Chain lock for link chain and safety catch for such chain lock

Abstract

The invention relates to a chain lock for a link chain, comprising: two lock parts which engage with each other in a form-fitting manner in the tensile load direction of the chain lock; and a safety catch mounted and engaged into the opposing seats of the two lock parts in a transverse direction with respect to the plane of the flat side of the chain lock. The safety catch has a first and a second catch element. Each bolt element is provided with a stop which cooperates with a stop surface of the safety bolt seat in the transverse direction relative to the plane of the flat side of the chain lock. The first bolt element extends beyond the other stop surface of the safety catch seat starting from the stop of the first bolt element cooperating with the stop surface of the safety catch seat, and a section extending beyond the second stop surface is provided as a connecting section for connecting the second bolt element. A plurality of radially adjustable pressure bodies are retained in the connecting section, each of the pressure bodies being arranged in a bore opening into the axial channel. A safety pin is inserted into the axial channel, so that the pressure body is pre-tightened with the second bolt element in the radial direction and / or is engaged with the inner circumferential surface of the second bolt element in a form-fitting manner.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a chain lock for a link chain (Gliederkette), the chain lock having two lock parts, the two lock parts being meshed with each other in a form-fitting manner in the tensile load direction of the chain lock, the two lock parts having seats on their inner sides facing each other and defining an inner space of the chain lock, the seats having stop surfaces for a safety bolt inserted therein and acting in a transverse direction relative to a plane of a flat side of the chain lock, the chain lock also having a safety bolt, the safety bolt being installed in a transverse direction relative to the plane of the flat side of the chain lock and meshing in the opposite seats of the two lock parts to lock it, the safety bolt having a first and a second bolt element, the first and the second bolt elements being installed from opposite flat sides of the chain lock and connected to each other, and wherein each bolt element has a stop, the stop cooperating with the stop surface of the safety bolt seat in a transverse direction relative to the plane of the flat side of the chain lock.

[0002] The present invention also relates to a safety bolt for a chain lock, which is used for link chains and has two lock components, which are meshed with each other in a form-fitting manner in the tensile load direction of the chain lock. The two lock components have seats on their inner sides facing each other and defining an inner space of the chain lock, respectively, and the seats have stop surfaces for the safety bolt inserted therein, which act in a transverse direction relative to the plane of the flat side of the chain lock. The safety bolt has a first and a second bolt element, which are connected to each other and each of which has a stop, which cooperates with the stop surface of the safety bolt seat in a transverse direction relative to the plane of the flat side of the chain lock. Background Art

[0003] This lock is used to connect two chain links, especially chain links that bear high tensile loads, such as conveyor chains. This chain lock, also known as a flat lock, has two lock parts. The two lock parts are usually identical and arranged symmetrically relative to the center of the chain lock. In this chain lock, the division of the lock parts can be set in the side legs of the connecting arc. The division surface is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the chain link and usually extends over the entire length of the side legs. The side leg parts of the two lock parts on their sides facing each other are designed as claws, so that when the chain lock is engaged, the two lock parts form a mutual engagement in a form-fitting manner in the tensile load direction of the chain lock. Use a safety bolt to prevent the two lock parts from loosening, and the relative movement of the two lock parts that makes them loosen from each other is prevented by the safety bolt. The two lock parts each have a safety bolt seat to arrange the safety bolt, and the safety bolt seat faces the side leg part of the corresponding other lock part. The two safety bolt seats of the two lock parts complement each other to form a seat, and the safety bolt is installed in the seat in the transverse direction relative to the flat side of the chain lock. These seats are basically concave recesses in the side leg parts facing each other. The inserted safety pin prevents both a movement in the longitudinal direction of the chain lock and a movement transversely thereto.

[0004] Such a chain lock is known, for example, from document DE 202015101618 U1. The safety bolt of such an existing chain lock has two bolt elements. The safety bolt is inserted into a seat on the chain lock side from the opposite flat side. The two bolt elements are arranged with their end sides facing each other and connected to each other by a safety pin. The outer safety pin engages with the corresponding radially outer protrusion in a form-fitting manner into the correspondingly constructed inner recess of the bolt element. An additional inner safety pin ensures the above-mentioned engagement position.

