Energy guiding chain

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9494215-B2
Application number	US-201414782413-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 27, 2014
Priority date	Apr 5, 2013
Publication date	Nov 15, 2016
Grant date	Nov 15, 2016

Abstract

The invention relates to an energy guiding chain, with chain links ( 1, 2 ) each comprising two side straps ( 3, 4 ). The side straps ( 3, 4 ) form opposite strap strands transversely to their longitudinal direction, where at least some of the opposite side straps ( 3, 4 ) are connected to each other by cross-members ( 5, 6 ), the ends of at least some of which display a bearing area ( 7 ) with an essentially cylindrical journal ( 10 ), extending in the longitudinal direction, for pivotable mounting in a bearing seat ( 8 ) on an associated side strap ( 3, 4 ). To improve the angular stability of the side straps when the cross-member is opened, it is proposed that the journal ( 10 ) display a first flattened section ( 12 ) on its lateral surface. To receive the journal ( 10 ), the bearing seat ( 8 ) comprises an essentially cylindrical space ( 13 ) with a flattened section ( 15 ), where the flattened section ( 15 ) of the cylindrical space ( 13 ) and the first flattened section ( 12 ) of the journal ( 10 ) lie opposite each other in a closed position of the cross-member ( 5, 6 ).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An energy guiding chain for guiding supply lines 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 pivotable relative to each other over a pivoting angle,
each plastic chain link of the plurality of chain links comprising two side straps, each side strap of the two side straps having an inner side facing towards an interior of the chain, an outer side facing outwards from the chain and opposing narrow faces arranged perpendicular to the inner side and the outer side and extending in a longitudinal direction of the side strap,
wherein the side straps form opposite strap strands transverse to the longitudinal direction,
wherein at least some of the side straps of the opposite strap strands are connected to each other by a cross-member, wherein at least one end of the cross-member includes a bearing area that interacts with a bearing seat located on an adjacent side strap facing towards the end of the cross-member having the bearing area in articulated fashion, for pivoting the cross-member between a closed position and an a completely opened position,
wherein the bearing area includes at least one journal, wherein the journal has an axis oriented in the longitudinal direction of the side strap,
wherein the bearing seat includes at least one pocket-shaped journal seat having a space to receive the journal, and the journal is insertable into the pocket-shaped journal seat,
wherein the journal has a first flattened section on a lateral surface, and the first flattened section of the journal is parallel to the journal axis,
wherein the journal seat of the bearing seat on the adjacent side strap to receive the journal includes a wall having a flattened section, and
wherein the flattened section of the journal seat and the first flattened section of the journal are arranged such that, in the closed position of the cross-member, the flattened section of the journal seat and the first flattened section of the journal are opposite each other.

2. The energy guiding chain according to claim 1 , wherein the first flattened section forms a secant of a perimeter circle of the journal in cross-section, and is dimensioned such that a circular sector associated with the secant has an angle of at least 40°.

3. The energy guiding chain according to claim 1 , wherein in the closed position of the cross-member, the first flattened section of the journal and the flattened section of the journal seat lie against each other.

4. The energy guiding chain according to claim 1 , wherein the journal includes a second flattened sectioning parallel to the journal axis, and
wherein the flattened section of the journal seat and the second flattened section of the journal are arranged such that, in the fully opened position of the cross-member, the flattened section of the journal seat and the second flattened section of the journal are opposite each other.

5. The energy guiding chain according to claim 4 , wherein the second flattened section forms a secant of a perimeter circle of the journal in cross-section, and is dimensioned such that a circular sector associated with the secant has an angle of at least 40°.

6. The energy guiding chain according to claim 4 , wherein the first flattened section is arranged at an angle relative to the second flattened section of greater than 90°, which is swept when the cross-member is pivoted between the closed position and the fully opened position.

7. The energy guiding chain according to claim 1 , wherein the wall of the journal seat having the flattened section is located adjacent to the outer side of the side strap.

8. The energy guiding chain according to claim 7 , wherein the flattened section is parallel to the outer side of the side strap.

9. The energy guiding chain according to claim 1 , wherein the journal is essentially cylindrical,
wherein the space of the journal seat to receive the journal is essentially cylindrical and is accessible through an insertion opening,
wherein the essentially cylindrical space is wider than the insertion opening such that the journal is snapable into the essentially cylindrical space of the journal seat.

10. The energy guiding chain according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one journal comprises two journals located on the journal axis, wherein the at least one pocket-shaped journal seat comprises two pocket-shaped journal seats located on the inner side of the side strap, and wherein the at least one end of the cross-member includes a shoulder on which the two journals are arranged,
wherein each of the journals is insertable into a respective one of the pocket-shaped journal seats located on the inner side of the side strap.

11. An energy guiding chain for guiding supply lines 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 pivotable relative to each other over a pivoting angle,
each plastic chain link of the plurality of chain links comprising two side straps, each side strap of the two side straps having an inner side facing towards an interior of the chain, an outer side facing outwards from the chain and opposing narrow faces arranged perpendicular to the inner side and the outer side and extending in a longitudinal direction of the side strap,
wherein the side straps form opposite strap strands transverse to the longitudinal direction,
wherein at least some of the side straps of the opposite strap strands are connected to each other by a cross-member, wherein at least one end of the cross-member includes a bearing area that interacts with a bearing seat located on an adjacent side strap facing towards the end of the cross-member having the bearing area in articulated fashion, for pivoting the cross-member between a closed position and an a completely opened position,
wherein the bearing area includes at least one journal, wherein the journal has an axis oriented in the longitudinal direction of the side strap,
wherein the bearing seat includes at least one pocket-shaped journal seat having a space to receive the journal, and the journal is insertable into the pocket-shaped journal seat,
wherein the journal has a first flattened section on a lateral surface, and the first flattened section of the journal is parallel to the journal axis,
wherein the journal seat of the bearing seat on the adjacent side strap to receive the journal includes a wall having a flattened section,
wherein the flattened section of the journal seat and the first flattened section of the journal are arranged such that, in the closed position of the cross-member, the flattened section of the journal seat and the first flattened section of the journal are opposite each other,
wherein the journal is essentially cylindrical,
wherein the space of the journal seat to receive the journal is essentially cylindrical and is accessible through an insertion opening, and
wherein the essentially cylindrical space is wider than the insertion opening such that the journal is snapable into the essentially cylindrical space of the journal seat.

12. The energy guiding chain according to claim 11 , wherein the first flattened section forms a secant of a perimeter circle of the journal in cross-section, and is dimensioned such that a circular sector associated with the secant has an angle of at least 40°.

13. The energy guiding chain according to claim 11 , wherein in the closed position of the cross-member, the first flattened section of the journal and the flattened section of the journal seat

Assignees

• Igus Gmbh

Inventors

• Hermey Andreas

Classifications

• F16G13/16 Primary

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

• H02G3/0475

  formed by a succession of articulated units · CPC title