This invention relates to a chain and more particularly, but exclusively, to a driving chain in or for a scraper chain conveyor, herein referred to as the kind specified, comprising an apron having at leas chain wheel at each end thereof, at least one endless drive chain lo around said wheels and apron with an upper run and a lower run pa longitudinally above and below said apron respectively, a series of scr bars secured at longitudinally spaced locations to said at least one chai extending transversely relative thereto for scraping the upper surface o apron and drive means for advancing said at least one chain together wit scraper bars longditudinally of the apron.

The conveyor may be a centre strand conveyor having at least one c disposed in a middle region of the apron but the invention especially rel to a side strand conveyor having a pair of transversely spaced endless chains, the scraper bars extending between and being secured adjacent t ends to said chains and in which the apron is laterally bounded by upper lower guide means for the drive chains and has a pair of chain wheels at end thereof and the guide means include spaced upper and lower g surfaces between which run the chains.

The capacity of a conveyor of the kind specified is limited by strength of the drive chain and this is governed by the size of the chai well as, of course, the material of which the chain is made. The maxi size of the chain is limited by the size of the chain wheels in both a ce strand and a side strand conveyor and by the height of the space available the chain on the apron, for example, in a side strand conveyor by the he available for the chain between the upper and lower guide surfaces and there is a limit to the extent to which the capacity of a conveyor wi particular size of chain and/or apron can be increased.

GB-A-2 127127 discloses α chain of a scraper ςhain conveyor in which horizontal links are of constant circular cross-section whilst alternate vertical links have arcuate end portions of the same circular cross-section as the horizontal links, inter-connected by flattened longitudinally extending portions the maximum width of which is greater than the diameter of the circular cross-section end portions and the thickness of which is less than said diameter. The reduced thickness portions extend into the arcuate end portions and consequently constitue transition regions in which the cross -sectional area the link is reduced compared with the cross-sectional area of the other parts of the link thereby providing localised areas of weakness in a region where high stresses are imposed upon the link. In addition, the enlarged width of the longitudinally extending portions requires the chain wheels to be provided with grooves of greater than standard width which thus reduces the bearing surface available for engagement with the arcuate end portions of the horizontal links.

These short comings are identified in DE-A-3A337I5 which discloses a chain which seeks to overcome the above disadvantages by providing the flattened longitudinally extending regions of the vertical links with a width equal to the diameter of the arcuate end portions.

However, neither of these prior chains permit of the increase in the capacity of a given conveyor without changing the size of the chain wheel. In each of the prior references, the capacity of the chain is increased, within the spatial limitations afforded by the conveyor apron by virtue of the reduction in the overall height of the vertical link. However, the horizontal links, of constant circular cross -sect ion, have to be made of correspondingly greater dimension than the chain which would be used with a given apron. Whilst the apron imposes no constraint upon such an increase in size of the horizontal links the chain wheels do and it is therefore necessary to increase the size of the chain wheels to -accommodate the horizontal links. For example, if a given conveyor has an apron which conventionally accommodates chain made of 22mm diameter circular material then, whilst making the vertical links of one of the configurations described in the prior art references would enable the capacity of the vertical links to be increased, to for example, that of a 26mm diameter conventional chain, if the horizontal links are not increased in diameter to that of the conventional

26mm diameter chain then the horizontal links will be weaker than th vertical links.

An object of the present incention is to provide a scraper chai conveyor of the kind specified and chain for use therein which enables th capacity of the conveyor to be increased compared with the capacit available hitherto without change in apron size or chain wheel size.

According to one aspect of the invention we provide a scraper chai conveyor comprising an apron having at least one chain wheel at each en thereof, at least one endless drive chain looped around said wheels and apro with an upper run and a lower run passing longtυdinally above and below sai apron respectively, a series of scraper bars secured at longitudinally spaced locations to said least one chain and extending transversely relative thereto for scraping the upper surface of the apron and drive means for advancing said at least one chain together with the scraper bars longitudinally of the apron, wherein said at least one chain comprises a plurality of interengaged links, each link comprising a closed loop made of material of non-circular cross-section, the cross-section having a maximum longitudinal dimension which is greater than a maximum transverse direction and said transverse direction lying in, or parallel to, a central plane of the link.

The non-circular cross-section may comprise semi-circular end parts interconnected by spaced parallel rectilinear parts.

The conveyor may be a centre strand conveyor having at least one chain disposed in a middle region of the apron.

Alternatively the conveyor may be a side strand conveyor having a pair of transversely spaced endless drive chains, the scraper bars extending between and being secured adjacent their ends to said chains and in which the apron is laterally bounded by upper and lower guide means for the drive chain and has a pair of chain wheels at each end thereof and the drive means include spaced upper and lower guide surfaces between which run the chains.

Where the conveyor is a centre strand conveyor or a side strand conveyor the maximum transverse dimension may be the same or substantially the same as the diameter of a chain of circular cross-section which would be conventionally used with said chain wheel.

The chain wheel may have the same pitch as a conventional chain wheel for use with a conventional chain of circular cross-section links having a diameter the same or substantially the same as said maximum transverse dimension.

