A BENDED LINK PLATE AND THE METHOD TO MAKING THEREOF

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention is to provide a link plate used in a chain, especially to provide a bended link plate with resistance bar for conveyor chain, the present invention is also to provide a method to bending a flat link plate into a L-shape or V-shape link plate for a chain, especially for a transmission chain.

Background of the Invention

[0002] The following Background of the Invention is intended to aid the reader in understanding the invention and is not admitted to be prior art.

[0003] A metal plate are various used to make a link plate of all chains which articulate and slide, such as a power transmission chain used in an engine or the like , a conveyors chain used in distributing conversance. Especially, a bended link plate are used in a conveyors chain for transferring heavy equipments, goods etc. One way is to bend a metal plate into a bended link plate and then to punch it with two pin holes, the other way is to punch a metal plate into a link plate with one or more pin holes, and then to bend the link plate to form a bended link plate. In general, the bending press is provided with a female die secured onto the fixed apron and a punch fitted to the slide, and a workpiece subjected to bending work is disposed on the female die. When the male die and the slide are lowered by working means, the male die will contact with the workpiece and then move into the die so as to commence bending of the workpiece. The slide is moved further downward to its lower stop position so as to complete the bending work. The bending angle of the workpiece is determined by the width of the groove of the female die, and the depth of the penetration is determined not only by the lower stop position of the slide, but is also affected by the straight condition of the fixed apron and the slide, the height of the punch, the depth of the groove of the die and the deformations of the apron and the slide during bending work etc. A bended link plate is used to assemble a chain serving as the conveyor chain for a bucker conveyor system. A chain bucker conveyor system, in particular, a single or double bucket system, has a central chain arranged in the center in relation to the buckets. It has a multitude of inside flat-iron link plates that are arranged in pairs, parallel

with each other, with a mutual cross rise spacing that are disposed parallel chain. The flat iron- link plates are connected to each other by two chain bolts. The chain also has outer bended link plates, in particular L-shaped link plates, with two holes through which the bucket are connected by two blots. The bulk material to be transported is loaded in buckets by loading or charring devices. The buckets can be transferred from one position to next position when two or more wheels guide the chain by pulls means. The buckets are emptied either by the force of gravity or by centrifugal force, whereby the material is emptied form the buckets by the force of gravity.

[0004] There is need to provide a bended link pate with higher machine strength for long lifetime. There is also need to provide a low cost method to bending a link plate, in particular, to bending a link plate with higher machine strength as to support more heavy materials when it is used in a chain.

Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention is to provide a bended link plate with a resistance bar on a selected zone and a method to bending a metal plate, sheet or workpiece into L -shaped or V- shaped plate, especially to bending a flat link plate into L-shaped or V-shaped link plate that can be used in assembling a chain, in particular, a conveyors chain with buckets for transferring bulk material.

One aspect of the invention is to provide a method to producing a bended plate having these steps: (a) providing a flat link plate; (b) heating a selected zone of the link plate; (d) bending the link plate immediately after step b.

The "link plate" used in the claims is not limited to a particular geometric shape, the link plate can be a metal sheet, metal workpiece or metal link plate that used to assemble a chain. The material of the link plat can be any type metal. The flat link plate can be made of steel, iron, or alloy steel containing one or more elements that are selected form carbon, silicon, manganese, ferromanganese, manganin etc. The "flat" used in the claims refers to a link plate which is not bended into a pre-design angle as to form a L-shaped or V-shaped link plate. The term "a selected zone" refers to a part of the link plat and not to a whole link plate. Any part of the link plate can be surrounded by an induction coil and heated by an electromagnetism induction heater.

