Chain For Conveying Logs Or The Like

Abstract

A chain for conveying logs may be formed of both fabricated and cast links to produce a chain that is durable and economical. The chain includes a plurality of driving links each having at least one contact for engaging the logs and a plurality of common links free of the contacts. Whereas each of the driving links are formed as a cast link, each of the common links is formed as a fabricated link.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 are each a perspective view of a length of chain in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the length of chain.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of two fabricated links of the length of chain.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the two fabricated links of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a single cast driving link of the length of chain.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the cast driving link.

Claims

1. A chain for conveying logs or the like, the chain comprising: a first link with a one-piece configuration;a second link formed from at least two pieces joined with a weld; anda pin that rotatably-secures the first link to the second link.

2. The chain recited in claim 1, wherein the first link includes a contact that extends outward from the first link for engaging the logs.

3. The chain recited in claim 1, wherein each of the first link and the second link includes a pair of side pieces and a cross piece extending between the side pieces.

4. The chain recited in claim 3, wherein at least one contact for engaging the logs extends outward from the side pieces of the first link, and the second link is free of a contact for engaging the logs.

5. The chain recited in claim 1, wherein the first link is formed of a first material and the second link is formed of a second material having a lesser hardness than the first material.

6. The chain recited in claim 5, wherein the first material and the second material are steel.

7. The chain recited in claim 1, wherein the chain includes a plurality of links, a majority of the links having a configuration of the second link.

8. A chain for conveying logs or the like, the chain comprising: driving links that each includes a contact for engaging the logs, each of the driving links having a one-piece configuration;common links free of contacts for engaging the logs and including at least two elements welded together; anda plurality of pins that join the links to each other.

9. The chain recited in claim 8, wherein the chain includes more of the common links than the driving links.

10. The chain recited in claim 8, wherein the chain is predominantly formed from the common links.

11. The chain recited in claim 8, wherein a series of least five of the common links extend between each adjacent pair of the driving links.

12. The chain recited in claim 8, wherein each of the driving links and common links includes a pair of side pieces and a cross piece extending between the side pieces.

13. The chain recited in claim 12, wherein the contacts of the driving links extend outward from the side pieces.

14. The chain recited in claim 8, wherein the driving links are formed from a first steel material and the common links are formed from a second steel material, the first steel material having a greater hardness than the second steel material.

15. The chain recited in claim 8, further including at least one common link free of contacts for engaging the logs and having the one-piece configuration.

16. A method of manufacturing a chain for conveying logs or the like, the method including steps of: casting a plurality of first links, each of the first links having a one-piece configuration;fabricating a plurality of second links, each of the second links being formed by welding at least two elements together; andjoining the links to each other.

17. The method recited in claim 16, wherein the step of casting includes forming contacts that project outward from each of the first links to engage the logs.

18. The method recited in claim 17, wherein the step of fabricating includes forming the second links to be free of contacts for engaging the logs.

19. The method recited in claim 16, wherein the step of casting includes forming contacts that project outward from at least a portion of the first links to engage the logs.

20. The method recited in claim 16, wherein the step of joining includes utilizing a greater number of the second links than the first links.

21. The method recited in claim 16, wherein the step of joining includes securing a series of at least five of the second links together between two of the first links.

22. The method recited in claim 16, wherein the first link is cast of a first steel material and the second link is composed of a second steel material less hard than the first steel material.

23. The method recited in claim 16, wherein the steps of casting and fabricating include forming each of the first links and the second links to have a pair of side pieces and a cross piece extending between the side pieces.

24. A method of using a chain to convey logs or the like, the method comprising: providing an endless chain having a plurality of one-piece driving links with contacts and a plurality of common links free of contacts, at least some of the common links being formed of a plurality of pieces welded together;engaging logs with the contacts from the driving links; andmoving the chain along a prescribed course to convey the logs from a first position to a second position.

25. The method recited in claim 24, wherein the provided endless chain includes a greater number of the common links formed of a plurality of welded pieces than the driving links.