Modular Conveyor Chain Hinge Assembly for Lubrication-Free Wear Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional metal conveyor chains require lubrication to reduce wear on hinge pins and hinge eyes, which can lead to maintenance issues and is prohibited in some industries, and existing solutions with plastic sleeves face assembly challenges and low wear resistance.
Innovation Solution
A modular conveyor chain with sheet metal link portions featuring a hinge pin with a constant cross section, a central plastic sleeve bearing element, and end caps with radially inwardly extending flange portions for easy assembly and wear resistance, allowing for use without lubrication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lubrication is applied to reduce hinge pin wear, then wear resistance is improved, but maintenance complexity and contamination risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the lubrication function from the system by replacing it with a solid plastic bearing element. The plastic sleeve is inserted into the hinge pin, providing self-lubricating properties through its material characteristics rather than requiring external lubrication application. This eliminates the need for maintenance while preserving wear resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state of the lubrication medium from liquid (requiring application and maintenance) to solid (integrated into the hinge pin structure). The plastic bearing element provides continuous lubrication through its material properties without requiring external application, thereby improving reliability while reducing maintenance complexity.
2Reliability
If a plastic sleeve bearing element is added to the hinge pin, then wear resistance is improved, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The plastic bearing element is pre-assembled onto the hinge pin before the hinge pin is installed into the conveyor chain modules. This preliminary assembly simplifies the final installation process, as the bearing element is already in position and does not require separate assembly steps during chain assembly or maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The plastic bearing element is nested within the hinge pin structure, with the sleeve inserted into the hinge pin body. This nested configuration allows the bearing element to be integrated into the existing hinge pin geometry without adding external complexity, maintaining a compact and simple overall structure.
3Ease of operation
If end caps with flange portions are added to the hinge pin, then ease of assembly is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge pin is segmented into distinct functional components: the central hinge pin body, the plastic bearing element, and the end caps with flange portions. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured separately using optimized processes, then assembled together. The end caps can be produced using cost-effective methods such as injection molding, offsetting the increased assembly steps through simplified individual component manufacturing.
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
The solution provides a cost-effective, wear-resistant conveyor chain that can be assembled easily and used without lubrication, reducing maintenance needs and ensuring reliable operation in various environments, including food processing industries.
Implementation Method 1
a central portion of the hinge pin is provided with a plastic sleeve as bearing element
Implementation Method 2
a radially inwardly extending flange portion that cooperates with an end face of the hinge pin
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
Modular conveyor chain, comprising a number of successive, mutually hingedly connected modules. The modules each comprise a link portion made of sheet metal that has a body part that forms a conveying surface. The body part is provided with a centrally located coupling piece on one side thereof, and a pair of interspaced coupling pieces on an opposite side thereof that include an interspace in between. The coupling pieces of successive modules cooperate to form a hinge assembly because the centrally located coupling piece of a link portion is received in the interspace between the interspaced coupling pieces of a link portion of a successive module, and because a hinge pin extends through aligned receiving spaces of the cooperating coupling pieces. The modular conveyor chain further includes a plastic bearing element received between the centrally located coupling piece and the hinge pin. The hinge pin has a substantially constant cross section, and a central portion of the hinge pin is provided with a bearing element that has a closed cross section and extends along the hinge pin at the location of the central coupling element only. Opposing ends of the hinge pins are each provided with an end cap that includes a mantle portion that extends along the hinge pin at the location of an interspaced coupling piece only, and a radially inwardly extending flange portion that cooperates with an end face of the hinge pin.