Energy guiding chain

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016069421-A1
Application number	US-201414782166-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 27, 2014
Priority date	Apr 5, 2013
Publication date	Mar 10, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Energy guiding chain, whose chain links ( 1, 2 ) each consist of two side straps ( 3, 4 ) that are connected to each other by cross-members ( 5, 6 ), where the cross-members display a bearing area ( 7 ) on at least one of their ends and, seen in the longitudinal direction of the side straps ( 3, 4 ), a contact area ( 9 ) outside the bearing area. To avoid the accumulation of foreign bodies, the side ( 11 ) of the contact area of the cross-members facing from the inside of the chain outwards displays a convex curvature or a linear slope towards its contact surface ( 10 ) and encloses an angle of<90° with the inner side (3 a, 4 a ) of the respective side strap, such that the contact surface ( 10 ) moves along the inner side of the side strap towards the inside of the chain when the cross-member is pivoted open until a completely opened position is reached.

First claim

1 . Energy guiding chain for guiding cables, hoses and the like from a first connecting point to a second connecting point that moves relative to the first connecting point, comprising a plurality of plastic chain links that can be pivoted relative to each other over a certain pivoting angle, each of which comprises two side straps displaying inner sides facing towards the inside of the chain, outer sides facing outwards and narrow faces running perpendicularly to them and in the longitudinal direction of the side straps, where the side straps form opposite strap strands transversely to their longitudinal direction and at least some of the opposite side straps are connected to each other by cross-members, at least some of which display a bearing area on at least one of their ends that interacts with a bearing seat, located on the side strap facing towards the aforementioned end of the cross-member, in articulated fashion for pivoting the cross-member between a closed position and an opened position, and the cross-member displays, on the aforementioned end, seen in the longitudinal direction of the side strap and outside the bearing area, a contact area, a contact surface of which lies on the inner side of the side strap when in the closed position, characterised in that the side of the contact area of the cross-member facing from the inside of the chain outwards displays a convex curvature till up to its contact surface, or transitions into a linear slope, and encloses an angle of<90° with the inner side of the side strap, such that the contact surface moves along the inner side of the side strap towards the inside of the chain when the cross-member is pivoted open until the completely opened position is reached.

2 . Energy guiding chain according to claim 1 , characterised in that the angle between the outer side of the contact area at the point of the contact surface and the inner side of the side strap is≦80°.

3 . Energy guiding chain according to claim 1 , characterised in that the bearing seat projects on the inner side of the side strap, where the contact area of the cross-member extends to the side of the bearing seat, up to the inner side of the side strap.

4 . Energy guiding chain according to claim 1 , characterised in that the bearing seat is, on the inner side of the side strap, offset towards the inside of the chain in relation to the narrow face of the side strap adjacent to it.

5 . Energy guiding chain according to claim 1 , characterised in that the area of the outer side of the cross-member extending towards the bearing area in the longitudinal direction of the cross-member, including the bearing area, is offset towards the inside of the chain in relation to the adjacent narrow face of the side strap when the cross-member is in its closed position.

6 . Energy guiding chain according to claim 1 , characterised in that the area of the outer side of the cross-member that lies outside the contact area and extends in the longitudinal direction of the cross-member towards its bearing area, is of essentially flat design.

7 . Energy guiding chain according to claim 1 , characterised in that the area of the cross-member that lies outside the contact area and extends in the longitudinal direction of the cross-member towards its bearing area, is designed in the form of an essentially flat plate.

8 . Energy guiding chain according to claim 1 , characterised in that the contact area comprises two contact areas located on either side of the bearing area, each having one contact surface.

9 . Energy guiding chain according to claim 1 , characterised in that the aforementioned fastening end of the cross-member displays a shoulder, on which two journals lying on one axis are located, each of which can be inserted into a pocket-shaped journal seat located on the inner side of the side strap, and the edge of the contact surface of the contact area of the cross-member facing outwards from the inside of the chain, lies below, or at most at the level of, the axis of the journals.

10 . Energy guiding chain according to claim 9 , characterised in that the journals are of essentially cylindrical design and have a first flattened section on the lateral surface of the cylinder that lies parallel to the cylinder axis.

11 . Energy guiding chain according to claim 9 , characterised in that the journal seat of the adjacent side strap assigned to the journal displays a cylindrical space that corresponds to the journal and is wider in relation to an opening for inserting the journal, such that the journal can be snapped into the journal seat.

12 . Energy guiding chain according to claim 11 , characterised in that the wall of the cylindrical space displays a flattened section, where it and the first flattened section of the journal are positioned in such a way relative to each other that, in the closed position of the cross-member, the flattened section of the cylindrical space and the first flattened section of the essentially cylindrical journal lie opposite each other.

13 . Energy guiding chain according to claim 12 , characterised in that the journal displays a second flattened section, lying parallel to the cylinder axis of the journal, where the second flattened section is positioned on the journal in such a way that, in the completely opened position of the cross-member, it lies opposite the flattened section of the cylindrical space of the journal seat.

14 . Energy guiding chain according to claim 13 , characterised in that the first flattened section and the second flattened section of the cylindrically designed journal are arranged at an angle>90° relative to each other, which is swept during pivoting of the cross-member between its closed position and its completely opened position.

15 . Energy guiding chain according to claim 1 , characterised in that the contact area with the contact surface extends over the entire width of the cross-member outside the bearing area.

Assignees

• Igus Gmbh

Inventors

• Hermey Andreas
• Jaeker Thilo-Alexander
• Strack Stefan

Classifications

• H02G3/04

  Protective tubing or conduits, e.g. cable ladders or cable troughs · CPC title

• H02G11/006

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

• H02G3/0475

  formed by a succession of articulated units · CPC title

• F16G13/16 Primary

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