EP1752229B1 - Rope scraper and assembling method - Google Patents

Description

1. Application

The present invention relates to a side scraper according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for mounting such a cable scraper on a continuous rope.

II. Technical background

A rope scraper is used wherever a rope or a rope-like element such as a strand, a wire, a cable or the like, to be cleaned on the outer periphery of solid contaminants. For this purpose, a Seilabstreifer is arranged around the cable outer diameter and this moves in the longitudinal direction relative to the rope.

A typical application are so-called pull-cable distance measuring sensors, in which the drawn from a biased in the winding direction cable drum measuring the distance of the end of the measuring cable from the cable drum: Such measuring cable sensors are mostly safety-related parts and have a very long life of 1 million Have strokes and more. The degree of possible contamination inside the housing plays a significant role. The housing is substantially sealed, however, dirt adhering to the outer surface of the cable is transported inside through the cable entry channel and can deposit there and impair its function.

Therefore, in such a cable-way sensors - as well as many other applications with a moving rope - a Seilabstreifer arranged at the cable inlet or other suitable location, which should remove the adhering to the rope dirt particles.

Seilabstreifer with rubber lips are also known as with mostly ring the rope enclosing brushes with directed against the rope bristles or lips.

On the one hand, however, the bristles wear out, with the result that they no longer rest with their free ends on the rope. On the other hand, these brushes themselves need to be cleaned or changed from time to time to remove the debris accumulated over time.

Other cable scrapers, in particular brush scrapers in conjunction with a wetting of the rope by means of fat or other pasty substances, have proved to be rather counterproductive in terms of long-term function.

The US-A-4 543683 , the FR-A-2 396 443 and the DE 299 21 114 U1 each reveal a Seilabstreifer with a holding device in the form of two half-shells, in whose end faces openings are formed, through which a cable to be cleaned is performed. In the half shells one or more straight longitudinal brushes are accommodated, which are arranged parallel to the direction of passage of the rope with bristles directed towards the rope.

The US-B1-6 470 528 discloses a cable scraper with two longitudinal brushes, the bristles of which are directed against each other, wherein the or more ropes to be cleaned are guided transversely to the longitudinal brushes between them. The longitudinal brushes are attached to a U-shaped holding device respectively on the parallel legs.

The US 606 482 A discloses a cable scraper, which consists of a spiral brush with bristle holder and bristles on which an eyelet is integrally formed for hanging on a hook. In the case of a flexible bristle holder, the brush is arranged spirally around the rope. In the case of a rigid bristle holder, the rope is inserted into the spiral brush.

The US-A-2 657 414 discloses a cable scraper with scraper and two separate holding parts. The stripping element consists of an elastic foam-like material and is formed spirally. When attaching the Seilabstreifers to a continuous rope first a first holding part is attached to the rope, then the stripping and finally attached a second holding part. To replace the wiper element, the second retainer must first be removed before a new wiper element can be installed.

The US-A-2 285 742 discloses a Seilabstreifer with a holding device in the form of a housing, which consists of two pivotally interconnected half shells. In the end faces of the holding device openings are formed through which a cable to be cleaned is performed. In the holding device, a spiral stripping element made of an elastic foam-like material is arranged.

DE 198 22 986 A1 discloses a cable scraper with a holding device in the form of a sleeve-shaped or cylindrical brush holder with three circumferentially formed receiving slots for longitudinal brushes. The longitudinal brushes are arranged with their bristles directed radially inwardly toward the rope to be cleaned.

The US-A-5,784,752 discloses a cable scraper with a round brush arranged in a cylindrical housing. In the housing, slots are formed transversely to the longitudinal direction of the round brush and the housing through which a plurality of ropes to be cleaned are passed through the brush.

The DE 439 198 C discloses a longitudinal brush fixed to a support. Through the bristles of the longitudinal brush through a rope to be cleaned is performed.

