A cable chain anti-sway device

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of cable chains, specifically to a cable chain anti-sway device. The cable chain anti-sway device of this invention includes a guide rail arranged vertically and a force-applying device slidably disposed on the guide rail. The cable chain hangs down from beside the guide rail, passes around the force-applying device, and connects to the loading platform of a stacker crane. The force-applying device applies pressure to the bending position of the cable chain to tighten it, thereby preventing the cable chain from swaying. Compared with the prior art, this anti-swaying is more absolute, thus eliminating problems such as impact and noise.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of cable chains, and more specifically to a cable chain anti-sway device. Background Technology

[0002] A cable chain is a cable protection device that prevents cables from being damaged during dragging.

[0003] On stacker cranes, the vertically lifting loading platform requires cable power supply. To ensure that the cable is not damaged by the lifting and lowering of the loading platform, a cable chain is also used. The problem that has been discovered is that stacker cranes are very tall, and the cable chains are also very long. When the stacker crane moves horizontally, the cable chain will swing due to inertia, which may cause the cable chain to snag or collide with other parts, causing damage to itself or other parts.

[0004] To address this, Chinese patent CN218144144U proposes a guiding mechanism and a stacker crane, which actually discloses a device for preventing cable chain swaying. Such devices typically limit the swaying of the cable chain through vertically arranged channels. For details, see... Figures 1-3 The publicly available stacker crane has a channel consisting of two opposing tracks 6. The cable chain 4 is installed in the channel, passing through one of the tracks and connecting to the loading platform 3. The cable chain is blocked by the tracks on both sides to prevent it from snagging or colliding with other parts. However, a closer examination of this device reveals that because one end of the cable chain is connected to the loading platform, the cable chain moves with the loading platform. In particular, the U-shaped bend 7 of the cable chain changes with the rise and fall of one end of the cable chain. This means that the channel must be much larger than the cable chain to allow the cable chain to move and bend smoothly. As a result, the swaying of the cable chain is not completely restricted. The cable chain will still sway slightly within the channel due to inertia, which means that the cable chain will still be subject to impacts. Because the impact is small, the force is not great, and the probability of damage to the cable chain is small. However, because the channel space is small, the rebound and subsequent impacts after the impact will generate more noise. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of the above, the object of the present invention is to provide a cable chain anti-sway device that is both anti-sway and noiseless, addressing the existing problems.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the cable chain anti-sway device of the present invention includes a guide rail arranged in a vertical direction and a force-applying device slidably arranged on the guide rail. The cable chain hangs down from the side of the guide rail and passes around the force-applying device before being connected to the loading platform of the stacker crane. The force-applying device applies pressure to the bending position of the cable chain to tighten the cable chain, thereby preventing the cable chain from swaying. Compared with the prior art, this anti-swaying is more absolute and will not cause problems such as impact or noise.

[0007] Specifically, the force-applying device includes a counterweight frame, which comprises a front plate and a rear plate spaced apart and opposite to each other. A connecting plate is provided between the front and rear plates to fix them together. A counterweight wheel is installed between the front and rear plates, and the cable chain passes around the counterweight wheel between the front and rear plates. A slider assembly is provided on the back of the rear plate, which allows the counterweight frame to slide up and down along the guide rail. This solution applies pressure to the bending position of the cable chain by the weight of the counterweight frame and the counterweight wheel, thus tautning the cable chain.

[0008] Furthermore, considering that although the force application device can prevent the cable chain from swaying, this does not mean that the inertial force does not exist. If the cable chain is to be prevented from swaying due to the movement of the stacker crane, a large weight is required to resist the inertial force of the cable chain. Therefore, in the above solution, the counterweight frame and counterweight wheel need to be made of heavy materials, such as steel.

[0009] Paradoxically, precisely because inertial force does not disappear, although the force application device can keep it taut to prevent it from swaying, the inertia caused by the movement changes of the stacker crane can cause the cable chain to suddenly tighten even more, which may lead to the cable chain breaking. To address this, the axle of the counterweight wheel is pivotally connected to movable bearings on the front and rear plates, and springs are provided on the front and rear plates to resist and limit the bearings. Through this design, when the cable chain is affected by inertia and stretches outward, the cable chain will pull the counterweight wheel to move, causing the springs to contract, thereby absorbing the tension and preventing the cable chain from suddenly tightening and breaking.

