The invention relates an apparatus for use of chain according to the preamble of the independent claim.

Regarding a traditional chain structure power transmission for using a chain is usually transmitted by a drive wheel, the shape of the teeth of which is standardized. A more developed chain structure in this respect is previously known e.g. from Finnish patents FI 64707 and FI 101098 , The chains presented in these patents consist of shaped pieces to be coupled with each other one after the other by jointing points thereof, whereby the supporting surfaces of the shaped pieces comprise notches existing crosswise in respect to the moving direction to the chain, the notch in each shaped piece being placed advantageously near one of the jointing points of the shaped piece . In this case, when the chain gets bent over the drive wheel , an advantageous lever arm is achieved, thanks to which the chain force influencing the chain structure presses the notches of the chain harder against the pins of the drive wheel . This solution decreases significantly so called skipping. Also thanks to the level arms being formed, the chain struc ure gets easily loose from the drive wheel on its return side, thanks to which a so called non-engagement of the chain is prevented. The chain structure according to Patent FI 64707 has proved to be significantly better than corresponding earlier solutions, particularly thanks to the lever arms being achieved therewith. In certain purposes , such as i chain structures , being used in water refineries , plastics or corresponding non-metallic materials have been exploited, because e.g. of corrosion and in order to decrease the specific gravi y of the chain. In this case, in certain environments, such as e.g. in acid conditions, problems have arisen related to duration of the plastic material of the shaped pieces. On the other hand, in patent FI 101098 there has been presented an improvement for the part of the bending of a chain particularly along the longitudinal direction of the oint pins , which is minimized by using oint pins , being uniform in the longitudinal direction thereof and the cross section of which increases towards one end thereof . When exploiting furthermore advantageously e.g. joint pins, that are continuously conical, the surface pressures may be optimized under all circumstances in a way, that the type of bending of the chain may be even totally eliminated in principle . In addition to that , by exploiting the type of joint pins even mounting of the chain may be eased by the guiding effect of the conical joint pin .

Improving the tensile strength and the bending stiffness of the shaped pieces have been tried usually by increasing material thickness of the shaped pieces at the point of the notch on the opposite side with respect to the supporting surface, which can not be carried out optimally under all circumstances from the point of view of functionality of the use of chain . This is first of ail due to the fact that increasing the distance of the back part of the shaped piece from a center line defined by the joint pins of a chain brings about problems particularly in the guiding of the passage of the chain as well as in the controlling of i s passage i.e. in the functioning of e.g. so called chain guides , On the other hand, it is more profitable to arrange the depth of a notch in a shaped piece to extend i the shaped piece essentially at the center line of the chain, which enables an optimal power transmission between the drive wheel driving the chain and the shaped pieces of the chain. In this way it is made possible carrying out of the chain in an optimized manner both structurally and regarding its functioning wi hout extra swing and vibration. With chains that are put together with shaped pieces, being in use at present , the problems described above can not be satisfactorily solved.

It is an aim of the apparatus according to the present invention to achieve a decisive improvement in the problems presented above and thus to raise substantially the level of knowledge in the field. To achieve this aim, the apparatus according to the invention is primarily characterized by what has been presented in the characterizing part of the independent claim directed thereto.

As the most important advantages of the apparatus according to the invention may be mentioned simplicity and reliability of the use and construction of the chain enabled by the same, whereby the physical properties of the shaped pieces forming the chain and functioning of the chain formed of the same can be optimized by minimizing at the same time also the material consumption in manufacturing thereof . By virtue of the expansion assembly placed at the notch, the invention makes thus possible a strengthening structure of the shaped piece deviating from traditional constructions by optimizing the material consumption of the shaped piece in relation to its physical properties . The invention also makes possible placement of the notch in a shaped piece essentially at the center line of the chain without a need for increasing the distance of the back surface of the shaped piece with respect to the back surface of the "notchless" part of the shaped piece . In this case also thanks to the chain vibration being prevented, it is possible to increase remarkably the lifetime of a whole chain drive apparatus. When utilizing advantageously furthermore shaped pieces with arched support surfaces, the contact surface of mutual suppor ing surfaces of successive formed pieces forming the chain and a turning wheel or a drive wheel can be efficiently expanded in a way that the jointing points do not cause momentum that brings about vibration. In the apparatus according to the invention it is naturally possible furthermore to utilize advantageously e.g. continuously conical joint pins according to the patent FI 101098 being cited earlier, which for their part furthermore simul aneously minimize the bending of the chain . Advantageous embodiments of the apparatus according to the inven ion are presented in the dependent claims directed thereto.