The area of the cross-section may be in a predetermined relationship to the cross-sectional area of a chain the links of which are comprised of material of circular cross-section and which is of a maximum dimension which would be conventionally used with said chain wheels in a centre or side strand conveyor or which would conventionally be used between said guide surfaces in the case of a side strand conveyor.

Said predetermined relationship may be such that the area of the cross-section of a chain according to the present invention is greater than the area of the cross-section of said maximum size of chain conventionally used.

The cross-sectional area of the chain may be greater than pi multiplied by the square of half said maximum transverse dimension.

The area may be not less than 30% greater, may be 30-50% greater and preferably is about 40% greater.

Each link may have been made by bending the link to said closed loop shape from stock of said non-circular cross-section.

Preferably, the non circular section is constant throughout each link.

According to another aspect of the invention we provide a method of making a chain comprising the steps of separating a plurality of blanks from stock of non-circular cross -sect ion, forming said blanks into a plurality of inter-engaged closed loops in which adjacent ends of each blank are joined together, the blanks being orientated so that each closed loop provides a link made of material of non-circular cross-section, the cross-section having a maximum longitudinal dimension which is greater than a maximum transverse dimension and said transverse direction lying in, or in parallel to, a central plane of the link and the area of said cross-section being greater than pi multiplied by the square of half said maximum transverse dimension.

The blanks may be formed by bending about a mandrel or the like.

The ^' adjacent ends of each -loop may be joined together by welding preferably by resistance butt welding.

The separating operation may comprise a cropping operation and the cropping operation may provide a pair of bevels on the cropped ends, the bevels being provided on dt least the parts of the cross-section which have said maximum longitudinal dimension.

According to another aspect of the invention we provide a chain comprising a plurality of inter-engaged links, each link comprising a closed

loop made of material of non-circular cross-section, the cross-section havin a maximum longitudinal dimension which is greater than a maximu transverse direction and said transverse direction lying in, or parallel to, central plane of the link and in which area of the cross-section is greate than pi multiplied by the square of half said maximum transverse dimension.

The area may be not less than 30% greater, may be 30 to 50% greate and preferably about 40% greater.

The non-circular cross-section may comprise semi-circular end part interconnected by spaced parallel rectilinear parts.

Preferably, the non-circular cross-section is constant throughout eac link.

An example of the invention will now be described with reference t the accompanying drawings wherein

FIGURE I is a fragmentary cross-sectional view through part of scraper chain conveyor embodying the invention,

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of part of the chain used in the conveyo of Figure I and

FIG URE 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2. FIGURES 4A - 4C are diσgramatic side elevations of chain wheels and FIGURES 5 A - 5C are sections on the lines 5-5 of Figures 4A - 4C respectively, and

FIG URE 6 is a diagramatic cross-sectional view showing a further embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in Figure I one side of a side strand scraper chain conveyor comprising an apron 10 bounded transversely on each side by upper and lower guide means, 1 1, 12 respectively provided by side portions 10a of the apron 10 and side wall members 13.

The upper guide means 1 1 comprises an upper guide surface 14 provided by a top limb 15 of the side wall member 13 and a lower guide surface 16 provided by the side part 10a of the spron 10.

The lower guide means 12 comprises an upper guide surface 17 provided by a side portion 10a of the apron 10 and a lower guide surface 18 provided by a bottom limb 19 of the side wall member 13. Between the respective upper and lower guide surfaces 14, 16 and 17, 18 there is circulated upper and lower runs 20, 21 of a continuous drive chain C which

are looped around the apron 10 so that the upper and lower runs pas longitudinally above and below the apron respectively.

A series of scraper bars 22 extend between and are secured a longitudinally spaced locations to the chains C for scraping the upper surfac 23 of the apron 10. The scraper bars 22. are secured to the chains i conventional manner by connecting links 24 which are bolted to end portion 25 of their associated scraper bar by means of a nut and bolt connection 26. The connectors 24 have abutment surfaces 27 for engagement with furthe guide surfaces 28 provided on the side wall members 13.

A drive means comprising a pair of driven sprocket or chain wheels W and a pair of idler sprocket or chain wheels W around which the chains C are entrained are provided at opposite ends of the apron to advance the chains C together with the scraper bars 22 longitudinally of the apron. The bottom of the conveyor assembly is closed by a bottom closure member 29.

As best shown in Figures 2 to 3 each chain C comprises a plurality of inter-engaged links 30 each link comprising a closed loop made of material of non-circular cross-section.

As best shown in Figure 3 the non-circular cross-section has a maximum longitudinal dimension L which is greater than the maximum transverse dimension T. The maximum transverse dimension T lies in the central plane P-P of the link. By central plane of the link is meant the plane which contains the centre of the cross-sectional area at any position around the closed loop of the link. fn the present example the cross-sectional area comprises two spaced semi-circular parts 31 inter-connected by spaced parallel rectilinear parts 32 so that the cross-section is of generally oval shape.

