TESTING OF A CHAIN LINK-MECHANISM

• US 3,688,557 A
• Filed: 10/26/1970
• Issued: 09/05/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: B/E Intellectual Property, Inc., Victor Alois Marinus, Standoncklaan 52
• Original Assignee: B/E Intellectual Property, Inc., Victor Alois Marinus, Standoncklaan 52
• Inventors: Victor Alois Marinus, Standoncklaan 52, Be,
• Primary Examiner(s): Louis R. Prince
• Assistant Examiner(s): Daniel M. Yasich
• Application Number:
  US05/083,980
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 73/9 198/232
• US Class Current: 73/9
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 13/023 Power-transmitting endless elements, e.g. belts or chains

Abstract

A method and a device for testing in an endless rotating chain link mechanism the bearing friction of the rollers of the chain which co-operate with stationary guide rails to guide the chain. A detector is provided adjacent the path of the rollers of the mechanism which makes frictional contact with the rollers, and which is arranged for limited movement in a direction parallel to the path of the rollers to be tested. The detector is biased in a direction which is opposite to the direction in which the rollers of the chain tend to displace the detector by the frictional contact therewith. The equilibrium position which is taken by the detector is a measure for the resistance to rotation of the rollers.

Claims

1. In a chain drive mechanism wherein a plurality of rollers are each journaled for rotation about a pin and the pins are connected into an endless chain by links, said chain moving around two sprocket wheels in an endless path having a driving stretch and a return stretch, and an elongated stationary rail is arranged adjacent at least a portion of one stretch of said chain path for rolling contact with the rollers passing therealong to determine the path of said rollers through said portion of the path, a mechanism for detecting the development of excessive friction in said roller journals comprising a section of said elongated rail separate from the remainder of the rail and supported for limited free independent movement, parallel to the adjacent stretch of the chain path, spring means biasing said separate rail section in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the portion of the chain adjacent thereto, and means for sensing any movement of said separate rail section in the direction of chain movement and providing an indication thereof.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein said separate rail section engages the remainder of the rail at both of its ends through a mating tongue and groove arrangement to thereby provide for the rollers a substantially uninterrupted rail surface.

3. Device according to claim 1, wherein the separate rail section is supported for independent movement relative to the stationary rail by means of a low friction bearing.

4. Device according to claim 3, wherein said bearing is an air bearing.

5. Device according to claim 1, wherein the length of said separate rail section covers at least four successive rollers.

6. Device according to claim 1, wherein said sensing means comprises a transducer which provides a signal which is proportional to the displacement of such member, and a recorder for recording said signal.

7. Device according to claim 6 wherein said sensing means includes means which determines the average value of the position of the separate rail section in order to provide an indication of the general condition of the bearing friction of the rollers.

8. Device according to claim 6, wherein said sensing means includes limit checking means which operates a warning signal if the position of the separate rail section exceeds a predetermined limit.

9. The mechanism according to claim 8, including position indicating means which is controlled by the limit checking means, and which indicates the position of a defective roller.