In the following description, the invention is illustrated in detail with reference to the appended drawings , wherein in figures la-lc

is show as a side view, as a view from above and as a front view as seen from the end of the shaped piece's fork assembly an advantageous shaped piece of a chain belonging to an apparatus according to the invention, in figures 2a and 2b

is presented power transmission w th a traditional chain (Fig. 2a) and the same with a shaped piece of an advantageous chain {Fig. 2b) belonging to an apparatus according to the invention, in figures 3a-3d

is shown an advantageous shaped piece of a chain belonging to an apparatus according to the invention as a vievr from above as seen from the side of the shaped piece with the support surface, co-operation of a shaped piece and a drive piece of the drive arrangement as a front view as seen from the end of the shaped piece' s fork assembly, as a view as seen from the shaped piece ' s backside and as a side view of the shaped piece, in figure 4

is shown bending over a chain wheel of the shaped pieces forming a chain belonging to an apparatus according to the invention.

The invention relates to an apparatus for use of chain, comprising a chain, such as a transmission chain, conveyor chain and/or like, which is formed of : shaped pieces 1, to be connected to each other one after the other at ointing points 4 , 5 in jointing parts lb, existing at opposite ends of the shaped pieces , by means of joint pins , whereby a first ointing point of the ointing parts lb is arranged as a uniform projection assembly 4 that is essentially narrower than the width L of a center part la of the shaped piece, and a second jointing point as a fork assembly 5, whereby each of the oin ing points 4, 5 has a hole 6 in order to form a uniform chain by placing the said pro ection assembly 4 of a previous shaped piece between the fork assembly 5 of a following shaped piece and by placing a oint pin in the hole 6; and a drive arrangement, whic includes at least one chain wheel 7 , such as a drive wheel , a turning wheel or like . A supporting surface Ik existing in the center part la of the shaped piece 1 belonging to the chain comprises a notch 2 that is arranged essentially crosswise in respect to the moving direction of the chain and that is during conveying of the chain i cooperation wi h counterpart surfaces 9, belonging to the chain wheel 7 and being arranged according to the notches 2a of the chain and essentially crosswise in respect to the moving direction of the chain . A shaped piece belonging to the chain is arranged strengthened on the principle as shown e.g. in figures la, lb, 3a and 3d by an expansion assembly X protruding from a bottom P of the notch 2 and continuing uniformly in the longitudinal direction s of the shaped piece 1 at the point of the notch 2 ,

As an advantageous embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, the counterpart surfaces 9 of the drive arrangement are arranged by drive pieces 9 ' fastened to the chain wheel 7 , the pieces having particularly with reference to the advantageous embodiment shown in figure 3b a counterpart surface 9 ' k that settles agains the bottom P of the notch 2 in the shaped piece, said counterpart surface being provided with a recess assembly Y for the expansion assembly X, By virtue of the expansion assembly X according to the invention and the recess assembly Y in the drive piece 9 ' also the guiding o the passage of the chain can be made more efficient thanks to keeping the line of the chain constant in a crosswise direction by the assemblies mentioned above, in which case it is also easier to avoid a result caused by overload e.g. as shown in figure 2a that is typical for traditional chains . As a furthermore advantageous embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, the notch 2 in the shaped piece 1 belonging to the chain is arranged according to the appended drawings in connection with the first jointing point 4 of the shaped piece. In this case with reference to figures 3d and , a trailing edge of the notch 2 in the shaped piece 1 is formed of the back edge 4t of the first jointing point 4, whereby the driving edge of the no ch 2 ends up on the suppor ing surface lk at a reinforced edge 2a or like existing thereon e.g. as shown in figure 3d.