In one embodiment of the bending the flat plate accordance with the invention, a flat plate is transferred into an electronically conductive coil, which is one part of the an electromagnetism

induction heater, so as to let the coil surround a zone of the flat link plat, and then heating the selected zone of the metal plate using the electromagnetism heater for a regular time, after the step of heating, the heated metal plate is transferred immediately onto the bending dies for bending.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is to provide a method to make a bended link plate using a high-frequency electromagnetism induction heater to heat the selected zone on the metal link plate for 0.5 second to 30 seconds. After the heating step, the heated link plate is moved immediately onto a female die for bending the link plate to form a predetermined width v-shaped or L-shaped link plate using a male die. The time to heating the selected zone softer is determined by the materials of the link plate, the circle of the coil surrounding the link plate, the electric current applied to the coil and the frequencies generated by a high frequency inverter.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is to provide a method to making a L-shaped link plate using an electromagnetism heater to heat the selected zone on the metal link plate as to let the selected zone become too softer to be bended easier. After heating, transferring immediately the link plate onto a female die with a L-shaped groove, and using a male die with a corresponding L-shaped die_to press the softer zone of the link plate into the groove of the female die.

The other aspect of the invention is to provide a bended link plate with a resistance bar on the selected zone of the bended link plate. In one embodiment of the invention, the bended link plate has one or more resistance bars on the selected zone, which is formed by force during bending the link plate. A flat link plate is transferred into a coil unite of electromagnetism induction heater, and one zone of the link plate is heated by the electromagnetism induction heater for a regular time. The heated link plate is then quickly moved onto a L-shaped female die and bended using a corresponding L-shaped male die. To forming a resistance bar on the link plate, the bottom of the L-shape female die has a protuberance bar, and the male die also has a corresponding notch. When the heated link plate is moved onto the L-shaped female die with the protuberance bar, the L-shaped male die is moved down to press the selected zone of the link plate that is transferred from the induction coil of the electromagnetism induction heater immediately. And the L-shaped male die is moved further downward to its lower stop position as to complete the bending work. During the pressing, a resistance bar is formed between the protuberance bar on the bottom of the L-shaped female die and the corresponding notch on the

top side of the L-shaped male die due to the pressing and force. In one preferred embodiments of the invention, a pin that is cross the groove of the female die forms a protuberance bar. Two opposite plane of the groove have two corresponding holes and a pin can cross through the holes and lie on the bottom of the groove. Two protuberance bars and two corresponding notch can be formed individually on the female die and the male die. The two bars can fill the notch properly when bending and pressing through locating the proper position both on the bottom of the female die. The L-shape groove of the female die can filled with the L-shaped male die properly.

In one embodiment of the invention, a link plate with two resistance bars on the selected zone of the link plate, which are formed on the a side shoulder of a link plate during bending. In one embodiment of the invention, a flat link plate is bended through a L-shaped female die, which has a main L-shape die and two assistance dies. The main L-shaped die is fixed between the two assistance dies, and the three parts are fixed and secured onto a bed. The section of the die formed by the main die and the two parts is a trapezium shaped die with two inclined panels and two parallel sides. The shorter parallel side is the bottom of the die. Correspondingly, the male die is also formed into a trapezium shaped die. When the heated link plate is moved onto the female die, the male die will press the heated zone of the link plate into the bottom of the female die as to complete the bending work. Since the heated zone of the link plate is pressed into the bottom of the female die by the male die, the two inclined panels of the female die and the corresponding of the two inclined panels of male die will press the heated zone of the link plate into two resistance bars on the two a side shoulders of the bended link plate. The advantage of the method is to form a resistance bar on the heated zone of the link plate during bending.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1 is a cutaway view of the present invention for bending the link plate 4 through the steps: (a) collecting the link plate in the collecting device 30; (b), loading the link plate into transferring device 5; (c), Using electromagnetism induction heater 81 to heat the selected zone 48 on the link plate 4 that is transferred from the device 5; (d), bending the link plate through pressing the heated zone using a male die 7 to press the selected zone into a groove of a female die 8 as to form bended link plate 4'; (E) picking up the bended link plate from the bending device using machine hand 92

Fig. 2 is a schematic view of the method to bending the link plate 4 into L-shaped link plate.

