Line guiding system with simplified guiding device for transverse stabilizing and add-on module therefor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12379014-B2
Application number	US-202117760035-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 28, 2021
Priority date	Feb 4, 2020
Publication date	Aug 5, 2025
Grant date	Aug 5, 2025

Abstract

A line guiding system comprising an articulated line guiding apparatus which, for guiding supply lines between two connection points that are movable relative to each other, is curved about a deflection axis extending in a transverse direction transverse to the longitudinal direction, and a separate guiding device for guiding the line guiding apparatus along at least a section of the travel path. The guiding device comprises at least one guide strand, which is arrangeable for predefining a desired course of the section of the travel path. The line guiding apparatus comprises external profile regions, which are arranged for lying against and/or on the guide strand and are shaped with a profile shape for a transversely stabilizing guiding against or on the guide strand by projecting and/or recessed interengagement of guide strand and profile shape to counteract a lateral deviation of the movable line guiding apparatus in the transverse direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A line guiding system comprising:
a line guiding apparatus for dynamic guiding at least one supply line from a first connection point to a second connection point, of which at least one of the first connection point and the second connection point is movable relative to the other of the first connection point and the second connection point along a travel path; and
a separate guiding device for guiding the line guiding apparatus along at least a section of the travel path,
wherein the line guiding apparatus has a longitudinal direction; the line guiding apparatus is formed in an articulated manner such that the line guiding apparatus is turnable around or deflectable for travel, forming two opposite runs and a deflection curve connecting the two opposite runs, the deflection curve is curved about a deflection axis extending in a transverse direction transverse to the longitudinal direction,
wherein the guiding device comprises at least one guide strand arrangeable for predefining a desired course of the section of the travel path,
wherein the line guiding apparatus comprises external profile regions arranged for lying against and/or on the at least one guide strand, and are shaped with a profile shape for transversely stabilizing guiding against and/or on the at least one guide strand, by projecting and/or recessed interengagement of the at least one guide strand and the profile shape to counteract a lateral deviation of the line guiding apparatus in the transverse direction,
wherein the external profile regions are provided on a side of the line guiding apparatus which, during travel of the line guiding apparatus, faces towards a respective opposite run of the two opposite runs, and/or on a side of the line guiding apparatus which, during travel of the line guiding apparatus, faces away from the respective opposite run.

2. The line guiding system according to claim 1 , wherein the external profile regions of the line guiding apparatus are formed with a cross-section complementary to a cross-section of the at least one guide strand.

3. The line guiding system according to claim 1 , wherein at least some of the external profile regions each have at least one depression extending in the longitudinal direction with a cylindrical inner wall.

4. The line guiding system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one guide strand is arrangeable to extend in a linear manner to define a linear course of the section of the travel path and to counteract a deviation of the line guiding apparatus from straight running; and/or
the external profile regions are provided on separate add-on modules, the add-on modules fastened to the line guiding apparatus.

5. The line guiding system according to claim 1 , wherein the guiding device comprises a longitudinal portion with at least one supporting guide strand arranged for supporting at least part of a load of the line guiding apparatus.

6. The line guiding system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one guide strand is configured continuously along the section of the travel path.

7. The line guiding system according to claim 6 , wherein the at least one guide strand is configured as a rope, wire or cord.

8. The line guiding system according to claim 1 , wherein the guiding device comprises at least two fastening devices for the at least one guide strand and the at least one guide strand has two ends, and, in an operational state, the at least one guide strand is fastened at least at the two ends or only at the two ends by one of the fastening devices, in each case.

9. The line guiding system according to claim 1 , wherein the line guiding apparatus comprises a plurality of chain links or segments each connected to one another in an articulated manner.

10. The line guiding system according to claim 1 , wherein the guiding device comprises two guide planes with at least one guide strand in each of the two guide planes.

11. The line guiding system according to claim 1 , wherein the line guiding apparatus is an energy chain having two mutually opposite strands of lateral link plates and crossbars connecting the lateral link plates in the transverse direction, wherein the lateral link plates of each of the two mutually opposite strands are connected to each other in pairs in an articulated manner in each case, wherein
the line guiding system comprises add-on modules for retrofitting the energy chain with the external profile regions, wherein the add-on modules each have at least one of the external profile regions, wherein each of the add-on modules is formed for fastening on at least one of the crossbars and/or at least one of the lateral link plates; or
at least some of the crossbars and/or at least some of the lateral link plates each have at least one integrated profile region for interaction with the at least one guide strand.

12. The line guiding system according to claim 11 , wherein the energy chain forms during travel the two opposite runs and the deflection curve connecting the two opposite runs, wherein the add-on modules are arranged externally on a facing away side of the energy chain, which, during travel, faces away from the opposite run in each case or faces away from the deflection axis of the deflection curve.

13. The line guiding system according to claim 12 , wherein an add-on module comprises external profile regions facing, during travel, towards one run of the two opposite runs or the deflection axis, and external profile regions facing, during travel, away from the one run of the two opposite runs or the deflection axis.

14. The line guiding system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the two opposite runs of the line guiding apparatus comprise a stationary run and a movable run,
the external profile regions of the line guiding apparatus comprise first profile regions and second profile regions,
the at least one guide strand of the guiding device comprises a first pair of parallel guide strands in a form of profile bars for guiding the stationary run, and a second pair of parallel guide strands in a form of profile bars for guiding and supporting the movable run, wherein the stationary run and the movable run each comprises the first profile regions arranged in pairs and symmetrically in cross-section, wherein the first profile regions, during travel, face away from one run of the two opposite runs in each case, and the second profile regions arranged in pairs and symmetrically in cross-section, wherein the second profile regions, during travel, face towards the one run of the two opposite runs in each case, and
the first profile regions interact with the first pair of profile bars and the second profile regions interact with the second pair of profile bars.

15. The line guiding system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one guide strand is configured as a profile strand.

16. The line guiding system according to claim 15 , wherein the line guiding apparatus comprises a plurality of comb-like projections extending in the longitudinal direction on a side of each of the two opposite runs facing, during travel, towards one run of the two opposite runs in each case, to allow the comb-like projections of the two opposite runs to mesh with one another during travel in order to keep the two opposite runs together against a transverse shift relative to each other or together laterally.

17. The line guiding system according to claim 16 , wherein:
the two opposite runs are a lower run and an upper run, the lower run during travel is guided by interaction of an allocated guide strand with external prof

Assignees

• Igus Gmbh

Inventors

• Hermey Andreas
• Dommnik Joerg

Classifications

• H02G11/006

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

• H02G3/0475 Primary

  formed by a succession of articulated units · CPC title

• F16L3/015

  using articulated- or supple-guiding elements · CPC title

• F16G3/16

  Devices or machines for connecting driving-belts or the like · CPC title

• F16G13/16 Primary

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