Tools and components for adjusting and maintaining chains

Abstract

This invention relates to tools and components for adjusting and holding a chain. The chain (26) has links (26a) that engage with a sprocket (24). The tool (100) includes: a boot-shaped member (102) intended to be fixedly mounted relative to the sprocket (24); and a finger (104) fastened to the boot-shaped member (102) and intended to be inserted into the link (26a). With this arrangement, the chain is adjusted into place and held in position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a tool for adjusting the position of a chain on a sprocket and holding the chain in that position during the assembly stage of a sprocket and chain. This invention also relates to an assembly having a sprocket and chain including such a tool. Background Technology

[0002] Figure 1 An aircraft 10 is shown, which typically includes an elevator 12 that is moved by a pilot from a cockpit 14 according to the flight phase of the aircraft 10. This elevator 12 is mounted to be rotatable about an axis transverse to the aircraft 10.

[0003] Typically, the aircraft 10 includes a control system 20 that allows the pilot to control the orientation of the elevator 12. Figure 2 A control system 20 is shown, comprising a rotating control wheel 22 operated by the pilot as needed. The control system 20 also includes a sprocket 24 mounted on a shaft 25 and a chain portion 26 engaging the sprocket 24, the shaft 25 being rotatable. The control system 20 further includes a transmission system 28 located between the control wheel 22 and the sprocket 24, and the transmission system 28 is designed to transmit motion of the control wheel 22 to the sprocket 24.

[0004] The control system 20 also includes a pulley 30 mounted to be rotatable and a cable portion 32 engaged with the pulley 30. The chain portion 26 and the cable portion 32 are secured to each other by means of a tensioner 34 to form a loop. The cable portion 32 extends along the aircraft 10 to reach the rear of the aircraft 10 where the elevator 12 is arranged. The cable portion 32 passes through the frame 29 (reinforcing frame or structural frame) along the entire length of the aircraft 10.

[0005] Another sprocket / pulley 34 is mounted and secured to the elevator 12, and another chain / cable 36 is installed between pulley 30 and the other sprocket / pulley 34.

[0006] The movement of the control wheel 22 is transmitted to the elevator 12 in this manner.

[0007] During the assembly of the aircraft 10, the chain section 26 and sprocket 24 do not need to be assembled simultaneously with other components, and the chain section 26 will be able to move on the sprocket 24. However, the position of the chain section 26 relative to the sprocket 24 must always be the same so that the setting of the control system 20 is optimal when the cable section 32 and the rest of the control system 30 are installed. Utility Model Content

[0008] The purpose of this invention is to provide a tool that allows for adjustment of the chain portion and keeps the chain portion in place relative to the sprocket.

[0009] To this end, a tool for adjusting and maintaining a chain having links that engage with a sprocket is proposed, the tool comprising:

[0010] - A boot-shaped component, intended for fixed mounting relative to the sprocket, and

[0011] - Finger-shaped piece, which is fastened to the boot-shaped piece and intended to be inserted into the link.

[0012] With this arrangement, the chain is adjusted into place and held in that position.

[0013] Advantageously, the fingers are fixed to the boot-shaped part by means of a rod for supporting multiple chain links arranged between the fingers and the sprocket.

[0014] Advantageously, the boot-shaped component is in the form of a separate cylindrical component that is to be fitted onto a shaft fastened to a sprocket and includes a clamping device.

[0015] Advantageously, the tool includes an anti-slip ring intended to be installed between the boot-shaped part and the shaft fastened to the sprocket.

[0016] The present invention also provides a component comprising a sprocket, a chain having links engaging with the sprocket, and a tool according to a variation of the above-described modifications, wherein a boot-shaped member is fixedly mounted relative to the sprocket, and wherein a finger-shaped member is inserted into the link. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The above-mentioned features and other features of this invention will become clearer and more apparent from the following description of at least one exemplary embodiment, which is given with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018] - Figure 1 This is a view of the aircraft from above.

[0019] - Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the control system.

[0020] - Figure 3 This is a side view of the components of the tool according to the present invention and including the tool according to the present invention.

[0021] - Figure 4 This is from the view above. Figure 2 The view of the component. Detailed Implementation

[0022] Figure 1 An aircraft 10 corresponding to both the prior art and the present invention is shown. Similarly, Figure 2The control system 20, which corresponds to both the prior art and the present invention, is shown in addition to the fact that tools are added to the present invention.

[0023] The tool is Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown in the image.

[0024] Figure 3 and Figure 4 An assembly 150 is shown, comprising a sprocket 24 and a chain 26 having links 26a, wherein the links 26a engage with the sprocket 24. This arrangement reproduces the elements of the control system 20 described above.