[0005] Another chain lock of the above type is known from document DE102020121972. The safety bolt of this prior art is designed as an integral type. This safety bolt carries at least one spring element that can be expanded radially. At least one spring element is arranged in a surrounding groove of the safety bolt. A perforation is provided in the bottom of the groove, which is connected to the axial channel of the safety bolt. Two perforations diametrically opposite to each other relative to the longitudinal axis are provided in the safety bolt. A sphere with a diameter greater than the thickness of the material of the safety bolt is arranged in each perforation. This chain lock also includes a safety pin, which is inserted into the axial channel to activate the pressure ball. Thereby, the sphere is pressed radially outward and at least one spring coil is expanded. Complementary to the outer peripheral surface of one or more spring elements, grooves are respectively provided in the safety bolt seat of the lock component, and when at least one spring element enters its locking position, it engages into the groove. In this chain lock, it should be noted that the safety bolt is inserted between the two safety bolt seats in a defined orientation. Here, the pressure ball must act against the seat of the lock component. Accordingly, this chain lock has an element that should ensure that the position is correctly inserted into the safety seat. Chain locks in which the locking body, for example at least one of the spring rings, is inserted into a recess of a seat of a lock component have the disadvantage that, in the event of corrosion between the engagement element and the seat, the chain lock cannot sometimes be opened or can only be opened under difficult conditions.

[0006] Another chain lock is known from document DE 10160767 A1. This chain lock has three elements as a safety bolt, namely: an external locking sleeve, which rests on the seat of the lock part with its outer circumference; a mating part, usually made of plastic, which engages with the locking sleeve in a form-fitting manner in the insertion direction; a mating bolt, which is inserted into the mating part and prevents deformation of the mating part in the radial direction. The advantage of this chain lock is that it can be easily opened even after a long service life in an aggressive environment. In this known chain lock, the two lock parts are separated in the area of ​​the arc. Summary of the invention

[0007] Based on the prior art discussed above, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to improve the above-mentioned type of chain lock and the safety bolt of this chain lock so that it is also suitable for chain locks with dividing surfaces (Teilungsebene) in the side legs of the lock component, and if the chain lock is used in a corrosive environment, the safety bolt can also be pulled out.

[0008] The locking mechanism comprises a locking mechanism which is configured to lock the locking mechanism and the locking cam of the locking mechanism, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a first locking mechanism and a second locking mechanism, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a first locking mechanism and a second locking mechanism.

[0009] The above technical problem is also solved by a safety catch having the features of claim 14 .

[0010] In such a chain lock (which also applies to the safety bolt claimed for protection), two bolt elements are mounted on each other from opposite sides to lock the two lock parts. The two bolt elements have a stop facing the respective other bolt element, which respectively cooperates with the stop surface provided by one or more safety bolt seats. Because the two bolt elements are connected to each other when the chain lock is engaged, the safety bolt is thus retained in the safety bolt seat in a form-fitting manner in the transverse direction relative to the chain lock plane, so that the two lock parts cannot be adjusted relative to each other in this direction, with at most a certain degree of permissible clearance. In order to achieve a form fit with the safety bolt seat of the chain lock, due to the above-mentioned multi-component design of the safety bolt through its two bolt elements, it is not necessary to add a locking contour in the recess of the safety bolt seat. In order to connect the two bolt elements to each other, the first bolt element has a connecting section, on which the second bolt element, which is constructed in the form of a sleeve at least in its connecting section, can be arranged. A plurality of pressure bodies retained in the connecting section of the first bolt element are used to fix the second bolt element on or at the connecting section of the first bolt element. The pressure bodies are respectively arranged in the pressure body perforations of the connecting section and can be activated by the safety pin, so as to act against the inner circumference of the connecting section of the second bolt element under pretension and / or to engage in a complementary recess of the second bolt element to form a positive fit. As a result, the second bolt element is reliably and permanently connected to the first chain element in a transverse direction relative to the chain lock plane. Even if the chain lock is used in a corrosive environment, the safety pin can be pulled out smoothly to open the chain lock despite the presence of even severe corrosion. The safety pin can be pulled out directly. Even if the pressure body is connected to the second bolt element due to corrosion, the first bolt element can be knocked out of the safety bolt seat by using the stop of the second bolt element on the complementary stop surface of the safety bolt seat. The corrosive connection between a single or all pressure bodies and the second bolt elements, which may exist, cannot prevent this separation of the two bolt elements. The corrosive connection is released by knocking in order to pull the first bolt element out of the safety bolt seat. After the first bolt element is pulled out, the second bolt element can also be removed from the safety bolt seat and the two lock parts are opened. It is important for such a chain lock that the safety bolt can be used multiple times, and therefore can be used multiple times to lock the two lock parts and can also be pulled out of the safety bolt seat again without having to worry about its function being impaired. Even if a sphere is used as the pressure body according to one embodiment, the pressure body can also have other geometric shapes, as long as it can be arranged under preload in the pressure body perforation and / or can be adjusted to achieve a form fit with the second bolt element. For this purpose, a pressure body with a rotationally symmetrical outer peripheral surface is suitable, in particular a pressure body with a recess in its central section, whereby the pressure body can be retained in the pressure body perforation in a form-fitting manner. In the radial adjustment direction or in the direction of applying the preload, the pressure body can only be loosely retained in such a pressure body perforation in this design.

