In a first aspect the invention relates to a support element as according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a support element is known from the patent specifications US 4,611,710 and US 3,842,968.

A number of such mutually coupled support elements on a support frame suitable for this purpose form a chain conveyor, of which the chain conveyor formed from the mutually coupled support elements is guided over a support frame forming a bearing or support surface.

These known support elements are only provided with one pair of position-limiting elements and have to be positioned on a link chain centrally along the support frame which, for these known support wings, is of a complicated design over the whole chain conveyor. Such a support frame must particularly be provided in both straight and curved supporting parts with a central bridge part for positioning the support elements relative to the support frame. This is disadvantageous particularly from the viewpoint of the cost price of manufacture, but even more so from a hygienic standpoint.

When such a known chain conveyor has to be cleaned, there is considerable danger of contamination of the central bridge part due to the design of the frames necessary therefor.

The invention has for its object to at least partly obviate these drawbacks and to provide a simplified support frame and a support element suitable therefor, which is moreover suitable under strict hygienic conditions, for instance in the food and drug industries.

This can take place without detracting from the good

guiding of such a support element over a support frame suitable for this purpose.

To this end the invention provides a support element as according to claim 1.

By providing the support element with two pairs of position-limiting elements it is not necessary to have a support frame with a central bridge part in a straight path of the support frame. A sufficient position limitation is possible with the lateral position-limiting elements on the outermost side strips of the support frame.

The French patent specification 73.09855 likewise relates to a support element, which is however provided with mutual engaging teeth in the central part as well as the side parts.

In preference and for reasons of symmetry the position-limiting elements are positioned mirror- symmetrically relative to a central axis and at an end edge of the support element.

At least one pair of position-limiting elements is preferably leg-shaped and substantially consists of an upper leg and a lower leg, wherein the lower leg extends substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the support element. This has the effect that a rectangular space is provided between the bottom surface and the lower leg for receiving a part of the bearing surface of the support frame.

A particular embodiment of the support element according to the invention is that the bottom surface is provided in a central part with coupling elements for the fixedly or releasably coupling the support wing to a link of a link chain. The support wing and the link can thus be manufactured separately, for instance via known injection moulding techniques, and joined together later.

If due to calamities, or through wear, an interruption in the link chain is necessary, the link can be released from the support wing via displacement of the pin of the link chain or the action of the coupling element.

As already stated in the introduction, an objective of the invention, in addition to a simplified support wing, is to provide a simple and improved support frame therefor. The invention thus also provides a support frame as according to claims 7-10.

This has the effect that the central bridge part is greatly simplified. The central bridge part consists substantially of only spread apart connecting elements from which any cleaning product will automatically drain.

In a curved part a support frame according to the invention has only one additional internal curved profile on the inside bend parallel to a side profile.

Complicated central bridge parts are likewise unnecessary in a curved part. By means of the position-limiting elements on the support element a sufficiently accurate position of the support element will be achieved in both straight paths and in the curves.

The embodiments of the invention are elucidated below with reference to the drawing. In the drawing: fig. 1 shows a spaced apart perspective view of a support element and a link according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; fig. 2 shows a perspective partly broken-away view of a preferred embodiment of a chain conveyor according to the invention in a curved part; fig. 3 is a view similar to figure 1 of another preferred embodiment of a support wing according to the invention; fig. 4 is a perspective view of a curved part of a preferred embodiment of a chain conveyor according to the invention.

A support wing 1 comprises an upper surface 2, which upper surface 2 forms the bearing surface, and a bottom surface 3. Bottom surface 3 of support wing 1 consists substantially of three parts, i. e. a central part 4 and two side parts 5. At least a part of bottom surface 3 forms a guide surface by supporting and guiding on a bearing surface 14 of a support frame 15.

On bottom surface 3 coupling means 6 consisting of two coupling legs are provided in central part 4 for fixedly or releasably coupling support wing 1 to a link 7. Link 7 is provided for this purpose with corresponding receiving holes 9. A connecting pin 8 provides a connection to a subsequent link 7 in order to form a conveyor chain 13.

Side parts 5 of support wing 1 are provided in an end part close to side edges 12 with one position- limiting element 11. The leg-shaped position-limiting elements 11 will provide, at least in a straight path, a sufficiently accurate positioning on conveyor chain 13.

It is not therefore necessary for this purpose to provide a complicated central bridge part in the support frame.

Link 7 can optionally be provided with two additional central position-limiting elements 10 for central positioning of support wing 1 in a support frame 15. This is advantageous in curved parts, although not however essential when a support wing 1 is per se provided with position-limiting elements 11.

Figure 3 shows another preferred embodiment of a support wing 1 according to the invention. The position- limiting element 11 is provided as a groove or channel in end edge 12 of side wing 1.

A support element is obtained by placing one support wing 1 in one link 7. Support elements 1 are coupled in mutually connecting manner to form conveyor chain 13.

Conveyor chain 13 is guided over a bearing surface determined by two bearing strips 14 on a support frame 15.

In the straight path parts 17 the support frame 15 is greatly simplified and consists substantially of two substantially straight C-shaped side profiles 19 which are mutually connected parallel to each other via a central bridge part 21 of connecting pins 22. Central bridge part 21 is thus formed only by a series of spread apart connecting pins 22.

Such a support frame 15 of SS or of drawn aluminium is symmetrical relative to the centre plane parallel to bearing surface 14 so that, if desired, link chain 13 can be returned on the underside.

In a curved part 16 an additional curved profile is provided in central bridge part 21. The additional internal curved profile is arranged on the inside bend parallel to side profile 19 and fixed thereto by means of other connecting pins 22.

Additional guide rollers (not shown) can moreover be provided on the curved profile.

Such a central bridge part 21 is only arranged in a curved part 16 along the inside bend of support frame 15 to provide good bend guiding for the conveyor chain.

Central bridge part 21 is therefore greatly simplified in the straight part and the curved part. Liquids, detergents and other residual products hereby have less chance of remaining adhered thereto for long, whereby a chain conveyor 23 according to the invention is exceptionally suitable for environments which require high standards of hygiene.