[0010] The contradiction lies in the fact that the counterweight frame and counterweight wheels are made of heavy materials, resulting in significant weight. While this design can resist the inertial force of the cable chain and prevent it from swaying, it also places a considerable burden on the chain. Therefore, this invention improves the slider assembly and guide rail. Specifically, the guide rail has a front slide groove, a left slide groove, and a right slide groove on its front and left / right sides. The slider assembly includes a left slider, a right slider, and a front slider, which are slidably disposed within the left, right, and front slide grooves, respectively, and are arranged at an angle. The slider assembly also includes a connecting bracket connecting the left, front, and right sliders, all of which are pivotally connected to the connecting bracket. The connecting bracket can rotate around the front slider. The counterweight frame is attached to the bottom of the connecting bracket, which has a hanging hole at its bottom. The counterweight frame has a matching hook, with the hanging hole larger than the hook. When the cable chain is stationary, the counterweight frame is attached to the connecting bracket via the hook, transferring its weight to the guide rail, thus greatly reducing the burden on the cable chain.

[0011] Beneficial effects: The present invention applies pressure to the bending position of the cable chain by means of a force-applying device to tighten the cable chain, thereby preventing the cable chain from swaying. Compared with the prior art, this anti-swaying is more absolute and will not cause problems such as impact or noise. Attached Figure Description

[0012] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the application of existing drag chain anti-sway solutions on stacker cranes.

[0013] Figure 2 This is a structural diagram of an existing anti-sway solution for cable chains.

[0014] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the cooperation structure between the anti-sway solution for cable chains and the cable chain in the prior art;

[0015] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the application of a drag chain anti-sway device of the present invention on a stacker crane;

[0016] Figure 5 This is a front view of the cooperation structure between a cable chain anti-sway device and a cable chain on a stacker crane according to the present invention.

[0017] Figure 6 This is a perspective view of the interaction structure between a drag chain anti-sway device and a drag chain on a stacker crane according to the present invention.

[0018] Figure 7 This is a perspective view of a cable chain anti-sway device according to the present invention.

[0019] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the back structure of the force application device of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the improved solution provided in Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 10 A schematic diagram of the improved scheme provided in Embodiment 3 of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 11 , Figure 12 Schematic diagrams of different states of the improved solution provided in Embodiment 3 of the present invention;

[0023] The attached diagram includes the following labels: guide rail 1, left slide rail 101, right slide rail 102, front slide rail 103, force application device 2, counterweight frame 201, front plate 201a, rear plate 201b, connecting plate 201c, hook 201d, counterweight wheel 202, slider assembly 203, left slider 203a, counterweight block 203b-1, right slider 203b, front slider 203c, connecting bracket 203d, hanging hole 203d-1, bearing seat 204, fixing rod 205, fixing block 206, spring 207, loading platform 3, cable chain 4, and column 5. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention. Example 1

[0025] Reference Figures 4 to 8 The drag chain anti-sway device shown in this embodiment includes a guide rail 1 arranged along the vertical direction, which is fixed on the column 5 of the stacker crane.

[0026] The cable chain anti-sway device also includes a force application device 2 that is slidably mounted on the guide rail 1;

[0027] The cable chain 4 hangs down from the guide rail 1 and passes around the force application device 2 before being connected to the loading platform 3 of the stacker crane. The force application device 2 applies pressure to the bending position of the cable chain 4.

[0028] In this embodiment, the force application device 2 is configured to tighten the cable chain 4, thereby preventing the cable chain 4 from becoming too tight.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment, the force-applying device 2 applies a vertically downward force to the bending position of the cable chain 4, which is applied by gravity. Specifically, it includes a counterweight frame 201, which includes a front plate 201a and a rear plate 201b spaced apart and arranged opposite to each other. A connecting plate 201c is provided between the front plate 201a and the rear plate 201b to fix them together. A counterweight wheel 202 is installed between the front plate 201a and the rear plate 201b. The cable chain 4 passes around the counterweight wheel 202 between the front plate 201a and the rear plate 201b. A slider assembly 203 is provided on the back of the rear plate 201b. When the stacker crane's loading platform 3 is raised or lowered, it will pull one end of the cable chain 4 to move. The force-applying device 2 moves together with the cable chain 4 along the guide rail 1. The design of the wheel in the force-applying device 2 can reduce the friction between the cable chain 4 and the force-applying device 2 when it moves.

