초록

A chain for a particulate material extrusion pump includes a plurality of links, each of the plurality of links having a link body and a link ledge, wherein each link ledge of the plurality of links at least partially overlaps the link body of an adjacent one of the plurality of links.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A chain for a particulate material extrusion pump comprising: a plurality of links, each of said plurality of links having a link body and a link ledge which extends therefrom, wherein each link ledge of each of said plurality of links at least partially overlaps the link body of an adjacent one

1. A chain for a particulate material extrusion pump comprising: a plurality of links, each of said plurality of links having a link body and a link ledge which extends therefrom, wherein each link ledge of each of said plurality of links at least partially overlaps the link body of an adjacent one of said plurality of links such that said link ledge and said link body that is at least partially overlapped by said link ledge together provide a flat surface, and each said link body including a plurality of link plates extending therefrom, each of said plurality of link plates including a first aperture and a second aperture such that said first apertures on said link body axially align and said second apertures on said link body axially align, said first apertures on each said link body being in axial alignment with said second apertures on a forward neighboring one of said plurality of links and said second apertures on each said link body being in axial alignment with said first apertures on an aft neighboring one of said plurality of links. 2. The chain as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of links is connected to said adjacent one of said plurality of links with a link axle. 3. The chain as recited in claim 2, further comprising at least one track wheel mounted to said link axle. 4. The chain as recited in claim 1, wherein said link ledge trails said link body with respect to a direction of the chain. 5. The chain as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of links are moveable along a path of travel that includes a linear portion and a curved portion, and said flat surface is provided in said linear portion. 6. The chain as recited in claim 5, wherein, in said curved portion, said link ledge is separated from said link body that is at least partially overlapped by said link ledge in said linear portion. 7. The chain as recited in claim 6, wherein, in said curved portion, said link ledge is separated in the direction of the path of travel such that there is an outwardly opening gap between said link ledge and said link body. 8. The chain as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of link plates extending from the link body extend in a first direction beyond the link ledge of the link body and in a second, opposite direction, but not beyond the link body in the second direction. 9. The chain as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of links includes a vertical gap between said plurality of link plates and said link ledge. 10. A chain for a particulate material extrusion pump comprising: a plurality of forward links, each of said plurality of forward links having a forward link body with an overlapping forward link ledge; anda plurality of aft links, each of said plurality of aft links having an aft link body with an overlapping aft link ledge, each overlapping forward link ledge at least partially overlaps an adjacent aft link body and each overlapping aft link ledge at least partially overlaps an adjacent forward link body such that said overlapping forward link ledge, said adjacent aft link body that is at least partially overlapped by said overlapping forward link ledge, said overlapping aft link ledge and said adjacent forward link body that is at least partially overlapped by said overlapping aft link ledge together provide a flat surface. 11. The chain as recited in claim 10, wherein each overlapping forward link ledge and each overlapping aft link ledge is a trailing ledge. 12. The chain as recited in claim 10, wherein each of said plurality of forward links is connected to an adjacent one of said plurality of aft links with a link axle. 13. The chain as recited in claim 12, further comprising at least one track wheel mounted to said link axle. 14. The chain as recited in claim 10, wherein each of said plurality of forward links includes three forward link plates, each of said three forward link plates include two apertures. 15. The chain as recited in claim 10, wherein each of said plurality of aft links includes two aft link plates, each of said two aft link plates include two apertures. 16. The chain as recited in claim 15, wherein each of said two apertures receive a link axle. 17. The chain as recited in claim 6, wherein each of said link axles supports at least one track wheel. 18. The chain as recited in claim 17, wherein a first track wheel is supported between a first forward link plate an and a first aft link plate and a second tack wheel is supported between a second forward link plate and a second aft link plate, said first track wheel and said second track wheel supported on a single link axle. 19. The chain as recited in claim 18, further comprising a center forward link plate between said first forward link plate and said second forward link plate. 20. The chain as recited in claim 10, wherein each said forward link body and each said aft link body define a working surface thereon. 21. The chain as recited in claim 10, wherein each of said plurality of forward links and each of said plurality of aft links include a plurality of link plates extending therefrom, each of said plurality of link plates including a first aperture and a second aperture such that said first apertures on said link body axially align and said second apertures on said link body axially align, said first apertures on each said link body being in axial alignment with said second apertures on an adjacent neighboring link body and said second apertures on each said link body being in axial alignment with said first apertures on another adjacent neighboring link body. 22. The chain as recited in claim 10, wherein said forward link includes a plurality of forward link plates extending therefrom and said aft link body includes a plurality of aft link plates extending therefrom, with a vertical gap between said plurality of forward link plates and said overlapping forward link ledge and a vertical gap between said plurality of aft link plates and said overlapping aft link ledge. 23. A pump for transporting particulate material comprising: a passageway defined in part by at least one chain, said chain includes a plurality of links, each of said plurality of links having a link body and a link ledge which extends therefrom, wherein each link ledge of said plurality of links at least partially overlaps the link body of an adjacent one of said plurality of links, wherein said plurality of links includes a plurality of forward links and a plurality of aft links, each of said plurality of forward links having a forward link body with an overlapping forward link ledge, each of said plurality of aft links having an aft link body with an overlapping aft link ledge, each overlapping forward link ledge at least partially overlaps an adjacent aft link body and each overlapping aft link ledge at least partially overlaps an adjacent forward link body such that said overlapping forward link ledge, said adjacent aft link body that is at least partially overlapped by said overlapping forward link ledge, said overlapping aft link ledge and said adjacent forward link body that is at least partially overlapped by said overlapping aft link ledge together provide a flat surface. 24. The pump as recited in claim 23, further comprising a load beam positioned within the interior section of said chain. 25. The pump as recited in claim 23, further comprising a scraper seal positioned proximate said passageway and an outlet. 26. The pump as recited in claim 23, wherein said passageway defines a contamination zone, each overlapping forward link ledge at least partially overlaps said adjacent aft link body and each overlapping aft link ledge at least partially overlaps said adjacent forward link body within said contamination zone to minimize foreign object debris (FOD) entrapment. 27. The pump as recited in claim 26, wherein said contamination zone is defined generally along the passageway for at least a length of a load beam positioned within the interior section of said chain. 28. The pump as recited in claim 26, wherein said contamination zone is defined generally along said passageway for a linear distance between a first sprocket and a second sprocket engaged with said chain. 29. The pump as recited in claim 26, wherein each overlapping forward link ledge at least partially separates from said adjacent aft link body and each overlapping aft link ledge at least partially separates from said adjacent forward link body outside of said contamination zone. 30. The pump as recited in claim 29, wherein each overlapping forward link ledge at least partially separates from said adjacent aft link body and each overlapping aft link ledge at least partially separates from said adjacent forward link body adjacent to a first sprocket and a second sprocket engaged with said chain. 31. The pump as recited in claim 23, wherein each said forward link body and each aft link body define a working surface thereon. 32. The pump as recited in claim 23, wherein each of said plurality of forward links and each of said plurality of aft links include a plurality of link plates extending therefrom, each of said plurality of link plates including a first aperture and a second aperture such that said first apertures on said link body axially align and said second apertures on said respective link body axially align, said first apertures on each said link body being in axial alignment with said second apertures on an adjacent neighboring link body and said second apertures on each said link body being in axial alignment with said first apertures on another adjacent neighboring link body.