Chain including roller sealing arrangement
First Claim
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1. A chain comprising:
- a plurality of chain link assemblies and chain pins for articulateably interconnecting adjacent chain link assemblies, each of said chain link assemblies includinga pair of spaced apart sidebars, each of said sidebars including a first end portion and a second end portion offset inwardly with respect to said first end portion, said second end portions of said sidebars fitting between the first end portions of the sidebars of an adjacent chain link assembly, each of said second end portions having an inwardly facing surface, said inwardly facing surfaces of said sidebars being in opposed relation to one another, and each of said inwardly facing surfaces including an annular groove;
a bushing extending laterally between said inwardly facing surfaces of said sidebars, said bushing including an outer surface and an axially extending bore adapted to receive one of the chain pins, said annular grooves circumscribing said bushing;
a roller rotatably supported on said outer surface of said bushing and between said inwardly facing surfaces of said sidebars, said roller including opposite end faces, and an inner surface defining an axial bore receiving said bushing, said inner surface of said roller and said outer surface of said bushing defining therebetween a clearance space; and
a pair of annular seal members for sealing said clearance space, each of said seal members surrounding said bushing and being positioned between one of said end faces of said roller and said inwardly facing surface of one of said sidebars, each of said seal members being seated in one of said annular grooves.
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Abstract
A chain equipped with rollers and including roller joint sealing arrangements each comprising the provision of complementary sets of annular grooves in the end faces of a roller and in the inwardly facing surfaces of the sidebars of the roller chain. An annular seal member is loosely seated in each complementary set of grooves to form a labyrinth type seal to prevent lubricant efflux from the roller joint and contaminant influx into the roller joint to improve the wear characteristics of the roller joint.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A chain comprising:
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a plurality of chain link assemblies and chain pins for articulateably interconnecting adjacent chain link assemblies, each of said chain link assemblies including a pair of spaced apart sidebars, each of said sidebars including a first end portion and a second end portion offset inwardly with respect to said first end portion, said second end portions of said sidebars fitting between the first end portions of the sidebars of an adjacent chain link assembly, each of said second end portions having an inwardly facing surface, said inwardly facing surfaces of said sidebars being in opposed relation to one another, and each of said inwardly facing surfaces including an annular groove; a bushing extending laterally between said inwardly facing surfaces of said sidebars, said bushing including an outer surface and an axially extending bore adapted to receive one of the chain pins, said annular grooves circumscribing said bushing; a roller rotatably supported on said outer surface of said bushing and between said inwardly facing surfaces of said sidebars, said roller including opposite end faces, and an inner surface defining an axial bore receiving said bushing, said inner surface of said roller and said outer surface of said bushing defining therebetween a clearance space; and a pair of annular seal members for sealing said clearance space, each of said seal members surrounding said bushing and being positioned between one of said end faces of said roller and said inwardly facing surface of one of said sidebars, each of said seal members being seated in one of said annular grooves. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A chain comprising:
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a plurality of chain link assemblies and chain pins for articulateably interconnecting adjacent chain link assemblies, each of said chain link assemblies including a pair of spaced apart sidebars, each of said sidebars including an inwardly facing surface, said inwardly facing surfaces of said sidebars being in opposed relation to one another; a bushing extending laterally between said inwardly facing surfaces of said sidebars and interconnecting said sidebars, said bushing including an outer surface and an axial bore adapted to receive a chain pin; a roller rotatably supported on said outer surface of said bushing and between said inwardly facing surfaces of said sidebars, said roller including opposite end faces, each of said end faces including an annular groove, and said roller including an inner surface, said inner surface defining an axial bore in said roller for receiving said bushing, said annular groove surrounding said axial bore in said roller, and said inner surface of said roller and said outer surface of said bushing defining therebetween a clearance space; and a pair of annular seal members, each of said annular seal members being seated in one of said annular grooves in said roller to seal said clearance space. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A chain comprising:
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a plurality of chain link assemblies and chain pins for articulateably interconnecting adjacent chain link assemblies, each of said chain link assemblies including a pair of spaced apart sidebars, each of said sidebars including an inwardly facing surface, said inwardly facing surfaces of said sidebars being in opposed relation to one another; a bushing extending laterally between said inwardly facing surfaces of said sidebars and interconnecting said sidebars, said bushing including an outer surface and an axial bore adapted to receive a chain pin; a roller rotatably supported on said outer surface of said bushing and between said inwardly facing surfaces of said sidebars, said roller including opposite first and second end faces, each of said end faces being in opposed relation to the inwardly facing surface of one of said sidebars, and said roller including an inner surface, said inner surface defining an axial bore in said roller for receiving said bushing, and said inner surface of said roller and said outer surface of said bushing defining therebetween a clearance space; and a sealing arrangement including a pair of annular grooves, each of said annular grooves circumscribing said axial bore in said roller, one of said annular grooves being located in one of said first end face and the inwardly facing surface opposing said first end face, and the other of said annular grooves being located in one of said second end face and the inwardly facing surface opposing said second end face, and said sealing arrangement including pair of annular seal members, each of said annular seal members being seated in one of said annular grooves to seal said clearance space. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification