| 1. | A system for producing a chain (2), consisting of a series of closed links formed from a chain extension (2') consisting of a series of open links, wherein said chain extension is fed into abutment with and along a peripheral surface part (3a) of a rotatable disc (3), wherein sections of said chain rest against the disc (3') at a first radius (R1), wherein said chain extension is caused, by rotation of the disc, to pass through a linkwelding and/or linksoldering unit (31), in which said open links are closed to form a closed link chain, and wherein; a) there is located upstream of said linkwelding and/or linksoldering unit (31) means (A) for displacing said open links to a position, in which they are brought slightly together into a more compact state; b) said open links are closed in said unit (B, 31), while in said more compact state in accordance with a) above; and c) there is located, downstream of said linkwelding and/or linksoldering unit (31), means (C) for displacing the now closed links to a position, in which they are in a still more compact state, characterized in that said displacements (R1 to R2 and R2 to R3) are each ef fected with the aid of a respective rotatable and radially displaceable wheel (6,50). |
| 2. | A system according to claim 1, characterized in that displacement of open links to a slightly more compact state comprises a chosen portion, such as 1050% of the maximum displacement distance for fully compacting the mutually extended open links. |
| 3. | A system according to claim 1, characterized in that displacement of said closed links to a further compacted state comprises a chosen part, such as 10 50% of the maximum displacement distance for fully compacting the closed links. |
| 4. | A system according to claim 1,2 or 3, characterized in that displacement of open or closed links is effected by moving the links to a radius that is smaller than said first radius. |
| 5. | A system according to claim 2, characterized in that displacement of the open links is effected by moving the links from a first radius to a second radius (R2), where the latter radius is smaller than the former radius. |
| 6. | A system according to claim 3, characterized in that displacement of the closed links is effected from a second radius to a third radius (R3), where the latter radius is smaller than the former radius. |
| 7. | A system according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that displacement of the links within said chain extension is greater than displacement of the links in the chain. |
| 8. | A system according to claim 1, characterized in that said displacement is effected with the aid of a rotatable and radially displaceable wheel, which is adap ted to takeup heat from the chain. |
| 9. | A system according to claim 1, characterized in that welded links are caused to strike against a wheel downstream of said unit. |
| 10. | A system according to claim 9, characterized in that said links strike obliquely against a peripheral surface of said wheel. |
The system is based on allowing a first section of said open link chain ex- tension to be fed into abutment with and positioned along a peripheral surface part of a rotatable disc. Successive sections will therewith rest on the upper surface of the disc, and successive sections will be fed down and distributed on the flat upper surface of said disc at a first radius.
More particularly, the invention is based on the use of a production line in which said open link chain section, among other things, is caused to move by the rotary movement of the disc and passed through a link welding and/or link solder- ing unit in which the mutually facing surfaces of the open links are welded together to form closed links and therewith form said closed link chain.
Description of the background art With regard to the earlier standpoint of techniques related to the produc- tion line particularly proposed and used in accordance with the present invention, reference is made to the contents of the International Patent Application Serial Number PCT/SE 83/00321, having International Patent Publication No. WO 84/01788.
This publication illustrates and describes a method and an arrangement for producing non-allergenic objects, particularly objects formed of metal and in- tended for direct contact with the skin of a living creature, these requirements also being satisfied by the present invention.
In addition to chains of different kinds and having different link structures, such objects also include bracelets, armbands, earrings and/or nose rings, pieces of jewellery, watches, spectacles, etc., where totally pure metals, particularly pre- cious metals, such as gold, silver, platinum, palladium, rhodium, are alloyed with optimally pure zinc, copper, aluminium, nickel or chromium, and where treatment processes in the heating and cooling stations used in the production line are car-
ried out without access to air and without any contact with surface reacting sub- stances, such as salts or acids.
The heating and cooling processes are preferably carried out under the cover of a shielding or protecting gas.
The arrangement illustrated in said publication utilises a production line for producing, from a series of to a chain co-ordinated open links, a flexible chain that consists of a series of closed links.
In this regard, the production line includes a number of working stations, e. g. a first station, which places said co-ordinated open links on a rotatable disc, a second station, which closes the open links with welds to form closed links, a third station, which cools the newly welded links, and a fourth station, which feeds the cooled links away from the production line.
More particularly, it is shown that in order to carry out the method, the ar- rangement shall include a rotatable table (61) so as to allow cold-worked objects (66), in the form of an open link chain, to pass through a link-welding arrangement (63) or channel, while using a heating gas or a shielding or protecting gas (70), and a subsequent link-cooling arrangement (68), which utilises the exhaust gases from the link-welding arrangement (63) that are passed, via channels (71,73), as a cooling and a shielding gas during the cooling sequence, wherewith displace- ment of the object (66) in the cooling channel takes place concurrently with the supply of cooling and shielding gas.
