Conduit support device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11655916-B2
Application number	US-201917418628-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 26, 2019
Priority date	Dec 28, 2018
Publication date	May 23, 2023
Grant date	May 23, 2023

Abstract

The present invention provides a conduit support device having high reliability even under severe conditions. A conduit support including a conduit, a support member configured to extend along a longitudinal direction of the conduit, and integrally support the conduit, and be capable of being bent at an arbitrary position in the longitudinal direction, and an accommodation member within which the conduit and the support member are stored, wherein an intermediate member is arranged between the support member and the accommodation member is provided.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A conduit support device comprising:
a conduit,
a support member configured to extend along a longitudinal direction of the conduit, and integrally support the conduit, and be capable of being bent at an arbitrary position in the longitudinal direction, and
an accommodation member having a plurality of accommodation chambers, each of which defines a cylindrical space extending along the longitudinal direction, wherein
the plurality of accommodation chambers comprises a first accommodation chamber in which the conduit is stored and a second accommodation chamber in which the support member is stored,
a shape of the conduit and a shape of the accommodation member are restricted by a shape of the support member being bent,
the accommodation member has, between the support member and the accommodation member, an intermediate member in the second accommodation chamber, and
the intermediate member and the accommodation member at the second accommodation chamber are configured such that sliding can occur between the intermediate member and the accommodation member at the second accommodation chamber.

2. The conduit support device according to claim 1 , wherein
the support member is configured to be capable of being bent in a first direction up to a predetermined curvature and maintain a straight shape without being bent in a second direction which is a direction opposite to the first direction, and
the conduit support device comprises:
an area which is positioned at an inner periphery side of bending when the support member is bent, and has the intermediate member between the support member and the accommodation member; and
an area which is positioned at an outer periphery side of bending when the support member is bent, and has no intermediate member between the support member and the accommodation member.

3. The conduit support device according to claim 1 , wherein
the support member and the intermediate member are configured in the second accommodation chamber such that sliding according to bending of the support member can occur between the support member and the intermediate member.

4. The conduit support device according to claim 3 , wherein
an amount of sliding which occurs between the intermediate member and the accommodation member at the second accommodation chamber is larger than an amount of sliding which occurs between the support member and the intermediate member in the second accommodation chamber.

5. The conduit support device according to claim 1 , wherein
the support member comprises a trapping layer capable of trapping particles existing inside the accommodation member.

6. The conduit support device according to claim 5 , wherein
the trapping layer is made of an adhesive substance.

7. The conduit support device according to claim 5 , wherein
the trapping layer is made of a substance which is semisolid at an ordinary temperature, and is formed as a layer having a thickness of 10 μm or greater.

8. The conduit support device according to claim 5 , wherein
the conduit support device comprises:
a trapping-layer formation area which is included in an internal area of a valley-shaped part formed by a surface of the support member and an end of the intermediate member and has the trapping layer; and
a trapping-layer non-formation area which is included in an area where the support member and the accommodation member are in contact with each other and has no trapping layer.

9. The conduit support device according to claim 1 , wherein
at the first accommodation chamber, the intermediate member is not included between the conduit and the accommodation member.

10. The conduit support device according to claim 2 , wherein
the accommodation member is made from an inner sheet which is positioned at an inner periphery side of the bending of the support member, and an outer sheet which is positioned at an outer periphery side of the bending of the support member,
the accommodation member comprises a plurality of joint areas formed by bonding the inner sheet and the outer sheet,
the plurality of accommodation chambers is formed respectively between the plurality of joint areas, and
the support member and the conduit are stored in the plurality of accommodation chambers, respectively.

11. The conduit support device according to claim 10 , wherein
the outer sheet is made from a sheet having stretchability higher than that of the inner sheet.

12. The conduit support device according to claim 10 , wherein
the accommodation member includes a first joint area and a second joint area defining the second accommodation chamber accommodating the support member, and
in a cross-sectional view of the conduit support device as seen from a longitudinal direction of the conduit support device,
a length along the inner sheet between the first joint area and the second joint area is shorter than a length along the outer sheet between the first joint area and the second joint area.

13. The conduit support device according to claim 2 , wherein
the support member and the intermediate member are configured in the second accommodation chamber such that sliding according to bending of the support member can occur between the support member and the intermediate member.

14. The conduit support device according to claim 13 , wherein
an amount of sliding which occurs between the intermediate member and the accommodation member at the second accommodation chamber is larger than an amount of sliding which occurs between the support member and the intermediate member in the second accommodation chamber.

15. The conduit support device according to claim 2 , wherein
the support member comprises a trapping layer capable of trapping particles existing inside the accommodation member.

16. The conduit support device according to claim 15 , wherein
the trapping layer is made of an adhesive substance.

17. The conduit support device according to claim 15 , wherein
the trapping layer is made of a substance which is semisolid at an ordinary temperature, and is formed as a layer having a thickness of 10 μm or greater.

18. The conduit support device according to claim 15 , wherein
the conduit support device comprises:
a trapping-layer formation area which is included in an internal area of a valley-shaped part formed by a surface of the support member and an end of the intermediate member and has the trapping layer; and
a trapping-layer non-formation area which is included in an area where the support member and the accommodation member are in contact with each other and has no trapping layer.

19. The conduit support device according to claim 2 , wherein
at the first accommodation chamber, the intermediate member is not included between the conduit and the accommodation member.

20. The conduit support device according to claim 3 , wherein
the accommodation member is made from an inner sheet which is positioned at an inner periphery side of the bending of the support member, and an outer sheet which is positioned at an outer periphery side of the bending of the support member,
the accommodation member comprises a plurality of joint areas formed by bonding the inner sheet and the outer sheet,
the plurality of accommodation chambers is formed respectively between the plurality of joint areas, and
the support member and the conduit are stored in the plurality of accommodation chambers, respectively.

21. A processing apparatus comprising:
a stage

Assignees

• Junkosha Inc

Inventors

• Hiraoka Daiki
• Takeuchi Hiroshi
• Misu Yasuhiro

Classifications

• F16L3/26

  specially adapted for supporting the pipes all along their length, e.g. pipe channels or ducts · CPC title

• H02G11/00

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

• F16G13/16

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

• F16L3/015 Primary

  using articulated- or supple-guiding elements · CPC title

• F16L3/23

  for a bundle of pipes or a plurality of pipes placed side by side in contact with each other (F16L3/237 takes precedence) · CPC title