[0030] As a preferred embodiment, in order to increase pressure, the counterweight frame 201 and the counterweight wheel 202 need to be made of a heavy material, such as steel.

[0031] In this embodiment, the slider group 203 uses at least two oppositely arranged sliding blocks. The two sliding blocks are locked in the left sliding groove 101 and the right sliding groove 102 provided on both sides of the guide rail 1. This design allows the slider group 203 to slide in the guide rail 1, providing guidance for the movement of the force application device 2, and also fixing the force application device 2 on the guide rail 1 to prevent it from falling off the guide rail 1. Example 2

[0032] This embodiment is a further improvement based on Embodiment 1.

[0033] Specifically, refer to Figure 9 As shown, the improvement made in this embodiment is to address the fact that although the force application device 2 can keep the cable chain 4 taut to prevent it from swaying, the inertia caused by the movement of the stacker crane can cause the cable chain 4 to suddenly tighten even more, which may lead to the cable chain 4 breaking. Therefore, in this embodiment, the axle of the counterweight wheel 202 is pivotally connected to a movable axle seat 204 provided on the front plate 201a and the rear plate 201b. The front plate 201a and the rear plate 201b are respectively provided with slots for the axle to pass through and move up and down. The axle seat 204... A fixing rod 205 is installed at the top, and the fixing rod 205 is set vertically. The front plate 201a and the rear plate 201b are respectively provided with fixing blocks 206. The fixing rod 205 is inserted through the fixing block 206. A spring 207 is fitted on the fixing rod 205. The spring 207 abuts against the fixing block 206 and the bearing seat 204. When the drag chain 4 is stretched outward due to the inertia caused by the movement of the stacker crane, the drag chain 4 will pull the counterweight wheel 202 to move and cause the spring 207 to contract, thereby absorbing the tension and preventing the drag chain 4 from suddenly tightening and breaking. Example 3

[0034] The solution provided in this embodiment can be combined with either Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2.

[0035] The improved solution in this embodiment is based on the fact that the counterweight frame 201 and the counterweight wheel 202 are made of heavy materials, which puts a greater burden on the cable chain 4, especially for large stacker cranes, specifically for tall stacker cranes. The taller the stacker crane, the longer the cable chain 4. In order to resist the inertial force of the cable chain 4, the weight of the counterweight frame 201 and the counterweight wheel 202 is greater, and the burden on the cable chain 4 is also greater.

[0036] To avoid problems such as chain breakage or collapse due to excessive load, this embodiment provides an improved solution.

[0037] Specifically, refer to Figure 10-12As shown, in this scheme, unlike Embodiment 1, in addition to the left slide groove 101 and the right slide groove 102, the guide rail 1 also has a front slide groove 103 on its front side, and the cross-section of the front slide groove 103 is T-shaped. The slider group 203 also differs from Embodiment 1, including a left slider 203a, a right slider 203b, and a front slider 203c that are slidably disposed in the left slide groove 101, the right slide groove 102, and the front slide groove 103. The left slider 203a, the front slider 203c, and the right slider 203b are arranged in a downward oblique direction. The left slider 203a and the right slider 203b are respectively locked in the left slide groove 101 and the right slide groove 102. The front slider 203c is composed of two cylinders of different diameters, which are locked in the T-shaped cross-section. Inside the front slide groove 103, the slider assembly 203 also includes a connecting bracket 203d that connects the left slider 203a, the front slider 203c, and the right slider 203b. The left slider 203a, the front slider 203c, and the right slider 203b are all pivotally connected to the connecting bracket 203d. The connecting bracket 203d can rotate around the front slider 203c as a center. The weight on the left slider 203a side is greater than the weight on the right slider 203b side. The counterweight frame 201 is hung at the bottom of the connecting bracket 203d. The bottom of the connecting bracket 203d is provided with a hanging hole 203d-1. The counterweight frame 201 is provided with a matching hook 201d. The size of the hanging hole 203d-1 is larger than the size of the hook 201d.