Fig. 7 of said patent publication can be considered of particular signifi- cance with regard to the present standpoint of techniques related to the present invention.
The following prior publication also belongs to the earlier standpoint of techniques.
US-A1-4. 073. 428 This publication illustrates and describes a method and an apparatus for continuously soldering or welding together the mutually opposite end-parts of "open"links, included in a chain orientation or chain extension.
The publication discloses that the chain orientation (4) is fed down onto a rotatable table (1) at position (8), wherein the speed is adapted so that individual links will be slightly brought together, i. e. brought to a more compact state.
The links are welded whilst in this latter state and, before the solder or welding material has cooled and hardened, the links of the chain extension are guided by a rail (9), such as to bring the newly welded links still closer together, i. e. in a still more compact state.
Summary of the invention Technical problems When taking into consideration the technical deliberations that a person skilled in this particular art must make in order to provide a solution to one or more technical problems that he/she encounters, it will be seen that on the one hand it is necessary initially to realise the measures and/or the sequence of measures that must be undertaken to this end, and on the other hand to realise which means is/are required in solving one or more of said problems. On this basis, it will be evident that the technical problems listed below are highly relevant to the devel- opment of the present invention.
When considering the present state of the art, as described above, it will be evident that a technical problem resides in the ability to provide a system in which a chain consisting of a series of closed links can be produced from a chain extension consisting of a series of open links, and in which consecutive sections of said chain extension shall be fed into abutment with and positioned along a pe- ripheral surface part of a rotatable disc, and in which the consecutive sections of the chain extension rest on the upper planar surface of the disc at a first radius, and in which said chain section is caused by rotational movement of said disc to pass through a link-welding and/or link-soldering unit, in which said open links are closed to form said closed link chain, wherein a further problem in this regard is to realise the significance of and the advantages associated with observing the ne- cessity of providing the chain production line with means or devices that function to bring the individual links into a compact state in different stages of the process.
Another technical problem resides in the ability of realising the significance of and the advantages associated with enabling the links to be brought closer and closer together by means of said devices in stages, such as in two stages.
Another technical problem resides in the ability of realising the significance of and the advantages associated with enabling the links to be brought closer to-
gether in at least two different positions by two equivalent devices, in which one position applies to the open link chain extension and one position applies to the closed link chain.
Another technical problem resides in the ability to realise the significance of and the advantages afforded by enabling said open links to be displaced to a pre-adapted position, in which said links are only slightly brought together, through the medium of a rotatable and displaceable wheel, located upstream of the link- welding and/or link-soldering unit.
Another technical problem resides in the ability to realise the significance of and the advantages afforded by enabling the closed links to be displaced to a position, in which they are brought together more closely by means of a rotatable and displaceable wheel, located downstream of said link-welding and/or link-sol- dering unit.
Another technical problem resides in the ability to realise the significance of and the advantages afforded by displacing the links to a position, in which they are slightly brought together, through a distance, which corresponds to a prede- termined percentage, such as 10-50%, of the maximum available displacement distance, through which extended open links would be brought to a fully com- pacted state.
Another technical problem resides in the ability to realise the significance of and the advantages associated with enabling said closed links to be displaced to a position, in which said links are further brought together through a predeter- mined percentage, such as 10-50%, of a maximum available displacement dis- tance through which mutually extended closed links would be brought to a fully compacted state.
Another technical problem resides in the ability to realise the significance of and the advantages afforded by allowing the displacement of open or closed links to take place by displacing the links along the planar surface of the disc to a radius, which differs from an earlier allocated radius.
Another technical problem resides in the ability to realise the significance of and the advantages afforded by allowing displacement of the open links to take place from a first radius to a second radius, where the second radius has a smaller value than the first radius.
Another technical problem resides in the ability to realise the significance
of and the advantages afforded by allowing displacement of the closed links to take place from a second radius to a third radius, where the latter radius has a smaller value than the former radius.
Another technical problem resides in the ability to realise the significance of and the advantages afforded by allowing the displacement of the open links in the chain extension to be greater than the displacement of the closed links in the chain.
A technical problem also resides in the ability to realise the significance of and the advantages afforded by allowing said closed link displacement to take place with the aid of a rotatable and radially displaceable wheel, said wheel being adapted to take-up heat from the chain.
Solution Thus, the present invention is based on a system for forming a chain, con- sisting of a series of closed links from a chain extension that includes a series of open links, wherein said chain extension is fed into abutment with and along a pe- ripheral surface part of a rotatable disc, wherein consecutive sections rest on the upper planar surface of the disc at a first radius, wherein each chain extension is caused to be moved by rotation of the disc through a link-welding and/or link- soldering unit, in which said open links are closed to form closed chain links.
