Endless roller chain drive with interlocking traction rail

摘要

A mechanical drive assembly composed of an endless roller chain (78) and notched rail (100) wherein multiple chain rollers (79) engage corresponding rail notches (103 ) to securely interlock drive (38) and rail (100). Drive (38) is equipped with a triple-strand roller chain (78) whose center strand of rollers engage notched bar (102) while outer strand rollers roll across face of pressure plate (50). Drive assembly (38) may be held in a fixed position relative to a static rail (100) by applying a braking force to drive sprocket (76), or it may be moved tangentially to rail (100) by applying torque to drive sprocket (76). Conversely, rail (100) and any structure attached thereto may be held in a fixed position or moved tangentially relative to a statically mounted drive (38) by similar means.