Oval Link Chain Stress Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing link chains are overbuilt to handle stress and strain effectively, resulting in excessive weight and a need for a lighter yet stronger alternative that optimally distributes tensile and compressive stresses.
Innovation Solution
The design features links with an oval or rounded shape and a cross-sectional profile where the outer width is greater than the outer thickness, allowing for efficient stress distribution and reduced material usage while maintaining strength, with specific edge configurations to manage stress effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If chain links are made with circular cross-sectional profile, then manufacturing is simple, but strength to weight ratio is poor due to overbuilding
Solution Approach 1:
The link cross-section transitions from circular to flattened oval shape, creating local variations in material distribution. The flattened profile concentrates material where tensile and compressive stresses occur (at the outer surfaces) while reducing material at the center, optimizing strength-to-weight ratio by matching material placement to stress distribution patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the link cross-section from a circular profile to a flattened oval profile. This parameter change redistributes material to better handle the radial stress concentrations at critical areas, providing adequate strength with reduced material usage and lower weight.
2Reliability
If chain links are overbuilt to provide adequate strength, then strength is sufficient, but material usage is excessive and weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flattened oval cross-section creates local quality variations in material distribution, concentrating material where it is most needed (at the outer surfaces where radial stresses occur) and reducing material where it is least needed (at the center). This eliminates overbuilding while maintaining reliability at critical areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The transition from circular to flattened oval cross-section represents a curvature modification that optimizes material distribution. The flattened profile better accommodates the radial stress patterns in chain links under tension, providing adequate strength with reduced material usage.
3Ease of manufacture
If chain links have circular cross-section, then manufacturing is easy, but stress distribution is inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention modifies the cross-sectional parameters from circular to flattened oval by adjusting the flattening ratio. This parameter change improves stress distribution efficiency by better matching material distribution to the radial stress patterns that occur in chain links under tension, while still allowing for practical manufacturing processes.
Data Source
AI summary
A chain comprising at least two links (15) having a generally oval or rounded shaped side profile, each of the links having a longitudinal axis (x-x) and linked together such that a force (16) is applied to each of the links when the chain is in tension, the force generally orientated along the longitudinal axis, each of the links having a cross-sectional profile (18) at the longitudinal axis and the cross-sectional profile having an outer width (19) generally along the longitudinal axis and an outer thickness (20) substantial transverse to the longitudinal axis, wherein the outer width is greater than the outer thickness. The cross-sectional profile may further comprise an inner thickness (30) substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis that is less than the outer thickness (29). The cross-sectional profile (26) may be substantially uniform around the link.