Flat Link Chain Design for Mining Wear and Weight Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing link chains used in mining and materials handling technology face challenges in optimizing weight, tensile force transmission, and wear resistance, particularly in underground mining applications where they are subjected to both tensile forces and abrasive wear.
Innovation Solution
The link chain design features horizontal and vertical links with reduced cross-sectional areas in their legs compared to the curved sections, maintaining the same or reduced dimensions to minimize weight while ensuring full tensile force transmission and reducing wear, with a transition area from the leg to the rounded section and varying cross-sectional areas along the curve for optimal performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If the cross-sectional area of the legs is reduced compared to the curved section, then the weight of the link chain is reduced, but the tensile force transmission capability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The link chain applies local quality by differentiating the cross-sectional area along the link structure. The legs have a smaller cross-sectional area than the curved section, with each leg having width b and height h, while the curved section has a larger cross-sectional area. This local differentiation reduces overall weight while maintaining strength where most needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The curved section with radius r connects the legs and provides the necessary structural strength for tensile force transmission. The curvature distributes stress more effectively than sharp corners, allowing the legs to have reduced cross-sectional area while maintaining overall link strength through the rounded connection.
2Quantity of substance
If the cross-sectional area of the legs is reduced, then material costs are reduced, but the wear resistance during operation may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The design applies local quality by reducing the cross-sectional area of the legs compared to the curved section. Each leg has dimensions width b and height h, creating a localized reduction in material usage in the leg regions while maintaining adequate material in the curved section that experiences different stress conditions.
3Weight of moving object
If the cross-sectional area of the legs is reduced with same or reduced height, then the link chain becomes lighter, but the structural integrity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The curved section with radius r connects the legs and provides structural integrity through its rounded geometry. The curvature distributes stresses more effectively than sharp corners, allowing the legs to have reduced cross-sectional area while maintaining overall link strength. The curved section acts as a stress-distributing element that compensates for the reduced leg dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The design transitions from uniform cross-section in all directions to a varied cross-section where the curved section provides dimensional reinforcement. The curved section's radius r creates a three-dimensional stress distribution that compensates for the reduced two-dimensional cross-sectional area of the legs.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a link chain (1), in particular for use underground in mining. The link chain (1) is produced from a steel material and has horizontal links (2) and vertical links (3). Each horizontal link (2) and each vertical link (3) have sides (5, 17) running parallel to each other and connected to one another at the ends by means of rounded portions (4, 20). Each side (5, 17) has a smaller cross-sectional area (8, 18) than the cross-sectional area (9, 19) of each rounded portion (4, 20). The cross-sectional area (8) of the sides (5) of the horizontal link (2) has a smaller width (10), with the same or smaller height (12), than the cross-sectional area (9) of the rounded portion (4), and the cross-sectional area (18) of the sides (17) of the vertical link (3) has a smaller height (23), with the same or smaller width (25), than the cross-sectional area (19) of the rounded portion (20).