AU2010100261B4

AU2010100261B4 - Improved chain

Info

Publication number: AU2010100261B4
Application number: AU2010100261A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Graeme Byrne; David Li
Original assignee: PACIFIC HOLDINGS AUST Pty Ltd
Current assignee: PACIFIC HOLDINGS (AUST) Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2009-12-18
Filing date: 2010-03-22
Publication date: 2010-09-30
Anticipated expiration: 2018-03-22
Also published as: AU2010100261A4

Description

IMPROVED CHAIN Field of the Invention This invention relates to an improved chain for engaging a driving sprocket and in particular to a chain comprising pinned segmented parts for use as a chainwinder for opening and closing awning windows but not limited to such use, 10 Whilst the invention may be applied to other widows and other means, for convenience sake it shall be described herein in terms of a chainwinder for opening and closing awning windows. 15 Background to the Invention A chain and sprocket system is a known system for enabling rotation of a sprocket to drive movement of the chain which can be connected to an element such as a awning window or other means that needs to be driven. 20 A chainwinder houses the chain and sprocket and is mounted on the window sill with the chain able to extend out or be retracted into the housing by manual rotation of handle driving the internal sprocket and connected chain. An important element in the opening and closing of awning windows is that the 25 window is hinged at one side and the chain attached at an opposing side and the window remains attached to the chain to thereby limit the degree of openness of the window. A chainwinder can include mechanisms to allow the window to be restricted from 30 opening further while allowing ready closing by simply pushing the window closed. However a major aspect of the chainwinder is the need to be able to have strength to push and pull a hinged window. Presently windows are considered to be a means of substantial passageway for heat and noise, Walls are insulated but the effectiveness 35 is substantially decreased by the heat loss and noise passage through the window. In the interests of energy conservation windows are being transformed into thermal and noise insulating members. This generally requires double glazing where two panels of overlying glass encapsulate a thin vacuum layer and thereby form a noise and heat insulation member. Clearly with the doubling of the glass there is a significant increase of weight of the window. Presently chainwinders are failing to cope with continual use at this increased stress due to increased window weight. However it is not just a means of increasing strength by using stronger material. 5 Costs prevent using stronger metals. It is possible to use thicker steel material. However a major disadvantage is that the systems will not fit the standard building requirements or fit with known chainwinder structures. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved chain that 10 can be used as a chainwinder to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art. Summary of the Invention In accordance with the invention the present invention provides an improved chain 15 comprising a plurality of pins held parallel and spaced by chain plates whereby a sprocket can engage the adjacent pins successively and drive the chain; and wherein the improved chain having one or more strengthening means to substantially strengthen the chain. 20 The strengthening means can be a chain plate design. The chain plate can include a plate having two spaced pin holes for receiving one end of respective two pins. 25 A corresponding chain plate can provide a corresponding two spaced pin holes for receiving other end of the two respective two pins, A chain plate and a corresponding chain plate can be unitary in a U-shape so as to further strengthen while retaining one side open to allow a sprocket to engage and 30 drive the pins held by the chain plate. Overlapping chain plates can be connected between each one of the two pins and respective ones of other separate adjacent pins to form a continuous chain. 35 The overlapping can comprise offset adjacent chain plates such that every second chain plate is in a first plane and the overlapping chain plates are in an adjacent parallel plane.

The chain plate design can include a central body portion and two outer side wings encircling the pin holes with each side wing having an outer engaging surface able to engage an outer engaging surface of an adjacent second chain plate in the same 5 plane. The outer engaging surfaces can be substantially constantly engaging. The outer engaging surfaces can be engaging only when under compression force. 10 The engaging surface can be arcuate or otherwise curved. The engaging surface can be at least partially complementary so as to form a larger engaging surface, 15 The complementary surface can be at least partially linear to provide a locking arrangement. The overlapping can be formed by a chain plate having a unitary planar body with 20 central portion and two outer side wings encircling the pin holes with the chain plate formed such that each side wing extends in adjacent parallel planes and each side wing having an outer engaging surface able to engage a secondary engaging surface of an adjacent second chain plate in the same plane. 25 The secondary engaging surface can include a fold of the chain plate forming the extension in two adjacent parallel planes. The strengthening means can be a reinforcing layer having a unitary body and two outer side wings encircling the pin holes to receive adjacent parallel pins similar with 30 the chain plate formed such that each side wing extends in adjacent parallel planes The reinforcing layer can be an overlapping chain plate. Preferably the overlapping chain is greater than 90% and more particularly greater than 95%. 35 The strengthening means can be a double chain.

