Interlocking Chain Actuation Device with Integrated Drive Sprocket

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional interlocking chain type lifting apparatuses face challenges in apparatus assembly and maintenance, including increased work burden for synchronizing rotation phases, complex gear configurations, and issues with pulsation, vibration, noise, and speed fluctuation during the advancement and retreatment of driven bodies.

Innovation Solution

The interlocking chain type forward and backward actuating device employs a pair of interlocking chains with hook-shaped tooth plates and connecting pins, a drive sprocket, and a chain guide with specific groove configurations to ensure smooth operation and reduce maintenance burdens, featuring a chain positioning guide that extends to support the interlocking chains and maintain alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a pair of lifting sprockets are arranged to face the pair of lifting interlocking chains respectively to engage the chains with each other, then the chains can be advanced and retreated in the same direction, but the work burden to adjust the rotation phases of the sprockets increases excessively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of chain engagementVSAvoidtime for rotation phase adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the two separate lifting sprockets into a single integrated drive sprocket that engages both interlocking chains simultaneously. This eliminates the need for separate rotation phase adjustments between multiple sprockets, reducing assembly time and operational complexity while maintaining the ability to advance and retreat both chains in the same direction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single drive sprocket serves multiple functions: it engages both interlocking chains, synchronizes their movement, and eliminates the need for separate gear groups to interlock rotary shafts. This multi-functional design reduces the overall complexity of the apparatus and decreases maintenance workload.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a gear group is added to interlock rotary shafts of the pair of lifting sprockets to enable single drive source operation, then the apparatus can be driven by a single motor, but the apparatus configuration becomes complicated and assembly/maintenance work burden increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesingle drive source capabilityVSAvoidcomplexity of gear group configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the complex gear group from the system by redesigning the drive mechanism. Instead of using separate sprockets requiring gear interlocking, a single drive sprocket directly engages both chains, removing the unnecessary gear components and simplifying the overall apparatus configuration while maintaining single drive source operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Strength

If gears are attached to rotary shafts of lifting sprockets, then the sprockets can be interlocked, but the gear diameter becomes larger than the sprocket diameter and obstructs advancing/retreating movement of the driven body near the installation surface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestrength of sprocket interlockingVSAvoidclearance for driven body movement

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the gear components entirely from the design. The single drive sprocket engages both interlocking chains directly through its teeth without requiring additional gears attached to the rotary shafts. This eliminates the obstruction problem near the installation surface while maintaining effective chain engagement and driven body movement capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Speed

If the lifting interlocking chain is wound around the lifting sprocket, then the chain can be driven from bifurcating direction to interlocking direction, but chordal action occurs causing pulsation, vibration, noise, and speed fluctuation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeed of chain advancementVSAvoidpulsation and vibration of chain

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the chain drive system into two independent single-chain paths instead of one interlocking chain path. Each chain engages the drive sprocket separately, eliminating the chordal action that occurs when a single interlocking chain is wound around the sprocket. This segmentation reduces pulsation, vibration, and speed fluctuation while maintaining effective power transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9255630B2Advancing/retracting actuation device with meshing chain

Publication Date: 2016.02.09 TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO

AI summary

An interlocking chain type forward and backward actuating device is provided that does not increase workload involved in assembling the device, adjusting the rotation phase, and servicing and maintaining the device. The device is capable of smoothly actuating a driven body by advancing and retracting the body, and of preventing any pulsation or the like of the meshing chain. The interlocking chain type forward and backward actuating device includes chain-guide grooves formed so as to equalize an interlocked-state pin-to-pin distance (D1) between a pair of connecting pins that face each other in a chain interlocking imaginary plane (S) and a rigid-state pin-to-pin distance (D2) between a pair of connecting pins.