Device for guiding long objects

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10047825-B2
Application number	US-201515509696-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 14, 2015
Priority date	Sep 24, 2014
Publication date	Aug 14, 2018
Grant date	Aug 14, 2018

Abstract

A device for guiding long objects comprises a plurality links. Each link has a pair of link portions that face each other in a first direction. The links are disposed and respectively connected in series along a second direction. Each pair of link portions is connected by a respective pair of arms at the two ends of the respective link in a third direction. In the accommodation space enclosed and formed by each pair of link portions and the respective pair of arms, a long object is accommodated. Two link portions that are adjacent in the second direction are connected by coupling portions. The coupling portions are configured from a second material with a higher wear resistance than the first material that configures the respective link portions. A space is formed between the two link portions on the entire circumference of the coupling portions.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for guiding a long object comprising a plurality of links, wherein the links are rotationally coupled together and form an accommodation space, which accommodates a long object, wherein:
each link includes two link portions that are opposed to each other in a first direction and two arms that couple the link portions to each other,
the links are rotationally coupled together while being arranged in series in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction,
each link has a first end and a second end in a third direction that is perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction,
the link portions in each pair are coupled to each other by the associated arms at the first end and the second end of the associated link,
the accommodation space is surrounded by the pairs of link portions and the arms and formed to extend in the second direction and accommodates the long object,
a material of the link portions is a first material,
two link portions that are adjacent to each other in the second direction are coupled to each other by coupling portions,
the coupling portions are at least partially made of a second material having a wear resistance greater than that of the first material,
a space is formed between the two link portions around an entire circumference of the coupling portions, and
around the entire circumference of the coupling portions, the space increases as a distance from the coupling portions increases.

2. The device for guiding a long object according to claim 1 , wherein:
the two link portions include a first opposing surface and a second opposing surface that are opposed to each other around the entire circumference of the coupling portions,
the first opposing surface is formed by a flat surface,
the second opposing surface is formed by an inclined surface that is inclined relative to the first opposing surface, and
the space is formed between the first opposing surface and the second opposing surface.

3. The device for guiding a long object according to claim 1 , wherein:
each link portion has a first end and a second end in the second direction,
one of the two link portions is a first link portion, and the other is a second link portion,
the coupling portions include a projection provided on the first end of the second link portion and a receiving portion provided on the second end of the first link portion, wherein the projection of the second link portion is inserted in the receiving portion to be rotational relative to each other,
the projection and the receiving portion are made of the second material, and
the second material is elastomer.

4. The device for guiding a long object according to claim 3 , wherein:
the projection and the receiving portion are provided to each link portion by double molding,
each link includes restriction portions that are provided for the associated pair of link portions, and
the restriction portions restrict the projections and the receiving portions from falling off from the associated link portions.

5. The device for guiding a long object according to claim 4 , wherein when the projection of the second link portion and the receiving portion of the first link portion rotate relative to each other, a restriction portion that corresponds to the second link portion restricts the projection of the second link portion from rotating with respect to the second link portion, and a restriction portion that corresponds to the first link portion restricts the receiving portion of the first link portion from rotating with respect to the first link portion.

Assignees

• Tsubakimoto Chain Co

Inventors

• Komiya Shoichiro

Classifications

• F16G13/02

  Driving-chains (specially adapted to gearings with variable gear-ratio F16H9/00) · CPC title

• F16G13/06 Primary

  with links connected by parallel driving-pins with or without rollers {so-called open links} · CPC title

• F16G13/16

  with arrangements for holding electric cables, hoses, or the like · CPC title

• F16G13/12

  Hauling- or hoisting-chains {so called ornamental chains} · CPC title

• H02G11/00

  Arrangements of electric cables or lines between relatively-movable parts · CPC title