Implements or apparatus for applying pushing or pulling force – Method or apparatus for placement of conductive wire – Conduit snakes
Reexamination Certificate
2001-06-28
2002-08-06
Hail, III, Joseph J. (Department: 3723)
Implements or apparatus for applying pushing or pulling force
Method or apparatus for placement of conductive wire
Conduit snakes
C254S13430R, C015S104320
Reexamination Certificate
active
06427980
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a cable guide for guiding lines or cables in a guide channel with multiple guide links, adjacent guide links being pivotable relative to one another around a pivoting axis, the guide links having side parts to limit the movement of the guided line transverse to the cable guide, wherein the cable guide is disposable into a curved orientation, forming a lower (deflected) strand, a deflection zone and an upper (undeflected) strand directed above the lower strand, and wherein the pivoting axis of the guide links is located in the lower region of the guide links facing the opposite strand when the cable guide is disposed in curved orientation.
In cable guides of this kind, one end can be connected to a stationary unit and the other end to a reciprocating unit, thus making them a suitable alternative to energy guiding chains, whose links pivot about pin connections located at mid-height.
In known cable guides, the tensile forces required for travel motion are transmitted to the guide links by the slide strip or guide strip. In this context, the strip connecting the guide links can serve to guide the lower strand on the upper strand, or the guide links can also be guided on one another. In any case, rapid travel motion of the cable guide exerts considerable tensile forces on the slide strip, which also must have appropriate inherent elasticity in order to enable the pivoting of adjacent guide links relative to one another. In this context, the stresses on the slide strip can be so great under certain circumstances that the slide strip is fatigued by the tension and bending forces acting on it, this potentially leading to impaired functioning of the cable guide or even to rupturing of the slide strip. Furthermore, the longitudinal elasticity of the slide or guide strip leads to a slight axial space between the guide links, thus resulting in corresponding noise generation when the strain on the strip is relieved.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Consequently, an object of the invention is to improve a generic cable guide such that it has a longer service life and lower noise emission.
According to the invention, this object is solved by providing elements that absorb the tensile forces acting in the longitudinal direction of the cable guide when it is in essentially extended position. The tensile force-absorbing elements are preferably arranged in pairs on adjacent guide links and act between them. If necessary, groups of guide links can also be combined. The tensile force-absorbing elements are preferably designed such that they absorb most or virtually all of the exerted tensile forces.
The cable guide preferably has a guide or slide strip, which connects a number of guide links and on which the links are mounted in detachable or permanent fashion. Each of the tensile force-absorbing elements then preferably acts directly between the guide links and represents tensile force-absorbing elements in addition to the slide strip, so that the slide strip is relieved by these elements when tensile forces are applied. For example, the tensile forces can essentially be absorbed by the guide or slide strip, so that only tensile forces exceeding a specific amount are absorbed by the additional tensile force-absorbing elements. The additional tensile force-absorbing elements can also be designed such that the slide strip essentially only serves to align and hold together adjacent guide links in the essentially unstressed state of the slide strip and, for example, is designed as a kind of film. Under certain circumstances, the slide or guide strip can also be completely dispensed with by providing corresponding mounts or appropriately designing the tensile force-absorbing elements.
The tensile force-absorbing elements can be designed as non-positive locking elements, also called force locking elements, although they are preferably designed as positive locking elements (also called form-locking elements) as a result of which they can absorb particularly high tensile forces while enabling simple assembly of the cable guide. The tensile force-absorbing elements may be designed as snap elements. Furthermore, the positive locking elements, in particular, can be designed as essentially rigid areas or components, which can, if necessary, be resistant to both tension and bending and made of the same material as the guide links themselves, without being restricted to this. The tensile force-absorbing elements are preferably designed such that the guide links can be connected to one another in the longitudinal direction of the cable guide virtually without play or with only the degree of play required for low-friction motion. The positive locking elements can be integrally molded on the guide links, where a tensile force-absorbing connection is created between the respective guide links when the positive locking connection is made.
The positive locking elements are preferably designed such that the positive connection is not effective in at least one direction perpendicular to the pivoting axis and can thus easily be undone, e.g., in the form of undercuts and projections engaging them that can, for example, be guided into the undercuts in a direction in the pivoting plane. As a result, the receiving areas for the positive locking elements are open on at least one side in the pivoting plane, particularly in the direction towards the underside of the guide links, and the positive locking elements can be engaged or disengaged in the recess in this direction.
The guide links are advantageously manufactured as a single piece together with the tensile force-absorbing elements, or the tensile force-absorbing elements are integrally molded on the side parts of a guide link or the base plates connecting opposite sides parts of a guide link to one another.
The tensile force-absorbing elements are advantageously arranged on the side parts of the guide links. Alternatively or additionally, they can also be provided on another area of the guide links, such as on the base parts connecting the side parts to one another, where the base parts are adjacent to the pivoting axes and serve to mount the guide links on the slide strip. For this purpose, the positive locking elements can be essentially located in the plane of the base plates, for example, and designed as hook or claw-shaped projections that can engage behind one another extending towards the adjacent base plate. One of the tensile force-absorbing, interacting positive locking elements is preferably arranged on an area of a guide link that laterally overlaps an area of an adjacent guide link.
The tensile force-absorbing elements are preferably located in the lower region of the guide links, i.e., spaced from the middle of the guide links in the “lower” half of the guide links, i.e., in the half of the respective guide link nearest the respective pivoting axis, advantageously in a region which is extending from the pivoting axis to a level of the side part at about one quarter of the height of the side part. Especially, the tensile force-absorbing elements can be arranged at the height of the side face of the transverse member which is arranged adjacent the pivoting axis, the side face being directed to the interior of the guide link. Particularly, the tensile force-absorbing elements can be arranged approximately or exactly at the level of the pivoting axes or a provided slide strip, particularly at the level of its neutral fiber, thus relieving the slide strip very effectively. Tensile force-absorbing elements can also be spaced radially away from the pivoting axis of the guide links.
In the guide according to the invention, the axes for pivoting the guide links relative to one another are preferably arranged below the middle of the guide links, preferably adjacent to or at the level of the undersides, i.e., the sides facing the opposite strand, of the guide links, and preferably at approximately or exactly the level of the front end of the guide links, e.g., on a frontal contact area of the guide links.
The tens
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld L.L.P.
Hail III Joseph J.
Igus Spritzgussteile für die Industrie GmbH
Shanley Daniel
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