Chain link and circular chain having a chain link

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10088015-B2
Application number	US-201615548161-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 1, 2016
Priority date	Feb 2, 2015
Publication date	Oct 2, 2018
Grant date	Oct 2, 2018

Abstract

The invention relates to a chain link for a circular chain and to the circular chain for accommodating and guiding energy lines between two connections points that can be moved in relation to each other, in a circular motion about an axis of rotation (d). The circular chain has a circular-arc-shaped body having a circle center-point axis (k), which body is composed of a plurality of sector-shaped chain links adjoining each other in the circumferential direction, wherein the chain links are connected to each other in the adjoining connection regions thereof in such a way that, in each case, the chain links can be pivoted about a first pivot axis (s 1 ) radial to the circle center-point axis (k). The chain link is designed to form a hinge-joint connection with the joint partner and has at least one connection region designed as a first connection region, which connection region is designed in such a way that the hinge-joint connection enables at least one further relative motion of the joint partners in addition to the pivoting about the first pivot axis (s 1 ).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A chain link configured for a circular chain for receiving and guiding energy lines between two connection points which are moveable relative to each other in a circular motion about an axis of rotation (d), wherein the circular chain comprises an arc-shaped body and a center axis (k), the body comprising a plurality of sector-shaped chain links adjoining each other in a peripheral direction (u), wherein adjoining connecting regions of the chain links are respectively pivotably connected together about a first pivot axis (s 1 ) disposed radially outward from the center axis (k), wherein the chain link is configured to form a hinge joint connection with another chain link in which the hinge joint connection comprises respective joint partners, and has at least a first connecting region configured such that the hinge joint connection permits at least one further relative movement of the joint partners relative to each other in addition to pivotal movement about the first pivot axis (s 1 ).

2. The chain link as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the further relative movement comprises a first additional relative movement of the joint partners in a form of a pivotal movement of the joint partners about a second pivot axis (s 2 ) in a direction (u) which is peripheral with respect to the center axis (k) and/or a second additional relative movement of the joint partners in a form of a translation of the joint partners transverse to a longitudinal direction ( 1 ) and a transverse direction (q) of the joint partners.

3. The chain link as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the first connecting region provides a first joint partner of the hinge joint connection, and comprises a sliding guide means to guide a second joint partner of the hinge joint connection.

4. The chain link as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the first connecting region has a first hinge opening with a slot profile as the sliding guide means.

5. The chain link as set forth in claim 4 , wherein the chain link further comprises a plate-like body having a thickness which is radial with respect to the first pivot axis (s 1 ), wherein the first hinge opening is arranged centrally relative to the radial thickness.

6. The chain link as set forth in claim 4 , wherein the chain link further comprises a second connecting region peripherally spaced from the first connecting region with respect to the center axis (k), wherein the second connecting region has a second hinge opening, with an opening profile to receive a hinge pin or a pin for engagement into the first hinge opening of the first joint partner.

7. The chain link as set forth in claim 6 , wherein the slot profile of the first hinge opening is of a C-shaped profile for receiving the pin of the second joint partner.

8. The chain link as set forth in claim 7 , wherein the chain link has a side arranged transverse relative to the center axis (k) and having means projecting axially therefrom, in particular loop-shaped or arcuate holding means, to receive and guide the energy lines, and the C-shaped profile is arranged to be opened in an axial direction of the projecting means.

9. The chain link as set forth in claim 7 , wherein the first hinge opening with the C-shaped profile has a reinforcement means, in particular a reinforcement wall arranged transverse relative to the first pivot axis (s 1 ).

10. The chain link as set forth in claim 1 , wherein extending peripherally away from the respective center axis (k) arranged in the first connecting region providing a first joint partner of the hinge joint connection is at least one first projection with a first connecting means and arranged in a second connecting region providing a second joint partner of the hinge joint connection is at least one second projection with a second connecting means.

11. The chain link as set forth in claim 10 , wherein provided in the first connecting region are at least two projections in the form of the first projections and provided in the second connecting region are at least three projections in the form of the second projections wherein the projections are arranged in mutually radially adjoining relationship and in an alternate sequence with respect to the center axis (k).

12. A circular chain for receiving and guiding energy lines between two connection points which are moveable relative to each other in a circular motion about an axis of rotation (d), wherein the circular chain has a guide space for the energy lines and comprises an arc-shaped body comprising a plurality of sector-shaped chain links adjoining each other in a peripheral direction (u), wherein adjoining connecting regions of the chain links are respectively pivotably connected together in a hinge joint connection with respective joint partners about a first pivot axis (s 1 ) disposed radially outward from the axis of rotation (d) and wherein the hinge joint connection permits at least one further relative movement of the joint partners relative to each other in addition to the pivotal movement about the first pivot axis (s 1 ).

13. The circular chain as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the further relative movement of the joint partners comprises a first additional relative movement of the joint partners in a form of a pivotal movement of the joint partners about a second pivot axis (s 2 ) in a direction which is peripheral with respect to the axis of rotation (d) and/or a second additional relative movement of the joint partners in a form of a translation of the joint partners transverse to a longitudinal direction ( 1 ) and a transverse direction (q) of the joint partners.

14. The circular chain as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the chain links have a first connecting region and a second connecting region peripherally spaced from the first connecting region with respect to the axis of rotation (d), wherein adjacent chain links are respectively connected together by way of a first and a second connecting region.

15. The circular chain as set forth in claim 14 , wherein the first connecting region has first connecting mean and the second connecting region has second connecting means, and wherein the respective connecting means are arranged in or at a projection which extends peripherally or tangentially relative to the axis of rotation (d) away from the respective connecting region, wherein the respective projections are arranged to engage tooth-like into each other and are arranged to bear against each other laterally.

16. The circular chain as set forth in claim 14 , wherein the first connecting region has a first hinge opening which is radial with respect to the axis of rotation (d) and having a slot profile and the second connecting region has a second hinge opening, wherein adjacent chain links in a connecting position are arranged to be brought together in such that the first hinge opening is arranged in axially aligned relationship with respect to the first pivot axis (s 1 ) in relation to the second hinge opening and are held pivotably relative to each other by a hinge pin arranged to be passed through the hinge openings.

17. The circular chain as set forth in claim 14 , wherein the first connecting region has a first hinge opening with a slot profile, and the second connecting region has at least one pin.

Assignees

• Igus Gmbh

Inventors

• Theiss Georg

Classifications

• F16G13/16 Primary

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

• H02G11/006

  using extensible carrier for the cable, e.g. self-coiling spring (extensible conductors or cables H01B7/06) · CPC title