Locking assembly for connecting tow chain links

Abstract

The utility model discloses a locking assembly used for connecting a drag chain link, the drag chain link is provided with a pair of two main sheets which are arranged in parallel, and the left end and the right end of each main sheet along the length direction of the main sheet are respectively a first hinge end and a second hinge end. The first hinge end of any main piece is matched with the second hinge end of another adjacent main piece in an inserted mode, and the first hinge end and the second hinge end are connected in a locked mode through a locking assembly. The locking assembly is composed of a locking plate and a locking seat which are matched in an aligned mode, and locking connection of the two adjacent main pieces is achieved through buckling connection of the locking plate and the locking seat. And the locking plate is connected with a positioning through groove on the main plate in a buckling manner. The locking assembly which is convenient to assemble and disassemble and can be repeatedly used is adopted, flexible switching installation between chain links of the drag chain is facilitated, the situation that a locking plate is scrapped after pried by an original screwdriver is avoided, the service life can be effectively prolonged, and accessory cost is saved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of drag chains, in particular to a locking assembly for connecting chain links of a drag chain. Background Art

[0002] Drag chains are suitable for applications involving reciprocating motion, providing traction and protection for internal cables, oil pipes, air pipes, water pipes, and more. Drag chains are typically flat and comprised of several unit links that rotate freely. Each unit link typically consists of two chain plates and upper and lower cover plates. Drag chains are widely used in CNC machine tools, electronic equipment, stone processing machinery, glass processing machinery, door and window processing machinery, injection molding machines, manipulators, lifting and transportation equipment, and automated warehouses.

[0003] However, the existing links are mostly connected by fixed locking plates. When disassembly is required, the locking plates are often pried up with a screwdriver. This method can damage the locking plates, making them disposable and increasing the cost of parts manufacturing in the drag chain process. In addition, prying up the locking plates for disassembly is time-consuming and labor-intensive, which is not conducive to simplifying the workflow.

[0004] Therefore, how to solve the above-mentioned deficiencies in the prior art has become the subject to be studied and solved in this utility model. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of the utility model is to provide a locking assembly for connecting chain links of a drag chain.

[0006] In order to achieve the above purpose, the technical solution adopted by the utility model is:

[0007] A locking assembly for connecting drag chain links, comprising a pair of parallel main plates. Each main plate has a first hinged end and a second hinged end at its left and right ends along its length. The first hinged end of any main plate engages with the second hinged end of its adjacent main plate, and the first and second hinged ends are locked together via a locking assembly. The locking assembly comprises a locking plate and a lock seat that mate with each other, and the locking connection between the two adjacent main plates is achieved through a snap-fit connection. The locking plate snaps into a positioning slot on the main plate.

[0008] According to a further technical solution, the positioning through groove is opened in the middle of the main piece along the thickness direction of the main piece.

[0009] A further technical solution is that the first hinged end is a plate-shaped straight-insert structure, and a first hinged hole and an arc-shaped transition channel for inserting the lock seat are provided in the middle position of the first hinged end, the center of the arc corresponding to the arc-shaped transition channel is located at the center of the first hinged hole, and one end of the arc-shaped transition channel and the first hinged hole are both located on the center line of the length direction of the main piece.

[0010] According to a further technical solution, a transfer hole for inserting the lock seat and a second hinge hole are provided on the main plate along its thickness direction, and the two holes are spaced apart along the center line of the length direction of the main plate.

[0011] When the two main pieces are plugged together, the first hinge hole and the transfer hole are aligned and overlapped, and the rotation trajectory of the second hinge hole overlaps with the transfer hole.

[0012] According to a further technical solution, a sliding groove is provided at a middle portion of the second hinged end along the longitudinal centerline of the main piece; the locking piece is provided on the front side of the main piece and can be slidably assembled in the sliding groove along the longitudinal direction of the main piece; the locking seat is provided on the back side of the main piece and is aligned and engaged with the locking piece;

[0013] The lock seat is fixed with a first lock shaft and a second lock shaft in sequence along its length direction;

[0014] The locking plate is provided with a first locking hole and a second locking hole in sequence along its length direction;

[0015] When the locking plate is buckled with the lock seat, the first lock shaft passes through the adapter hole and the first hinge hole at the same time and extends into the first lock hole; the second lock shaft passes through the second hinge hole and the adapter hole at the same time and extends into the second lock hole.

