Line guiding system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9287694-B2
Application number	US-201214232414-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 6, 2012
Priority date	Jul 11, 2011
Publication date	Mar 15, 2016
Grant date	Mar 15, 2016

Abstract

The invention relates to a line guiding system ( 1 ) for accommodating and guiding supply lines between two connection points ( 2.1, 2.2 ) that can be moved relative to one another in a circular motion with respect to a rotational axis (d) over a rotational angle range, wherein the line guiding system ( 1 ) has an elongated strand ( 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 ) coupled to the connection points ( 2.1, 2.2 ), on or in which strand the supply lines can be arranged in a guided manner, and the strand ( 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 ) can be moved back and forth within the rotational angle range while guided over a circular arc, such as to form a first run ( 4.1 ), a second run ( 4.2 ), and a deflecting bend ( 5 ) that connects the first run ( 4.1 ) and the second run ( 4.2 ). In order to enable guidance of the supply lines over an increased rotational angle range, at least two strands, a first strand ( 3.1 ) and a second strand ( 3.2 ), are provided, which are arranged such as to be coupled one behind the other.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A line guide system to receive and guide supply lines between two connection points, wherein the two connection points are movable relative to each other in a circular movement with respect to a rotary axis over a rotary angle range,
wherein the line guide system has an elongate strand which is coupled to the connection points and at or in which the supply lines are arrangeable in guided relationship, and the strand is reciprocatingly displaceable guidedly over a circular arc within the rotary angle range, forming a first run, a second run and a deflection arc connecting the first and second runs together,
wherein at least two strands comprising a first strand and a second strand are arranged coupled one behind the other, and a guide system to guide the strands, the guide system having three guide units which are rotationally movable relative to each other with respect to the rotary axis, with respect to the direction of succession a front guide unit, a central guide unit and a rear guide unit,
wherein the guide units are arranged in two axially spaced planes, a first plane and a second plane, perpendicularly to the rotary axis,
wherein the first strand is fixed to the front and central guide units, and
wherein the second strands is fixed to the central and rear guide units.

2. The line guide system according to claim 1 wherein the at least two strands are arranged spaced relative to each other axially or radially with respect to the rotary axis.

3. The line guide system according to claim 1 wherein there are provided a plurality of strands which are coupled one behind the other and are arranged spaced relative to each other axially or radially with respect to the rotary axis.

4. The line guide system according to claim 1 wherein the connection points of the strands are in the form of a front connection point and a rear connection point with respect to a direction of succession from the first strand towards the second strand, wherein the rear connection point of the first strand is arranged stationarily relative to the front connection point of the second strand.

5. The line guide system according to claim 4 wherein the front connection point of the first strand is fixed to the front guide unit, the rear connection point of the first strand and the front connection point of the second strand is fixed to the central guide unit and the rear connection point of the second strand is fixed to the rear guide unit.

6. The line guide system according to claim 4 wherein the front guide unit is arranged in the first plane and the rear guide unit is arranged in the second plane and the central guide unit is arranged in bridging relationship of the axial spacing of the planes in both planes in such a way that the rear connection point of the first strand in the first plane and the front connection point of the second strand in the second plane is fixed to the central guide unit.

7. The line guide system according to claim 1 wherein the front guide unit is arranged stationarily on a base.

8. The line guide system according to claim 7 wherein the front guide unit is fixed on the base and the central guide unit and the rear guide unit are mounted rotationally movably on the base.

9. The line guide system according to claim 7 wherein the front guide unit is fixed on the base and the central guide unit is rotationally movably mounted on the base and the rear guide unit is rotationally movably mounted on the front guide unit.

10. The line guide system according to claim 1 wherein the guide units for each run associated with them, for guidance thereof on circular arcs, have respective circular ring-like contact surfaces, a peripheral contact surface and a radial contact surface.

11. The line guide system according to claim 10 wherein the contact surfaces provided for the two runs of a strand are arranged spaced relative to each other coaxially and radially relative to the rotary axis, wherein the deflection arc bridges over the radial spacing of the contact surfaces from the one guide unit for the first run of said strand to the guide unit for the second run of said strand.

12. The line guide system according to claim 11 wherein the contact surfaces provided for the two runs of a strand delimit a guide channel for said strand.

13. The line guide system according to claim 12 wherein the connection point of a run is respectively fixed to the radial contact surface associated with said run.

14. The line guide system according to claim 1 wherein the rotary angle ranges of the strands are abutment-limited and/or drive-limited.

15. The line guide system according to claim 1 wherein provided at least for one strand is a spacer body for spacing its runs, which spacer body is arranged between the runs and on the inside of the deflection arc and is coupled to the displacement of said strand.

16. The line guide system according to claim 15 wherein the spacer body is in the form of a chain with chain link members which are arranged guided in the line guide system pivotably relative to each other in parallel relationship with the rotary axis.

17. The line guide system according to claim 1 wherein there are provided two first strands and/or two second strands, wherein the first strands and the second strands are respectively arranged in a plane and displaceably in opposite relationship therein relative to each other.

18. The line guide system according to claim 17 wherein provided for the first strands and/or the second strands is a respective spacer body which in part-peripheral relationship is arranged between the runs of the first strands and the second strands respectively and at the end on the inside bearing with play against the deflection arcs of the first strands and the second strands respectively.

19. The line guide system according to claim 1 wherein the strands are respectively in the form of a line guide chain with chain link members which in the position of installation in the line guide system are arranged pivotably relative to each other in parallel relationship with the rotary axis.

20. The line guide system according to claim 1 wherein the line guide system is installed or connected to a machine structure through a connection device.

Assignees

• Hermey Andreas
• Duff Robb
• Schlögel Frank
• Igus Gmbh

Inventors

• Hermey Andreas
• Duff Robb
• Schlögel Frank

Classifications

• H02G11/02

  using take-up reel or drum · CPC title

• H02G11/00 Primary

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