It can therefore be seen that the invention provides a number of inventive and novel aspects including: i. use of overlapping chain plate ii. use of overlapping chain plate within a range 5 iii. use of contacting overlapping chain plates iv. use of contacting overlapping chain plates having interengaging cam surfaces v. use of double chain vit combination of any one or more of the above 10 However the invention further particularly adds further enhancement and inventiveness with the combination of: a) a chain plate and a corresponding intermediate overlapping chain plate can be unitary in a U-shape so as to further strengthen the chain while retaining one side open to allow a sprocket to engage and drive the pins held by the chain plate. 15 and i. use of overlapping chain plate; ii. use of overlapping chain plate within a range; iii. use of contacting overlapping chain plates; iv. use of contacting overlapping chain plates having interengaging cam 20 surfaces; v. use of double chain; or vi. combination of any one or more of the above; particularly where the combination of U shaped chain plate and U-shaped intermediate chain plate provides a structure which prevents bending substantially 25 beyond the straight linear and therefore only snakes and folds into receiving cavity of window winder when folding inward on the other side of the straight linear. This provides a spine strength when extended. Brief Description of the Drawings 30 In order that the invention can be more readily understood embodiments will be described by way of non-limiting example with reference to the drawings wherein: Figure 1 is an overhead plan view, side view and underneath view of a standard chain according to the prior art; 35 Figure 2 is an overhead plan view, side view and underneath view of an improved chain according to a first embodiment of the invention having abutting links; Figure 3 is an overhead plan view, side view and underneath view of an improved chain according to a second embodiment of the invention having reinforcing 3 layer links; 5 Figure 4 is an overhead plan view, side view and underneath view of an improved chain according to a third embodiment of the invention having double chain structure; Figure 5 are three overhead views of chains that could be improved by one or more 10 of the structures of Figures 2, 3 or 4 according to further embodiments of the invention; and Figure 6 are a side view of an improved chain according to a fourth embodiment of the invention with straight edge abutment and side view and underneath view of an 15 improved chain according to a fifth embodiment of the invention with coplanar abutting intermediate links. Description of a Preferred Embodiment of the Invention In this preferred embodiment, the invention provides an improved chain comprising a 20 plurality of pins held parallel and spaced by chain plates whereby a sprocket can engage the adjacent pins successively and drive the chain; and wherein the improved chain having one or more strengthening means to substantially strengthen the chain. Three distinct strengthening means are shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, however combinations can also occur. 25 Referring to the chain of Figure 2 there is the use of abutting chain plates. As shown in Figure 1 chains are generally formed with parallel pins held between overlapping U body shaped chain plates with open top to allow sprocket to engage the pins sequentially and drive the chain. However in such a structure the side walls of the 30 chain plate body extend around the pins but are spaced from the next one with the overlapping chain plate being in an adjacent plane. In this way the chain can bend freely. Referring to Figure 2 there is shown an improved chain 5 comprising a plurality of 35 pins 10, 11, 12, 13, 14... held parallel and spaced by chain plates 21 and 22 whereby a sprocket is able to engage the adjacent pins successively and drive the chain.

The improved chain 5 has a strengthening means by having a chain plate design in a U-shape to form a first U-shaped chain plate 21 and having two spaced pin holes for receiving one end of respective adjacent two pins 10 and 11 or 12 and 13 etc. There is also provided intermediate chain plates 22 which have at least partial overlapping 5 with the first U-shaped chain plates 21 and comprise further offset adjacent U shaped corresponding chain plates 22 between alternate respective adjacent two pins 11 and 12 or 13 and 14 so as to further strengthen while retaining one side open to allow a sprocket to engage and drive the pins held by the chain plates and the offset adjacent corresponding chain plates. 10 Each of the U-shaped chain plates 21 includes a central body portion 24 and two outer side wings 25a and 25b encircling the adjacent pin holes with each side wing having an outer engaging surface 27a and 27b able to engage an outer engaging surface of an adjacent second chain plate in the same longitudinal plane. 15 In the disclosed form each of the chain plates 21 and the corresponding plurality of intermediate overlapping chain plates 22 are each unitary in a U-shape so as to further strengthen the chain while retaining one side open to allow a sprocket to engage and drive the pins held by the chain plate. Also a plurality of adjacent chain 20 plates 21 or adjacent corresponding plurality of intermediate overlapping chain plates 22 or both have contacting chain plates interengaging surfaces which can be cam surfaces. Therefore the combination of U shaped chain plate and U-shaped intermediate chain 25 plate provides a structure which prevents bending substantially beyond the straight linear and therefore only snakes and folds into receiving cavity of window winder when folding inward on the other side of the straight linear and thereby provides a spine strength when extended. 30 However it has also been found that if the chain plates are made to engage each other or at least engage while under compression or are located very close thereto such as shown in Figure 2 and Figure 6 then the longitudinal engagement of chain plates substantially increases the strength and whereby the contacting chain plates interengaging surfaces limits or prevents longitudinal compression and thereby 35 increases load capabilities.

