A LINK FOR A CARRY CHAIN TO SUPPORT CABLE OR HOSE

Technical Field

The present invention relates to links for carry chains that support cable or hαse, and more particularly to links providing access to the interior of the carry chain to enable insertion and removal of cable or hose with respect to the carry chain.

Background of the Invention

In the mining industry, it is not uncommon to have hose or cable encased within a chain for the purposes of protecting the cable or hose, The support chain is flexible in that it consists of a plurality of links that can pivot relative to each other about transverse axes.

An example of the abovementioned chain is described in Australian Patent 770754, The chain of this patent includes a plurality of links, each link including side walls joined transversely by longitudinal walls. The longitudinal walls are secured in position by means of a pin. The pins extend transversely between the two longitudinal walls and are rotated through 180° to release the longitudinal walls to enable a cable or hose to be inserted or removed with respect to that link.

A disadvantage of the abovementioned link is that the pins are difficult to insert and remove, particularly having regard to the environment within which the chain is used. Because the pins are difficult to insert and remove, dismantling and assembling each link is time consuming and therefore expensive.

Object of the invention

It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages.

Summary of the invention There is disclosed herein a link for a carry chain to provide a duct for cable or hose, said link including: a pair of spaced side walls;

a pair of spaced end walls extending between and being attached to the side walls so as to co-operate therewith in providing a duct portion, the duct portion haying a longitudinal axis along which lhe cable or hose is to extend; and wherein at least one of the side walls is displaceable with respect to the end walls between a closed position at which the walls surround the duct portion and an open position providing access to said duct portion, with said one wall being displaceable longitudinally with respect to said axis between a first position at which said one wall may be removed from said end walls, and a second position at which said one wall is Fixed to said end walls; and wherein said link further includes a securing member eπgageable with said one wall and at least one of said side walls to maintain said one wall in said second position, with said securing member being removable to provide for movement of said one wall to said first position from said second position.

Preferably, said, one wall is secured to said end walls by a passage extending longitudinally with respect to said axis, and a projection which is located in said passage to fix said one wall to said end walls, but is displaced from said passage when said one wall is in said first position. Preferably, said projection is elongated so as to extend longitudinally relative to said passage. Preferably, each end wall is provided with a longitudinally extending passage, and said one wall is provided with a pair of longitudinally extending projections, each, projection being locatable in a respective one of said passages and engaged therein when said one wall is located in said second position to thereby fix said one wall to said end walls. Preferably, each projection includes a first and a second projection portion, the projection portions being spaced longitudinally with respect to said axis, and each passage includes a first and a second passage portion, each passage portion receiving a respective one of said projection portions.

Preferably, said securing member is a first securing member, with said first securing member engaging one of the projections to secure said one projection in the associated passage, and said link includes a second securing member, the second securing

member being engaged with said second projection to maintain said second projection in the associated passage thereof, the securing members being movable to release said one wall for movement longitudinally from the second position to the first position.

Preferably, the or each passage includes an enlarged portion and a neck, each projection portion includes an enlarged portion, with the projection enlarged portion being received in a respective passage enlarged portion,

Brief Description of the Drawings

A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic isometric view of a length of carry chain to support cable or hose;

Figure 2 is an isometric view of a link of the chain length of Figure 1 : Figure 3 is an isometric view of portion of the link of Figure 2: Figure 4 is an isometric view of a further portion of the link of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a schematic isometric view of a side wall of the link of Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is a schematic isometric view of a retaining member employed in the link of Figure 2.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a length 10 of a carry chain to support cable or hose, such as cable or hose employed in the mining industry. The length 10 includes a plurality of links 11. The links 11 are attached so that adjacent links 11 can pivot relative to each other about transverse axes 12, hi that regard, the length 11 has a longitudinal axis 13 which is also the axis of a duct 14 along which the hose or cable longitudinally extends. Accordingly each link 11 provides a duct portion 15.

Each link 11 includes a pair of transversely spaced generally parallel end walls

16 that extend between and are secured to generally parallel, transversely spaced longitudinal side walls 17. The walls 16 are generally parallel and co-extensive, while the walls 17 are also generally parallel and co-extensive. The walls 16 are perpendicular to the walls 17. Preferably, the walls 16 and 17 are moulded from plastics material, with the

walls 16 having embedded in them metal flanges 18. Each flange 18 is provided with an aperture 19, the apertures 19 being circular with their central axis being the axis 12.

Each end wall 16 is provided with a passage 20 that is aligned with the aperture 19 of the next adjacent link 11 so that a bolt 21 can pass through the passage 20 and associated aperture 19 to pivotally attach adjacent links 11 for their pivoting relative movement about the axes 12. More particularly each end wall 16 includes a pair of spaced flanges 22 between which the associated flange 18 is located so that the aperture 19 is aligned with the adjacent passage 20. In that regard, the passage 20 includes a first portion 23 in the outer of the two flanges 22, and a second portion 24 formed in the inner of the two flanges 22, the second portion 24 being threaded so as to engage a threaded portion of the bolt 21. The bolt 21 is slidable in the aperture 19 to provide for pivoting movement of adjacent links 11 about the axes 12.

Each end wall 16 includes edge portions 25 that extend longitudinally relative to the axis 13. Each edge portion 25 co-operates with a respective edge portion 26 of the associated wall 17. In that regard, each wall 17 is movable longitudinally relative to the end walls 16 in the direction of the axis 13 between a first position at which the end wall 17 is removable, and a second position at which the end wall 17 is restrained from being separated lrorn the end walls 16 by movement in a direction 27, the direction 27 being perpendicular to the axis 13. A retaining member 28 engages associated edge portions 25 and 26 to prevent movement of the walls 17 from the second position to the first position, thereby retaining the walls 17 fixed to the end walls 16. The retaining members 28 are slidable in the direction 29 for insertion and removal. The direction 29 is perpendicular to the axis 13 and perpendicular to the direction 27. Each edge portion 25 includes a passage 30 consisting of passage portions 30 and 31. The passage portions 30 and 31 extend longitudinally relative to the axis 13 and include a neck 33 extending to an enlarged generally cylindrical portion 34. A transverse slot 35 intersects the passage 30. Each edge portion 26 includes a projection 36 consisting of projection portions 37 and 38 that are spaced by. means of a gap 39. The portions 37 and 38 include an

enlarged portion 39 connected to the main body 40 of the walls 17 by means of a narrow bridge 41.

The projection portions 37 and 38 are slidably received in passage portions 30 and 31, with the bridges 41 passing through the necks 33 so that the walls 17 cannot move in the directions 27 due to the projections enlarged portions 37 and 38 being larger than the necks 33.

When either of the walls 17 is to be secured to or released from the walls 16, the wall 17 is moved in the direction of the axis 13. For example, if the link 11 is assembled and one of the walls 17 is to be removed to provide access to the duct portion 15, the members 28 are removed. This then enables movement of the wall 17 in the direction 30.

When the projection portion 37 is located in the gap 39, and the projection portion 38 located outside the passage portion 32, the wall 17 can be removed by moving it in the direction 27. To reassemble the link 11, the reverse procedure is followed. That is, the wall 17 is manoeuvred so that the projection portions 37 and 38 slide into the passage portions 31 and 32. Thereafter members 28 are inserted.

In respect of the members 28, it should be appreciated that each is provided with a locating projection 31. The locating projections 31 engage in depressions 32 so that the members 28 are retained in position. The members 28 also have slots 33 that aid in manipulation of the members 28. The members 28 are easily removed by applying an impact force to the end surface 34.