Peerless Chain Company

Peerless Chain

Stener, Lester

Mccauley, John J.

John J McCauley

Lester O Stener

Robert D Jensen

Matthew Fitzgerald

A debarking chain having bent links; the bent links being bent either right or left, from end to end at a bend angle of from about 5 to about 90 degrees to provide a flail type debarking chain having protruding edges or corners that increase the efficiency in which bark is removed from logs during debarking operations. Bent link chains include right bent links that are bent to the right proximate the middle of the link, where the weld is preferably located, when the link is viewed from the side with the weld on the far side and left bent links that are bent to the left proximate the middle of the link, where the weld is preferably located, when the link is viewed from the side with the weld on the far side. Disclosed inventions also include a debarking drum having a plurality of debarking chains having at least two bent links, as well as debarking devices having such a debarking drum and methods of making and using the same. The debarking device preferably includes a chipping device and methods of using the same in conjunction with using such bent link debarking chain.

Debarking chain having bent links

A debarking chain having passing links; the passing links being substantially rounded in order to permit the passing links to pass through adjacent links such that the orientation of the passing link relative to its adjacent links can change at random in order to randomly distribute the wear and stress from any impact of adjacent or next to adjacent links on the passing links so that the overall wear life of the present debarking chain is extended over similar chain with elongated, oblong links of the prior art. The invention also includes a debarking drum having a plurality of debarking chains having at least one, preferably a plurality of passing links, as well as a debarking device having such a debarking drum. The debarking device preferably includes a chipping device and a method of using the same.

Debarking chain with passing links

Self-tightening snow chain for attachment to a vehicle wheel to provide traction. The preferred self-tightening snow chain includes a traction cable and a tensioning device including a housing having a top including a set of housing teeth, a bottom and at least one aperture; a lever interconnected to the housing; a ratchet spool within the housing having a set of ratchet teeth that mate with the housing teeth and a channel between upper and under surfaces to receive a cord that is interconnected with the ratchet spool; a tension spring that places a bias on the ratchet spool toward a wind-up direction; and a wave spring. A preferred tensioning device includes a cord sub-unit having two knobs, one on each end, and a grommet encircling the cord. A method of assembling the tensioning device is also disclosed.

Self-tightening snow chain and methods of use

Self-tensioning snow chain for attachment to a vehicle wheel. The self-tensioning snow chain includes a chain and a tensioning device including a housing having a top including a set of housing teeth, a bottom and at least one aperture defined by the top and the bottom when joined together; a lever interconnected to the housing; a cord; a ratchet spool having a set of ratchet teeth on an upper surface, the ratchet teeth mate with the housing teeth, an under surface and a channel between the upper and under surfaces to receive the cord that is interconnected with the ratchet spool; a tension spring interconnected with the ratchet spool that places a bias on the ratchet spool toward a wind-up direction; and a wave spring positioned between a top surface of the bottom of the housing and the under surface to bias the ratchet spool towards the housing teeth.

A link assembly comprising a body and a closure. The body is generally c-shaped and includes two ends that confront each other in a spaced-apart relation. Each end of the body is provided with two or more external, helical thread sets that extend from each end towards the body. The closure includes a main section with first and second ends and a threaded interior surface that extends the length of the closure member. The treaded interior surface of the closure member engages and mates with each of the thread sets at the ends of the body. The closure is movable between a first or open position, which exposes a gap between the ends of the body, and a second or closed position that closes the gap between the ends of the body. Preferably, the closure member can be moved between the first and second positions in approximately five revolutions.

Quick connect coupling link

Self-tightening traction assemblies or snow chains having tensioning devices that can be used with snow chains for attachment to a vehicle wheel to provide traction. The preferred tensioning device including a housing having a top including a set of housing teeth, a bottom and at least one aperture; an actuator interconnected to the housing; a ratchet spool within the housing having a set of ratchet teeth that mate with the housing teeth and a channel between upper and under surfaces to receive at least one cord that is interconnected with the ratchet spool; a tension spring that places a bias on the ratchet spool toward a wind-up direction; and a wave spring. Preferred embodiments include a bracket that can secure the actuator to the housing and provide strength to the tensioning device. The tensioning devices of the present invention can be utilized in a variety of applications not limited to self-tightening snow chains.

Self-tightening traction assembly having tensioning device

A debarking chain having passing links; the passing links being substantially rounded in order to permit the passing links to pass through adjacent links such that the orientation of the passing link relative to its adjacent links can change at random in order to randomly distribute the wear and stress from the impact of adjacent or next to adjacent links on the passing links so that the overall wear life of the present debarking chain is extended over similar chain with elongated, oblong links of the prior art. The invention also includes a debarking drum having a plurality of debarking chains having at least one, preferably a plurality of passing links, as well as a debarking device having such a debarking drum. The debarking device preferably includes a chipping device and a method of using the same.

Load-bearing devices, each including an overload indicator of the present invention interconnecting load bearing connectors, preferably elongated load bearing connectors are provided. In preferred embodiments, the load bearing connectors are chains, ropes, wire ropes, cables, straps and the like, preferably chain. The overload indicator includes a link having a strand of wire form material. The strand of wire form material having first and second portions, the first portion having a first strength; the second portion including a weaker segment having a second strength which is less than the first strength. The weaker segment preferably has a generally predetermined load bearing capacity or capability and is calibrated to reduce the load bearing capacity or capability of the overload indicator. Methods of making an overload indicator and a load bearing device including an overload indicators of the present invention are also disclosed.

Load bearing device including overload indicator

Load-bearing devices, each including an overload indicator of the present invention interconnecting load bearing connectors, preferably elongated load bearing connectors are provided. In preferred embodiments, the load bearing connectors are chains, ropes, wire ropes, cables, straps and the like, preferably chain. The wire form overload indicator preferably includes a modified wire form link, preferably either a modified welded link or a modified quick link, generally having a first thickness and first and second elongated sides. The modified link preferably includes two elongated sides, one of which preferably has a portion having a diminished thickness narrower than the first thickness. The diminished thickness preferably has a generally predetermined load bearing capacity or capability and is calibrated to reduce the load bearing capacity or capability of the overload indicator. Methods of making an overload indicator and a load bearing device including an overload indicators of the present invention are also disclosed.

A load-bearing device including an overload indicator and a wire form overload indicator are provided for interconnection of load bearing connectors, preferably elongated load bearing connectors, for bearing a load. In preferred embodiments, the load bearing connectors are chains, ropes, wire ropes, cables, straps and the like, preferably chain. The wire form overload indicator preferably includes a wire form quick-link having a first thickness, and first and second elongated sides. The first elongated side preferably includes an interconnectable gap through which connection loops of the load bearing connectors can pass when the interconnectable gap is unconnected. The interconnectable gap includes a connection end and a connectable end, the connecting end having a connector capable of connecting the connecting end to the connectable end to close the gap. The second elongated side preferably has a portion having a diminished thickness as compared to the first thickness. The diminished thickness preferably has a predetermined load bearing capability and is calibrated to reduce the load bearing capability of the methods of making an overload indicator and a load bearing device including an overload indicator are also provided.

Growing community of inventors

Winona, MN, United States of America

John J McCauley