Chain assembly
View Patent ↗In one aspect of the invention, a chain assembly comprises a boom comprising a sliding surface and a plurality of chain links adapted to slide along the sliding surface. At least one polycrystalline ceramic enhanced insert at an interface between the chain links and at least a portion of the sliding surface.
1. A chain assembly, comprising:
a boom comprising a sliding surface and a plurality of chain links adapted to slide along the sliding surface;
at least one polycrystalline ceramic enhanced insert at an interface between the plurality of chain links and at least a portion of the sliding surface; and
wherein a track is formed in the sliding surface and the track comprises at least one groove.
2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the ceramic comprises a polycrystalline diamond.
3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the ceramic comprises a cemented metal carbide.
4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the ceramic comprises a cubic boron nitride.
5. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one insert is attached to at least one of the plurality of chain links.
6. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one insert is attached to the sliding surface.
7. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the boom is incorporated into an excavator.
8. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the boom is incorporated into a saw.
9. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the groove is lined with a wear resistant material.
10. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the track comprises at least one protrusion.
11. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one insert is attached to a wear plate in part making up the sliding surface.
12. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the chain assembly further comprises at least two links arranged across the width of a degradation plate and an insert is bonded to a single side of each link.
13. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of chain links comprises at least one insert on a front end and a rearward end of the link.
14. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the link comprises a pin adapted to connect the link to an adjacent link, the pin comprises also comprising a ceramic enhancement.
15. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the boom comprises a pivot end attached to a vehicle.
16. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the boom is incorporated into a trenching machine.
17. A chain assembly, comprising:
a boom comprising a sliding surface and a plurality of chain links adapted to slide along the sliding surface;
at least one polycrystalline ceramic enhanced insert is attached to at least one of the chain links;
wherein the insert is adapted to slide against the sliding surface; and
wherein a track is formed in the sliding surface and the track comprises at least one groove.
18. A chain assembly, comprising:
a boom comprising a sliding surface and a plurality of chain links adapted to slide along the sliding surface;
at least one polycrystalline ceramic enhanced insert is bonded to the sliding surface;
wherein the insert is adapted to slide against the plurality of chain links; and
wherein a track is formed in the sliding surface and the track comprises at least one groove.