With the intention of solving one or more of the aforesaid technical prob- lems, it is proposed, in accordance with the invention, that primarily suggested link displacements shall be effected by a respective rotatable and radially displaceable wheel.
It is also proposed that the open links shall be brought to a more compact state, i. e. closer together, at a location upstream of the link-welding and/or the link- soldering unit, that the open links will be closed to form closed links in said link- welding and/or link-soldering unit, with said open links in said more compact state, and that said closed links are moved to another position, in which they have been brought to a still more compact state, downstream of said link-welding and/or link- soldering unit.
As proposed embodiments, that lie within the scope of the present inven- tion, it is suggested that displacement of the links to said position, in which they are slightly more compact, shall correspond to 10-50% of a maximum available
displacement distance possible, for bringing mutually extended open links to a state, in which they are in full abutment with each other.
It is also proposed, in accordance with the invention, that displacement of said closed links to a position, in which said links are in a still more compact state, comprises 10-50% of a maximum available displacement distance possible, for bringing extended closed links to a state, in which they are in a fully compact state, i. e. in full abutment with one another.
It is also proposed that displacement of open or closed links is effected by displacing the links along the planar upper surface of the disc to a radius that dif- fers from said first radius.
It is also proposed that displacement of the open links is effected from a first radius to a second radius that differs from said first radius.
It is also proposed that displacement of the closed links is effected from a second radius to a third radius, where the latter radius is smaller than the former radius.
It is also proposed that displacement of the links within the open link chain extension is greater than the displacement of the closed links within the chain.
With regard to the chain consisting of closed links, it is proposed that the displacement thereof is effected by means of a rotatable and a radially displace- able wheel, and that said wheel is adapted to take-up heat from the chain.
Advantages Those advantages primarily obtained with a system, designed to produce from a chain extension consisting of a series of open links a chain consisting of a series of closed links, reside in the creation of conditions, which enable the dis- tances between mutually adjacent open links in said chain extension to be readily co-ordinated, through the medium of a rotatable wheel, prior to said links being fed into the link-welding and/or the link-soldering unit, and also, immediately after the closed link chain is formed in said unit and leaves the unit, to be displaced relative to one another, by a further rotatable wheel, immediately prior to a cooling proc- ess, so as to bring said closed links still closer together, i. e. to a more compact state.
The primary characteristic features of an inventive system will be evident
from the characterising clause of claim 1.
Brief description of the drawings A system at present proposed for forming, from a chain extension consist- ing of a series of open links, a chain consisting of a series of closed links, in ac- cordance with the significant characteristic features of the present invention, will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which ; Figure 1 is a schematic and perspective illustration of a production line that in- cludes a number of working stations, by which a flexible closed-link chain can be produced from a series of co-ordinated open chain links with the aid of a chosen number of said working stations; Figure 2 is a horizontal view of a rotatable disc used in said system and in- tended to transport successive links, in accordance with the propos- als of the invention, while using a chosen number of serially orien- tated working stations, here referenced A, B, C, and D; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a proposed embodiment of a first working station A; Figure 4 is a horizontal view of a proposed embodiment of a link-welding and/or link-soldering second working station B; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a proposed embodiment of a heat-dissipating arrangement, functioning as a third working station C; Figure 6 is a horizontal view of a proposed embodiment of a link-cooling arrangement, functioning as a fourth working station D; and Figure 7 illustrates some examples of the mutual orientation of adjacent links in a position or illustration 1, in which open links have not been brought closer together, and different positions and illustrations 2 and 3 respectively, in which the open and the closed links have been brought together and orientated mutually at right angles to one an- other, and a position 4, in which the links are orientated resting against the upper planar surface of the disc, as they pass through the link-welding and/or link-soldering unit.
Description of an embodiment at present preferred It will be noted that in the following description of an exemplary embodi- ment at present preferred and having the significant characteristic features of the invention illustrated in the various figures of the accompanying drawings, there have been used particular terms and particular terminology with the primary inten- tion of clarifying the inventive concept.
However, the expressions and terms used shall not be seen as limiting the scope of the invention and it will be understood that each term chosen shall be in- terpreted to include all technical equivalents that function in the same or essen- tially the same way, so as to be able to achieve the same or essentially the same intention and/or technical effect.
Shown in fig. 1 is a production line 1, by which a chain 2, consisting of a series of closed links, which are turnable relative to each other, can be produced from a chain co-ordination or chain extension 2', that consists of a series of orien- tated open links.
