APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING AGAINST DISCONNECTION COTTER PIN JOINTS USED FOR JOINING TOGETHER SECTIONS OF CHAIN-TYPE SCRAPER CONVEYOR TROUGHS OR SECTIONS OF MINING MACHINE GUIDEWAYS OR THE LIKE

摘要

Connection means for connecting two components such as conveyor channel sections or guide sections includes an elongate connector. The connector is insertible into laterally-open recesses formed in coupling elements attached to the two components. The laterally-open recesses define an elongate aperture which is slightly longer than the connector so that the connector is received within the aperture with a predetermined amount of axial play. A retaining device prevents axial movement of the connector within the aperture by filling up the space available for said predetermined amount of axial play. The retaining device comprises a C-shaped resilient member and a wedge-shaped member. The resilient member is made of corrosion-resistant, resiliently-deformable plastics material, and the wedge-shaped member is made of metal. The wedge-shaped member can be driven into the resilient member to expand the resilient member against the walls of said space, thereby fixing the retaining device in position. The wedge-shaped member is then held captive within the resilient member, thereby maintaining the retaining device in the fixed position.