III. Presentation of the invention a) Technical task

Based on the prior art according to US-A-4 543683 , which shows the preamble of claim 1, the skilled artisan was asked to provide a Seilabstreifer, particularly applicable to measuring cable displacement sensors, in which the cleaning effect is improved and at the same time the assembly, in particular the replacement of the stripper brush in a continuous rope can be done easily and quickly.

b) Solution of the task

This object is solved by the features of claims 1 and 6. Advantageous embodiments will be apparent from the dependent claims.

Characterized in that the one or more stripping brushes are each arranged with their ends on one of two separate holding parts, they can be easily separated from these by removing either in the axial or in the radial direction and replaced with it, without having to replace the holding parts themselves. The rope can thus remain continuous and must not be detached from its attachments end.

Due to the course of the one or more wiping brushes over the entire axial wiping distance, the wiping brushes themselves may be a component that determines the rigidity of the entire wiper due to their inherent stability, so that holding devices, in particular for fastening to an adjacent component, are required only at their axial ends. but not in the axial direction of the entire scraper spanning housing.

The holding devices may comprise annular, but also annular slotted, so C-shaped, holding parts, against which abut the ends of the one or more stripping brushes or housed in these.

The area between the ends of the stripper brush is therefore freely accessible for cleaning the brush or to check its function on the rope, in particular the sufficient concern for the rope.

A slotted ring, so a C-shape, not only facilitates mounting on the rope by inserting the rope through the slot, but also allows easy radial compression when the material of the C-shaped support member is sufficiently elastic.

As zusammenpressendes part can serve, for example, a simple hose clamp, which serves on the adjacent component, such as a cable inlet nozzle of the housing, facing holding part at the same time for connecting the Seilabstreifers with the cable inlet nozzle, by the rope to the rope socket subsequent holding part has approximately the same outer diameter as the rope contact bushing and covers the hose clamp both parts in the axial direction.

A slipping over at least an axial portion of this holding part on the rope running jack and jamming by means of hose clamp or a clamping screw is possible.

When using a helical spiral brush with inwardly directed towards the longitudinal axis of the helix bristles, a single such spiral brush, the length of which can also be set differently depending on the desired cleaning effect and may be occupied in its course with different bristle materials.

With the cable end socket facing the radially outer bristle holder can be stuck in the inner circumference of an adapter, which in turn is radially outwardly pressed together by a hose clamp and in turn is held approximately on the rope contact socket.

At the other end, only a holding device is required, which reduces the free passage relative to the free space within the helical bristle holder, z. B. in the form of a serve plate to let it open the thickening at the end of the rope.

Preferably, the individual turns of the helical bristle holder are so far apart that the diameter of the rope finds space between them, so the spiral brush can be screwed onto the continuous rope by inserting the rope at one end of the helix between the turns and continue screwing until the rope is completely inside the helix.

This approach is also possible if the turns of the spiral brush are spaced closer to each other but can be pulled apart or pushed apart to thread the rope therebetween.

A design according to the prior art results when using one or more distributed over the circumference longitudinal brushes, which thus run primarily in the longitudinal direction of the rope and thus the Seilabstreifers.

These may be linear longitudinal brushes with a course parallel to the passage direction of the rope. Several such line-shaped brushes are distributed around the circumference arranged so that the bristle holder is located radially outward and from there the bristles protrude radially into the interior against the rope and touch it with their free ends. For example, four linear longitudinal brushes are used in this manner offset by 90 °.

The stable bristle holder, usually a U-profile, which also extends in the longitudinal direction, can be used with its ends in the radial or axial direction in corresponding receiving slots from which the bristles of the brush can protrude radially inwardly into the space. If these receiving slots pass radially through the annular or C-shaped, in any case deformable in the radial direction, holding part radially, they have radially inwardly a constriction in order to advance too far the bristle holders, which are also preferably conical in this direction, radially not to penetrate too far inside.

Such a holding part is enclosed radially on the outside by a bushing, ideally a simple hose clamp, which simultaneously holds the ends of the longitudinal brushes in their receiving slots.

