Chain guide

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11662000-B2
Application number	US-202117519708-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 5, 2021
Priority date	Jan 12, 2021
Publication date	May 30, 2023
Grant date	May 30, 2023

Abstract

A chain guide is provided that can improve the work efficiency during assembly and transportability with a simple structure. The chain guide includes a bushing structure where a bushing member is attached to a guide body at least in one location. The guide body includes a cylindrical insertion hole through which a bushing cylindrical part is inserted, and a backside restricting part that restricts movement of a flange part to the back side in the guide width direction. The guide body is provided, in each bushing structure, with a front-side restricting portion that restricts movement of the flange part to the front side in the guide width direction only in one location on the outer circumference of the cylindrical insertion hole when viewed in the guide width direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A chain guide comprising: a guide body having a shoe support for supporting a guide shoe that slidably guides a running chain on an upper side in a guide height direction; and a bushing structure at least in one location where a bushing member is attached to the guide body,
the bushing member including a bushing cylindrical part formed with a bolt passage hole, and a flange part extending radially outward from the bushing cylindrical part at one end of the bushing cylindrical part,
the guide body including a cylindrical insertion hole formed to extend therethrough in a guide width direction so that the bushing cylindrical part is inserted from a front side to a back side in the guide width direction, and a backside restricting part that restricts movement of the flange part toward the back side in the guide width direction,
the guide body including, in each bushing structure, a front-side restricting portion that is positioned on the front side in the guide width direction of the flange part and restricts movement of the flange part to the front side in the guide width direction only in one location on an outer circumference of the cylindrical insertion hole when viewed in the guide width direction, wherein
the guide body includes an extended part extending from a portion of the guide body from the back side to the front side in the guide width direction, and
a distal end on the front side of the extended part is formed with the front-side restricting portion.

2. The chain guide according to claim 1 , wherein the extended part is flexible and formed to be movable in directions in which the extended part moves closer to and away from a center of the cylindrical insertion hole.

3. The chain guide according to claim 1 , wherein the front-side restricting portion is positioned below the cylindrical insertion hole in the guide height direction.

4. The chain guide according to claim 1 , wherein
the guide body includes a support wall that supports the shoe support from below, and a reinforcing rib protruding from a side face of the support wall in the guide width direction, and
the reinforcing rib includes a peripheral rib formed to surround an outer circumference of the flange part, with the bushing member being attached to the guide body.

5. A chain guide comprising: a guide body having a shoe support for supporting a guide shoe that slidably guides a running chain on an upper side in a guide height direction; and a bushing structure at least in one location where a bushing member is attached to the guide body,
the bushing member including a bushing cylindrical part formed with a bolt passage hole, and a flange part extending radially outward from the bushing cylindrical part at one end of the bushing cylindrical part,
the guide body including a cylindrical insertion hole formed to extend therethrough in a guide width direction so that the bushing cylindrical part is inserted from a front side to a back side in the guide width direction, and a backside restricting part that restricts movement of the flange part toward the back side in the guide width direction,
the guide body including, in each bushing structure, a front-side restricting portion that is positioned on the front side in the guide width direction of the flange part and restricts movement of the flange part to the front side in the guide width direction only in one location on an outer circumference of the cylindrical insertion hole when viewed in the guide width direction, wherein
the guide body includes a support wall that supports the shoe support from below, and a backside boss formed on the back side in the guide width direction of the support wall,
the cylindrical insertion hole is formed to extend through the support wall and the backside boss in the guide width direction,
the guide body includes an extended part extending from the backside boss to the front side in the guide width direction, and
a distal end on the front side of the extended part is formed with the front-side restricting portion.

6. A chain guide comprising: a guide body having a shoe support for supporting a guide shoe that slidably guides a running chain on an upper side in a guide height direction; and a bushing structure at least in one location where a bushing member is attached to the guide body,
the bushing member including a bushing cylindrical part formed with a bolt passage hole, and a flange part extending radially outward from the bushing cylindrical part at one end of the bushing cylindrical part,
the guide body including a cylindrical insertion hole formed to extend therethrough in a guide width direction so that the bushing cylindrical part is inserted from a front side to a back side in the guide width direction, and a backside restricting part that restricts movement of the flange part toward the back side in the guide width direction,
the guide body including, in each bushing structure, a front-side restricting portion that is positioned on the front side in the guide width direction of the flange part and restricts movement of the flange part to the front side in the guide width direction only in one location on an outer circumference of the cylindrical insertion hole when viewed in the guide width direction, wherein
the guide body is made of a synthetic resin,
the guide body includes an extended part extending from a portion of the guide body from the back side to the front side in the guide width direction,
a distal end on the front side of the extended part is formed with the front-side restricting portion in a protruded shape so as to protrude toward a center of the cylindrical insertion hole, and
the guide body includes a guide through hole extending therethrough in the guide width direction at a position coinciding with the front-side restricting portion when viewed in the guide width direction.

7. A chain guide comprising: a guide body having a shoe support for supporting a guide shoe that slidably guides a running chain on an upper side in a guide height direction; and a bushing structure at least in one location where a bushing member is attached to the guide body,
the bushing member including a bushing cylindrical part formed with a bolt passage hole, and a flange part extending radially outward from the bushing cylindrical part at one end of the bushing cylindrical part,
the guide body including a cylindrical insertion hole formed to extend therethrough in a guide width direction so that the bushing cylindrical part is inserted from a front side to a back side in the guide width direction, and a backside restricting part that restricts movement of the flange part toward the back side in the guide width direction,
the guide body including, in each bushing structure, a front-side restricting portion that is positioned on the front side in the guide width direction of the flange part and restricts movement of the flange part to the front side in the guide width direction only in one location on an outer circumference of the cylindrical insertion hole when viewed in the guide width direction,
wherein the flange part includes a flange restricted portion where the flange part is restricted by the front-side restricting portion from moving to the front side in the guide width direction, and a flange small radius portion that is smaller than the flange restricted portion in terms of radius thereof from a center of the bushing cylindrical part to an outer edge of the flange part.

8. The chain guide according to claim 7 , wherein the guide body includes a rotation restricting part that restricts rotation of the flange part in a state in which the front-side restricting portion restricts movement of the flange restricted portion to the front side in the guide width

Assignees

• Tsubakimoto Chain Co

Inventors

• Murai Kosuke
• Watanabe Masanori

Classifications

• F16H7/18 Primary

  Means for guiding or supporting belts, ropes, or chains (construction of pulleys F16H55/36) · CPC title

• F16H7/06

  with chains · CPC title

• F16H7/08 Primary

  Means for varying tension of belts, ropes or chains  (pulleys of adjustable construction F16H55/52) · CPC title

• F16H2007/185

  the guiding surface in contact with the belt, rope or chain having particular shapes, structures or materials · CPC title

• F01L1/022

  Chain drive · CPC title