Fig. 3A-3C is a perspective view of the bending device 78. The bending device 78 has a v- shaped female die 7 that securely fixed on a bed 9 and a cover 42 for covering the female die.

Fig. 3A is the perspective view of bending device 78; Fig. 3B is the perspective view of the female die 7 that securely fixed on a bed 9; Fig. 3B is the perspective view of the cover with a slot 102 and a window 422.

Fig. 4 is perspective view of the transferring device 5 having a slot 54 formed by two face to face panels 51,50 that are fixed on the surface of a base part 55 by screws 52 screwing through the long ellipse-shaped holes 53 both in the bed and in the panels 51,50. The width of the slot 54 is formally loaded the link plate 4 coming from the collecting device 30.

Fig. 5 is a section view of the collecting device 3 for collecting the link plate in assembling slot.

The collecting device has a base part 35 and three L shaped columniations 31,32,33 are immobilized vertically on the surface of the base part. Each columniation has a based part 3-4 with a hole 3-6 though which a pin 3-5 can immobilize the columniations on the surface of the base part as to forming a triangle slot. The link plates 4 can be assembled into the triangle slot.

Fig. 6 is a plane view of the collecting device.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the electromagnetism induction heater 81.

Fig. 8 is the plan view of the bended link plate 11 with two resistance bars 12,13 on the heated zone 48.

Fig. 9 is the right side view of the bend link plate 11.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the bended link plate 20 with two resistance bars 21,22 on each of the a side shoulder 23, 24.

Fig. 11 is the right side view of the bend link plate 20.

Fig. 12 is a schematic view of the bending method for forming two resistance bars during bending the link plate into a L-shaped link plate.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the bending device 88 has a cover 42 and a female die 70 for bending and pressing the link plate 4 into link plate 11 with two resistance bars. Fig.13 A is a perspective view of the cover 42. Fig. 3B is a perspective view of the female die 70 with two pins 721, 722 protuberated on the bottom of the groove 71.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the male die 80 for pressing the selected zone of the link plate 4 as to form the bended link plate 11.

Fig. 15 A, Fig. 15B and Fig. 15C are perspective views of the bending device 15 has a female die for bending and pressing the link plate 4 into link plate 20

Fig. 16 is the sectional view of the bending device 15

Fig. 17 is a sectional view of the male die for pressing the selected zone of the link plate 4 as to form the bended link plate 20 with two resistance bars on the side shoulders

Detailed Description

[0006] In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced This invention may, however, be embodiment in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein, rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be through and complete, will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art It is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention

Heating the selected zone of the flat link plate

I^OO ^" -] The flat link plate can be heated using an electromagnetic induction heater, in particularly using a high frequency induction heater 81 The induction heater 81 has two main parts in electronic communication, electronically conductive coil 83 and a high frequency inverter 82. The high frequency inverter with a senseless high is used as an alternating field on the coil 83 A controller controls an output of the high frequency current generator for making an alternating field on the coil 83, which includes a phase shift controlling device and a gate driver When the flat link plate 4 is inserted into the coil 83, the conductive coil 83, as shown in the Fig 1, Fig 2 and Fig 7, surrounds a selected zone 48, especially a small part of the link plate 4 After that, the power is supplied onto the induction coil 83 and the selected zone 48 of the link plate 4 will be heated though the heat generating between the link plat and the induction coil In one preferred embodiment, a high frequency electromagnetic heater is used to heat the selected zone of the link plate in present embodiment The time of the heating can be selected freely considering the various requirements and the material of the link plate What the principle of