The series of open links have been referenced 21', 22', and 23'respec- tively in fig. 1, whereas the corresponding closed links have been referenced 21, 22, and 23 respectively. The same reference signs have been given to the links shown in fig. 7.
The welds 21 a, 22a closing the openings 21a', 22a'to form the closed links 21,22 are made in a link-welding and/or link-soldering arrangement or in a link-welding and/or link-soldering unit 31.
The open links 21', 22', and 23'shall be fed down onto a flat upper surface 3'of a rotatable disc 3 at a position, referenced 3a.
This downfeed of the chain co-ordination consisting of open links 21', 22', 23'is shown and described in more detail in Swedish Patent Application No. 00 03587-3, filed on October 4, 2000, the contents of which Application shall be con- sidered to form part of the present Application, so as to make apparent a suitable use application of the present invention in a production line, that includes sequen- tial working stations.
The chain co-ordination 2', consisting of open links resting on the planar upper surface 3'of the disc 3, are transported section by section through said welding and/or soldering station 31, serving as working station B, and two follow- ing cooling stations 32', 32, serving as respective working stations C and D,
whereafter the chain 2 consisting of joined and closed links 21,22,23 is moved along a short radius-related circular surface section 3b, corresponding to radius R2, downstream of the cooling station 31, whereafter the chain 2 is displaced to a circular surface section corresponding to the radius R3 of the disc 3.
Thus, the chain 2 consisting of closed links 21,22,23 is adapted for transportation partly in an arcuate path around the surface section 3b of the ro- tatable disc 3 and partly in an arcuate path around a surface section correspond- ing to the radius R3 and through the cooling station 32.
A deflecting roller 4, intended for the cooled chain 2, is adapted to move the chain 2 and the chain sections from the upper planar surface 3'of the disc 3 in an arcuate path radially outward from the disc 3 and over a rounded edge 3c of said disc.
This is achieved with the aid of a deflecting roller 4, which can rotate about its centre axis 4c in the direction of arrow P1.
Also included is an abrasive disc 61, which is adapted to abrade any slag products that may have fastened to the planar surface 3'of the disc.
In the illustrated case, the chain 2 has a section 2a, which leaves the link- cooling arrangement 32, and a section 2c, which is curved around the deflecting roller 4, and also a section 2e, which, by virtue of its intrinsic weight, urges the section 2c against the peripheral surface 4a.
The deflection 2c of the closed chain 2 around the deflecting roller 4 and pertinent devices constitutes a working station for removing slag products that have fastened to the links in the welding station 31.
Fig. 2 illustrates in more detail the inventive system for forming a chain 2, consisting of a series of closed links from a chain extension 2'consisting of a se- ries of open links, where said chain extension 2'is fed into abutment with a pe- ripheral surface part of said rotatable disc 3 at the position 3a, and therewith rests section-by-section on the disc at a first radius R1.
In figs. 2 and 3, the chain extension 2'has been divided into a number of open link sections, where section 2a' (fig. 3) illustrates a section being fed by a driven roller 4a and a counter-roller 4a', the section 2b'illustrates a freely hanging section, the section 2c'illustrates an arcuate section, the section 2d'illustrates a section which lies in abutment with the upper planar surface 3'of the disc 3 and the arcuate shape of which has a radius of curvature R1, the section 2e'illustrates
a section which connects with and is displaced by a wheel 6 to a position corre- sponding to the radius of curvature R2, and the section 2f'illustrates a section which lies in abutment with the upper planar surface 3'of the disc 3 and which has an arcuate shape 3b with a radius of curvature R2.
The orientation of the links in section 2d'can be said to be represented in fig. 7 as illustration"1". When the individual links of the arcuate section 2c'lie against the planar disc surface 3', the links are displaced slightly towards each other as in the section 2d', slightly more than the position shown in said figure 7.
The chain extension 2', and then particularly the section 2f', are moved by the rotary movement"v1"of the disc through a link-welding and/or link-soldering unit 31, in which said open links are closed to form a closed-link chain 2.
In accordance with the inventive system, the open-link chain extension 2' and its section 2d'are displaced immediately upstream of the link-welding and/or link-soldering unit 31 from the radius R1 to a position in which the links are brought slightly together, as illustrated by the radius R2.
It is proposed that the open links that have been brought to a slightly more compact state the chain section 2'shown in fig. 7 as illustration"2", shall be joined to form closed links in the unit 31.
The closed links are displaced downstream of the link-welding and/or the link-soldering unit 31 to a position, in which the links are brought still closer to- gether, illustrated in fig. 7 as illustration"3", and extended along a the radius R3.
The displacement desired and the displacement distance related thereto will be described in more detail with reference to fig. 7.
