Conveyor Chain Link With Segmented Slide Sections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyor chain links made of the same material, such as polyoxymethylene, generate squealing noises due to the stick-slip effect when in contact, which is costly to mitigate with noise-reducing additives.
Innovation Solution
The articulation and fork sections are separated by slide sections made of a different material, preventing direct contact and reducing frictional forces, particularly using polyamide slide sections with polyoxymethylene main bodies, allowing for low-cost production and high tensile force transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the articulation section and fork section are made of the same material (polyoxymethylene), then the manufacturing cost is reduced and structural simplicity is maintained, but squealing noises are generated due to the stick-slip effect during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The chain link is divided into different material sections: the main body (articulation and fork sections) is made of polyoxymethylene, while the slide sections are made of a different material (e.g., polyamide or PTFE). This segmentation allows each section to be optimized for its specific function - the main body for structural strength and the slide sections for low friction and noise reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the chain link are assigned different material properties according to their functional requirements. The slide sections, which are in direct contact during operation, are made of materials with low friction coefficients to prevent squealing, while the main body maintains the original polyoxymethylene material for cost-effectiveness and structural integrity.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If slide sections are added to reduce friction and noise, then squealing noises are eliminated, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The slide sections are integrated into the existing chain link structure by combining them with the articulation and fork sections into a single unified component. This merging approach allows the different material sections to work together as one functional unit, reducing overall structural complexity while still providing noise reduction benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The chain link uses composite construction with different materials for different sections: polyoxymethylene for the main body and alternative materials (polyamide, PTFE) for the slide sections. This composite approach leverages the advantageous properties of each material - structural strength from polyoxymethylene and low friction/noise from the alternative materials - while managing complexity through modular integration.
3Reliability
If slide sections are added to reduce friction, then wear resistance is improved, but the manufacturing cost and production complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The chain link is segmented into main body portions made of cost-effective polyoxymethylene and slide section portions made of wear-resistant materials. This segmentation allows the expensive wear-resistant materials to be applied only where necessary (at the slide sections experiencing direct contact), rather than throughout the entire chain link, thereby controlling manufacturing costs while improving wear resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
Wear-resistant materials are applied locally to the slide sections where friction and wear occur, rather than uniformly across the entire chain link. This localized application of high-performance materials provides maximum wear resistance protection at the critical interfaces while minimizing overall manufacturing costs compared to making the entire chain link from expensive materials.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design effectively eliminates squealing noises while maintaining mechanical strength and wear resistance, enabling efficient operation of the conveyor chain with reduced noise and lower production costs.
Implementation Method 1
The slide sections are intended to reduce the frictional forces imposed by the chain links on the chain guides
Implementation Method 2
materials of the same kind, especially plastics, which rub against one another under load produce squealing noises owing to the stick-slip effect
Data Source
AI summary
A chain link for a curved conveyor chain, the chain link comprising a base body and a bolt, the base body having an articulation section and a fork section and a carrier means for carrying material that is to be conveyed, the bolt being elongated and designed in a circular cylindrical manner in at least one central section. In the articulation section, a bolt opening is provided through which the bolt can pass and can rotate relative to at least two axes. The fork section has an articulation recess for receiving the articulation section of an adjoining identical chain link, the fork section having two opposite bolt recesses which can receive the opposite ends of the bolt of the adjoining chain link. The articulation and fork sections of two adjoining, identical chain links are maintained at a distance by two slide sections.