[0011] The stop surface of the safety lock seat is preferably oriented at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the safety lock seat. This can be provided by arranging a central section of the safety lock seat, which has a smaller diameter than the adjacent outer sections.

[0012] For example, a tensioning pin or even a tensioning sleeve can be used as a safety pin.

[0013] The second bolt element is preferably designed such that the pressure body is disposed on its circumferential surface of the connecting section facing inwards toward the first bolt element. The circumferential surface of the pressure body has a pressure body recess in which the activated pressure body engages. This pressure body recess is preferably designed as a surrounding groove.

[0014] In the connecting section of the first bolt element, the pressure bodies are usually arranged at the same angular distance from each other in the circumferential direction. Depending on the available diameter, three or more pressure bodies are usually used. In many cases, the safety bolt is designed with four pressure bodies.

[0015] In a preferred design, the second bolt element is arranged integrally on the connecting section of the first bolt element. The outer longitudinal end face of the second bolt element is then aligned with the end face of the connecting section of the first bolt element. In order to form a mounting stop for the second bolt element on the first bolt element, according to one embodiment, it is provided that the outer peripheral surface of the connecting section of the first bolt element has a smaller diameter than the adjacent section. The inner diameter of the second bolt element is designed on its side facing the first bolt element so that the relevant end face of the second bolt element stops with its inner section on the shoulder of the first bolt element in the transition from its connecting section to the adjacent section. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The present invention is explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0017] Figure 1 : A side view of a chain lock according to the present invention,

[0018] Figure 2 : Figure 1 Exploded view of the chain lock with its safety pin.

[0019] Figure 3 : The safety bolt of the chain lock in the figure above and its two bolt elements installed with each other before locking each other,

[0020] Figure 4 : The safety bolt of the chain lock in the figure above and its two bolt elements installed with each other after being locked with each other,

[0021] Figure 5 : Figure 1 Cross section of a chain lock having two meshing locking parts without a safety bolt,