In the present example the dimension L is 28mm and dimension T 22mm. This provides a' cross-sectional area which is substantially the same as that βf a conventional chain made of material of circular cross-section and having a diameter of 26mm. Thus, in the present example the chain has a breaking strength approximately equal to that of a chain of material 26mm diameter but since the dimension T is 22mm the chain can be accomodated between guide surfaces and chain wheels which are not capable of receiving a 26mm diameter chain. Therefore, the present invention permits the maximum capacity of the apron guide means, and the chain wheels W illustrated in Figures I, 4A and 4B which are designed for use with

conventional chain made of 22mm diameter material to be increased abo that which would be possible if the chain were made of material of circul cross-section and of the maximum size receivable between the guide surfac 14, 16 and 17, 18 and by the chain wheels W that is, a chain of 22m diameter.

The distance between the upper and lower guide surfaces 14, 16 and 1 18 in the present example is approximately 84mm. The overal width of eac link is approximately 76mm hence the maximum transverse dimension of th cross section i.e. 22mm is approximately 26% of the distance between th upper and lower guide surfaces and the overal width of each link i approximately 345% of the maximum transverse dimension.

It will be appreciated that the^distance between the upper and lowe guide surfaces may be somewhat greater or somewhat smaller than tha described above; obviously the distance cannot be too small otherwise th chain would bind and conversely the distance should not be too grea otherwise the apron would be of unnecessarily greater height. It is envisage that the percentages described above may be varied by for example, upt approximately plus or minus 3% and reference herein to "about" should b understood to indicate such variation.

Of course, the above mentioned dimensions are given only by way o example and the invention may be applied to chains of other dimensions an also chains where the ratio of the transverse dimension to the longtυdina dimension differs from that described hereinbefore. For example, th dimension L may be 26mm and the dimension 19mm. This provides cross-section area which is substantally the same as that of a conventiona chain made of material of circular cross-section and having a diameter o 24mm.

Figure 4A and Figure 5A show, in side elevation and cross-sectio respectively, a conventional pair of chain wheels which would be provided i the conveyor hereinbefore described for use with conventional chain havin links of circular cross-section of 22mm diameter.

Figures 4B and 5B are similar views to Figures 4A and 5A but showing modified version of the chain wheels shown in Figures 4A and 5A in which the central groove 35 is widened compared to the width of the groove shown i Figures 4A and 5A in order to accept a chain with links of non-circular o- cross-section according to the present invention. In other respects, such as

the pitch of the 'teeth ¹ , the chain wheels of Figures 4B and 5B are the same as the chain wheels shown in Figures 4A and 5A.

Figures 4C and 5C are similar figures to Figures 4A and 5A but show chain wheels which would be required for use with a chain made according to the teaching of the prior specifications Nos. GB-A-2I27I27 and DE-A-3433715. It will be seen that a pair of chain wheels similar to conventional chain wheels for conventional chains of circular cross-section and of 26mm diameter are required but with the chain centres made of a non- standard separation so that the pair of chain wheels can accept the "larger" conventional horizontal links provided in such chains. The chain wheels of Figures 4C and 5C are of course of substantially larger diameter and have 'teeth' of substantially greater pitch than the chain wheels of Figures 4A, 5A and B, 5B.

It will be noted that the chain wheels shown in Figures 4B, 5B have a pitch which is the same as the pitch of the conventional chain wheel, shown in Figures 4A and 5A, for use with a conventional chain of circular cross-section links having a diameter which is about the same as the maximum transverse dimension of a chain according to the invention i.e. in the present example chain of 22mm diameter.

The chain is manufactured in conventional manner but using the above described non-circular stock instead of circular stock. That is, blanks are separated from a length of the non-circular stock, bent around a mandrel to provide a plurality of inter-linked closed loops and the adjacent ends of each blank of a loop are joined together, for example, by resistance butt welding.

Using non-circular stock particularly facilitates the chain making operation since it permits of the apparatus being provided with means to orientate the chain in a desired orientation so that the conventional weld preparation i.e. opposed bevels formed during cropping is correctly aligned in the apparatus.

If desired the links may be manufactured in any other desired way. For example, the links may be manufactured from initially circular cross-section stock which is formed to provide said links made of non-circular material.

Although in the above example the case of a cross-section as illustrated

- in Figure 3 is described if desired the cross-section may be of other non-circular shape. For example, of elliptical shape or of other non-circular shape where the maximum longitudinal and transverse dimensions are as

described above. For example, the chain cross-section may include t portions of equal longitudinal and/or transverse cross-section separated portions of shorter length. In such a case whilst the two portions maximum transverse, and/or longitudinal, dimension would not be coincide with, or perpendicular to, said central plane they would be parallel, to parallel to a perpendicular to, said plane and as a result when the chain between the guide surfaces of the guide means then the maximum transver dimension would be disposed so as to extend between the associated gui surfaces.

If desired the invention may be embodied in a scraper chain conveyor centre strand type in which one or more chains are disposed in a midd region of the apron and the scraper bars are attached to the or each chain as to extend transversely relative thereto. An example of such a conveyor illustrated in Figure 6 utilising a single chain. In the conveyor shown Figure 6 the single chain illustrated is identical to each of the chains of t conveyor described with reference to Figures I to 5.