Roller chain with carrier plates

Abstract

A coiled tube chain assembly is provided designed for use with a carrier gripper block to grip the coiled tubing. The roller chain assembly provides the traction system for use in the coil tubing injector head. The roller chain is comprised of center plates and cover plates that are press fit onto the chain pins. The use of such press fit center plates and cover plates increases the number of link plates holding the chain pin.

1 . A method of assembling a roller chain gripper block assembly comprising the steps of:
 providing a plurality of chain pins and first center plates, with each first center plates having two pin openings, and press fitting one first center plate onto two adjacent chain pins such that a portion of each chain pin extends through one of the first center plate pin openings,   providing a plurality of carrier block sections, with each carrier block section having a first side and a second side and two pin openings,   and fitting a carrier block section onto two adjacent chain pins such that a portion of each chain pin extend through one of the carrier block pin openings and a first side of the carrier block section is adjacent the first center plate,   providing a plurality of second center plates, with each second center plate having two pin openings, and press fitting one second center plate onto two adjacent chain pins to seat adjacent the second side of the carrier block section such that a portion of each chain pin extends through one of the second center plate pin openings,   providing a plurality of first roller links, each first roller link having two pin openings, and fitting one first roller link onto two adjacent chain pins such that a portion of each chain pin extends through one of the first roller link pin openings,   providing a plurality of first plates, with each first cover plate having two pin openings, and press fitting one first cover plate onto two adjacent chain pins such that a portion of each chain pin extends through one of the first cover plate pin openings,   providing a plurality of second roller links, each second roller link having two pin openings, and fitting one second roller link onto two adjacent chain pins such that a portion of each chain pin extends through one of the second roller link pin openings,   and providing a plurality of second cover plates, with each second cover plate having two pin openings, and press fitting the second cover plate onto two adjacent chain pins such that a portion of each chain pin extends through one of the second cover plate pin openings.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1   further comprising providing a lateral opening through each chain pin near each end of the chain pin,   and placing a cotter pin through each lateral opening after the assembly of the roller chain gripper block assembly.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1   wherein each chain pin is shot peened prior to assembly in the roller chain gripper block assembly.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1   wherein each press fitting operations for the center places and the cover is accomplished with the use of a mechanical press.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein
 each press fitting operation for the center plates and the cover plates is accomplished with the use of a hydraulic press. 
 
     
     
         6 . A method of assembling a roller chain gripper block assembly comprising the steps of:
 providing a plurality of chain pins and first center plates, with each first center plates having two pin openings, and press fitting one first center plate onto two adjacent chain pins such that a portion of each chain pin extends through one of the first center plate pin openings,   providing a plurality of carrier block sections, with each carrier block section having a first side and a second side and two pin openings,   and fitting a carrier block section onto two adjacent chain pins such that a portion of each chain pin extend through one of the carrier block pin openings and a first side of the carrier block section is adjacent the first center plate,   providing a plurality of second center plates, with each second center plate having two pin openings, and press fitting one second center plate onto two adjacent chain pins to seat adjacent the second side of the carrier block section such that a portion of each chain pin extends through one of the second center plate pin openings,   providing a plurality of first roller links, each first roller link having two pin openings, and fitting one first roller link onto two chain pins in adjacent carrier block sections,   such that a portion of each chain pin extends through one of the first roller link pin openings,   providing a plurality of first plates, with each first cover plate having two pin openings, and press fitting one first cover plate onto two adjacent chain pins such that a portion of each chain pin extends through one of the first cover plate pin openings,   providing a plurality of second roller links, each second roller link having two pin openings, and fitting one second roller link onto two adjacent chain pins such that a portion of each chain pin extends through one of the second roller link pin openings,   and providing a plurality of second cover plates, with each second cover plate having two pin openings, and press fitting the second cover plate onto two adjacent chain pins such that a portion of each chain pin extends through one of the second cover plate pin openings.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 ,
 further comprising providing a lateral opening through each chain pin near each end of the chain pin, and placing a cotter pin through each lateral opening after the assembly of the roller chain gripper block assembly.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 ,
 wherein each chain pin is shot peened prior to assembly in the roller chain gripper block assembly.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 ,
 wherein each press fitting operation for the center places and the cover is accomplished with the use of a mechanical press.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6  wherein
 each press fitting operation for the center plates and the cover plates is accomplished with the use of a hydraulic press. 
 
     
     
         11 . A roller chain gripper block assembly comprising:
 a plurality of chain pins and first center plates, with each first center plates having two pin openings, wherein one first center plate is press fitted onto two adjacent chain pins such that a portion of each chain pin extends through one of the first center plate pin openings,   a plurality of carrier block sections, with each carrier block section having a first side and a second side and two pin openings,   and wherein a carrier block section is fitted onto two adjacent chain pins such that a portion of each chain pin extends through one of the carrier block pin openings and a first side of the carrier block section is adjacent the first center plate,   a plurality of second center plates, with each second center plate having two pin openings, and wherein one second center plate is press fitted onto two adjacent chain pins to seat adjacent the second side of the carrier block section such that a portion of each chain pin extends through one of the second center plate pin openings,   a plurality of first roller links, each first roller link having two pin opening, and wherein one first roller link is fitted onto two chain pins in adjacent carrier block sections, such that a portion of each chain pin extends through one of the first roller link pin openings,   a plurality of first cover plates, with each first cover plate having two pin openings, and wherein one first cover plate is press fitted onto two adjacent chain pins such that a portion of each chain pin extends through one of the first cover plate pin openings,   a plurality of second roller links, each second roller link having two pin openings, and wherein one second roller link is fitted onto two adjacent chain pins such that a portion of each chain pin extends through one of the second roller link pin openings,   and a plurality of second cover plates, with each second cover plate having two pin openings, and wherein one second cover plate is press fitted onto two adjacent chain pins such that a portion of each chain pin extends through one of the second cover plate pin openings.   
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 11   further comprising a lateral opening through each chain pin near each end of the chain pin,   and a cotter pin through each transverse opening.   
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 11 ,
 wherein each chain pin is shot peened prior to assembly in the roller chain gripper block assembly.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 ,
 wherein each press fitting for the center plates and the cover is accomplished with the use of a mechanical press.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein
 each press fitting for the center plates and the cover plates is accomplished with the use of a hydraulic press.