Endless belt power transmission systems or components – Positive drive belt – Belt formed of rigid links
Patent
1997-07-10
1999-11-09
Marmor, Charles A
Endless belt power transmission systems or components
Positive drive belt
Belt formed of rigid links
474226, F16G 1510, F16G 1302
Patent
active
059804092
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an energy transmission chain for guiding hoses, cables and the like between two connection points, where the chain links each have two side elements connected by cross-members, and the side elements of adjacent chain links display overlapping sections and are joined via these in a pivoting and swivelling fashion in one plane.
2. Prior Art
Energy transmission chains of this kind are mainly used for guiding flexible supply lines from a fixed starting point to a moveable consumer. In this context, the energy transmission chains, following the movement of the consumer, are traversed in a vertical plane. Particularly in self-supporting applications of the energy transmission chain with sagging arc-shaped sections, i.e. where the upper strand of the energy transmission chain is arranged freely above the lower strand and thus sags, high moments of force which act on the joints of the chain links occur in the event of tensile or compressive stresses on the self-supporting part of the energy transmission chain. If the energy transmission chain used in such a manner displays only insufficient lateral stability, this can result in the overlapping sections swivelling out of the swivelling plane, meaning that a uniform load is no longer placed on the hinge pins by the adjacent side elements. Instead, zones of high mechanical stress arise at the hinge pins which may ultimately result in the fracture of the hinge pins. Similar wear phenomena are also observed in the ascending section of the deflection arcs of energy transmission chains if the upper strand is guided on the lower strand in a sliding manner.
In another field of application, the moveable consumers are moved in a horizontal plane, meaning that the energy transmission chains also have to be traversed in this horizontal plane. Insufficient lateral stability of the energy transmission chains again proves to be disadvantageous in this context. As the energy transmission chains are usually arranged in a freely suspended manner, supporting the energy transmission chains on the underside by means of appropriately modified guide channels involves extremely complicated constructions or is simply impossible. Energy transmission chains which are freely arranged in a lateral position thus often sag. This necessitates increased expenditure of energy when the energy transmission chain is traversed and, owing to the chain sagging, results in the joints of the chain links being exposed to great mechanical stress perpendicular to the travel path, this in turn causes zones of high stress which entail increased wear. This drastically reduces the service life of the chain links.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is thus the task of the present invention to create an energy transmission chain which displays high lateral stability, does not sag, particularly when installed in a lateral position, and is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.
According to the invention, this task is solved in that at least one of the respective adjacent side elements displays at least one guide groove extending parallel to the swivelling plane and the side element adjacent to this one engages one of the guide grooves over the entire swivelling angle by means of at least one guide element extending parallel to the swivelling plane. This considerably increases the lateral stability of the energy transmission chain and prevents both the chain links tilting out of the swivelling plane relative to each other and lateral displacement of the chain links. Sagging is effectively prevented, particularly in freely suspended energy transmission chains in a lateral position.
In this context, the guide groove can be of comparatively short length, provided that it is ensured that one guide element of the adjacent side element always engages the guide groove. The guide groove, or the flanks of the same, can also be perforated, meaning that the guide groove is ultimately defined solely by one or more projections arrange
REFERENCES:
patent: 745975 (1903-12-01), Sweany
patent: 2450592 (1948-10-01), Howison
patent: 2988926 (1961-06-01), Mazzarins
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patent: 3503579 (1970-03-01), Kurlandsky
patent: 4043215 (1977-08-01), Long et al.
patent: 4181035 (1980-01-01), Shockley
patent: 4704098 (1987-11-01), Tsubakimoto
patent: 4983147 (1991-01-01), Wu
patent: 5741196 (1998-04-01), Campagnolo
Igus Spritzgussteile fur die Industrie GmbH
Kaness Matthew A.
Marmor Charles A
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