Clean Room Line Guide Support Chain to Prevent Sleeve Sagging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing line guide arrangements for clean room applications have limited capacity to accommodate multiple supply lines due to restricted width, leading to excessive sagging and the need for multi-layer arrangements, which increases abrasive wear between layers.
Innovation Solution
A support chain with a wider width than the receiving passages, allowing it to support multiple supply lines and prevent sagging, while being reciprocally displaceable with a direction-changing arc, and featuring chain links that are pivotably connected to maintain stability and reduce abrasion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the width of the line guide arrangement is increased to accommodate more supply lines, then the capacity to guide supply lines is improved, but the sagging of the enclosure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support chain extends in the height direction H above and below the receiving passage, creating a three-dimensional support structure. This vertical dimension allows the support chain to provide upward support force to counteract gravity-induced sagging while maintaining a compact width, enabling more supply lines to be accommodated without increasing sagging.
2Quantity of substance
If a multi-layer arrangement is used to accommodate more supply lines, then the capacity is improved, but the abrasive wear between layers increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of arranging supply lines in multiple horizontal layers that contact each other, the support chain utilizes the vertical height dimension to provide support from above and below. This separates the supply lines in the vertical dimension rather than stacking them horizontally, eliminating contact between layers and preventing abrasive wear.
3Quantity of substance
If the support chain is made wider to support multiple receiving passages, then the support capability is improved, but the weight of the support chain increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support chain achieves support for multiple receiving passages by extending in the height direction H rather than increasing width proportionally. The chain links are arranged vertically above and below the receiving passage, allowing the support chain to span multiple passages in the vertical dimension while maintaining a relatively compact and lightweight structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The support chain is divided into individual chain links that are pivotably connected. This segmentation allows the support chain to distribute its weight and support forces across multiple discrete elements, reducing the overall weight compared to a solid structure while maintaining the ability to support multiple receiving passages through the vertical arrangement of links.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables easy enlargement of the line guide arrangement in width, reduces sagging and abrasive wear, and maintains stability with a low weight and small radius, effectively supporting multiple supply lines without the need for multiple layers.
Implementation Method 1
wherein each two successive chain links are pivotably connected together, in particular about a pivot axis parallel to the direction-changing axis A
Data Source
AI summary
A cable run arrangement for clean room applications, which is movable forming two strands and a deflecting bend. The cable run arrangement comprises: a flexible sleeve having a plurality of receiving channels, arranged alongside one another, for supply lines, and at least one support chain, which cooperates with the sleeve in order to support at least one associated receiving channel in a stretched position. According to the invention, the support chain forms a support surface, the width of which is greater than the corresponding dimension of the free cross section of the associated receiving channel. The invention also relates to a support chain per se, which forms a support surface, the width of which amounts to at least three times the distance of the support surface from the opposite side of the support chain.