Chain – staple – and horseshoe making – Chains – Conduit
Patent
1998-05-01
1999-11-23
Jones, David
Chain, staple, and horseshoe making
Chains
Conduit
59900, 248 49, F16G 1316
Patent
active
059878738
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to an energy guiding chain for guiding hoses and the like between two connecting points, the position of at least one of which can be changed, with several chain links comprising side elements and cross-members connected to each other in articulated fashion, where the pivoting of adjacent chain links relative to each other is limited by corresponding stops with contact surfaces arranged on the chain links.
The pivoting of the chain links relative to each other is limited, for example, when unsupported energy guiding chains are present, i.e. when the upper strand of the energy guiding chain does not rest on the lower strand during traversing of the chain, instead being guided at a vertical distance from it. On account of the limited pivoting of adjacent chain links relative to each other, the direction of movement of the energy guiding chain can only change up to a certain, design-specific bending radius. This bending radius must be matched to the design circumstances of the device to be equipped with an energy guiding chain, as well as to the flexibility of the energy lines, such as hoses and the like, to be accommodated in the energy guiding chain.
The pivoting of adjacent chain links relative to each other can be limited by stops provided especially for this purpose. However, the stops are generally understood as those areas of the chain links which come into contact with areas of the respective adjacent chain links when adjacent chain links are pivoted, thus limiting the pivoting of the chain links relative to one another.
The rapid traversing of energy guiding chains is often associated with considerable and irritating noise emission. The task of the present invention is to create an energy guiding chain which allows high traversing speeds and displays reduced noise emission.
According to the invention, the task is solved by providing the chain links with means for reducing the angling speed of adjacent chain links relative to each other. This results in the adjacent chair links being braked during angling relative to each other when pivoting the chain links, so that the corresponding stops come into contact with each other at a reduced speed, consequently reducing the emission of noise when the energy guiding chain is traversed. To this end, torsion springs connected to the respective adjacent side elements, for example, can be provided in the area of the joints.
In order to reduce the angling speed, the side elements are advantageously provided with run-up bevels, and the side elements of the respective adjacent chain links with areas which run up the run-up bevels when the chain links are pivoted, i.e. are guided along the run-up bevels over a range of pivoting angles, where the areas of the adjacent chain link provided with run-up bevels and/or the areas running up the run-up bevels display elastically deformable elements which can be deformed elastically when the chain links are pivoted. The elastic deformation of the elements when the areas of the adjacent chain link are guided on the run-up bevels when the chain links are pivoted causes the adjacent chain links to be braked relative to each other and results in a reduction of the impact speed of the stops. The extent of the damping effect in this context depends on the inclination and length of the run-up bevels, as well as on the elasticity of the elastically deformable elements.
The elastically deformable elements can be designed as separate spring elements or, given appropriate elasticity of the material of which the side elements are made, they can form areas of the side elements integrally moulded in one piece.
If the side elements are designed as mutually corresponding inner and outer straps displaying a thicker area protruding transversely to the longitudinal direction of the chain in the region of the centre plane, the run-up bevels can, for example, be arranged on the lateral limiting surfaces of the thicker areas or the areas of the adjacent chain link opposite these. Accordingly, if the side elements are cranked,
REFERENCES:
patent: 4800714 (1989-01-01), Moritz
patent: 5771676 (1998-06-01), Komiya et al.
Igus Spritzgussteile fur die Industrie GmbH
Jones David
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