[0025] The sprocket 24 is fastened to the shaft 25, which is mounted to rotate about its axis.

[0026] Component 150 also includes a tool 100 that adjusts the position of chain 26 on sprocket 24 and holds chain 26 in place on sprocket 24.

[0027] The tool 100 includes a boot-shaped component 102, which is fixedly mounted relative to the sprocket 24, i.e. there is no relative movement between the boot-shaped component 102 and the sprocket 24.

[0028] The tool 100 also includes a finger 104 that is fastened to the boot-shaped member 102 and inserted into the link 26a.

[0029] Because the finger 104 is in a specific position and fixed relative to the boot-shaped member 102, the finger 104 is always inserted into the link 26a at a specific distance from the sprocket 24. Therefore, by fixing the position of the finger 104 at a specific distance, the finger 104 will automatically insert into the last link 26a of the chain 26.

[0030] Typically, by fixing the tool 100, the finger 104 is always positioned in the same link 26a, thereby ensuring the adjustment of the chain 26 relative to the sprocket 24, which in turn fixes the chain in place, since the chain 26 is locked and the sprocket 24 cannot rotate.

[0031] Component 150 can then be transported and handled without any risk of misalignment. Once component 150 is installed and secured in its final environment, such as in control system 20, tool 100 is removed.

[0032] To allow for the removal of tool 100, boot-shaped piece 102 is secured in a detachable manner.

[0033] To best support the chain 26 between the sprocket 24 and the finger 104, the finger 104 is fixed to the boot-shaped member 102 by means of a rod 106, which is arranged between the sprocket 24 and the finger 104 and positioned below the chain 26. Thus, the rod 106 supports a plurality of chain links 26a arranged between the finger 104 and the sprocket 24.

[0034] As in Figure 4 As can be seen more clearly, the boot-shaped member 102 is arranged next to the sprocket 24 (i.e., in a plane parallel to the plane of the sprocket 24), while the rod 106 and the finger 104 are arranged below the chain 26 and in the plane of the sprocket 24. The rod 106 is thus secured to the boot-shaped member 102 by means of the elbow member 110.

[0035] In the embodiments of the present invention presented herein, the boot-shaped member 102 is in the form of a separate cylindrical member fitted onto the shaft 25, and the boot-shaped member 102 has a clamping device 108 for clamping the separate cylindrical member against the shaft 25.

[0036] When the boot-shaped part 102 is fitted onto the shaft 25, an anti-slip ring 27 can be added between the boot-shaped part 102 and the shaft 25. Figure 3 (As can be seen in the image), in order to improve the retention of tool 100 on shaft 25 and prevent damage to sprocket 24. In other words, tool 100 includes anti-slip ring 27, which is intended to be mounted on boot-shaped member 102 and more precisely between the inner portion of the cylindrical member forming boot-shaped member 102 and shaft 25.

[0037] Of course, the boot-shaped member 102 can be secured directly to the side of the sprocket 24 in various ways, such as by means of screwing, clamping, etc. The boot-shaped member 102 can also be secured at a distance from the sprocket 24 and close to the finger 104, depending on the available space for securing and manipulating the tool 100. For example, the tool 100 may not be secured to the shaft 25, but rather to the frame 29 through which the chain 26 of the aircraft 10 passes.

[0038] During subsequent maintenance operations, tool 100 can be repositioned to retain chain 24.

Claims

1. A tool (100) for adjusting and maintaining a chain (26), the chain (26) having links (26a) engaging with a sprocket (24), characterized in that, The tool (100) includes: A boot-shaped component (102), intended to be fixedly mounted relative to the sprocket (24), the boot-shaped component (102) taking the form of a separate cylindrical component to be fitted onto a shaft (25) fastened to the sprocket (24) and including a clamping device (108), and Finger (104) is fastened to the boot-shaped member (102) and is intended to be inserted into the link (26a).

2. The tool (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The finger (104) is fixed to the boot-shaped member (102) by means of a rod (106) for supporting a plurality of chain links (26a) arranged between the finger (104) and the sprocket (24).

3. The tool (100) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that, The tool (100) includes an anti-slip ring (27) intended to be mounted between the boot-shaped part (102) and the shaft (25) fastened to the sprocket (24).

4. A component (150), characterized in that, The component (150) includes a sprocket (24), a chain (26) having links (26a) engaging with the sprocket (24), and a tool (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the boot-shaped member (102) is fixedly mounted relative to the sprocket (24), and wherein the finger (104) is inserted into the link (26a).

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