In fig. 7, illustration"1", shows that the open links 21', 22'and 23'respec- tively take a maximum extended position, similar to the section 2b'but not the sec- tion 2d', therewith enabling the links 21'and 23'to be displaced towards each other through a maximised distance referenced"d1".
Illustration"2"in fig. 7 shows that the links 21'and 23'have been dis- placed towards each other and present therebetween a distance"d2", similar to the section 2f'.
Illustration"3"in fig. 7 shows that the links 21,22 and 23 respectively have been displaced further towards each other and present therebetween a dis- tance"d3", similar to a section 2a.
Displacement of the links to a position in which they are brought slightly
together according to illustration"2"in fig. 7 comprises 10-50% of the maximum displacement distance"d1"that can be permitted to move mutually extended open links to a position in which the links will be in full abutment..
The displacement of said closed links to a position in which the links are still closer together in accordance with illustration"3"of fig. 7 shall comprise 10- 50% of the maximum displacement distance"d1"required to bring respective mu- tually extended, closed links 21,22 and 23 to a fully compacted state.
In the fig. 7 illustration, the location of the weld is different to the weld loca- tions shown in fig. 1, and is placed in the end-part of the link in fig. 7. Illustration "2"in fig. 7 shows that the weld material (22a) fills the gap between the mutually opposed end surfaces of the link, and that so-called slag material 22b is formed on each side of the weld material.
In this regard, it is important that the slag 22b does not firmly connect mu- tually adjacent links 21', 22', and hence displacement from R1 to R2 must conform with these requirements. If adjacent links become firmly interconnected despite the measures taken, the links must be loosened in a following stage of the process, as described hereinafter.
It will be evident from fig. 2 that the displacement of the open or the closed links that form the chain extension 2'or the chain 2 can be achieved by moving the links to a radius that is smaller than a previous radius, such as by moving the links from an orientation along a first radius R1 to a second radius R2, or by moving said links from said second radius R2 to a third radius R3.
Displacement of the open links takes place from a first radius R1 to a sec- ond radius R2, this latter radius being given a well-adapted smaller value than the former radius.
Displacement of the closed links takes place immediately downstream of the link-welding and/or link-soldering unit 31, said displacement taking place from a second radius R2 to a third radius R3, said latter radius being smaller than the former radius.
Moreover, displacement of the links in the chain extension 2"may be con- veniently chosen to be greater than displacement of the links in the chain 2. This difference in displacement may correspond to 50% of the total displacement dis- tance"d 1".
As illustrated, the displacement in the working station A may conveniently
be effected with the aid of a rotatable and radially displaceable wheel 6.
Displacement of the closed-link chain 2 in the working station C is effected with the aid of a rotatable and radially movable wheel 50, which is adapted to take- up heat from the chain.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the working station A in fig. 2.
With reference to fig. 2, there is thus shown in perspective a device for feeding an elongated chain extension 2'and the individual links forming said chain extension 2'and said chain sections to a rotating underlying support surface 3, in the form of a disc.
Feeding of the semi-fabricated chain extension 2'is effected by or from a feed wheel (or feed roller) 4a, 4a'located above the rotatable disc 3, and down to said disc 3.
For the sake of clarity, the chain has been divided into a number of chain sections, in accordance with the assumption mentioned above.
Fig. 2 shows that the downfeed of successive links or successive sections of the chain extension 2'takes place so as to cause said open links or sections to rest on a peripheral, circular first surface section 3a or extension of the disc 3, wherein the feed roller 4a imparts to the chain links a speed which is higher than the disc speed"v1"of said first surface section 3a such that successive links can rest on said disc along said first surface section 3a in positions, in which they are brought slightly together.
A device 6 fixedly mounted adjacent the disc 3 and said first surface sec- tion 3a functions to displace the"compacted"links radially inwards along the disc to a circular second surface section 3b (corresponding to the radius R2) such that said displacement movement from the first surface section 3a to the second sur- face section 3b brings the chain and its links to a more compact and adjusted state (fig. 7 as illustration"2") for a following welding or soldering process.
The links of the chain extension 2'are fed from the feed roller 4a at a speed which causes the links to be curved in a curvature 2c'towards said first sur- face section 3a, wherewith a distance measuring device 5 (fig. 3) is adapted to in- fluence the speed of the feed roller 4a in a manner to provide a constant or at least essentially constant curvature 2c'.
The device 6 intended for displacing the section 2d'to the section 2f via the section 2e'is comprised of a rotatable disc or rotatable roller 6a, where the pe-
ripheral velocity of the disc is equal to, or essentially equal to, the velocity"v2"of the second surface section 3b.