[0038] Reference Figure 11 As shown, when the cable chain 4 is stationary, the counterweight frame 201 is attached to the connecting bracket 203d via the hook 201d. At this time, under the action of leverage, the weight of the counterweight frame 201 and the counterweight wheel 202 together causes the left slider 203a and the right slider 203b to be tightly fastened to the guide rail 1, generating a large frictional force. This causes the counterweight frame 201 and the counterweight wheel 202 to be automatically fixed to the guide rail 1, which is equivalent to transferring the weight to the guide rail 1, thereby reducing the burden on the cable chain 4.

[0039] Reference Figure 12 As shown, when the cable chain 4 is in the rising state, the counterweight frame 201 hooks the connecting bracket 203d through the hook 201d. At this time, under the action of the lever, the left slider 203a and the right slider 203b will be released from the tight state, so that the cable chain 4 and the slider group 203 can rise normally.

[0040] When the cable chain 4 is in the descending state, because the weight on the left slider 203a side is greater than the weight on the right slider 203b side, the left slider 203a side will drop downwards, which will also cause the left slider 203a and right slider 203b to unfasten, allowing the cable chain 4 and slider assembly 203 to descend normally. A counterweight 203b-1 is located on the side of the connecting bracket 203d opposite to the left slider 203a to increase the weight on that side.

[0041] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

[0042] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A cable chain anti-sway device, characterized in that: The system includes a guide rail (1) arranged vertically and a force-applying device (2) slidably arranged on the guide rail (1); a cable chain (4) hangs down from the guide rail (1) and passes around the force-applying device (2) before being connected to the loading platform (3) of the stacker crane, and the force-applying device (2) applies pressure to the bending position of the cable chain (4); the force-applying device (2) includes a counterweight frame (201), the counterweight frame (201) includes a front plate (201a) and a rear plate (201b) arranged at intervals and opposite to each other, and a connecting plate (201) is provided between the front plate (201a) and the rear plate (201b). c) Fix the two together. A counterweight wheel (202) is installed between the front plate (201a) and the rear plate (201b). The drag chain (4) passes around the counterweight wheel (202) between the front plate (201a) and the rear plate (201b). A slider assembly (203) is provided on the back of the rear plate (201b). The slider assembly (203) and the guide rail (1) form a sliding fit. The counterweight frame (201) and the counterweight wheel (202) are made of steel. The counterweight wheel (202) is provided with an axle. Movable bearings are provided on the front plate (201a) and the rear plate (201b). (204) The axle passes through the front plate (201a) and the rear plate (201b) and is pivotally connected to the axle seat (204). The front plate (201a) and the rear plate (201b) are respectively provided with slots for the axle to pass through and move up and down. A fixing rod (205) is installed on the top of the axle seat (204). The fixing rod (205) is vertically set. The front plate (201a) and the rear plate (201b) are respectively provided with fixing blocks (206). The fixing rod (205) passes through the fixing block (206). A spring (207) is fitted on the fixing rod (205). The spring (207) abuts against the fixed block (206) and the bearing seat (204); a front slide groove (103), a left slide groove (101), and a right slide groove (102) are provided on the front side and the left and right sides of the guide rail (1); the slider group (203) includes a left slider (203a), a right slider (203b), and a front slider (203c) which are slidably disposed in the left slide groove (101), the right slide groove (102), and the front slide groove (103); and the left slider (203a), the front slider (203c), and the right slider (203b) are arranged in an oblique direction.The slider assembly (203) also includes a connecting bracket (203d) connecting the left slider (203a), the front slider (203c), and the right slider (203b). The left slider (203a), the front slider (203c), and the right slider (203b) are all pivotally connected to the connecting bracket (203d). The connecting bracket (203d) can rotate around the front slider (203c). The weight on the left slider (203a) side is greater than the weight on the right slider (203b) side. A counterweight frame (201) is attached to the bottom of the connecting bracket (203d). The bottom of the connecting bracket (203d) has a hanging hole (203d-1), and the counterweight frame (201) has a matching hook (201d). The size of the hanging hole (203d-1) is larger than the size of the hook (201d).

2. The anti-sway device for a cable chain according to claim 1, characterized in that: The slider assembly (203) includes at least two oppositely arranged sliding blocks. The guide rail (1) has a left slide groove (101) and a right slide groove (102) on both sides respectively. The sliding blocks are locked in the left slide groove (101) and the right slide groove (102).

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