[0016] According to a further technical solution, a positioning hook is further provided on the locking piece; the positioning hook is fixed to one end of the locking piece in the length direction; when the two main pieces are plugged together, the positioning hook is snapped into the positioning slot.

[0017] According to a further technical solution, a guide groove for guiding the sliding path of the positioning hook is provided between the sliding groove and the positioning through groove.

[0018] A further technical solution also includes a locking part, which is a slot and a hook that match each other, and one of the slot and the hook is arranged at the end of the first lock shaft and the second lock shaft along the axial direction of the first lock shaft and the second lock shaft, and the other is arranged on the first lock hole and the second lock hole along the inner circumference of the first lock hole and the second lock hole.

[0019] The terms “first”, “second”, etc. used in this document do not specifically refer to an order or sequence, nor are they used to limit this case. They are only used to distinguish components or operations described with the same technical terms.

[0020] As used herein, “connected” or “positioned” may refer to two or more components or devices being in direct or indirect physical contact with each other, or may refer to two or more components or devices operating or moving with each other.

[0021] The terms “include”, “including”, “have”, etc. used in this document are open-ended terms, meaning including but not limited to.

[0022] Unless otherwise noted, the terms used herein generally have their ordinary meanings in the art, in the context of this application, and in the specific context. Certain terms used to describe this application are discussed below or elsewhere in this specification to provide additional guidance to those skilled in the art regarding the description of this application.

[0023] The terms "front", "back", "up", "down", "left", "right", etc. used in this article are all directional terms. In this case, they are only used to illustrate the positional relationship between the various structures, and are not used to limit the protection plan of this case and the specific direction during actual implementation.

[0024] The working principle and advantages of this utility model are as follows:

[0025] Compared with the existing technology, the utility model adopts a reusable locking component that is easy to assemble and disassemble, which facilitates the flexible transfer installation between the links of the drag chain, avoids the lock piece being scrapped after being pried up by a screwdriver, effectively extends the service life, and saves the cost of accessories. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Attachment Figure 1 The structure diagram of the locking assembly and the two main pieces in the embodiment of the utility model is shown as follows: Figure 1 ;

[0027] Attachment Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure between the locking assembly and the two main pieces of the embodiment of the utility model Figure 2 ;

[0028] Attachment Figure 3 This is a schematic structural diagram of a locking assembly according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0029] Attachment Figure 4 This is a structural diagram of an embodiment of the present invention in a waiting-to-lock state (the locking plate is not moved and is locked with the lock seat);

[0030] Attachment Figure 5 For attachment Figure 4 The main view in

[0031] Attachment Figure 6 For attachment Figure 5 AA cross-sectional view;

[0032] Attachment Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the embodiment of the utility model in the locked state (the push lock plate is locked with the lock seat);

[0033] Attachment Figure 8 For attachment Figure 7 The main view in

[0034] Attachment Figure 9 For attachment Figure 8 AA cross-sectional view;

[0035] Attachment Figure 10 This is a schematic structural diagram of a drag chain according to an embodiment of the present utility model.

[0036] In the figures above: 1. Main plate; a. First hinge end; b. Second hinge end; 10. First hinge hole; 11. Transfer hole; 12. Transfer hole; 13. Second hinge hole; 14. Sliding slot; 15. Guide slot; 16. Positioning slot; 2. Locking plate; 21. First locking hole; 22. Second locking hole; 23. Positioning hook; 3. Lock seat; 31. First locking shaft; 32. Second locking shaft; 4. Slot; 5. Hook. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments:

[0038] Embodiment: The present invention will be clearly illustrated below with drawings and detailed descriptions. After understanding the embodiments of the present invention, any person skilled in the art can make changes and modifications based on the techniques taught by the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0039] The terms used herein are for describing specific embodiments only and are not intended to be limiting of the present invention. Singular forms such as "a," "the," "this," "this," and "the" as used herein also include plural forms.