In the case of the fig. 3 embodiment, the feed roller 4 has the form of two co-ordinated rollers 4a, 4a'with the peripheral surface of the roller situated closest to the disc being located above the disc 3 at a distance corresponding to or slightly smaller than the diameter of the roller 4a'.
The curvature 2c'is adapted to vary in relation to link type and weight.
Thus, fig. 3 illustrates schematically a measuring device 5, which is desig- ned to measure the distance between the position of said device 5 and the posi- tion of the curvature 2c', so as to slightly reduce the rotational speed of the roller 4a through the medium of a motor 4b and a conductor 5b in response to an in- crease in said distance, while slightly increasing the speed of said roller 4a through the medium of said device 5 and the drive motor 4b, so as to be able to maintain constant co-ordination of the co-ordinated links.
Thus, the individual links are brought together within the section 2c'from their fully extended position and towards the section 2d'to a small but significant extent, for instance an extent corresponding to less than 10% of the distance"d1".
The rotatable disc 6 can also be displaced radially in respect of the disc 3, so as to enable the radial distance"a"between an extended surface section 3a' and the second surface section 3b to be adjusted and therewith enable the mutu- ally adjacent links to be brought to a position in which they are in a more compact state in accordance with illustration"2"in fig. 7, to an extent such as to prevent any slag deposits becoming obstructive to the production.
A working station A including a chain feeding arrangement is illustrated and described in more detail in Swedish Patent Application No. 0003587-3, filed on October 4,2000, wherewith the contents of this Application shall be considered to form a part of the instant Application and thereby make apparent a suitable use application for the present invention in mutually sequential working stations A-D of a production line.
Fig. 4 is a plan view of a link-welding and/or link-soldering unit 31.
The present invention thus utilises a link-welding arrangement 31 that can be used in the production line shown in fig. 1 with the working stations included in said line.
The link-welding arrangement 31 provides in the transport direction of the
open links caused by movement of the disc 3 a number of sequentially structured gas flames in the direction of open-link transportation caused by rotation of the disc 3, wherein each of said gas flames functions to deliver an adapted amount of thermal energy to respective links.
The successively generated, and therewith slowly increasing, thermal en- ergy (the temperature) from each of the sequentially structured gas flames shall thus be adapted so as to be able to impart to each of the open links a predeter- mined or at least a substantially determined rise in temperature during its transpor- tation through the link-welding arrangement 31.
Thus, in this regard, it is not solely a question of a successively increasing thermal content with equal contribution from respective gas flames, but that there is actually provided a thermal energy addition from respective gas flames that shall provide a time-related heating curve favourable to the final welding process.
This provides a more constant temperature, slightly beneath a tempera- ture value applicable to the welding process, immediately prior to the actual weld- ing process.
The gas flame that is situated last in the transport direction, or a group of co-ordinated gas flames situated last in said direction, shall be adapted to deliver additional heat to respective links and to cause an increase in temperature such that in conjunction therewith the welding process will be activated and terminated by causing the weld material and/or flux delivered to the links to melt in the open part of said open links defined by mutually facing end surfaces.
Illustration"4"of fig. 7 shows a proposed position of the individual links, from which it can be assumed that the upper part thereof will be slightly hotter than the lower part, therewith enabling the link openings to be heated to a temperature suitable for melting and welding purposes.
These surfaces are situated so close to one another that occurring capil- lary forces will contribute to the welding or soldering process.
The chosen gas flames shall be mutually co-ordinated to enable the tem- perature of the chain links to be adjusted at the end of this working station, which may be about 1000°C, to a predetermined link temperature at the end of the link- welding arrangement 31, said temperature being sensed by a temperature sensor, by which the sensed value is sent to a control unit for appropriate adjustment of the energy supplied to the gas flames or for adjustment of the rotational speed of
the disc 3.
Fig. 4 illustrates the external configuration of the working station in the form of a link-welding arrangement 31, which can be assumed to comprise a chassis-mounted casing 31 a.
A wall-opening 31b in the casing 31 a is adapted to surround respective open links with the smallest possible clearance, as said links 23', 22', 21'are fed into the arrangement or unit 31.
It is assumed in this practical application that the link structure will have a more rectangular cross-sectional shape, with one long side lying against the pla- nar surface 3'and the opposite long side facing upwards, while the mutually oppo- site short sides define a right angle with the planar surface 3'.
The size of the end-wall opening 31 b can be adjusted with the aid of three motor-driven ports.
A second wall-opening 31b'for the casing 31a is adapted to surround the chain 2 consisting of closed links 23,22,21 with the smallest possible clearance.
The size of the wall opening 31 b'can be adjusted by means of three mo- tor-driven ports.
With respect to said thermal energy supply and said temperature adjust- ment, it lies within the scope of the present invention to create conditions which enable the gas flames to be raised and lowered.
