Chain Link Support Track Geometry for Kink-Free Force Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing chain designs face issues with kinking and material wear due to artificial thickening for kink prevention, which restricts free movement and increases weight, leading to inefficiencies in force transmission and increased wear on sprockets and chain pockets.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates an inclined support track and guide surfaces on the functional sections of the horizontal chain link, allowing the vertical chain link to rotate independently and avoid kinking, eliminating the need for additional material thickening and enabling smooth movement and force transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If artificial thickening of chain link legs is implemented to prevent kinking, then kink prevention is improved, but weight increases and free movement is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical thickening approach with a friction-based mechanism. By designing the support track with a specific inclination angle greater than the friction angle (arctan μ), the system uses friction forces to prevent kinking without requiring additional material thickness. This substitution of mechanical thickening with friction-based stabilization resolves the contradiction between reliability and weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameter of the support track inclination angle to be greater than the friction angle (arctan μ). This parameter change enables the friction force to sufficiently prevent kinking, eliminating the need for artificial thickening and thereby reducing chain link weight while maintaining reliability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If artificial thickening is used to prevent kinking, then stability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to restricted free movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical constraint through thickening with a friction-based stabilization mechanism. The inclined support track uses friction forces to provide stability while allowing natural movement, thereby maintaining ease of operation without sacrificing stability.
3Reliability
If artificial thickening is implemented for kink prevention, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional material and structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the complex mechanical thickening structure with a simpler friction-based mechanism. By using the inclined support track geometry to generate sufficient friction force, the system achieves kink prevention without additional material or structural complexity.
4Volume of moving object
If conventional chain link design is used with limited space for force transfer, then compactness is improved, but force transmission efficiency deteriorates due to shear forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the inclination angle parameter of the support track to be greater than the friction angle. This parameter optimization ensures that forces are transmitted efficiently through friction without generating excessive shear forces, maintaining force transmission efficiency within the compact chain link volume.
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 solution allows for efficient force transmission while reducing material wear and maintaining chain flexibility, preventing kinking and enhancing the chain's ability to slide freely, thus improving overall performance and reducing maintenance needs.
Implementation Method 1
The support track is inclined by an angle which is greater than the friction angle relative to the course of the horizontal chain link
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a chain 1 comprising a horizontal chain link 2, a vertical chain link 3, and two opposing bends 5, 5.1, 14, 14.1, such that the chain links 2, 3 each form closed sections 6, wherein the horizontal chain link 2 has a functional section 16, 16.1, 16.2, 16.3 on at least one bend 5, 5.1, which is configured in a locking plane 17 such that it cannot pass through the vertical chain link 3 arranged relative to the horizontal chain link 2 and has a width 18 that is narrower than the inner width of the vertical chain link 3, so that it can pass through the vertical chain link 3. A particular feature is that the horizontal chain link 2 has an inner support section 19 and the functional section 16, 16.1, 16.2, 16.33 provides an outer support track 21 leading around the path 6 of the horizontal chain link 2, along which the vertical chain link 3 can slide at least sectionally from the linking arrangement into its pulling arrangement by rotating around the path 6 of the horizontal chain link 2 and which support track 21 is inclined in the support track direction by at least 90° + arctan µ relative to the direction of the leg longitudinal extension 10, where µ is the coefficient of friction of the chain links 2, 3 in the area of the support track 21, so that the vertical chain link 3 rotates from the linking arrangement around the horizontal chain link 2 in such a way that it aligns itself with the direction of the inner width 7 parallel to the direction of the width 18 of the functional section 16, 16.1, 16.2, 16.3, so that the latter passes through the vertical chain link 3 and the vertical chain link 2 enters its pulling arrangement.