Rounded Link Plate Geometry for Lower Guide Surface Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing link plates in roller chains face challenges with varying friction resistance and surface pressure due to lubricating oil viscosity, temperature, and guide member surface conditions, leading to increased production costs and wear issues, particularly when tilted during vibration.
Innovation Solution
A link plate design with pivotably connected pins and a sliding end face featuring rounded portions at both ends, where the minimum radius of curvature (r) and plate thickness (t) satisfy the ratio 16.8≥((r*2/t2)+(t−r*2))/r≥11.5, reducing wear and surface pressure while maintaining versatility and ease of production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the sliding end face is made entirely flat to simplify manufacturing, then manufacturing precision is improved, but friction resistance increases and wear on the guide member worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature to the sliding end face by forming rounded portions at both ends of the face. This curved surface design reduces friction resistance and wear on the guide member while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standard rounding processes, resolving the contradiction between simplified manufacturing and reduced friction/wear.
2Ease of manufacture
If concave or irregular shapes are added to the sliding end face to reduce friction resistance, then friction resistance is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases and production cost rises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses rounded portions at the ends of the sliding end face, which are simpler to manufacture than complex concave or irregular shapes. This curved surface design reduces friction resistance while avoiding the high manufacturing complexity and cost associated with more elaborate geometric modifications, thus resolving the contradiction between reduced friction and manufacturing simplicity.
3Ease of operation
If the link plate is assembled with slight clearance to allow smooth bending, then ease of operation is improved, but the link plate tilts during vibration causing increased surface pressure and wear
Solution Approach 1:
The rounded portions at the ends of the sliding end face prevent the link plate from tilting during vibration by providing a more stable contact geometry with the guide member. This curved surface design maintains the slight clearance needed for smooth bending while eliminating the tilt-induced increased surface pressure and wear, thus resolving the contradiction between bending smoothness and vibration reliability.
4Strength
If the maximum height of the link plate is increased to enhance plate strength, then strength is improved, but the overall dimensions become larger than necessary
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating the rounded portions specifically at the ends of the sliding end face where contact with the guide member occurs. This localized geometric modification enhances strength and reduces wear at the critical contact areas without increasing the overall maximum height of the link plate, thus resolving the contradiction between localized strength enhancement and overall compactness.
Data Source
AI summary
To provide a versatile and easy-to-produce link plate that can mitigate the rise in surface pressure on guide members even when the link plate is slightly tilted, to minimize adverse effects of wear marks and wear particles, and a chain. The link plate has a sliding end face, with end face rounded portions at both ends in a direction of plate thickness, formed to be continuous with both side faces of the link plate. The link plate is shaped to satisfy 16.8≥((r*2/t2)+(t−r*2))/r≥11.5, where r represents a minimum radius of curvature of the end face rounded portions and “t” represents the plate thickness of the link plate.