Bearings – Linear bearing – Plain bearings
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-27
2001-08-07
Hannon, Thomas R. (Department: 3682)
Bearings
Linear bearing
Plain bearings
C059S078100, C191S01200C, C248S049000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06270258
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a guide trough for energy management chains with parallel, oblong side sections, between which an energy management chain can be positioned in longitudinal direction, where fittings, in particular slide rails with a support surface for the energy management chain, can be secured to the inside of the side sections.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Energy management chains of this kind are known, for example, from DE-PS 195 12 105, where undercut recesses are provided on the inside of the side sections, into which a hook-shaped projection located laterally on the slide rail can be introduced and secured to the side element without further fastening devices. In this way, little time or effort is required to secure the slide rails to the side elements and detach them again. However, when using slide rails of this kind provided with a hook, it has proven to be a disadvantage that, owing to the relatively great length of the slide rails, it takes a certain degree of dexterity to introduce the hook into the recesses in the side sections. Moreover, production of hook-shaped projections on the slide rails and of corresponding recesses on the side sections involves a comparatively high manufacturing effort.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is based on the task of creating a guide trough with fittings, in particular slide rails, in which the fittings can be secured to the side sections in a particularly simple and reliable manner and in which the fittings are of simple design.
According to the invention, the task is solved in that the side sections display at least one support bevel which points obliquely up and protrudes into the guide trough and on which a holding member, also protruding obliquely on a fitting, can be positioned and, assisted by the support bevel, fixes the fitting in the side sections. This permits a simple design of the holding members and the side sections and eliminates the need for comparatively complicated production of hook-shaped projections and recesses corresponding to them. In order to secure the fittings to the side sections, their holding members need simply be positioned on the support bevels of the side sections, as a result of which there is no need for complicated introduction of hook-shaped projections into corresponding recesses. It is also possible to first position one end of the holding members on the support bevels, this facilitating fitting. It has been found that simply the dead weight of the loosely positioned fittings, in conjunction with the angling of the support areas of the side sections, permits sufficiently stable securing of the fittings on the side sections.
The support bevels are advantageously designed as cross-members extending over the entire length of the side sections.
In order to be able to secure the fittings on the side sections at different heights and/or in order to be able to mount several different fittings on the side sections at once, it is advantageous to provide each side section with several support bevels, arranged at intervals one above the other.
It has proven to be particularly advantageous if the holding members of the fittings, which project obliquely down, are fixed by an interference fit between support bevels located above or below each other on the side sections. This permits simple and, at the same time, fixed, i.e. non-displaceable, securing of the fittings to the side sections. This avoids rattling of the fittings, for example of slide rails during rapid movement of the energy management chain located in the guide trough, such as always occurs on slide rails provided with hook-shaped projections owing to the play of the hook-shaped projections in the corresponding recesses which has to be allowed. The noise generated during rapid movement of the energy management chain is greatly reduced in this way. Moreover, in the case of slide rails secured by means of hook-shaped projections, there is also the possibility of unintentional detachment of the slide rails from the side sections if the recesses located on the side sections are designed to be relatively large in order to facilitate introduction of the hook-shaped projections, or if the hook-shaped projections are of relatively small dimensions. This can be reliably avoided by fixing the fittings by means of an interference fit. The fittings can, for example, be detached from the side sections by prising them out with a tool, or by applying light blows to their underside.
It has proven particularly advantageous if support bevels of planar design have an upward slope of more than 45°, preferably between 50° and 70°. This slope has proven to be favourable, regardless of whether the holding members of the fittings are fixed between the support bevels by means of an interference fit or simply positioned loosely on the support bevels.
In order to obtain particularly dimensionally stable side sections and to reduce the noise generated during movement of the energy management chain, the side sections can be designed as hollow sections.
The fittings for the guide troughs according to the invention display a holding member, which protrudes obliquely down, is preferably straight and can be brought into contact with a support bevel of the side section.
If the fittings are designed as slide rails, these can display a projection which extends vertically upwards from the support surface for the energy management chain and can be positioned between the side section and the energy management chain. The projection maintains a distance between the side section and the energy management chain, thus preventing damage to the side section and/or the support bevels located on it, or to the energy management chain. This is particularly important in the case of rapid movement of the energy management chain. If the slide rails are provided with this kind of projection extending vertically upwards, the securing of the slide rails by means of projections extending in a straight line down from them is particularly advantageous, as tilting of the slide rails, such as is necessary for securing by means of hook-shaped projections, is made considerably more difficult by the vertical projections.
It has furthermore proven advantageous to provide caps as fittings, these being mounted on the side sections and displaying an area which at least partially covers the top side of the side sections and a run-in bevel which slopes down into the guide trough and facilitates insertion of the energy management chain into the guide trough. The area of the caps covering the top side of the side sections simultaneously protects the support bevels projecting into the guide trough, and the cross-members for the holding members of the fittings, against effects of the energy management chain. It is advantageous for the run-in bevel to follow on directly from the area covering the top side of the side section.
Moreover, it has proven particularly advantageous to provide a wall guard for the lower strand of the energy management chain as a further fitting, this displaying a vertical leg which can be positioned between the side section and the energy management chain and guarantees that a gap is maintained between the lower strand and the support bevels of the side sections, and a horizontal leg, on which the lower strand can be positioned. At the same time, the horizontal leg can advantageously be positioned on the substructure to which the side sections are secured. By using a wall guard of this kind, both the side sections and the support bevels for the lower strand can be protected against wear in the region of the lower strand. At the same time, selection of an appropriate material for the wall guard brings about a further reduction in noise levels during rapid movement of the energy management chain.
Given an appropriate design of the guide trough according to the invention, and of the securing devices of the fittings, a host of fittings with different functions can be secured on the side sections, as the fittings have to be moved in an essentially unchang
Hannon Thomas R.
Igus Spritzgubteile Fur Die Industrie GmbH
Reising Ethington, Barnes, Kisselle, Learman & McCulloch, P.C.
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