Device for laying electrical cables and wires

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device (1) for laying electrical cables and wires (3), comprising at least one laying or conveying element* (11) for electrical cables and wires arranged on or in a frame or housing (10) and at least one drive system (12) for moving the device (1) along an unwinding direction (R), wherein the drive system (12) comprises at least one guide, drive and / or pressure means (120, 121, 122) which is / are designed and driven to move the device (1) in the unwinding direction (R) in a drive plane (E). The device (1) according to the invention is characterized in that the drive system (12) comprises at least one first and / or one second guide, drive and / or pressure means (120, 121) and / or a guide bearing, the axis of rotation (DA, DA') or first or second plane of action (AE, AE') of which is oriented perpendicular to the drive plane (E).

Description

Technical area

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for laying electrical cables and lines in bundled supply and disposal lines according to the preamble of patent claim 1, in particular, but not exclusively, in the field of media supply, including cable routes, cable guides, cable trays, cable troughs, cable racks, i.e. all supporting bodies of cables (electrical lines), hoses (pneumatic (compressed air), hydraulic (oil pressurized), pure media supply (gas, liquids of any kind via lines). State of the art

[0002] Currently, no tools are used to install electrical cables and lines into bundled supply and disposal lines. Instead, the media lines are laid manually into the corresponding cable trays using cherry pickers, scissor lifts, forklift baskets, ladders, scaffolding, lifts, etc. For large media lines, tension cables are first inserted, and then the media line is pulled into the cable tray with their help.

[0003] The disadvantage here is that general accessibility to supply lines is often restricted by, for example, stored goods, installed systems, enclosures, traffic, etc. This makes it very difficult to install new cables in the cable trays. The problem of accessibility is exacerbated by the installation height of the cable trays, which in most cases already requires a cherry picker, scissor lift or forklift basket. Since the cable tray can only be accessed with a scissor lift or forklift basket at freely accessible points, additional machinery such as a cherry picker with a large boom is necessary. However, it can also happen that accessibility cannot be achieved with the technical lifting platforms at all. This means that cable pulling is often only possible with the help of many helpers or dangerous maneuvers.This situation leads to high costs due to the high manpower required, the special lifting equipment, etc. In addition, there are disproportionately long assembly times, which in the worst case result in production downtimes, representing a further cost driver. Description of the invention

[0004] The present invention is based on the object of eliminating the aforementioned disadvantages and of creating a device which is suitable for simplifying the assembly of supply and disposal lines of the media supply, in particular the path from manual insertion to automated insertion with the least possible manpower.

[0005] According to the invention, the above object is achieved according to the preamble of claim 1 in conjunction with the characterizing features. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the device according to the invention are specified in the dependent subclaims.

[0006] The present invention is based on a design of conventional cable trays that allows the device to be incorporated according to the described aspects of the invention. Due to their geometry, fastening, layout, and cable outlets, such a cable tray is not universally accessible using state-of-the-art tools. Such cable trays are used to support cables and electrical lines. They are usually made of metal and designed for wall or ceiling mounting. Cable trays are usually formed from an L- or U-shaped profile, which has an upright or usually vertically aligned tray edge profile on one or both sides, which extends upwards laterally from the tray floor or the tray channel of the cable tray.

[0007] The principle of the present invention proposes that the drive system comprises at least a first and / or a second guide, drive and / or pressing means and / or a guide bearing, the axis of rotation or plane of attack of which is aligned perpendicular to the horizontal drive plane, wherein the drive plane is aligned identically or parallel to the plane of the track floor and by means of which the device is supported on an outer track edge profile and is driven on the track edge profile.

[0008] Lateral stabilization is preferably achieved via a fixed stop side and a loose stop side, which are formed by one or more guide, drive, and / or pressure means and / or a guide bearing. It would also be conceivable for the device to be driven via the guide, drive, and / or pressure means and / or a guide bearing instead of or in addition to this.

[0009] Due to slight jumps caused by track connectors, transitions to curves, etc., several guide, drive and / or pressure devices and / or guide bearings are advantageous in order to prevent strong vibrations and jamming due to friction losses.

[0010] The advantages of the device according to the invention are that manual work is only partially required. In the worst case scenario, a person is needed at both the start and end points to insert and receive the cable in question. With other aids such as a roller feed for the cable, everything can be done by a single person. An example of this could be the person placing the device on the cable tray, threading the cable into the laying or conveying element (roller feed), hanging it on the trolley and then positioning it at the end position of the cable to receive it. From there, this person operates the device, preferably by remote control. The laying or conveying element can, for example,a roller rotatably arranged on the device, as a cylinder or as another laying or conveying element, by means of which the cable or cables are unrolled or laid on the track floor, wherein the laying or conveying element can be drive-free or driven in order to lay or unroll one or more cables on the track floor accordingly.