In this regard, fig. 4 shows that a frame 31f mounted within the casing 31 can be raised and lowered with the aid of screw devices driven by a motor-driven belt. The height of the gas flames is adjusted to an appropriate level by a control unit, in response to the temperature sensed by the sensor.
The gas pressure applied to the gas flames shall, at the same time, be ad- justable so as to enable the heat supplied and the temperature caused to be brought to a predetermined value.
Alternatively, the speed at which the disc 3 rotates may be adjusted.
A link-welding arrangement 31 is illustrated and described in more detail in Swedish Patent Application No. 00 04064-2, filed on November 7,2000, where- with the contents of this Application shall be considered as forming part of the in- stant Application so as to make apparent a suitable use application of the instant invention in a production line that includes sequential working stations.
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a heat-conducting or heat dissipating ar-
rangement, which represents the working station C in fig. 2.
Fig. 6 is a plan view of a cooling arrangement 32, which represents the working station D in fig. 2.
The present invention thus utilises a link-cooling arrangement 32', which functions partly as a heat-dissipating arrangement and partly as a link-cooling ar- rangement 32, which can be used in the production line shown in figs. 1 and 2 in- cluding the illustrated working stations.
As will be seen from fig. 6, the link-cooling arrangement 32 includes a cas- ing 32a that has an inlet opening 32b in an upstream situated end portion 32c and an outlet opening 32b'in a downstream situated end portion 32d.
The orientation of the heat-dissipating arrangement 32'used in accor- dance with the invention will be particularly evident from fig. 6.
It will be seen in particular that the arrangement 32'for conducting heat from the sequentially orientated closed links is located upstream of the link-cooling arrangement 32 and downstream of the link-welding arrangement 31.
In the fig. 5 embodiment, the heat-dissipating arrangement 32'is com- prised of a rotatable wheel 50, which may be comprised of copper and the rota- tional axis 50'of which is placed adjacent the edge 3c of the disc 3 but externally thereof.
The wheel 50 has a hat-like configuration with a brim 50b situated close to said disc 3 and intended to supportively abut the newly welded closed links 21,22 and 23.
An outer defining surface 50b'of the brim 50b for metallic abutment with and heat transfer from the closed links has a shape which conforms to the shape of the closed links, so as to facilitate the transfer of heat from the links to the brim 50b. Thus, this surface shall be planar for co-action with links whose edges have a distinctive planar structure, The chain-winding or supporting angle around the wheel 50 and its brim 50b is between 30 and 50 degrees, preferably about 40 degrees.
The rotational axis 50'of the wheel 50 is placed outside the edge 3c of the disc 3 at a distance"b"corresponding to between 10 and 50% of the wheel radius R, preferably about 40%.
The brim 50b has a width corresponding to between 15 and 50% of the wheel radius R, preferably about 30%.
The height of the hat-like structure 50a above the brim 50b corresponds to 40-80% of the wheel radius R, preferably about 60%.
The hat-like structure 50a is positioned over a disc 51 provided with dog- ging means.
The dogging means consists in a screw fastened in the hat structure 50a with the head of the screw fitted into a hole in the disc 51.
The hat-like structure 50a is pressed against the disc with a small and adapted force, by means of a resilient or springy device 52. This attachment is in- tended to allow the hat-like structure 50a to move in response to irregularities in the surface 3'of the disc 3.
The brim 50b includes a peripheral wear edge that faces towards the disc 3.
The wheel 50 includes a plurality of holes 53, within the hat-like structure 50a, for passage of a cooling gas or the like.
The orientation of these holes 53 is distributed around the whole of the uppermost surface section of the hat-like structure.
The disc 51 carrying said dogging means is also provided with a number of holes. for passage of a cooling gas or the like.
The perforated wheel 50 and the perforated disc 51 carrying said dogging means are also provided with corresponding hole structures, which may be orien- tated laterally of each other or may mutually correspond.
A sleeve 60 surrounds the disc 51 carrying said dogging means, for sup- plying cooling gas or the like to the disc 51 and to the wheel 50.
An important feature of the inventive system is that when links welded in the unit 31 leave said unit they strike obliquely against the edge of the wheel 50 so that any slag agglomerations fastened to said links will be dislodged by said im- pact, at the same time as the individual links rotate against the wheel 50 whilst be- ing cooled, said rotary movement preventing slag agglomerations from fastening to adjacent links.
A heat-dissipating arrangement, according to fig. 5, is illustrated and de- scribed in more detail in Swedish Patent Application 00 04164-0, filed on Novem- ber 14,2000, wherewith the contents of this Application shall be considered to form part of the present invention so as to make more apparent an appropriate use application of the present invention is a production line that includes mutually se-
quential working stations.