how electromagnetic induction heater heats the metal element that is rolled around by the induction coil 83 is not the core of the present invention. The induction heater used in present embodiment can be purchased from many companies, such as Shanghai Zilin Mechanical&Electrical Equipment, Inc., (its website: http://shzilin, 18show.net/Product_1443871. html) or Kenfor Mechanical&Electrical Equipment Manufactory (address: #3, Gaoerfu Road, Dalitaiping, South eare, Fushang, Guangdong, PRC. website: http ://www. kenfor . cn/cn/product/index 1. html) . The induction heater used in the present invention to heat a zone of the link plate also have been described in detail and founded in these US patents, US 6,404,089 Bl, US 6,288,376 Bl, US 6, 046, 442 A, US 5, 414, 247 A, US 5,401,939 A, US 5, 350,901 A, US 5, 237, 144 A, US 7,077,993 and US 6,384,388. The time for heating could be 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 or 60 seconds flowing the different materials that are used to make the link plate. For example, if the metal link plate is made form 40Mn medium - carbon steel, the selected zone of the link plate can be heated for 2- 3.6 seconds, which can be easily bended used the bending device 78 with less force. The bending procedures would be described in detail combining with the female die and male die. The purpose of heating is to let the selected zone 48 of the flat link plate 4 become soft in a very short time and then it can be bended through the bending device78 easily. The traditional heating method is to heating whole link plate, which need more power and time.

Bending the link plate

[0008] The selected zone 48 of the link plate 4 previously heated by the high frequency induction heater 81 is transferred onto the bending device 78 to be bended into a pre- design shaped link plate. One embodiment of the invention is to bend the link plate 4 into an L- shaped link plate 4', as shown in the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 and Fig. 3A-3C. The bending device 78 is consisted of an L-shaped female die 7 and a corresponding L-shaped male die 8 connected with a slide means, such as an air press slide system. The L-shaped female die 7 has two opposite panels 71, 72 and a bottom side 73. The two panels 71, 72 and the bottom side 73 are constructed into a groove 74 with a 90° angle A. The male die 8 (Fig. 14) also has the corresponding two opposite panels 71', 72' and top side 73', name as L-shaped male die. The opposite panels71', 72' and top side 73' are constructed into a L-shape male die 8 with a 90° angle A'. The heated flat link plate 4 is transferred onto the L-shaped female die 7, and is adjusted as to let the selected

zone 48 of the link plate 4 be vertical with the bottom side 73 of the L-shaped female die 7 and vertical with the top side 73' of the male die 8 (Fig. l,Fig. 2). When the L-shaped male die 8 is moved down by the slide means (not shown), the top side 73' of the male die 8 will contact onto the selected zone 48 and then move into the L shape groove 74 of the female die 7 so as to complete the bending work. The L-shaped link plate is made with 90° angle. The bending angle of the link plate is determined not only by the angle of the female die 7 and the male die 8 but also the depth of the penetration of the male die 8 that is moved into the groove 74 of the female die 7. To make a more precise angel of link plate, the angle A' of the male die 8 is designed as the same as that of the female dies 7. In particular, the link plate can be bended into a precise angle, such as 10°, 20 °, 30 °, 40 °, 45 °, 50 °, 60 °, 70 °, 85 °, 90 °, 100 °, 120 ° or 160 °, when the angle of the male die 8 is less than that of the female die 8. For example, when the link plate should be bended into a 60° link plate, the female die also is a 60° die and the male die should be 55° or 59° die considering the thickness of the link plate 4. Since the heater 81 previously has heated the selected zone 48 of the flat link plate, the link plate is easier bended by the male die 8 due to the softness of the selected zone. There is no need more force to slide the male die 8 into the groove of the female die 7 comparing with the traditional method. The link plate could be bended precisely into any angle link plate as various requirements, such as 10 °, 15 °, 20 °, 25 °, 30° °, 35 °, 40 °, 45 °, 60 °, 80 ° or 90 °.

[0009] In one preferred embodiment, to let the female die 7 be stable and not be moved or not be shaked during the bending working, the bending device 78 further has a bed 9 on which the female die 7 can be fixed through various means known by the skilled persons in this art. One method of fixing the female die 7 on the bed 9 is to use screws to connect with corresponding holes in the female die 7 and the bed 9(not shown). Another method is to use a model through molding the female die and the bed 9 as a whole part. Since the female die is stable, a precise angel of the link plate can be formed.