[0022] Figure 6 : Figure 1 A cross section of a chain lock having two meshing lock components and a safety bolt installed to lock the two lock components. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] The chain lock 1 for connecting two chain links (usually two chain link strips) comprises two identical locking parts 2, 3. The dividing surface of the chain lock 1 with respect to its two locking parts 2, 3 is located in the side legs of the connecting arc of the chain lock 1. The two locking parts 2, 3 engage with each other in a claw-like manner in the tensile load direction of the chain lock 1 in a known manner. An inner space 4 or 5 is enclosed by each locking part 2, 3. The chain links to be connected by the chain lock 1 are hooked in the inner space, and then the two locking parts 2, 3 are brought into the inner space. Figure 1 The engaged position shown in . The safety pin, which is identified as a whole by the reference numeral 6, is used to ensure this engaged position of the two lock parts 2 and 3. The safety pin 6 engages into the safety pin seat 7 and 8 of each lock part 2 and 3 respectively through its circumference. The two safety pin seats 7 and 8 are designed mirror-symmetrically with reference to the transverse plane of the flat side of the relative chain lock 1 and are supplemented to form a common safety pin seat. The safety pin seats 7 and 8 are basically arranged as concave recesses in the inner sides of the leg parts 9 and 10 of the two lock parts 2 and 3 facing each other. The internal space of the chain lock 1 is defined by the inner sides of the leg parts 9 and 10. The design of the safety pin seat 8 is Figure 2 The same design also applies to the safety pin seat 7 belonging to the lock component 2. The safety pin seat 8 has two outer sections 11, 12 and a central section 13 located between the two outer sections 11, 12. The three sections 11, 12, 13 each have a cylindrical circumference. The radius of the outer sections 11, 12 is slightly larger than the radius of the central section 13, so the net diameter of the seat formed by the two safety pin seats 7, 8 is smaller in the area of ​​the central section 13 than in the outer sections 11, 12. Stop surfaces 14 are formed by the transition from the outer sections 11, 12 to the central section 13. In the embodiment shown, the plane of the stop surface 14 is arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the seat for the safety pin 6 formed by the safety pin seats 7, 8.

[0024] exist Figure 5 The above-mentioned design of the safety bolt seat 8 of the two lock components 2 and 3 and the corresponding design of the safety bolt seat 7 can be seen in the cross-sectional view of the back side. Figure 2 The invisible stop surface is Figure 5 It is shown with reference numeral 14.1.

[0025] from Figure 2As can be seen from the exploded view of FIG. 1 , the safety bolt 6 has two bolt elements 15 and 16. The bolt element referred to as the first bolt element 15 in the scope of the present embodiment passes through the safety bolt seats 7 and 8 of the chain lock 1 as a whole. The first bolt element 15 has a center section 17. It is designed with a smaller diameter compared to the adjacent head section 18. The transition from the center section 17 to the head section 18 forms a stop 19, which cooperates with the stop surface 14 of the safety bolt seats 7 and 8 facing the first bolt element 15. This defines the engagement depth of the first bolt element 15 in the seat provided for this purpose of the chain lock 1. Opposite to the head section 18, the first bolt element 15 includes a connecting section 20. Compared with the center section 17, the connecting section 20 has an outer peripheral surface with a smaller diameter. A plurality of pressure body through-holes 21 arranged at the same angular distance from each other in the circumferential direction are formed in the connecting section 20. In each pressure body through-hole 21, there is a ball 22 as a pressure body. In the illustrated embodiment, a ball 22 is provided as a pressure body for each of the four pressure body openings 21. The first plug element 15 also has an axial channel 23 which passes through the first plug element 15 as a whole in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

[0026] The second bolt element 16 is designed as a sleeve and is designed to be pushed onto the connecting section 20 of the first bolt element. Figure 3 The assembled safety bolt 6 is shown in a longitudinal section, wherein the second bolt element 16 is pushed onto the connecting section 20 of the first bolt element 15. The connecting section 20 has a smaller diameter than the adjacent center section 17, so that a stop is formed on the seat side, against which the end face facing the first bolt element 15 stops. The installation position of the second bolt element 16 on the bolt element 15 is thus defined.

[0027] Figure 3 The longitudinal section of FIG. 1 also shows balls 22 used as pressure bodies, which are respectively arranged in the pressure body through-holes 21. The pressure body through-holes 21 taper in the direction of the axial passages 23 into which they pass. The balls 22 protrude into the axial passages 23 through a section. The balls 22 are held in their corresponding pressure body through-holes 21, so that even if the second bolt element 16 is removed, the balls 22 will not fall out of the through-holes 21 in the radial direction.