[0040] See attached Figure 1 、 Figure 2 as well as Figure 10 As shown, a locking assembly for connecting drag chain links of this embodiment is provided, and the drag chain links are provided with two parallel opposing main pieces 1, and the left and right ends of the main piece 1 along the length direction of the main piece 1 are respectively the first hinge end a and the second hinge end b.

[0041] Among them, the first hinged end a is a plate-shaped straight-insert structure, and the middle position of the first hinged end a is provided with a first hinged hole 10 and a transfer channel 11 for inserting the lock seat 3; the second hinged end b is a plate-shaped "U"-shaped insertion structure, and the middle position of the second hinged end b is provided with a sliding groove 14 along the length direction of the main piece 1, and the sliding groove 14 is provided with a transfer hole 12 and a second hinged hole 13 for inserting the lock seat 3.

[0042] When any two main pieces 1 are plugged in, the first hinge hole 10 and the transfer hole 12 are aligned and coincide with each other, and the rotation trajectory of the second hinge hole 13 coincides with the transfer channel 11 .

[0043] The first hinged end a of any main piece 1 is inserted and mated with the second hinged end b of the adjacent other main piece 1. These first hinged end a and second hinged end b are locked together via a locking assembly comprising a locking plate 2 and a locking seat 3 that align and mate. When the first hinged end a and second hinged end b between any two main pieces 1 are inserted and mated, the two main pieces 1 are sandwiched between the locking plate 2 and the locking seat 3, which lock the two main pieces 1 together. The locking plate 2 is located on the front of the main piece 1 and slidably fits into the sliding groove 14. The locking seat 3 is located on the back of the main piece 1, corresponding to the locking plate 2, and aligns and engages with the locking plate 2.

[0044] See attached Figure 3 ~Attached Figure 9 As shown, it also includes a locking part, which is a slot 4 and a hook 5 that are aligned with each other, and one of the slot 4 and the hook 5 is arranged at the end of the first lock shaft 31 and the second lock shaft 32 along the axial direction of the first lock shaft 31 and the second lock shaft 32, and the other is arranged on the first lock hole 21 and the second lock hole 22 along the inner circumference of the first lock hole 21 and the second lock hole 22.

[0045] The locking plate 2 is provided with a first locking hole 21, a second locking hole 22 and a positioning hook 23. The first locking hole 21 and the second locking hole 22 are opened on the locking plate 2 in sequence along the length direction of the locking plate 2; the positioning hook 23 is a symmetrical structure, one end of the positioning hook 23 is hook-shaped, and the other end of the positioning hook 23 is fixed to a certain end of the locking plate 2 along its length direction.

[0046] The lock base 3 is fixed with a first lock shaft 31 and a second lock shaft 32 in sequence along the length direction thereof.

[0047] A positioning slot 16 is defined in the center of the main plate 1 along its thickness. A guide slot 15 is provided between the positioning slot 16 and the sliding slot 14. The guide slot 15 guides the sliding path of the positioning hook 23, ensuring accurate locking. Furthermore, the positioning slot 16 is not limited to a rectangular configuration; other configurations capable of interlocking with the positioning hook 23 (e.g., prismatic, elliptical, and circular) are also within the scope of this invention.

[0048] The working principle of this utility model:

[0049] Slidingly assemble the locking plate 2 on the sliding groove 14, the first locking shaft 31 on the lock seat 3 passes through the adapter hole 12 and the first hinge hole 10, passes through the adapter hole 12 and is adapted to be assembled with the first locking hole 21 of the corresponding locking plate 2; the second locking shaft 32 on the lock seat 3 passes through the second hinge hole 13 and the adapter channel 11, passes through the second hinge hole 13 and is adapted to be assembled with the second locking hole 22 of the corresponding locking plate 2. By manually pushing the locking piece 2 toward the positioning groove 16 along the length direction of the main piece 1, the card slot 4 and the card hook 5 are engaged and fixed, thereby realizing the positioning of the locking piece 2 and the lock seat 3; at the same time, in the process of pushing the locking piece 2, the positioning hook 23 of the locking piece 2 can be buckled in the positioning groove 16 after being guided by the guide groove 15, thereby realizing the locking of the locking piece 2 and the main piece 1, and then realizing the locking between the two main pieces 1; when unlocking, it is only necessary to open the buckle of the positioning hook 23 and the positioning barrel groove 16, and then push the locking piece 2 in the opposite direction to realize unlocking, which is not only convenient and time-saving to operate, but also will not damage any structural parts, and is convenient for reuse.

