Plastic Hoist Chain Links With Round Woven Cables

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Solution Overview

Problem

Heavy-duty chains made from plastic threads suffer from reduced breaking strength due to 'constriction losses' when the rings are connected, resulting in forces being transmitted with up to 50% less maximum breaking force compared to non-wound rings.

Innovation Solution

The chain links are designed as circularly woven cables with a round cross-sectional shape, formed by twisting multiple ropes helically around each other, eliminating the need for a central core and minimizing constriction losses, and can be interconnected or coupled using additional connecting means.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If chain links are made from twisted plastic bands or strips, then the chain can be manufactured with interconnected links, but constriction losses occur at connection points reducing breaking strength by up to 50%

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechain link manufacturingVSAvoidbreaking strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies spheroidality by transitioning from flat plastic strips to round twisted ropes with circular cross-sections. The rope construction with fibers arranged in a circular pattern around a central axis eliminates the flat edges that cause constriction in traditional designs, allowing the chain links to maintain their full breaking strength without necking losses at connection points.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the geometric parameters of the chain link construction by using a specific twist rate and rope diameter ratio. The twist rate is optimized to prevent excessive constriction while maintaining link integrity, and the rope diameter is carefully selected to achieve the desired balance between flexibility and strength retention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Strength

If steel chains are used for heavy-duty applications, then high breaking strength is achieved, but the material weight is excessive making handling difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebreaking strengthVSAvoidchain weight

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameters by using high-strength plastic fibers instead of steel. The fiber composition, filament count, and twist characteristics are carefully selected to achieve steel-equivalent or superior strength-to-weight ratio, resulting in chains that are significantly lighter while maintaining or exceeding the breaking strength of traditional steel chains.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 design significantly enhances the breaking strength of the chain links, achieving forces 15 times that of steel ropes with half the material weight, making the chain easier to handle and more suitable for heavy-duty applications like lifting and securing cargo.

Implementation Method 1

The rope itself is made from at least one or two ropes twisted around each other in a spiral pattern

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHelical twisting: Helix

Data Source

PatentEP3861230B1Chain, in particular a heavy duty hoist chain

Publication Date: 2022.12.28 WESTDEUTER DRAHTSEIL VERKAUF DOLEZYCH

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Figure 2B

AI summary

The invention relates to a chain having a plurality of chain links (6) which are connected to one another and made from plastic threads (3, 4), characterized in that each chain link (6) is designed as an endless ring of laid cable based on the plastic threads (3, 4), in particular as a thimble.