Chain – staple – and horseshoe making – Chains – Conduit
Patent
1998-01-30
1999-04-06
Jones, David
Chain, staple, and horseshoe making
Chains
Conduit
248 51, F16G 1300
Patent
active
058903577
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to an energy chain for guiding hoses, cables and the like between a fixed and a moveable connection point, whose chain links are of a lightweight, thin-walled design, each consisting of two chain straps and at least one cross-member connecting them, where the chain straps of adjacent chain links are joined in pivoting fashion by pegs integrally moulded on the straps of one chain link which reach through corresponding openings in the straps of the other chain link, and where the energy chain is designed to be torsionally elastic and/or flexurally elastic in the lateral direction, elastic deformation of the corresponding strap areas being necessary to insert the pegs of one chain link into the openings in the adjacent chain link.
An energy chain of this kind is suitable for easy and flexible guidance of the hoses, cables and the like of low weight located therein and, having short pitch lengths, permits an almost circular course of the mutually angled chain links. A torsionally elastic and/or laterally flexurally elastic design is present in the case of open or semi-open chains or chains with discontinuous or openable cross-members, in particular. The chain links, whose chain straps are usually of cranked design and are positioned symmetrically opposite each other, where outward-pointing pegs are integrally moulded on the outside of the inward-cranked area and the openings matching the pegs are located in the outward-cranked area, can easily be joined to each other in pivoting fashion. To this end, the corresponding strap areas are elastically deformed in such a way that the pegs of one chain link can latch into the openings in the adjacent chain link.
Although no drawbacks are to be expected as a result of the design described, it has been found that the snap-in connections between the pegs and openings in the chain straps can come apart when the energy chain is exposed to certain load conditions. The applicant thus set himself the task of finding a simple means for preventing separation of the pivoting joint between the chain links of the energy chain mentioned at the start.
Such an energy chain is known from the Patent Abstracts of Japan, Vol. 9, No. 124 (M-383 60-8643 A), for example. The chain links described in this publication are such that their straps are firmly connected by stable lower cross-members. The cross-members are integrally moulded as a single piece, meaning that, in order to connect adjacent chain links, it is necessary to press the inward-cranked areas of one strap slightly inwards using the outward-pointing pegs, while simultaneously bending apart the outward-cranked areas of the straps of the adjacent chain link, which are provided with holes, so that the pegs of one chain link can latch into the openings in the adjacent chain link.
An energy chain is known from EP 0 286 442, whose chain links display hollow pegs pointing inwards, which in turn display snap-in elements around their circumference, with which these engage corresponding openings in locking fashion. The energy chain described there consists of links, which are in turn made up of two straps and two cross-members fastened in detachable fashion. The strap strands of the energy chain are held together reliably by the upper and lower cross-members, the hollow pegs provided with snep-in elements serve exclusively to pre-assemble the strap strands and the ultimate coherence of the chain is ensured by the attached upper and lower cross-members. A chain pursuant to the characterising section of claim 1 is not described in EP 0 286 442.
Similar designs are known from GE.A.1 431 382 and EP.A-0 154 882, for example. These examples are not torsionally elastic and/or flexurally elastic designs, which necessitate elastic deformation of the strap areas when connecting the individual chain links.
The invention is thus based on the task of finding a simple means for preventing separation of the pivoting joint between the chain links of the energy chain pursuant to the characterising section of Claim 1.
According to th
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Igus Spritzgubteile Fur Die Industrie GmbH
Jones David
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