[0011] Depending on the design of the device, different travel profiles (pure straight-line travel, straight-line travel combined with cornering) are possible. Both travel profiles are preferably located on a horizontal plane. If an incline occurs in the travel plane, care must be taken to ensure a gentle rise and fall of the travel plane at the beginning and end of the incline. One possible variant for flexible incline approach would be to replace the axial ball bearing with a ball head, which allows for better compensation of the incline.

[0012] In both variants, it is important to compensate for friction losses, particularly due to shocks in the cable route. These shocks are caused by the interconnection of route sections. Vertically, these can be compensated for by the guide, drive, and / or clamping devices and / or a guide bearing. Horizontally, this can be achieved via weight or a plurality (preferably at least two) guide, drive, and / or clamping devices and / or a guide bearing. Especially when cornering, the horizontal clamping force is often too low with only one driven guide, drive, and / or clamping device and / or a guide bearing. Brief description of the drawings

[0013] Further objects, features, advantages and possible applications of the device according to the invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment with reference to the drawings.

[0014] The drawings show Fig. 1 the device according to the invention in an advantageous embodiment in rear section; Fig. 2 the problem areas for universal accessibility of the cable route together with the device according to the invention in a rear view of the variants, wall and ceiling mounting of the route; Fig. 3 the device according to the invention for pure straight-ahead travel in a further advantageous embodiment in a perspective view; Fig. 4 the device according to the invention in a further advantageous embodiment for cornering in a perspective view. Implementation of the invention

[0015] As from Fig. 1, the device 1 according to the invention comprises at least one laying or conveying element 11 for electrical cables and lines arranged on or in a frame or housing 10 and at least one drive system 12 for moving the device 1 along an unwinding direction R, wherein the drive system 12 comprises at least one guide, drive and / or pressing means 120, 121, 122 which is / are designed and driven to move the device 1 in the unwinding direction R in a drive plane E.

[0016] The device 1 is characterized in that the drive system 12 comprises at least one first and / or second guide, drive, and / or pressure means 120, 121 and / or a guide bearing, whose axis of rotation DA, DA' or first or second engagement plane AE, AE' is oriented perpendicular to the drive plane (E). The engagement planes here refer to the planes in which the respective guide, drive, and / or pressure means 122 engage the track edge profile 21 with its respective engagement surface.

[0017] The at least one guide, drive and / or pressing means 120, 121, 122 can be, for example, a wheel, a roller, a sliding surface or a roller.

[0018] It may be particularly advantageous for the drive system 12 to comprise at least one further guide, drive and / or contact pressure means 122 and / or a contact pressure bearing (preferably also in one of the aforementioned embodiments), the rotational axis DA'' or third attack plane AE'' of which is aligned parallel to the drive plane E and perpendicular to the unwinding direction R.

[0019] The first and / or the second guide, drive and / or pressure means 120, 121 and / or the guide bearing in the vertical direction VR is preferably arranged at least in regions below the further guide, drive and / or pressure means 122 and / or the pressure bearing.

[0020] Furthermore, it may be advantageous if the laying or conveying element 11 is arranged opposite the first guide, drive, and / or pressure means 120 and / or guide bearing with respect to the first engagement plane AE. "Opposite with respect to the first engagement plane AE" is also understood here to mean the opposite arrangement on the route edge profile 21 (corresponding to the top and bottom).

[0021] A further embodiment of the invention provides that at least one boom profile 13 is formed or arranged on the housing 10 or frame, which is arranged opposite the first guide, drive and / or pressing means 120 and / or guide bearing with respect to the first attack plane AE, above which, on, in and / or below which the laying or conveying element 11 is arranged.

[0022] The alignment height of the drive plane E in a space is advantageously determined by the third attack plane AE'' of the further guide, drive and / or contact pressure means 122 and / or the contact pressure bearing.

[0023] In addition, at least one guide, drive and / or contact pressure means 120, 121, 122 can be mechanically, pneumatically or hydraulically spring-loaded in the direction of the drive E or attack plane AE, AE', AE'', thereby ensuring that a permanent and definable contact pressure of the guide, drive and / or contact pressure means 120, 121, 122 is applied.

[0024] Furthermore, it is conceivable that at least two guide, drive and / or pressing means 120, 121, 122 are formed and are spring-loaded in the direction of the drive E or attack plane AE, AE', AE'' in such a way that they achieve a clamping effect with respect to the drive E or attack plane AE, AE', AE''.