[0028] The tensioning sleeve 25 also belongs to the safety bolt 6. The tensioning sleeve is pre-installed in the axial channel 23 of the first bolt element 15, outside its connecting section 20. In order to form-fit the second bolt element 16 on the first bolt element 15 in the opposite direction of the installation direction of the second bolt element 16 on the first bolt element 15, the inner circumference of the second bolt element 16 is designed with a pressure body recess 26. Since the pressure body is a sphere 22, the surrounding pressure body recess 26 is designed to be concave accordingly. The sphere 22 is inserted into it through the safety sleeve 25, and the sphere is adjusted radially outward to achieve the required form fit between the two bolt elements 15, 16. The tensioning sleeve 25 is pre-tensioned in the axial channel 23 and is therefore held in the axial channel 23 in a non-lost manner.

[0029] Figure 6 Corresponding to Figure 5 The view of FIG. 1 shows the chain lock 1, and also shows the safety pin 6 resting on its safety pin seats 7, 8. The figure clearly shows the positive connection of the safety pin 6 caused by the bolt elements 15, 16 installed from the opposite side and the resulting encirclement of the central section 13 of the safety pin seats 7, 8. The two lock parts 2, 3 are reliably and permanently connected to each other via the safety pin 6.

[0030] To open the chain lock 1, in a first step the tensioning sleeve 25 is pulled out of its position in the axial channel 23, which blocks the adjustability of the ball 22 as a pressure body. The first bolt element 15 is then knocked out of the complementary safety catch seat 7, 8 from the same side of the chain lock 1. Then only the second bolt element 16 has to be removed from the safety catch seat 7, 8. The two lock parts 2, 3 can then be adjusted relative to each other to open the chain lock 1.

[0031] In order to reduce the contact corrosion phenomenon, the components of the safety bolt 6 are usually made of the same material. But this is not mandatory. In the chain lock, it is basically not necessary to use plastic parts to prevent the corrosive adhesion of the components of the safety bolt 6.

[0032] The invention has been described by way of example. Without departing from the scope of protection described by the applicable claims, a skilled person can obtain many other embodiments to implement the inventive concept without further detailing it in these design areas.

[0033] Reference numerals list

[0034] 1 Chain

[0035] 2.3 Lock components

[0036] 4.5 Internal Space

[0037] 6 Safety pin

[0038] 7, 8 Safety bolt holder

[0039] 9, 10 side leg parts

[0040] 11, 12 External sections

[0041] 13 Center section

[0042] 14.1 Stop surface

[0043] 15 First plug element

[0044] 16 Second plug element

[0045] 17 Center section

[0046] 18 Head segment

[0047] 19 Stop

[0048] 20 Connection section

[0049] 21 Pressure body perforation

[0050] 22 sphere

[0051] 23 Axial channel

[0052] 24 End face

[0053] 25 Tensioning sleeve

[0054] 26 Pressure body recess

Claims

1. A chain lock for a link chain, the chain lock comprising two lock parts (2, 3), the two lock parts being meshed with each other in a form-fitting manner in the tensile load direction of the chain lock (1), the two lock parts having seats (7, 8) on their inner sides facing each other and defining an inner space of the chain lock (1), the seats having stop surfaces (14, 14.1) acting in a transverse direction relative to the plane of the flat side of the chain lock (1) for a safety bolt (6) inserted therein, the chain lock also comprising such a safety bolt (6) which is in contact with the chain lock (1) For being installed in the transverse direction of the plane of the flat side of the chain lock (1) and engaging in the opposite seats (7, 8) of the two lock parts (1, 2) to lock it, the safety bolt (6) has a first and a second bolt element (15, 16), which are installed from the opposite flat sides of the chain lock (1) and connected to each other, and each bolt element (15, 16) has a stopper (19), which cooperates with the stopper surface (14, 14.1) of the safety bolt seat in the transverse direction relative to the plane of the flat side of the chain lock (1), characterized in that in, The first bolt element (15) extends from a stop (19) cooperating with a stop surface (14) of a safety bolt seat (7, 8) beyond another stop surface (14.1) of the safety bolt seat (7, 8), and the section extending beyond the second stop surface (14.1) is provided as a connecting section (20) for connecting to a second bolt element (16), the first bolt element (15) having an axial channel (23), in which a plurality of radially adjustable through holes (21) are respectively arranged and open into the axial channel (23) The second bolt element (16) is designed at least in its connecting section as a sleeve that can be pushed onto the connecting section (20) of the first bolt element (15), and a safety pin (25) is inserted into the axial channel (23), through which the pressure body (22) is radially preloaded with the second bolt element (16) in order to fasten it when the second bolt element (16) is installed, and / or is meshed with the inwardly facing circumferential surface of the second bolt element (16) in a form-fitting manner.

