vertical guide slot

Abstract

A guide channel (1) for guiding an energy guide chain (3) along a vertical line or along a path running with a vertical component, having oppositely arranged boundary walls formed by separate guide plates (4, 5), wherein the two guide plates (4, 5) have smooth sliding surfaces (6, 7) on their side facing the energy guide chain (3), which are provided in their lateral edge regions with guide flanges (8, 9, 10, 11) projecting at right angles, the guide plates (4, 5) being held in a bracket (12), which can be fastened on a carrier wall at a distance and at a height offset and is configured in a U shape, wherein the outer sides of the U-shaped web (13) of the bracket (12) lie against the carrier wall and the guide plates (4, 5) can be fastened on the inner sides of the U-shaped legs (14, 15) of the bracket (12).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a device according to a guide groove type for guiding an energy guide chain consisting of movably interconnected links along a vertical path or with a vertical component, wherein the energy guide chain has two sections interconnected by a turning region, and a flexible supply line is guided in the energy guide chain, the flexible supply line connecting a connector arranged at a fixed height to a vertically movable appliance or machine, wherein the energy guide chain is guided between lateral dividing walls formed by separate guide plates arranged opposite each other and having a smooth sliding surface on their sides facing the energy guide chain, wherein the device has a receiving space between the two sliding surfaces for the sections interconnected by the turning region, and the guide plates are held in a bracket that can be spaced apart and height-staggered and fastened to a support wall, wherein the bracket is U-shaped, wherein the outer side of the U-shaped tab of the bracket can abut against the support wall, and the guide plates can be fastened to the inner side of the U-shaped leg of the bracket. Background Technology

[0002] A guide slot (EP2546546B1) for an energy guiding chain is known, which is also suitable for vertical operation. The energy guiding chain is held magnetically within the guide slot. For this purpose, permanent magnets are provided on the outside of the links at their joints, which interact with a steel plate inserted into the bottom of the guide slot. The guide slot can only accept a single segment and is only suitable for specially adapted energy guiding chains; furthermore, such an arrangement is relatively expensive. Description of how the guide slot can be secured to a vertical wall is not included in this document.

[0003] Another known device, designed solely for horizontal operation (US5 178 247), essentially consists of a U-shaped guide channel for an energy guiding chain, wherein the sidewalls of the guide channel have inwardly bent 90° protrusions at both its lower and upper ends. In this guide channel, which is bent from sheet metal, the sidewalls are connected to each other via a one-piece formed bottom. The channel is secured to a straight (gradflächig) horizontal base by screws passing through this bottom.

[0004] Furthermore, a guide groove (DE202011100313 U1) for an energy guiding chain is known, which is also suitable for horizontal operation. The guide groove is U-shaped and can be secured to a smooth vertical wall by means of lateral retainers. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention is based on the objective of providing a vertical guide for energy guiding chains that can be manufactured at low cost, which can be easily fastened to a vertical wall and ensures reliable maintenance of the energy guiding chain.

[0006] According to the present invention, this task is solved by a device based on the guide slot type proposed by the present invention, wherein the present invention is particularly characterized by:

[0007] The sliding surface is provided with guide flanges protruding at right angles in its two lateral edge regions, wherein the guide flanges define the receiving space for sections that are interconnected by the turning region at the two lateral edge regions.

[0008] This invention provides a novel guiding system that eliminates the need for conventionally constructed guide channels. Instead, elongated, individual guide plates are configured as lateral dividing walls, each with a smooth sliding surface on its side facing the energy guide chain. To hold the energy guide chain between the guide plates, these sliding surfaces have guide flanges projecting at right angles in their edge regions. Together with spaced-apart, height-staggered supports, the guide plates are held in position, ensuring a good guide rail for the energy guide chain between the guide plates.

[0009] The device according to the invention receives two segments of an energy guide chain interconnected by a turning region, wherein a guide flange extending on the lateral edge region of the sliding surface defines a space in which the two segments of the energy guide chain move. This results in a very compact construction that requires only a very small space.

[0010] A locking device is preferably provided on the back side and the inside side of the U-shaped leg facing the support of the guide plate. The locking device can engage with each other and thus provide secure retention along the entire length of the guide groove.

[0011] Practically, the locking device on the back side of the guide plate consists of paired protrusions with laterally concave noses, wherein the noses of the pair of protrusions point in opposite directions. Correspondingly, paired mating protrusions are constructed on the U-shaped legs of the support, each having laterally concave noses also pointing in opposite directions. When the guide plate is pressed against the inside of the U-shaped legs, the noses on the protrusions and mating protrusions engage sequentially through slight elastic deformation. This achieves a good fit that can withstand significant vibration.