[0025] To prevent the device 1 from falling off the cable route 2, the invention further provides that preferably at least one bolt-, web- or pin-like securing means 123 is arranged on the device 1, which is designed to effectively prevent the device 1 from derailing from the drive level E.

[0026] In Fig. 2, the relevant problem areas for universal accessibility of a cable route 2 are visible. The existing cables and lines 3 lying at the bottom of the cable route 2 prevent simple access to the route channel or the route floor 20. This is further influenced by the structure of the route floor 20, which is usually reinforced by corrugations. A mounting bracket 4 of the cable route 2 makes it impossible in most situations to grasp the cable route 2 and to support the device 1 on the route floor 20. The mounting bracket 4 can also be suspended from the ceiling and also negatively influences the ability to grasp the cable route 2. The same applies to the Fig.2 The side of the cable route 2 facing the wall, which prevents driving over, enclosing, or supporting the relevant route edge profile 21 due to cable jumps from the cable route 2 in the form of outgoing cables. Temporary support is possible at locations without outgoing cables or with a controlled lifting of several supports, but is technically very complex. List of reference numbers 1 device 2 cable routes 3 cables / lines 4 mounting bracket 10 Housing or frame 11 Laying or conveying element 12 Drive system 13 boom profile 20 route floor / route channel 21 Route edge profile 22 Ceiling 23 Wall 24 supports 25 bars 26 line jumps 120 first guiding, driving and / or pressing means 121 second guide, drive and / or pressing means 122 additional guiding, driving and / or pressing means 123 bolt, bar or pin-like securing device 150 dispensing opening AE attack level of 120 AE' attack level of 121 AE'' attack level of 122 DA rotation axes of 120 DA' rotation axes of 121 DA'' rotation axes of 122 E Drive level L longitudinal direction of 11 R Unwinding direction (=longitudinal axis of the unwinding direction) VR vertical direction

Claims

[1] Device (1) for laying electrical cables and lines (3), with at least one laying or conveying element (11) for electrical cables and lines arranged on or in a frame or housing (10) and at least one drive system (12) for moving the device (1) along an unwinding direction (R), wherein the drive system (12) comprises at least one guide, drive and / or pressing means (120, 121, 122) which is / are designed and driven to move the device (1) in the unwinding direction (R) in a drive plane (E), characterized by that the drive system (12) comprises at least one first and / or one second guide, drive and / or pressing means (120, 121) and / or one guide bearing, the axis of rotation (DA, DA') or first or second plane of attack (AE, AE') of which is oriented perpendicular to the drive plane (E). [2] Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized bythat the drive system (12) comprises at least one further guide, drive and / or pressure means (122) and / or a pressure bearing, the axis of rotation (DA'') or third plane of attack (AE'') of which is aligned parallel to the drive plane (E) and perpendicular to the unwinding direction (R). [3] Device (1) according to claim 2, characterized by that the first and / or the second guide, drive and / or pressure means (120, 121) and / or the guide bearing is arranged in the vertical direction (VR) at least in regions below the further guide, drive and / or pressure means (122) and / or the pressure bearing. [4] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the laying or conveying element (11) is arranged opposite the first guide, drive and / or pressing means (120) and / or guide bearing with respect to the first attack plane (AE). [5] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that at least one boom profile (13) is formed or arranged on the housing (10) or frame, which is arranged opposite the first guide, drive and / or pressing means (120) and / or guide bearing with respect to the first attack plane (AE), above which, on, in and / or below which the laying or conveying element (11) is arranged. [6] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the alignment height of the drive plane (E) in a space is determined by the third attack plane (AE'') of the further guide, drive and / or contact pressure means (122) and / or the contact pressure bearing. [7] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the at least one guiding, driving and / or pressing means (120, 121, 122) is a wheel, a roller, a sliding surface or a cylinder. [8] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that at least one guide, drive and / or pressing means (120, 121, 122) is mechanically, pneumatically or hydraulically spring-loaded in the direction of the drive (E) or attack plane (AE, AE', AE''). [9] Device (1) according to claim 8, characterized by that at least two guide, drive and / or pressing means (120, 121, 122) are formed and are spring-loaded in the direction of the drive (E) or attack plane (AE, AE', AE'') in such a way that they achieve a clamping effect with respect to the drive (E) or attack plane (AE, AE', AE''). [10] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that at least one bolt-, web- or pin-like securing means (123) is arranged on the device (1), which is designed to effectively prevent derailment of the device (1) from the drive level (E).

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