Fig. 6 shows the cooling arrangement representing the working station D in fig. 2.
The chain 2 shown in fig. 2 is divided into a number of sections. One sec- tion 2f leaves the unit 31 and one section 2g strikes or connects with the edge 50b' of the heat-dissipating arrangement.
The chain 2 shown in fig. 6 includes a section 2a, which leaves the heat- cooling arrangement 32. A section 2c shall be curved around the deflecting roller 4 and the intrinsic weight of a section 2e causes the section 2c to be urged against the peripheral surface 4a.
The deflection 2c of the closed chain around the deflecting roller 4 and as- sociated arrangement forms a working station, in which slag products can be re- moved, these products having fastened to the links in the welding station 31 in spite of the measures taken earlier.
This arrangement is illustrated and described in more detail in Swedish Patent Application No. 00 03879-4, filed on October 25,2000, and entitled"An Ar- rangement for Removing Slag Products", wherewith the contents of this Applica- tion shall be considered to form part of the present Application so as to make more apparent an appropriate use application of the present invention in a production line that includes sequential working stations.
In fig. 6, the casing 32a has an outer part-toroidal shape.
Located adjacent the downstream end-part 32d is a number of connec- tions 32e, in the illustrated case three connections, which are connected to cooling fluid hoses.
Located adjacent the upstream end-part 32c is a connection 32f for deliv- ering a cooled inert gas to the arrangement 32 via a connection.
This cooled inert gas consists of gas taken from the exhaust gases gener- ated in an upstream link-welding arrangement 31.
Connected to the casing 32a adjacent said end-part 32c are connections 32e'for shunting fluid. Attached to the casing 32a adjacent the end-part 32d is a connection 32f'for conducting away exhaust gases.
The arrangement 32 consists partly of one or more pipe sections, three in the case of the illustrated example.
One pipe shall be wound tightly with a constant radius of curvature and a
constant pitch, such as to form a helix.
Two pipes shall be orientated parallel with one another and wound tightly with a constant radius of curvature and a constant pitch, wherein each of said pipes forms a particular helix, whose pitch is twice that of the pitch of that of an- other pipe.
The embodiment includes the use of three pipes having a constant radius of curvature and a pitch, which is so adapted as to allow two additional such pipes to be inserted into the helix.
Such an arrangement will conveniently use gas-conducting flanges having mutually opposed gas-conducting surfaces.
In the illustrated case, each flange has a constant radius of curvature es- sentially corresponding to the radius of curvature of a virtual cylinder surrounding the pipe.
The pitch is adapted to enable two further flanges to be inserted in the he- lix, also in this case.
The co-ordination of three pipes with three flanges is thus a requirement of this embodiment.
An inner edge line of the flange is adapted for co-action with the pipe, and the outer edge line of said flange is adapted for co-action with the inner surface of the casing 32a.
Thus, the present invention utilises one or more gas-conducting surfaces whose inwardly facing edge lines are adapted to co-action with a helical pipe and, more particularly, are positioned between mutually adjacent pipes.
These pipes are thus intended to conduct cooling fluid, such as water, and to dissipate from the flanges thermal energy taken from the newly welded links.
The gas cooling the closed links 21,22,23 of the chain 2 are intended to pass through apertures formed in the gas-conducting surface.
The flange (and naturally also other flanges) has a part located within a surface area adjacent the disc 3, and the links carried by said disc pass through an aperture formed in the unit 31, the dimensions of which aperture are adapted to only slightly exceed the cross-section of the links.
Thus, the casing 32a is provided with a slot adjacent the disc, such as to form said apertures.
The apertures have a curvature R3 corresponding to part of the radius of
the rotatable disc 3.
The gas-conducting surfaces are adapted, via edge lines, for heat-conduc- ting co-action with said pipes within an area situated within a boundary region be- tween adjacent pipes.
The exhaust gases in said casing are caused to flow in a direction oppo- site to the direction in which said fluid flows through said pipe section.
The helical gas-conducting flanges and their respective surfaces are cho- sen in number from between 2 and 5 parallel-related continuously helical wall sec- tions.
The helical fluid conducting pipes are chosen in number from between 2 and 5 parallel-related continuously helical pipe sections.
The casing 32a has along the peripheral surface region of the disc 3 an extension corresponding to an angle of between 110 and 140 degrees, preferably an angle of about 130 degrees.
The casing 32a has a diameter (D1), which has values lying between 5/45 and 10/45, such as about 6/45 in relation to a disc diameter.
It will be understood that the invention is not restricted to the afore de- scribed and illustrated exemplifying embodiment thereof and that modifications can be made within the scope of the concept of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying claims.
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