[0012] To ensure sufficient and reliable retention across the width of the guide plate, two pairs of protrusions and mating protrusions can be arranged on the back side of the guide plate and the inside side of the U-shaped leg, respectively.

[0013] Practically, the protrusion and the mating protrusion are constructed as a through rib, and the lateral concave nose provided on the rib also extends through the entire length of the rib.

[0014] The protrusions and mating protrusions, which are constructed as ribs, are preferably oriented in the vertical direction. This achieves optimized and stable retention.

[0015] Practically, rib-like protrusions are constructed on the back side of the guide plate, extending along its entire length. This provides additional reinforcement to the guide plate, ensuring sufficient stability even in the unsupported free area between the two supports.

[0016] A raised portion can be provided on the side of the rib-shaped mating protrusion provided on the bracket. This raised portion, in the locked state, abuts against the rib-shaped protrusion of the guide plate and protrudes beyond the level of the rib-shaped protrusion. This ensures better retention of the interlocking protrusions and mating protrusions and provides reliable fixation to prevent movement of the components relative to each other.

[0017] To accurately position the guide plate, at least two stops are provided on the bracket, ensuring optimized dimensional accuracy for the receiving section between the guide plates.

[0018] The stop is configured such that the inner stop is a through stop strip on the inside of the U-shaped tab, while the outer stop is the inwardly curved tip of the corresponding U-shaped leg of the bracket.

[0019] The support can be constructed as a one-piece plastic component. Preferably, PVC or PE is used to manufacture the support.

[0020] The guide plate can also be made of PVC or PE as a one-piece component, and of course, it is also feasible to make the guide plate from metal.

[0021] Both the guide plate and the bracket can be extruded or injection molded.

[0022] Preferably, the bracket's connecting piece and the two U-shaped legs are each composed of two spaced-apart plates connected to each other by truss-like ribs. This significantly saves material during bracket manufacturing without adversely affecting the bracket's stability.

[0023] Protruding fastening flanges can be provided on both sides of the U-shaped connector of the bracket, and the corresponding bracket can be connected to the bearing wall by means of fastening elements through the fastening flanges.

[0024] Furthermore, retainers for securing the pipeline to be laid can be arranged on the outer side of the U-shaped leg of the bracket. Attached Figure Description

[0025] The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings and described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0026] It shows:

[0027] Figure 1 A view of an embodiment of the vertical guide groove according to the present invention;

[0028] Figure 2 according to Figure 1 Side view of the guide groove.

[0029] Figure 3 In part III of Figure 1 at a greatly magnified scale,

[0030] Figure 4 According to the three-dimensional diagram Figure 3 a part,

[0031] Figure 5 A view of a bracket with an inserted guide plate at the top, and

[0032] Figure 6 Along in a further magnified scale Figure 5 The partial cross section of line VI. Detailed Implementation

[0033] In the attached diagram Figure 1 and Figure 2 The diagram shows a guide groove 1 for vertically guiding the energy guide chain. Such a guide groove 1 can also be advantageously used if guidance is to be carried out on a path with only a vertical component, i.e., along an inclined plane. In the present case, the energy guide chain is used to guide a flexible supply line that connects a connector arranged at a fixed height to a vertically movable appliance or machine.

[0034] Here, the energy guiding chain is guided between the lateral dividing walls, which in the device according to the invention are formed by separate guide plates 4 and 5. Here, the guide plates 4 and 5 are held in a support 12, which will be described in detail below.

[0035] Figure 1 Local III marked in Figure 3 , 4 The details are shown in Figures 5 and 6 at an enlarged scale.

[0036] As can be seen from these figures, two guide plates 4 and 5 arranged opposite each other have smooth sliding surfaces 6 and 7 on their sides facing the receiving space for the energy guiding chain, the sliding surfaces having guide flanges projecting at right angles in their lateral edge regions, wherein guide plate 4 has guide flanges 8 and 9, and guide plate 5 has guide flanges 10 and 11.

[0037] For example, especially from Figure 5 As learned, the space between the two sliding surfaces 6 and 7 of the guide plates 4 and 5 serves as the receiving space for two segments 16 and 17 of the energy guiding chain 3 that are interconnected by a turning region, the energy guiding chain being composed of links 2 that are movably interconnected.

[0038] The two guide plates 4 and 5 are held and fixed in place only by brackets 12 that are staggered in height.

[0039] The bracket 12 is U-shaped, wherein the outer side of the U-shaped tab 13 can be fastened to the smooth support wall. Guide plates 4 and 5 are fastened to the inner sides of the U-shaped legs 14 and 15 of the respective bracket 12.

