Roller Chain

Abstract

In the case of a roller chain having pins, bushes, rollers, inner plates and outer plates, respectively two bushes are connected to each other by at least two inner plates and consequently form a chain link. A roller which surrounds each bush is mounted rotatably on the latter and respectively two successive chain links being connected to each other in an articulated manner in that each bush sits on one of the two ends of the bush protruding beyond the latter and two pins which are surrounded thus by two successive chain links are connected at least by two outer plates. The pins comprise austenitic stainless steel and their surface layer is formed by an S-phase of the austenitic steel which is obtained by nitriding.

1 - 4 . (canceled) 
   
   
       5 . A roller chain, comprising:
 pins;   bushes;   rollers;   inner plates; and   outer plates,   wherein in the outer plates, respectively two bushes of the bushes are connected to each other by at least two inner plates of the inner plates forming a chain link,   wherein one of the rollers which surrounds one of the bushes is rotatably mounted on each bush and respectively two successive chain links are connected to each other in an articulated manner so that each bush sits on a corresponding pin which protrudes at both ends of the bush beyond the pin, two pins of the pins which are surrounded by two successive chain links being connected at least by two outer plates of the outer plates, and   wherein the pins are made of austenitic stainless steel, a surface layer of the pins being formed by an S-phase of the austenitic steel which is obtained by nitriding.   
   
   
       6 . The roller chain according to  claim 5 , wherein the bushes comprise of a sintered material which contains oil-filled pores. 
   
   
       7 . The roller chain according to  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the inner plates and the outer plates comprises of austenitic stainless steel, a surface layer of at least one of the inner plates and the outer plates being formed by an S-phase of the austenitic steel which is obtained by nitriding. 
   
   
       8 . The roller chain according to  claim 5 , wherein the bushes comprise of austenitic stainless steel, a surface layer of the bushes being formed by an S-phase of the austenitic steel which is obtained by nitriding.