Chain – staple – and horseshoe making – Chains – Conduit
Patent
1997-07-30
1999-01-19
Jones, David
Chain, staple, and horseshoe making
Chains
Conduit
248 49, 191126, F16G 1316, H02G 1100
Patent
active
058602747
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an energy guiding chain for accommodating and guiding electric cables, hydraulic hoses and the like, the chain links of which comprise side walls positioned opposite each other and cross-members, also positioned opposite each other and connecting the side walls, where the side walls of adjacent chain links are connected to each other in articulated fashion and their pivoting movement relative to each other is restricted in both directions by means of stops, and where the energy guiding chain forms a lower, roughly linear region (lower strand) when the energy consumer connected to the cables and/or hoses is operated, this being followed by an upper, sagging region (upper strand) via a deflection zone of 180.degree., the underside of the upper strand at least partially sliding over the top side of the lower strand.
2. Prior Art
Energy guiding chains of this type carry, guide and protect lines which move and which serve to supply power to moving machines or moving machine components.
In the case of horizontally arranged energy guiding chains, the movement of the chain forms a lower strand which can rest on a bearing surface, for example. The lower strand is followed by a deflection zone of 180.degree., which connects the lower strand to an upper strand. The upper strand sags and its underside slides over the top side of the lower strand, at least in regions.
In order to prevent destruction of the chain by frictional or abrasive wear as a result of the required large number of load and movement cycles, the side walls, which are of comparatively thick design, have a sliding edge which protrudes slightly beyond the cross-members, so that only these comparatively stable sliding edges are subjected to friction under normal circumstances.
However, particularly if the energy guiding chain travels over lengthy distances and if guide channels are not used, the unavoidable play in the joints of the chain links leads to lateral deviation from the straight path of the running chain, which leads to the sliding edges of the side walls of the upper strand sliding over the outer side of the lower cross members in such a way that these relatively thin components are subjected to abrasion and may possibly even be destroyed in the worst case. Furthermore, the chain can bend and tilt to the side if deflected from its straight path.
The lateral deviation also leads to increased loads on the hinge pins of the chain links, meaning that the overall service life of the energy guiding chain could be shortened.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The task of the invention is to create an energy guiding chain of this type in which lateral deviations from the direction of travel are prevented and guide channels and the like can be dispensed with.
According to the invention, this task is solved in that chain links are provided with a guiding stop for the opposite strand on the outer side of at least one side wall, where the guiding stops can move to a limited extent in a plane perpendicular to the running plane of the chain.
The guiding stops according to the invention cause the side walls of the opposite strand to be overlapped in the chain region in which the upper strand slides over the lower strand, and to be guided in the direction of travel of the chain, so that lateral deflection is no longer possible in this region at least.
This gives rise to relative movement between the upper strand and the lower strand of such a kind that the stable sliding edges of the side walls slide over each other, thus restricting the resultant friction-induced abrasion to this region. Furthermore, tilting and tipping of the chain is also prevented.
In this context, it is preferable to provide the respective opposing sides of chain links with the guiding stops, where several conventional chain links without guiding stops can be positioned between the chain links with guiding stops.
Because limited movement of the guiding stops is possible in a plane perpendicular
REFERENCES:
patent: 4462565 (1984-07-01), Johnson
patent: 5178247 (1993-01-01), Vagaggini
patent: 5649415 (1997-07-01), Pea
Blase Frank
Florian Dirk
Saleh Rolf
Igus Spritzgussteile fur die Industrie GmbH
Jones David
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