[0010] In further preferred embodiment, the bending device 78 further has a cover 42 with four pin holes 121,122,123,124 through which four pins, bolt or screws 121', 122', 123', 124' immobilize the cover on an base or platform (not shown), illustrated by the reference Fig. 3 A to Fig. 3C. Further, the cover 42 has a slot 102 with a width W and depth D corresponding to the width W and the high H of the bed 9. The bed 9 with the female die 7 thereon can be inserted into the slot 102 as to let the bed 7 more stable during bending process. Furthermore,

the cover 42 also has a window 422 whose width is corresponding with the width of the groove 74 of the female die 7. To bend the link plate into difference angle link plate, the female die 7 can be replaced for other angle female die freely if need. For example, after bending a link plate into a 30 ° angel link plate with a 30 ° angle female die, the 90 ° L-shaped link plate can be bended sequence by replacing the 30 ° female die for 90 ° L-shaped female die through inserting the bed with the 90° female die into the slot 102 of the cover 42. The heated link plate transferred immediately from the electromagnetism heater is then transferred to the window 422of the bending device 78 as to let the heated zone of the link plate face to or be opposite to the male die. And then, the male die 8 is derived down to press the heated zone of the link plate and bends the link plate into the "L" shape through the "L" shape female die. Since, the female die is more stable and will not shake during the bending; the link plate is very easily bended to an "L" shape with a precise angle or design shape with difference die.

[0011] The conventional method for bending the link plate has these steps: (a) putting the link plate into a specially box, and then the box is covered or packaged by fireclay; (b) putting the box covered by the fireclay into a furnace with the pre-determined temperature, for example, 1200 degrees for link plate made of steel for at least 4 hours for heating; (c) when the heating step is finished, the temperature in the furnace will be cooled naturally until to the room temperature; (d) taking the box out of the furnace and taking the link plate out of the box ; (e) clearing the surface of the link plate as to shave the oxidation layer. This heating procedure has these shortcomings: 1. The methanol or nitrogen gas used in the furnace as the protection gas to protect carbon losing will produce danger gas happening with other reagents in the furnace during the heating, which contaminated environment and are harm to human. 2. Time consuming. Whole procedure including heating, cooling always takes at least 12 hours or more. 3. The bending procedure is always applied to the link plate when the temperature of the link plate is reduced naturally to room temperature. Therefore, all most of the link plate bended through the method described in the prior art are easier cracked, or formed crevices or interstices, especially on the bended zone. Use the electromagnetic induction heater to heat the link plat has these advantages: (1) no need methanol or nitrogen as the protecting gas to prohibit carbon losing form the link plate; (2) the time to heat is very short; (3) a smaller part of the link plate is heated and not whole part; (4) there is no need more force produced by male die to press the link plate into the female die;(5) bending a precise angel without more force to press.

[0012] It is well known that a chain with higher wear resistance can prolong the life of the chain, in particular a conveyer chain. The bended link plate is always used to assemble a chain as outer link plate. The chain will be invalid due to the broken of the outer link plate. Since the convention bended link plate has many crevices or interstices, the outer link plate is easier be broken during transferring heavy equipments. While, the embodiment of the present invention is to provide a bended link plate, one part of which is heated by a heater just for short time and then moved onto the bending device to be bended into a link plate with a pre-design angle. Crevices or interstices will not be formed during bending the link plate using the method described before in these embodiments of present invention.

[0013] The traditional bended link plate without resistance bar will be easier broken when it is used in the chain, in particular in a conveyor chain system with buckets, for transferring weightily goods or article which are put or laid in the buckets that are connected with the bended link plate. Furthermore, the angle of the bended link plate through bending will be increased, for example, from 90 ° to 120 or 60° when the link plate is to support heavy buckets for a long time. To solve the problem, in an embodiment of the present invention is to provide a bended link plate with a resistance bar that is formed on the heated zone of the link plate to increase the machine strength so as to prolong, or extend the lifetime of the chain and improve the wear resistance of the chain. Illustrated by the reference Fig. 8, Fig. 9, in preferred embodiment of the invention, the present invention also provide a bended link plate 11 with two resistance bars 17,17' which are formed on the heated zone 48 during bending the link plate 4 into 90° link plate 11 using the bending device 88 and pressing male die 80.

