Driving-chain

Application filed March 23,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Ernest Fuchs, of 111 Boulevard Exelmans, at Paris, Department of the Seine, in France, citizen of the French Republic, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Driving-Chains; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to driving chains and particularly, although not exclusively, to the driving chains of tractors of the caterpillar type.

The object of the invention is to provide a device for automatically retaining the chains under tension while passing through the upper portion of their course.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a chain tensioning device embodying the invention said view being taken on the line c d of Fig. 2. .

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device illustrated in Fig. 1' with the chain removed.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line a & of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be seen that two longitudinally extending bars or supports are provided constituting a frame 1 in which are mounted a number of rollers 2 adapted to support the chain 3.

The frame 1 is pivotally mounted at one end on a shaft 4 carried by a bracket 5 se me. Serial No. 224,260.

cured to or formed on the vehicle frame 6. The other end of the frame 1 is supported by a spring or springs 7 which is or are arranged so as to force the frame 1 into 40 engagement with the chain 3 and so retain the same under tension. ,

The spring 7 is supported at its lower end by a cup-shaped bracket 8, the upper end of the spring engaging with the inner 45 surface of a cap 9 secured to the shaft carrying one of the rollers 2 for supporting the chain.

The bracket 8 is provided with upwardly extending projections 10 constituting guides 50 for the frame 1, these guides engaging with the sides of the frame 1 and suitably- restricting the range of movement of the frame 1 imparted to it by the spring 7.