Energy Chain and Storage Unit for an Energy Chain

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023026012-A1
Application number	US-202017787042-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 18, 2020
Priority date	Dec 19, 2019
Publication date	Jan 26, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

An energy chain and storage unit for an energy chain ( 1 ) has a first chain portion ( 3 ) and a second chain portion ( 5 ), wherein the chain links ( 2 ) of the first chain portion and the chain links ( 4 ) of the second chain portion are connected to one another in a pivotable manner and comprise in each case two side parts ( 6, 7 ), which are located opposite one another in a transverse direction (q) in relation to the longitudinal direction (l) of the energy chain and have upper and lower narrow surfaces ( 8 ), which are oriented perpendicularly to the transverse direction (q) and to the longitudinal direction (l), wherein at least some of the chain links ( 2 ) of the first chain portion ( 3 ) have guide elements ( 12 ), which project outwards in the transverse direction (q) from the side parts ( 6, 7 ) of the chain links and are intended for guiding on guide tracks ( 35 ), which are arranged on the outside of the side parts of the chain links, and at least some of the chain links ( 4 ) of the second chain portion ( 5 ) have roller elements ( 13 ) or sliding elements ( 14 ), which project beyond the upper or the lower narrow surfaces ( 8 ) of the side parts ( 6, 7 ) of the chain links and can respectively roll or slide on a region which is located opposite said narrow surfaces ( 8 ) and establishes contact with the energy chain ( 1 ).

First claim

1 . An energy chain ( 1 ) with a first chain portion ( 3 ) having several first chain links ( 2 ) and a second chain portion ( 5 ) having several second chain links ( 4 ), wherein the first and second chain links ( 2 , 4 ) of the two chain portions ( 3 , 5 ) are pivotably connected to one another and comprise in each case two side parts ( 6 , 7 ), which lie opposite one another in a transverse direction (q) relative to the longitudinal direction (I) of the energy chain ( 1 ) and which have upper and lower narrow surfaces ( 8 ) facing perpendicularly to the transverse direction (q) and to the longitudinal direction (l), wherein at least some of the first and second chain links ( 2 , 4 ) have cross members ( 9 ) connecting their side parts ( 6 , 7 ), wherein at least some of the first chain links ( 2 ) of the first chain portion ( 3 ) have guide elements ( 12 ), which project outwards from their side parts ( 6 , 7 ) in the transverse direction (q), for guiding the first chain links ( 2 ) against or on guide tracks ( 35 ) which can be arranged outside their side parts ( 6 , 7 ), and at least some of the second chain links ( 4 ) of the second chain portion ( 5 ) have roller elements ( 13 ) or sliding elements ( 14 ), which project over the upper or lower narrow surfaces ( 8 ) of their side parts ( 6 , 7 ) and can roll or slide on a region which lies opposite these narrow surfaces ( 8 ) and contacts the energy chain ( 1 ).

2 . The energy chain ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the two chain portions adjoin one another in an articulated manner.

3 . The energy chain ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising in each case only a first and a second chain portion ( 3 , 5 ).

4 . The energy chain ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising several alternating first and second chain portions ( 3 , 5 ).

5 . The energy chain ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein an wherein an overall width (b 2 ) of the second chain links ( 4 ) of the second chain portion ( 5 ) in the transverse direction (q) is smaller than or equal to an overall width (b 1 ) of the first chain links ( 2 ) of the first chain portion ( 3 ) minus a width in the transverse direction (q) of the guide elements ( 12 ) extending on the outside.

6 . The energy chain ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the roller elements ( 13 ) or sliding elements ( 14 ) of the second chain portion ( 5 ) are arranged in the longitudinal direction flush with the narrow surfaces ( 8 ) of the side parts ( 6 , 7 ) of the first chain links ( 2 ) of the first chain portion ( 3 ), with the result that the roller elements ( 13 ) or sliding elements ( 14 ) of a region of the second chain portion ( 5 ) can roll or slide on the narrow surfaces ( 8 ) of the side parts ( 6 , 7 ) of a region of the first chain portion ( 3 ).

7 . The energy chain ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising a third chain link ( 15 ) having two side parts ( 6 , 7 ) of which have an outwardly offset region ( 16 ) and an inwardly offset region ( 17 ), and the third chain link ( 15 ) is arranged between the two chain portions ( 3 , 5 ), wherein the outwardly offset region ( 16 ) is connected in an articulated manner to the adjacent, in the longitudinal direction (l), side part ( 6 , 7 ) of the first chain portion ( 3 ) and the inwardly offset region ( 17 ) is connected in an articulated manner to the adjacent, in the longitudinal direction (l), side part ( 6 , 7 ) of the second chain portion ( 5 ).

