms a portion of a cylinder and extends circumferentially over a first angle preferably between 90° and 180°. An axial groove is formed in the hinge rod opposite its arcuate outer face. Openings in hinge eyes at opposite ends of the belt rows are sector-shaped. The openings along a leading edge of a row are shaped to receive a hinge rod snugly with little clearance. The openings along a trailing edge of an adjacent row have similar radial dimensions, but extend circumferentially over a second angle greater than the first angle. The hinge eyes of adjacent rows are interleaved and aligned to receive a hinge rod and give the hinge joint a range of articulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: James O. Gundlach
  • Patent number: 7306532
    Abstract: Transmission chain constructed from a number of links intercoupled by pivot assemblies, each comprising a first and a second elongated pin of which at least one cooperates with its ends, while transmitting a force, with a pair of pulley sheaves, while during operation one pin rolls with a curved longitudinal surface over the opposite, essentially flat longitudinal surface of the second pin, both pins having mutually different cross-section configurations and a difference in the configuration of the transition between the rolling surface of the second pin to the upper and lower respectively longitudinal edge thereof and/or a mutual difference in height between the first and the second pin respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Gear Chain Industrial B.V.
    Inventors: Jacobus Hubertus Maria van Rooij, Johannes Henricus Nelissen
  • Patent number: 7246699
    Abstract: A section of chain for conveying product along a material handling system includes a pin connecting a center link between two side links. The pin may be dialable or selectably positioned at the side links to control and adjust the wear surface of the pin relative to the chain links. The pin may have a rotationally non-symmetrical shaft portion to provide different wear surfaces that engage a center link of the section of chain. The different wear surfaces may be sized and shaped to accommodate wear at the wear surface of the center link. The shaft portion may include a rotationally non-symmetrical ball member or portion on the shaft portion to enhance flexibility of the section of chain. The pin may be dialed to the next position or wear surface in response to an output of a wear measurement device or system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Frost Links, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles C Frost, Jonathan M Rathbun, Ryan L Kastamo
  • Patent number: 6427433
    Abstract: A rocker joint pin for use in a chain to articulately interconnect link plates of the chain has a beveled edge at opposite end faces thereof. The beveled edge is formed by forming a V-shaped groove transversely across a surface of a continuous wire and subsequently severing the wire at the bottom of the V-shaped groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Seiichi Kubota, Yoshiaki Takagishi
  • Patent number: 6393819
    Abstract: A rocker pin for use in a power transmission chain has an identifying mark for distinguishing the rocker pin from another rocker pin having a different thickness or a different rocker surface. The identifying mark may include a groove, ridge, colored mark, lustrous streak or the like provided on a peripheral surface except a rocker surface in the longitudinal direction of the rocker pin. The rocker pin having such identifying mark can be visually identified with ease so that the rocker pin is prevented from being mixed with a different kind of rocker pins. This enables easy and confusion-free storage of the rocker pin and prevents incorrect combination of a longer pin and a shorter pin, which may occur when they are used in combination to form a single rocker joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Kazumasa Matsuno, Shigekazu Fukuda, Takayuki Funamoto, Yoshinori Iwasaki, Hiroshi Horie, Masao Maruyama
  • Patent number: 5176587
    Abstract: A rocker joint is provided which is constructed from the pins and bushings f the links. The pin members have a working front surface and a convex back surface. The bushings have apertures therein which include an arcuate working surface. The pins are disposed in the apertures of the bushings such that the pin member working surface engages and rocks on the curved surface defined by the aperture of the bushing. The rocker joint has application to roller chain and silent bushing chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Assignee: Borg-Warner Automotive Transmission & Engine Components Corporation
    Inventor: Philip J. Mott
  • Patent number: 4986798
    Abstract: Transmission chain for a cone pulley drive with intercoupled links and pivot pins inserted through link openings, the end surfaces of which cooperate with the cone surfaces, and where between each pivot pin, on the one hand, and the opposite-lying upright opening sides of a number of adjacent links, on the other, an intermediate piece with rolling contact action is inserted whose first longitudinal side is coupled to the link opening side and of which the opposite-lying second longitudinal surface forms the rolling contact surface cooperates with the longitudinal side of the pin, a number of grooves running between the first and the second longitudinal side being formed in each intermediate piece in at least the narrow longitudinal side facing the inside of the chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1991
    Assignee: Volvo Car B.V.
    Inventors: Jacobus H. M. Van Rooij, Theodorus P. M. Cadee
  • Patent number: 4795408
    Abstract: A roller chain having a thrust ring between a roller and a link plate for sustaining the transverse load, in which a thrust ring is made of bearing materials and has a sealing part in order to be put into the hole part formed on the end face of the roller to reserve the lubricant.The sealing part prevent the lubricant from effluxing and prevent the dust from intruding into the inside of the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1989
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Katsumi Kotegawa, Makoto Kanehira
  • Patent number: 4704099
    Abstract: The invention relates to a roller chain for chain drives, which has a plurality of inner and outer links alternating in tandem. The inner links have at least two inner plates having pairs of pin holes and having pin bearings disposed between the pin holes. The outer links contain each at least two outer plates which are joined together by at least two pins fastened in them. For the articulation of the outer links with two adjacent inner links each, the one pin of each outer link reaches through one of the pairs of pinholes and the associated pin bearing of one of the adjacent inner links, and the other pin of each outer link reaches through one of the pairs of pin holes and the associated pin bearing of the other of the adjacent inner links. The pin bearings are encompassed by rollers disposed for loose rotation between the inner plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1987
    Inventor: Bernhard Rohloff
  • Patent number: 4581001
    Abstract: A side-bar chain for an infinitely variable cone-pulley transmission which chain includes chain links composed of individual side-bars and joint pieces connecting the links together, with each joint piece being composed of a pair of rocker pieces pushed into apertures of the side-bars, the rocker pieces having end faces extending laterally of the length of the chain for transmitting friction forces between associated friction pulley sheaves and the side-bar chain, and each rocker piece being connected with its associated side-bars by being interlocked therewith to be secured against movement in the direction of pivoting between adjacent links. Each said side-bar presents two end webs spaced apart in the running direction of the chain, extending transverse to the running direction and to the length of the rocker pieces, and each bounding a side-bar aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1986
    Assignee: P.I.V. Antrieb Werner Reimers GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Manfred Rattunde, Walter Schopf