[0040] On the back side of the U-shaped legs 14 and 15 facing the bracket 12 of the guide plates 4 and 5, and on the inner side of the U-shaped legs 14 and 15, a locking device is provided, which can lock into each other.

[0041] The locking devices provided on the back sides of guide plates 4 and 5 consist of two pairs of protrusions 18 and 19, each protrusion having a laterally recessed nose 20 and 21. The laterally recessed noses 20 and 21 of the pair of protrusions 18 and 19 point in opposite directions, or more precisely, point away from each other.

[0042] Correspondingly paired mating protrusions 22 and 23 are constructed on the U-shaped legs 14 and 15 of the support 12, the mating protrusions having laterally concave noses 24 and 25, wherein the noses of each pair of protrusions point in opposite directions, or more precisely, in the present case, towards each other.

[0043] When guide plates 4 and 5 are pressed onto the corresponding inner sides of U-shaped legs 14 and 15, the noses 20, 21, 24, and 25 constructed on protrusions 18 and 19 and mating protrusions 22 and 23 are successively engaged by the slight elastic deformation of the protrusions and mating protrusions. Here, the corresponding pairs of protrusions 18 and 19 of guide plates 5 and 6 act between the pairs of protrusions 22 and 23 of U-shaped legs 14 and 15 of bracket 12, so that the noses of the protrusions pointing in opposite directions are successively locked.

[0044] For example, especially from Figure 5 As is known, two pairs of protrusions 18 and 19 are arranged on the guide plates 4 and 5 respectively, and the two pairs of protrusions work together with two pairs of cooperating protrusions 22 and 23 arranged on the U-shaped legs 14 and 15 of the bracket 12.

[0045] The projections 18 and 19 and the mating projections 22 and 23 are configured as continuous ribs, wherein the laterally concave noses 20, 21 and 24, 25 configured on said ribs also run continuously. Here, the projections 18 and 19 configured as ribs and the mating projections 22 and 23 are arranged in the vertical direction.

[0046] The projections 18 and 19 configured as ribs on the back sides of the guide plates 4 and 5 extend over the entire length of the guide plates 4 and 5 and thereby impart particularly good rigidity to them, such that the guide plates 4 and 5 are also equipped with sufficient rigidity in the region between the two brackets 12 and reliably guide the two sections of the energy chain.

[0047] As shown in Figure 6 a single protruding elevation 33 is configured on the sides of the ribbed mating projections 22 and 23 provided on the bracket 12, said sides abutting against the ribbed projections 18 and 19 of the guide plates 4 and 5 in the latched state, and said elevation increases the sliding resistance between the projections 18 and 19 and the mating projections 22 and 23 and thus improves the overall stability of the guide trough.

[0048] In order to precisely position the guide plates 4 and 5 between the U-shaped legs 14 and 15 of the bracket 12, two stops 26 and 27 are respectively provided on the bracket 12. The inner stop 26 is configured as a continuous stop strip on the inner side of the U-shaped tab 13, and the outer stop 27 is configured as the inwardly bent tip of the corresponding U-shaped leg 14 or 15 of the bracket 12. By this measure, the precise spacing between the sliding surfaces 6 and 7 of the guide plate is adjusted.

[0049] [[ID=!4]]The bracket 12 is configured as an integral plastic part made of PVC or PE. This also applies to the guide plates 4 and 5. The guide plates 4 and 5 and the bracket 12 are all extruded or injection molded, wherein the extrusion process is advantageously at least suitable for the longitudinally extended guide plates 4 and 5.

[0050] The bracket 12 is configured in a very light structural form, that is, the corresponding U-shaped tab 13 and the two U-shaped legs 14 and 15 are respectively composed of two plates 28 and 29 running spaced apart from each other, and said plates are interconnected by ribs 30 arranged in a truss-like manner.

[0051] In order to fasten the bracket 12 to, for example, a smooth bearing wall, protruding fastening flanges 31 are provided on both sides of the U-shaped tab 13. The flanges are provided with voids or drill holes through which fastening elements (such as screws) can pass.

[0052] In the embodiment shown in the drawings, additional retaining members 32 are provided on the outer sides of the U-shaped legs of the bracket, and the pipelines to be fixedly laid can be fastened to said additional retaining members.

[0053] The vertical guide groove according to the present invention has various advantages over the prior art. It consists of a small number of individual components, which can preferably be manufactured cheaply from plastic. Through the ingenious architecture of the bracket and the guide plate, despite the low material cost, a considerable rigidity of the entire device is achieved, ensuring reliable operation.