The holding part may either be flexible in the radial direction or in particular also allow a simple radial sliding onto the rope, if, for example, it is a continuously slotted ring, that is, has a C-shape. The receiving slots can be present only in an axial end region.

Instead of linear longitudinal brushes, coiled longitudinal brushes can easily be used on the imaginary lateral surface of the rope scraper in order to reliably clean all circumferential regions of the rope uniformly well. Preferably, the helix will be so small that a longitudinal brush will extend around the rope less than a full turn, preferably only by an angular segment of 360 ° divided by the number of longitudinal brushes distributed around the circumference.

The problem of a not exactly centric out of a rope running sleeve rope is solved by forming the approximately annular or C-shaped holding member and a surrounding him another ring or C-part as a double eccentric:

The longitudinal brushes are mounted in the inner support member, however, the bristles of the individual brushes protrude differently far inwards and do not meet at the center of the circular outer contour of the inner support member, but offset at a point which, however, is the center of the circular periphery of the outer support member ,

By rotating the two eccentrics, ie inner and outer holding part, against each other, the center, on which the longitudinal brushes, within a set by the eccentric adjustment can be adjusted so that the bristles run reliably on the outer surface of the rope.

Another possibility is to arrange the longitudinal brushes directly in the inner sides of an eccentrically to the outer circumference existing bore of a single - preferably in turn slotted and in particular on the outer circumference - holding part, as this reduces the number of individual parts, however, the same effect can be achieved.

c) embodiments

• Fig. 1a-d : Spiral-Bürste,

Embodiments according to the invention are in Fig 1a-d shown.

• Fig. 1a-d Photos: spiral brush,

• Fig. 2a-c: eine Lösung mit vier über den Umfang verteilten Längsbürsten,
• Fig. 3a-c: Detaildarstellungen des Halteteiles, und
• Fig. 4a-b: Detaildarstellungen der Längsbürste.

The FIGS. 2a-4b show embodiments not according to the invention:

• Fig. 2a-c a solution with four longitudinal brushes distributed over the circumference,
• Fig. 3a-c : Details of the holding part, and
• Fig. 4a-b : Details of the longitudinal brush.

Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal section through a fully assembled Seilabstreifer 1, which is mounted on the rope running bushing 3 of an aggregate, not shown, in particular a measuring cable displacement sensor.

At the free end of the cable 11, a fastening element 14 is fixed, which is held by means of a thickened fixing member 15 on the cable 11, which covers both the rope 11 and the fastening element 14 in the longitudinal direction partially.

The fixing member 15 has a diameter which is substantially larger than that of the cable 11, and has a directed against the cable running bushing 3 plane baffle surface 15a.

The cable 11 leaves an unillustrated housing by a rope-runner socket 3, on the outer diameter with a corresponding inner diameter, the C-shaped, lower holding part 4a is seated. In the axial end of the holding part facing away from the rope running bush 3, an inner circumference is formed by the helical spiral brush 2 being inserted with its outer diameter.

A wrapped around the round outer periphery of the holding part 4a and tightened hose clamp 9 presses in Fig. 1a and 1b the corresponding inner peripheries of the slotted, C-shaped holding part 4a, on the one hand, against the outer circumference of the rope feed bushing 3 and against the outer circumference of the spiral brush 2, which covers the hose clamp 9 in the axial direction, preferably both, and thereby fixes the spiral brush 2 to the rope running bushing 3rd

At the opposite end is in Fig. 1a and 1b placed on the front end of the spiral brush 2, a holding part 4b in the form of a preferably slotted plate, the slot is sufficiently wide in order to introduce the rope 11 radially up to the central space in the middle of the holding part 4b. The spiral brush 2 facing end surface of the holding part 4b may be formed graduated according to the conical shape and the end of the helical spiral brush.