Furthermore, as an advantageous embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, the first and the second jointing points 4, 5 in the shaped piece 1 are arranged e.g. with reference to figures lb, lc, 3a and 3c as lightened structures by two or more parallel ribbed rings Ri , being connected with each other by an intermediate par R2 wi h a smaller diameter .

Particularly wi h reference to the further advantageous embodiments shown in figures lb and 3a, the expansion assembly X on the bottom P of the notch 2 in the shaped piece is formed of two or more parallel ribbed projections , which are car ied out by extensions of the ribbed rings Rl . Particularly in the embodiment being presented in figures 3a-3d also the center part la of the shaped piece has a ribbed structure R.

Furthermore, as an advantageous embodiment , the counterpart surfaces 9 of the drive arrangement are arranged particularly with reference to the advantageous embodiments shown in figures 3b and 4 by an elongated drive piece 9 ' , having corresponding contact surfaces 9 'k, Y at its opposite ends in order to enable double-ended use thereof . Furthermore, as an advantageous embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, the shaped pieces 1 of the chain are manufactured from composite material, such as reinforced plastic, ceramic material and/or the like . In reinforced plastic as the fiber material instead of glass fiber or in addition thereto, e.g. carbon fiber, aramid fiber and/or natural fibers can be used. The strength of the components belonging to the apparatus can thus be adjusted by controlling the orientation of the fibers in manufacturing of the composite material. As the binding agent e.g. polyester resin or epoxy resin can be used . it is also possible to manufacture the shaped pieces from metal light alloy or to utilize metal and/or rock etc . in the composite material .

Depending on the operating target of the apparatus according to the invention, different components belonging thereto can be manufactured from mutually differing manufacturing materials, such as joint pins from carbon fiber and the shaped pieces from glass fiber etc. Depending on the operating purpose and circumstances of the apparatus to be produced at any given time, as plastic to be used in the manufacturing of the components belonging thereto can be used thermoplastic , such as commodity plastic (PE, PP) , engineering plastic ( PET , P MA, PC, PA, POM, ABS+PC) , speciality plastic { PTFE ) or thermoset plastic { PUR, UP, EP, VE, PF, MF/AF) etc.

Furthermore, as an advantageous embodiment particularly to bring about the principle shown in figure 2b, the projection assembly 4 of the first jointing point in the shaped piece 1 is arranged e.g. by two or more, like shown in figures 3a-3d with three parallel projection parts 4 ' . In this case respectively the fork assembly 5 of the second jointing point in the shaped piece 1 is arranged by two or more, like shown in figures 3a-3d with three parallel fork parts 5 ' . With the structures described above bending of a joint pin and distortion of the fork part of a shaped piece in a chain, which may occur with present chain structures , can be avoided thanks to the chain being able to bend on the principle shown in figure 2a and thus avoiding from breaking of the shaped piece .

It is clear that the invention is not limi ed to the embodiments presented or described above, but instead it can be modified even to a great extent depending on the operating targets at any given ime . It is thus first of all clear tha the components being utilized in the invention can be manufactured from most heterogeneous materials, by utilizing mos heterogeneous manufacturing techniques . On the other hand also the drive notches i the shaped pieces can be laced in a deviating manner in respect with what has been presented above e.g. in connection with a, so to say, driving jointing part of the shaped piece or in a more centralized manner on the middle part of the supporting surface of the shaped piece . In the invention it is also possible to utilize e.g. a circular drive pin being provided with a recess assembly. In the invention, it is also possible and advantageous to exploit a conical joint pin known as such in the jointing parts of the successive shaped pieces , in which context it might be possible also to use in the successive jointing points of the shaped pieces joint pins that expand in opposite directions . It is also possible to manufacture the joint pins e.g. from suitable materials in a way that in the joint pins there are ready made projection arrangements that enable some kind of a snap locking etc .