2. The chain lock according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pressure body has a rotationally symmetrical circumferential surface surrounding its longitudinal axis and has a projection in its central section.

3. The chain lock according to claim 1, characterized in that: The safety catch (6) has a ball (22) as a pressure body.

4. The chain lock according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The pressure body (22) is held radially in a form-fitting manner in a corresponding pressure body aperture (21) of the connecting section (20) of the first bolt element (15).

5. The chain lock according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The pressure bodies (22) can be adjusted radially by means of securing pins (25) inserted between the pressure bodies (22) in order to fasten them to the second bolt element (16).

6. The chain lock according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The second plug element (16) has, on its inner side, which faces the connecting section (20) of the first plug element (15), a circumferential pressure body receptacle (26) which is designed in the form of a groove.

7. The chain lock according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The connecting section (20) of the first bolt element (15) has a smaller diameter on its circumference than the adjacent section (17), and the transition from the connecting section (20) to the adjacent section (17) forms a stop for the end face of the second bolt element (16).

8. The chain lock according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The safety catch seat (7, 8) has a central section (13) which has a smaller diameter than its end sections (11, 12), and stop surfaces (14, 14.1) are provided in each case through the transition from the end sections to the central section (13).

9. The chain lock according to claim 8, characterized in that: The stop surface (14, 14.1) is arranged at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the safety catch seat (7, 8).

10. The chain lock according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: The safety pin is designed as a bolt.

11. The chain lock according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that: The securing pin is a tensioning sleeve (25), which acts with one section against the pressure body (22) and with another section against the inner wall of the axial channel (23).

12. The chain lock according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that: The two bolt elements (15, 16) of the safety bolt (6) are made of steel material.

13. The chain lock according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that: The pressure body (22) is made of the same material as the two bolt elements (15, 16).

14. A safety bolt for a chain lock (1), the chain lock being used for linking chains, the chain lock having two lock parts (2, 3), the two lock parts being meshed with each other in a form-fitting manner in the tensile load direction of the chain lock (1), the two lock parts having seats on their inner sides facing each other and defining an inner space of the chain lock (1), the seats having stop surfaces (14, 14.1) acting in a transverse direction relative to a plane of a flat side of the chain lock (1) for a safety bolt (6) inserted therein, the safety bolt (6) having a first and a second bolt element (15, 16), the first and the second bolt elements being connectable to each other and each bolt element (15, 16) having a stop (19), the stop cooperating with the stop surface (14, 14.1) of the safety bolt seat in a transverse direction relative to a plane of the flat side of the chain lock (1), characterized in that The first bolt element (15) extends from a stop (19) cooperating with a stop surface (14) of a safety bolt seat (7, 8) beyond another stop surface (14.1) of the safety bolt seat (7, 8), and the section extending beyond the second stop surface (14.1) is provided as a connecting section (20) for connecting to a second bolt element (16), the first bolt element (15) having an axial channel (23), a plurality of radially adjustable through holes (21) each arranged in the axial channel (23) being retained in the connecting section (20) of the first bolt element (15). ), the radial extension of the pressure body being greater than the radial extension of the pressure body through-hole (21), the second bolt element (16) being designed at least in its connecting section as a sleeve that can be pushed onto the connecting section (20) of the first bolt element (15), and a safety pin (25) being inserted into the axial channel (23), by which the pressure body (22) is radially preloaded with the second bolt element (16) in order to fasten it when the second bolt element is installed, and / or is meshed with the inwardly facing circumferential surface of the second bolt element (16) in a form-fitting manner.

15. The safety catch according to claim 14, characterized in that: The safety catch has the features of one or more of claims 2 to 13 relating to the safety catch ( 6 ).

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