• Zum einen ist das untere Halteteil 4a nicht durch eine Schlauchschelle zusammengepresst, sondern mittels einer Klemmschraube 17, die über den Schlitz hinweg die beiden gegeneinander gerichteten Enden des C-förmigen Halteteiles 4a gegeneinander verklemmt.
• Das obere Halteteil 4b ist nicht geschlitzt ausgebildet, sondern als geschlossener Ring, der von oben über das Befestigungselement 14 und damit das Seilende gefädelt werden kann.
• Zum anderen ist hier eine Längsverbindung - außer der Spiralförmigen Bürste selbst - zwischen dem oberen und unteren Halteteil 4a, b vorhanden, indem Stehbolzen 18 außerhalb der Bürste zwischen die beiden Halteteile geschraubt sind.

Fig. 1c and 1d differ from the solution of Fig. 1a and 1b in some details:

• On the one hand, the lower holding part 4a is not pressed together by a hose clamp, but by means of a clamping screw 17, the two mutually oppositely directed ends of the C-shaped holding part 4a clamped against each other across the slot.
• The upper holding part 4b is not slotted, but as a closed ring, which can be threaded from above over the fastener 14 and thus the rope end.
• On the other hand here is a longitudinal connection - except the spiral brush itself - between the upper and lower holding part 4a, b present by studs 18 are screwed outside the brush between the two holding parts.

The spiral brush 2 itself is shaped in the form of a catchy helix, wherein Fig. 4a a cross section through a turn of the spiral brush 2 shows:

From a bristle holder 6 in the form of a U-shaped body, such as a sheet metal profile or a plastic strip, protrude from the narrow side of this bar the Bristles 7 and with respect to the helical shape radially inwardly against the longitudinal center of the helix, where the rope 11 is located.

The spiral brush 2 is sufficiently flexible to thread the cable 11 in its central region between the first two turns of the spiral brush 2 in a slightly more withdrawn rope, so removed from the cable wiper 1 fixing member 15 and continue to screw them until the rope 11 as in Fig. 1a shown on the longitudinal center of the helical spiral brush 2 is located.

Since the holding parts 4a, b and the hose clamp 9 are radially opened or can be, they can be pushed radially onto the rope and so the Seilabstreifer 1 completely mounted on the continuous cable 11 and disassembled.

The FIGS. 2a-2c on the other hand show in side view, top view and perspective view of a second design in which not one, but a plurality of brushes 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4 are used in the form of longitudinal brushes, which are thus primarily in the longitudinal direction, the direction of passage 10 of the rope 12, respectively ,

Fig. 4a and 4b show such a straight longitudinal brush, with no bristles 7 protrude from the bristle holder 6 in the axial end regions, but - depending on the design of the Seilabstreifers - is not absolutely necessary. Also up to the ends of the bristle holder 6 continuous bristles 7 are possible, either evenly over the bristle holder 6 axially distributed bristles as well as with different distribution and with different materials along the longitudinal extent.

The normal case, however, is likely to be the uniform distribution and production of the bristles 7 of the same material.

As Fig. 2b in the plan view, the bristles 7 protrude radially inwards from the radially outer bristle holders 6, where they touch the one in the Figures 2 not shown rope 11 with their free ends, which they should clean on the outer circumference.

Fig. 2b indicates that at the top and bottom of the longitudinal brushes 2.1-2.4 with their bristle holder 6 respectively in receiving slots 13 of the outer circumference round, but slotted and therefore C-shaped holding parts 4a, b are arranged, and the bristles 7 in the central clearance. 8 protrude the holding parts 4a, b, provided that in this longitudinal region at all bristles 7 in the bristle holder 6 are present.

The holding parts 4a, b here have a circular outer circumference, around which a hose clamp 9 is placed. Since the bristle holders 6 taper conically towards the free ends of the bristles, the accommodating slots 13 receiving them are also tapered radially inwards, so that the bristle holders 6 are inserted radially from the outside and held in position by means of the surrounding hose clamp 9 and pressed in become.