The abutting surfaces can be curved such as in Figure 2 so that the chain is still able to bend around corners but maintains a connection. In the abutting configuration of figure 6 there is shown a curve surface leading to a locking cam surface. 5 This compression fit is substantially enhanced when used in combination with the combination of U shaped chain plate and U-shaped intermediate chain plate provides a structure which prevents bending substantially beyond the straight linear and therefore only snakes and folds into receiving cavity of window winder when folding inward on the other side of the straight linear, This provides a spine strength when 10 extended. In the strengthening mode of Figure 3 there is shown mirror chain plates attaching between the ends of the same two pins with the overlapping chain plate extending from between one pair of chain plates to the next pair of chain plates. Clearly this 15 strengthening without substantially increasing width of the chain provides a substantial increase in strength. The overlapping of chain plates of Figure 3 can also have mirror plates or there could be alternating or other repetition of mirror plates so as to homogenise the strength 20 between pins. Referring to figure 4 there is shown effectively a double chain where extended pins extend between chain plates extending half or less of the length of the pin and by overlapping provide connections of pins at the ends and at central portion of each 25 pin. Therefore the number of chain plates between two adjacent pins can be increased from the initial two to 4 or more. This substantially increases strength, While we have described herein a particular embodiment of an improved chain, it is further envisaged that other embodiments of the invention could exhibit any number 30 and combination of any one of the features previously described. However, it is to be understood that any variations and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

Claims

1. An improved chain comprising; a) a plurality of first chain plates extending between adjacent pairs of parallel pins; b) a corresponding plurality of intermediate overlapping second chain plates within the first chain plates extending between offset adjacent pairs of parallel pins to form a continuous chain; c) wherein each of the chain plates and the corresponding plurality of intermediate overlapping chain plates are each unitary and in a substantially U-shape so as to further strengthen the chain while retaining one side open to allow a sprocket to engage and drive the pins held by the chain plate; and wherein a plurality of adjacent first chain plates have contacting chain plate interengaging surfaces at outer edges which form cam surfaces and a corresponding plurality of adjacent intermediate second overlapping chain plates have contacting chain plate interengaging surfaces at outer edges which form cam surfaces whereby the respective contacting chain plate interengaging surfaces of first and second chain plates limits or prevents longitudinal compression and thereby increases load capabilities; and whereby the combination of the U shaped first chain plates and the U-shaped intermediate overlapping second chain plates provides an abutting structure which prevents bending in one lateral direction substantially beyond the straight linear and therefore only allows bending in the other lateral direction so as to snake and fold into a receiving cavity of a window winder and thereby allows the spine strength when extended.

2. An improved chain according to claim 1 wherein the chain includes a plurality of pins held parallel and spaced by first and second chain plates whereby a sprocket is able to engage the adjacent pins successively and drive the chain; and wherein the contacting chain plates interengaging surfaces at outer edges which form cam surfaces are shaped to remain substantially in contact when straight or folding inwardly to thereby aid strength to the chain.

3. An improved chain according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the chain plate design of the first and second chain plates includes a central body portion and two outer side wings encircling the adjacent pin holes with each side wing having an outer engaging surface able to engage an outer engaging surface of an adjacent corresponding first or second chain plate in the same longitudinal plane to thereby provide a dual line of strength longitudinally. -10

4. An improved chain according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the engagement of the cam surfaces of the interengaging surfaces at outer edges of the first and second chain links respectively aid to providing a strength of greater than 15 kilogram weight force.

5. An improved chain substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2.