[0050] The above embodiments are intended only to illustrate the technical concepts and features of the present invention. Their purpose is to enable those familiar with the art to understand the contents of the present invention and implement them accordingly. They are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Any equivalent changes or modifications based on the spirit of the present invention are intended to be included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A locking assembly for connecting links of a drag chain, wherein the links of the drag chain are provided with a pair of parallel main plates (1), characterized in that: Each main piece (1) has two ends along its own length direction, namely a first hinge end (a) and a second hinge end (b); The first hinged end (a) of any one of the main pieces (1) is plugged into and matched with the second hinged end (b) of another adjacent main piece (1), and the first hinged end (a) and the second hinged end (b) are locked and connected via a locking assembly; The locking assembly comprises a locking piece (2) and a locking seat (3) that are aligned and matched, and the locking connection of the two adjacent main pieces (1) is achieved through a snap connection between the two pieces; The locking plate (2) is snap-connected to a positioning slot (16) on the main plate (1); The positioning through groove (16) is opened in the middle of the main piece (1) along the thickness direction of the main piece (1); The first hinge end (a) is a plate-shaped straight-insertion structure, and a first hinge hole (10) and an arc-shaped transition channel (11) for inserting the lock seat (3) are provided at the middle position of the first hinge end (a), the center of the arc corresponding to the arc-shaped transition channel (11) is located at the center of the first hinge hole (10), and one end of the arc-shaped transition channel (11) and the first hinge hole (10) are both located on the center line of the length direction of the main piece (1).

2. The locking assembly for connecting tow chain links according to claim 1, characterized in that: The main plate (1) is provided with a transfer hole (12) for inserting the lock seat (3) and a second hinge hole (13) along its thickness direction, and the two holes are spaced apart along the center line of the length direction of the main plate (1); When the two main pieces (1) are plugged together, the first hinge hole (10) and the transfer hole (12) are aligned and overlapped, and the rotation trajectory of the second hinge hole (13) overlaps with the transfer channel (11).

3. The locking assembly for connecting drag chain links according to claim 2, characterized in that: A sliding groove (14) is provided at the middle position of the second hinged end (b) along the longitudinal center line of the main plate (1); the locking plate (2) is provided on the front side of the main plate (1) and can be slidably assembled on the sliding groove (14) along the longitudinal direction of the main plate (1); the locking seat (3) is provided on the back side of the main plate (1) and is aligned and buckled with the locking plate (2); The lock seat (3) is fixed with a first lock shaft (31) and a second lock shaft (32) in sequence along its length direction; The locking plate (2) is provided with a first locking hole (21) and a second locking hole (22) in sequence along its length direction; When the locking plate (2) is engaged with the lock seat (3), the first locking shaft (31) simultaneously passes through the adapter hole (12) and the first hinge hole (10), and extends into the first locking hole (21); the second locking shaft (32) simultaneously passes through the second hinge hole (13) and the adapter channel (11), and extends into the second locking hole (22).

4. The locking assembly for connecting tow chain links according to claim 3, characterized in that: The locking piece (2) is further provided with a positioning hook (23); The positioning hook (23) is fixed to one end of the locking plate (2) in the length direction; when the two main plates (1) are plugged together, the positioning hook (23) is locked in the positioning slot (16).

5. The locking assembly for connecting tow chain links according to claim 4, characterized in that: A guide groove (15) for guiding the sliding path of the positioning hook (23) is provided between the sliding groove (14) and the positioning through groove (16).

6. The locking assembly for connecting tow chain links according to claim 3, characterized in that: The invention also includes a locking portion, wherein the locking portion is a slot (4) and a hook (5) that are aligned and matched, and one of the slot (4) and the hook (5) is arranged at the end of the first lock shaft (31) and the second lock shaft (32) along the axial direction of the first lock shaft (31) and the second lock shaft (32), and the other is arranged on the first lock hole (21) and the second lock hole (22) along the inner circumferential direction of the first lock hole (21) and the second lock hole (22).

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