In the length range between the holding parts 4a, b and thus the hose clamps 9a, b, only the longitudinal brushes 2.1, 2.2 are present and therefore can also easily, for. B. manually or by compressed air to be cleaned.

The C-shaped holding parts 4a, b are somewhat elastic in the radial direction due to the adjusting slot 16 running through to the middle.

If the longitudinal brush 2.1-2.4 - in contrast to the representation of Fig. 4b Having bristles 7 up to the longitudinal ends of the bristle holder 6, characterized in the same axial length of the Seilabstreifers 1 whose stripping 5 increases and thus improves its cleaning effect.

The central clearance 8 within the holding parts 4a, b is also circular as its outer periphery, but preferably arranged eccentrically to this in the region of the adjusting slot 16 more radial width of the ring of the holding member to achieve, so that there is also a clamping screw 17 as in Fig. 1d / 3a can be used.

Fig. 3a and 3b show in plan view and longitudinal section facing away from the cable-jack 3 holding part 4b. In addition to the adjusting slot 16, which penetrates the annular holding part completely, both axially and radially, pass through the receiving slots 13 ... for the longitudinal brushes 2.1-2.4, the holding part, although in the radial direction completely, but not in the axial direction, so that the holding part can be integrally formed. In the supervision of the Fig. 3a are the outside outward conically widening dimensions of the receiving slots 13 can be seen.

The holding part 4a, which in Fig. 3c is shown, in contrast, on the opposite of the receiving slots 13 axial side on a widened inner circumference, suitable for plugging onto the outer circumference of the rope feed socket. 3

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

line wiper

2

spiral brush

3

Rope running jack

4a, b

holding part

5

Stripping route

6

bristle holder

7

bristles

8th

central open space

9

hose clamp

10

Throughput direction

11

rope

12

transversely

13

receiving slot

14

fastener

15

fixing

15a

baffle

16

parking slot

17

clamping screw

18

studs

Claims (8)

1. A cable wiper (1) for cleaning a cable (11) which is run through the cable wiper (1) in a linear manner, the cable wiper comprising:

   - a wiper brush with bristles (7) contacting an outer circumference of the cable (11) with their free ends and supported with their other ends in a bristle support (6), and

   - a support device for attaching the wiper brush at another component, in particular a cable run bushing (3) which is associated with the cable (11), wherein ends of the wiper brush whose center cavity has a smaller diameter than an outer diameter of the cable (11), are received between separate support elements (4a, 4b), wherein at least one of the support elements can be radially opened,

   - characterized in that the wiper brush is a spiral brush (2) whose bristle support (6) is wound about the pass-through direction (10) in a helical shape and whose bristles (7) are oriented radially inward to a longitudinal axis of the helix.
2. The cable wiper (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one wiper brush is accessible from a radial outside in a portion remote from the support elements (4a, b).
3. The cable wiper (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the support device, in particular of at least one of the support elements (4a, b) includes a radially compressing element, in particular a hose clamp (9).
4. The cable wiper (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the hose clamp (9) at least partially covers one of the support elements (4a) and the cable run bushing (3) in axial direction, wherein both components are axially adjacent to one another.
5. The cable wiper (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the windings of the helical bristle support (6) have a longitudinal distance from one another which is greater than the diameter of the cable (11) or the helical bristle support (6) is elastically deformable in longitudinal direction.
6. A method for mounting a cable wiper (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the following steps:

   - radial opening of the end support elements (4a, 4b) and radially sliding the end elements onto the cable (11),

   - threading of the first two windings of the spiral brush (2) onto the cable (11) and

   - continue threading until the cable (11) is disposed entirely in an interior of the helix.
7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the spiral brush (2) is fixated at the support element (4a) which is oriented towards the cable run bushing (3) of a measuring cable travel sensor, wherein the fixating is performed by applying a hose clamp (9) about the support element (4a) and tightening the hose clamp (9).
8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that a hose clamp (9) arranged adjacent to a cable run bushing (3) is arranged so that it partially covers the cable run bushing (3) in axial direction.

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