[0014] Illustrated by the reference Fig. 12 to Fig. 14, the method of forming two resistance bars on the link plate 4 is described below in detail. Firstly, the selected zone of the link plate 4 is heated used the electromagnetism heater 81 that is described before in this invention. Secondly, moving the link plate 4 from heater 81 and transferring the link plate on a female die 70, and then using a male die 80 to press the link plate into a link plate with a design angle. In one embodiment, the female die 70 has a groove 71 having two opposite panels 711, 712 that are formed a 90° angle. Two protuberant bars are crossed the two panels and posited near to the bottom of the groove. There are many ways to form two protuberant bars in the groove of the female die. In a preferred embodiment, each opposite panels 711, 712 of the groove 71 has two holes 723,724(723', 724') through which two steel pins 721,722 are across

and protuberated on the bottom of the groove 71. The two steel pins can be replaced for other pins when they are destroyed due to using for a long time for bending. Correspondingly, the male die 80 has two notches 81, 82. In design, the distance between the two protuberant bars 721,722 is the same as that of the two notches 81, 82 cut on the male die 80. For better, the diameter of the bars in the groove of the female die is the same as the inside diameter of the notches 81, 82. When the heated link plat is moved on to the female die 70, the male die 80 is derived down to contact onto the heated zone of the link plate and derived down into the groove of the female die to complete the bending work. Flowing the press by the male die, the resistance bars are formed by force between the protuberant bars in the groove of the female die and the notches on the male die during the bending. The L-shaped link plate with two resistance bars is formed. Because the heated zone of the link plate is very softer than other zone, the zone is very easier to press and formed two resistance bars thereon at the same time when bending the link plate into a bended link plate with a pre-design angle using the female die and the male die.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the female die 70 is secured on a bed 9 and a cover 42 with a window 422 and a slot 102 therein. The bed with the female die is inserted in the slot as to make the groove of the female die is located in the corresponding under the window on the cover. Such arrangements can let female die be stable when using the male die to press and bend the link plate into L-shaped link plate and with a resistance bar thereon.

[0016] In another embodiment, the two resistance bars 21, 22 are formed on the a side shoulders 23, 24 of the bended a link plate 20 that is bended from the link plate 4, as reference Fig. 10, Fig. 11. As reference Fig 15A-15C, Fig. 16 and Fig. 17,the female die 15 is consisted of three parts, main die 151 and two assistant dies 152,153. The main die 151 is fixed between the two assistant dies as to form a trapezium shaped groove 154. The main die and the assistant die also can be immobilized on the bed 155,156,157. The bed with the main die and the assistance dies also can be inserted into a slot of a cover that fixed on a base or platform (not shown) The male die 89 has the trapezium shaped die corresponding with the female die. When the heated link plate is moved on the die, the male die is derived down to contact onto the heated zone of the link plate. Flowing the moving into the bottom of the female die, the heated zone is pressed and bended by the male die into the bottom of the female die. Since the groove of the female die is a trapezium shape, the male die can press the heated zone on the two incline planes 157,158 of the trapezium of the female die as to form two resistance bars on the two a side

shoulders of the link plate.

[0017] It is clear that any number of the resistance bar can be pressed when pressing the heated zone of the link plate into the groove of the female die. The bar could be any position relating the two panels of the bended link plate. The link plate can also be bended into any angle link plate with the resistance bar on the heated zone.

[0018] Further more, the bended link plate is to used to assemble any chain, in particular, a flexible chain for conveyor chain for bucket conveyor system. In one embodiment, the bended link plate can be used to assemble chain as outer link plate described in US patent No. 6,615,974. As showing in Fig. l -4 of the US patent, Chain 1 is connected, in a fixed manner, with each bucket 2 by means of two substantially L-shaped fastening angles, which are formed by the outer link plates 9 and 10 of chain 1. The L-shaped link plate of the present invention can be used as the outer link plates described in 6,615,974 to assemble a flexible chain.