[0054] List of reference numerals

[0055] 1 Guide groove

[0056] 2 Link

[0057] 3 Energy guiding chain

[0058] 4 Guide plate

[0059] 5 Guide plate

[0060] 6 Sliding surface

[0061] 7 Sliding surface

[0062] 8 Guide flange

[0063] 9 Guide flange

[0064] 10 Guide flange

[0065] 11 Guide flange

[0066] 12 Bracket

[0067] 13 U-shaped tab

[0068] 14 U-shaped leg

[0069] 15 U-shaped leg

[0070] 16 Segment

[0071] 17 Segment

[0072] 18 Protrusion

[0073] 19 Protrusion

[0074] 20 Concave nose <00​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​27 Stop

[0082] 28 Plate

[0083] 29 Plate

[0084] 30 Rib

[0085] 31 Fastening flange

[0086] 32 Retaining member

[0087] 33 Protrusion

Claims

1. An apparatus of the type of guide groove (1), said guide groove being used to guide an energy guiding chain (3) consisting of movablely interconnected links (2) along a vertical path or with a vertical component, wherein, The energy guiding chain has two interconnected sections (16, 17) via a turning area, and a flexible supply line is guided within the energy guiding chain (3). This flexible supply line connects a connector positioned at a fixed height to a movable appliance or machine, wherein the energy guiding chain (3) is guided between lateral dividing walls. The lateral dividing wall is formed by separate, opposing guide plates (4, 5), each having a smooth sliding surface (6, 7) on the side of the guide plate facing the energy guiding chain (3). The device has a receiving space between the two sliding surfaces (6, 7) for interconnecting sections (16, 17) via a turning area. The guide plates (4, 5) are held in a bracket (12) that is spaced apart and height-staggered and fastened to the supporting wall. The bracket (12) is U-shaped. The outer side of the U-shaped tab (13) of the bracket (12) can abut against the bearing wall, and the guide plate (4, 5) can be fastened to the inner side of the U-shaped leg (14, 15) of the bracket (12). The sliding surface (6, 7) is provided with guide flanges (8, 9, 10, 11) protruding at right angles in its two lateral edge regions, wherein the guide flanges (8, 9) limit the receiving space of the sections (16, 17) that are interconnected through the turning region at the two lateral edge regions.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, - Locking devices are provided on the back side of the U-shaped legs (14, 15) facing the bracket (12) of the guide plate (4, 5) and on the inner side of the U-shaped legs (14, 15), and the locking devices can be locked into each other.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that, - The locking devices provided on the back side of the guide plates (4, 5) are paired protrusions (18, 19) having a laterally concave nose (20, 21). - The pair of protrusions (18, 19) on the nose (20, 21) point in opposite directions. - Corresponding paired mating protrusions (22, 23) are constructed on the U-shaped legs (14, 15), the mating protrusions having lateral concave noses (24, 25) pointing in opposite directions, and - When the guide plates (4, 5) are pressed against the inner side of the U-shaped legs (14, 15), the noses (20, 21, 24, 25) constructed on the protrusions (18, 19) and the mating protrusions (22, 23) are successively engaged by the slight elastic deformation of the protrusions and the mating protrusions.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that, Two pairs of protrusions (18, 19) and matching protrusions (22, 23) are respectively arranged on the back side of the guide plate (4, 5) and the inner side of the U-shaped leg (14, 15).

5. The apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, - The protrusions (18, 19) and the mating protrusions (22, 23) are constructed as through ribs, and - The lateral concave noses (20, 21, 24, 25) constructed on the ribs also extend through the ribs.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that, The rib-shaped protrusions (18, 19) and the mating protrusions (22, 23) are oriented in the vertical direction.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that, The protrusions (18, 19) configured as ribs on the back side of the guide plates (4, 5) extend along the entire length of the guide plates (4, 5).

8. The apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that, A raised section is constructed on the side of the rib-shaped mating protrusions (22, 23) provided on the bracket (12), the side of which abuts against the rib-shaped protrusions (18, 19) of the guide plate (4, 5) in the locked state.

9. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The bracket (12) is constructed as a one-piece plastic component.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that, The bracket (12) is made of PVC or PE.

11. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The guide plates (4, 5) are also constructed as one-piece components made of PVC or PE.

12. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The guide plates (4, 5) and the bracket (12) are extruded or injection molded.

13. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The U-shaped connecting piece (13) and the two U-shaped legs (14, 15) of the bracket (12) are each composed of two plates (28, 29) that are spaced apart from each other and are connected to each other by ribs (30) arranged in a truss-like manner.

14. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, Protruding fastening flanges (31) are provided on both sides of the U-shaped connecting piece (13) of the bracket (12), and the corresponding bracket (12) can be connected to the bearing wall by means of fastening elements through the fastening flanges.

15. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, On the outside of the U-shaped legs (14, 15) of the bracket (12), there are retainers (32) for fixing the pipeline to be laid.

Images