Rack and chain lifting device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10669139-B2
Application number	US-201615181907-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 14, 2016
Priority date	Jun 14, 2016
Publication date	Jun 2, 2020
Grant date	Jun 2, 2020

Abstract

The invention is a rack and chain lifting device. The purpose is to convert rotational motion to linear motion in a way that is superior to a rack and pinion device because, first, it allows for more points of contact with the rack through the use of a silent chain in place of a pinion, and, second, because it can be used in corners since the motor can be distanced from the rack by means of the silent chain. The invention comprises a silent chain with link plates that are shaped such that the teeth of the link plates are offset when the chain is straightened, allowing the profile of the silent chain to correspond with the profiles of both gears and racks. The invention also comprises a rack that can be placed in corners. Some embodiments include a system of gears, a motor, and a mounting platform.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A rack and chain lifting device comprising:
a linear rack having a first tooth profile;
a first circular gear that is away from the linear rack, wherein the first circular gear has a second tooth profile;
a second circular gear that is proximal to the linear rack, wherein the second circular gear has the second tooth profile;
a third circular gear that is proximal to the linear rack, wherein the third circular gear has the second tooth profile, wherein the second tooth profile is different than the first tooth profile;
a motor, the motor connected to and driving the first circular gear; and
a silent chain, the silent chain comprising a plurality of first and second connecting pins and a plurality of link plates, wherein each link plate has four teeth with two upper teeth extending in a direction normal to a direction of travel of the link plate and two lower teeth extending in a direction anti-normal to the direction of travel, wherein each tooth comprises a tip having a central point, and wherein each link plate has first and second pin holes each comprising a central pivot point spaced apart parallel to the direction of travel,
wherein the respective central points are spaced apart at a first distance and the respective central pivot points are spaced apart at a second distance that is different than the first distance;
wherein the plurality of link plates are stacked in first and second alternating rows and bendably joined together by inserting the first and second connecting pins through the first and second pin holes, such that the first connecting pins pass through the first pin hole of the link plates of the first row and pass through the second pin hole of the link plates of the second row, and such that the second connecting pins pass through the second pin hole of the link plates of the first row and pass through the first pin hole of the link plates of the second row, and
wherein the first and second distances of the respective central points and the respective central pivot points cause a first lower tooth of the first row of link plates and a second lower tooth of the second row of link plates to be offset in a first offset corresponding to the first tooth profile when the silent chain is engaged with the linear rack and cause a first lower tooth of a first link plate in the second row of link plates to align with a second lower tooth of a second link plate in the first row of link plates and a second lower tooth of the first link plate in the second row of link plates to align with a first lower tooth of a third link plate in the first row of link plates when the second link plate in the first row of link plates is engaged with the linear rack and the third link plate in the first row of link plates is engaged with one of the second circular gear and the third circular gear.

2. The rack and chain lifting device of claim 1 , wherein each tip forms an angle between about 30 and 80 degrees.

3. The rack and chain lifting device of claim 1 , wherein each tip forms an angle between about 55 and 60 degrees.

4. The rack and chain lifting device of claim 1 , wherein each tooth extends from a vertical waist of each link plate at an angle between about 100 and 150 degrees.

5. The rack and chain lifting device of claim 1 , wherein each tooth extends from a vertical waist of each link plate at an angle between about 125 and 130 degrees.

6. The rack and chain lifting device of claim 1 , wherein the first distance between central pivot points within each pin hole of each link plate measures 0.5 inches, and the second distance between central points of two teeth of the link plate that are pointing a same direction measures between about 0.345 and 0.790 inches.

7. The rack and chain lifting device of claim 1 , wherein the first distance measures 0.5 inches, and the second distance measures between 0.490 and 0.680 inches.

8. The rack and chain lifting device of claim 1 , wherein the first distance measures 0.5 inches, and the second distance measures between 0.550 and 0.645 inches.

9. The rack and chain lifting device of claim 1 , the silent chain further comprising center guide link plates, the center guide link plates being positioned centrally between the alternating first and second rows of link plates, and the center guide link plates being stadium-shaped and having no teeth.

10. The rack and chain lifting device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second connecting pins are rocker pins.

11. The rack and chain lifting device of claim 1 , wherein the silent chain comprises eight alternating rows of link plates.

12. The rack and chain lifting device of claim 1 , wherein a pitch measurement of the linear rack measures between 0.345 and 0.79 inches.

13. The rack and chain lifting device of claim 1 , wherein a pitch measurement of the linear rack measures between 0.41 and 0.63 inches.

14. The rack and chain lifting device of claim 1 , wherein a pitch measurement of the linear rack measures between 0.48 and 0.58 inches.

15. The rack and chain lifting device of claim 1 , wherein teeth of the linear rack extend from a main body of the linear rack at an angle between 90 and 130 degrees.

16. The rack and chain lifting device of claim 1 , wherein teeth of the linear rack extend from a main body of the linear rack at an angle between 105 and 115 degrees.

17. The rack and chain lifting device of claim 9 , wherein the linear rack has a center guide indentation that corresponds with the center guide link plates of the silent chain, to prevent the silent chain from slipping when it engages with the linear rack.

18. The rack and chain lifting device of claim 1 , further comprising a mounting platform, on which the motor and the first, second, and third circular gears are mounted.

Assignees

• Hall David R
• Priddis Jackson
• Priddis Andrew
• Priddis Eimi
• Halls Labs LLC

Inventors

• Hall David R
• Priddis Jackson
• Priddis Andrew
• Priddis Eimi

Classifications

• F16G13/06

  with links connected by parallel driving-pins with or without rollers {so-called open links} · CPC title

• F16G13/04

  Toothed chains · CPC title

• F16H7/06

  with chains · CPC title

• F16H19/06

  comprising {flexible members, e.g. an} endless flexible member · CPC title

• B66F3/02 Primary

  with racks actuated by pinions · CPC title