8 . The energy chain ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the adjacent, in the longitudinal direction (l), side parts ( 6 , 7 ) of the first and second chain links ( 2 , 4 ) of the first chain portion ( 3 ) and/or of the second chain portion ( 5 ) are formed alternately of inner and outer plates.

9 . The energy chain (l) according to claim 1 , wherein the guide elements ( 12 ) of the first chain links ( 2 ) of the first chain portion ( 3 ) are formed as guide rollers ( 18 ).

10 . The energy chain ( 1 ) according to claim 9 , wherein two guide rollers ( 18 ) in each case are arranged on the outside of the outer plates of the first chain links ( 2 ) of the first chain portion ( 3 ).

11 . The energy chain ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein two roller elements ( 13 ) in each case are arranged on the outside of the outer plates of the second chain links ( 4 ) of the second chain portion ( 5 ).

12 . The energy chain ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein adjacent first and/or second chain links ( 2 , 4 ) of the energy chain ( 1 ) are capable of being angled in one pivoting direction to a limited degree relative to one another due to limit stops, while the adjacent first and/or second chain links ( 2 . 4 ) are capable of being angled in the other pivoting direction to a limited degree up to an orientation stretched out relative to one another.

13 . A storage unit ( 21 ) for the energy chain ( 1 ), the storage unit ( 1 ) comprises a storage housing ( 22 ) and, arranged therein at least in portions, the energy chain ( 1 ) according to claim 1 ,
wherein the energy chain ( 1 ) has in each case only one first chain portion ( 3 ) and, adjoining it, a second chain portion ( 5 ), is spirally wound in the storage housing ( 22 ) spirally with two winding axes ( 23 , 24 ) which are variable in terms of a spacing between the two winding axes ( 23 , 24 ) and has a fixed connection point ( 25 ) arranged stationary in the storage housing ( 22 ) in the interior of the spiral winding at one end and a movable connection point at the other end, wherein, by movement of the movable connection point and movement caused thereby of the energy chain ( 1 ), the spacing of the winding axes ( 23 , 24 ) from one another is variable between a minimum spacing (m 1 ) and a maximum spacing (m 2 ), wherein the first chain portion ( 3 ) is connected to the movable connection point and the second chain portion ( 5 ) is connected to the fixed connection point ( 25 ), wherein the roller elements ( 13 ) or sliding elements ( 14 ) of the second chain links ( 4 ) of the second chain portion ( 5 ) project on the narrow surfaces ( 8 ), lying radially outwards in relation to the deflection regions ( 10 ), of the side parts ( 6 , 7 ) of the second chain links ( 4 ) and can roll or slide on the radially inwardly facing sides of the chain links contacting them. wherein the storage housing ( 22 ) has guide tracks ( 35 ), which lie opposite one another and interact with the guide elements ( 12 ) projecting outwards on the first chain links ( 2 ) of the first chain portion ( 3 ) and extend spirally in one or more windings about two winding axes, which correspond to the winding axes ( 23 , 24 ) of the energy chain ( 1 ) arranged at the maximum spacing (m 2 ).

14 . The storage unit ( 21 ) according to claim 13 , wherein the first chain portion ( 3 ) of the energy chain ( 1 ) extends over the entire length of the guide tracks ( 35 ) in its state maximally retracted into the storage housing ( 22 ).

15 . The storage unit ( 21 ) according to claim 13 , wherein the guide tracks ( 35 ) are formed as guide rails on which the guide elements ( 12 ) projecting outwards on the first chain links ( 2 ) of the first chain portion ( 3 ) can roll or slide.

16 . The storage unit ( 21 ) according to claim 13 , further comprising an element ( 36 ) which limits the inner radius of the spiral winding of the second chain portion ( 5 ) about the winding axes ( 23 , 24 ) arranged at the minimum spacing (m 1 ) and supports the inner winding is provided.

17 . The storage unit ( 21 ) according to claim 13 , wherein the storage housing ( 22

Assignees

• Igus Gmbh

Inventors

• Barten Dominik
• Hermey Andreas

Classifications

• B65H75/362 Primary

  with stored material housed within a casing or container (B65H75/368 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16G13/16 Primary

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

• B65H2701/34

  electric cords or electric power cables · CPC title

• F16G13/18

  Chains having special overall characteristics · CPC title

• B65H2701/50

  Storage means for webs, tapes, or filamentary material · CPC title