Transferring device

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the link plate 4 can be automatically transferred into the electromagnetic induction heater from a transferred device 5. The transferring device 5 comprises the base part 55 for supporting two face-to-face panels 51, 52 thereon that defines a slot 54 on the surface of the base part 55. The width of the slot is same as the T shaped link plate 4. Each of the panel 51,52 has two long elliptical holes 53,56,57,58 and the base part 55 also has four long elliptical holes (not shown) correspondingly, through which four screws or bolts 5-1, 5- 2, 5-3, 5-4 can immobile the two panels 51, 52 parallel on the surface of the base part 5-5. The transferring device 5 also has a pusher staff 2 of which one end is pushed by an auto-pusher 1 in a regular frequency, for example 10-80 time/minutes, and another end of the staff is to pusher the link plate 4 along the slot 5-4 into the induction coil 83 of the electromagnetism induction heater 81 for heating for a short time.

Collection device

[0020] In other preferred embodiment, there is a collection device 30 that can automatically provide the link plate 4 in succession for transferring by the transferring device 5. The collecting device has a base part 35 and three L shaped columniations 31,32,33 are

immobilized vertically on the surface of the base part. Each columniation has a based foot 3-4 with a hole 3-6 though which a pin 3-5 can immobilize the columniations on the surface of the base part as to forming a triangle slot. The link plates 4 can be assembled into the triangle slot. The link plate 4 can be auto provided for the transferring device for making a bended link plate in line.

[0021] In one preferred embodiment, after the link plate is bended by the bended device, there is an auto-contraction hand 92, robot or other like, to pick up the link plate form the female die to cool till to room temperature.

Example

Example 1 — bending a link plate into 90-L-shape link plate with two resistance bars

The example will be described combined the Figures as a part of the invention.

Materials and the equipments

A link plate 4 is made from 40 Mn medium - carbon steel.

The electronic induction heater 81 is purchased form Shanghai Zilin Mechanical&Electrical Equipment, Inc., (its website: http://shzilin, 18show.net/Product_1443871.html) (the type is DL- 15A) has two coils having 3mm diameter electrical wire ( φ 3mm).

Bending device with two resistance bars and a corresponding male die (Fig. 13 and Fig. 14) are made and constructed through the prior art method using the steel as the materials

Heating and bending steps:

Inserting the link plate 4 (weight of the whole link plate is 43 g) into the coils 83 of the heater as to let the coil surround a zone of the link plate with the volume of 3mm X 12mm X 28mm, almost 8g, illustrated by Fig. 8 and 12.

Turning on the electronic induction heater to supply the power to the electronic line of coil for 2.6 secondes;

Transferring the heated link plate 4 into a L-shape female die and a male die, illustrated in the Fig. 12;

Driving the male die 80 to connect onto the heated zone of the link plate 4 and penetrate into

the groove of the female die until connect onto the bottom of the groove, see Fig. 12;

Compressive strength testing

Through this method, the average compressive strength of the link plate is 45890N, while the bended link plate that are made by traditional method just has 18780N. It is clear that the resistance strength of the link plate that made by this example is increased about 2.5 times and more comparing with the prior art bended link plate.

[0022] The invention illustratively described herein may be practiced in the absence of any element or elements, limitation or limitations that are not specifically disclosed herein. The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention that in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed. Thus, it should be understood that although the present invention has been specifically disclosed by various embodiments and optional features, modification and variation of the concepts herein disclosed may be resorted to by those skilled in the art, and that such modifications and variations are considered to be within the scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0023] The contents of the articles, patents, and patent applications, and all other documents and electronically available information mentioned or cited herein, are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. Applicants reserve the right to physically incorporate into this application any and all materials and information from any such articles, patents, patent applications, or other documen.