FR2500226A1 - DEVICE FOR GUIDING A FLEXIBLE SUPPLY LINE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement for guiding a flexible supply cable (1) between a fixed-position store which holds the supply cable (1) and a vehicle with a predetermined movement path (track). In this case, guide elements (2) are clamped onto the supply cable (1) at regular intervals. The guide elements (2) have in each case one roller (2a, 2b), which can rotate, on both sides of the supply cable (1). Each roller (2a, 2b) runs on a guide rail (3) which runs essentially parallel to the movement path of the vehicle. Using this arrangement, it is also possible to guide the supply cable along curved paths. It allows problem-free insertion of the supply cable between the guide rails (3).

Description

Device for guiding a flexible supply line.

 The present invention relates to a device for guiding a flexible supply line between a fixed station receiving the supply line and a vehicle carrying out a predetermined path, the supply line being guided by guide elements arranged at regular distances and comprising respectively at least two rotating rollers between which the feed line is placed.

 Such a device is known from the German patent 27 37 777. In this patent, pairs of rollers are arranged at a fixed position at regular intervals along the path of the vehicle. One roller of each pair is pivotally mounted so that it is possible to engage a feed line between the two rollers of a pair. To this end, the free end of the axis of the pivotable rollers projects laterally so that the guide rod mounted on the vehicle causes the pivotable roller to tilt by pushing in front of the pair of rollers and the supply line can between engaged between the two rollers or extralte thereof.

 Such a device for guiding a flexible lighting line can, for example, be used for the purpose of control and inspection in nuclear power plants, by for example using a "fast breeder". In this case, it involves introducing into a radioactive zone devices connected to a central chamber shielded by one or more supply lines. These devices are mounted on a vehicle traveling on rails. The supply lines are placed behind this vehicle which pulls them and the con has just evolved at all costs their hanging or their reciprocal entanglement.

 The device known by the German patent 27 37 777 certainly guarantees an exact and careful guidance of the supply lines, but the engagement of each of them between the pairs of rollers is quite complicated since it is necessary each time rotate one roll of each pair.

 For guiding a flexible supply line of the aforementioned type, the invention therefore aims to provide a device in which it is sufficient to engage the supply lines only once at the fixed station.

 This result is achieved according to the invention by the fact that the guide elements are made integral with the supply line and that each roller in the region of the route followed by the vehicle rolls on a guide rail disposed substantially parallel to this route .

 In this device, it suffices to engage the cable in the guide elements at the start of the rail and not, as in the known device, along the path of the vehicle.

Since the guide elements therefore do not need to be open, they can be produced in a particularly simple manner. Thanks to the rigid arrangement of the guide rails, reliable guidance of the supply line is obtained, even on fairly long paths and small radius curves of the guide rail. To improve the guidance in the curves, each guide element may comprise for each rail two rollers spaced in the longitudinal direction thereof.

 Each guide element preferably rolls between two guide rails. The guide element can thus be of small size, so that, during the winding of the supply line, the space requirement is only slightly increased by the presence of these guide elements.

This embodiment prevents jamming of the guide elements and a twisting of the supply line.

 The distance between the two guide rails can advantageously be increased at the inlet of the supply line. The engagement of the supply line is thereby facilitated.

 It is advantageous for each guide rail to have a round profile, the rolling surfaces of the rollers being adapted to the shape of this round profile. With this design of the rail, a safe guiding of the supply line is obtained without the use of significant resources.

 Each guide element advantageously comprises two parallel plates each having a recess adapted to the shape of the supply line, the two plates being screwed and the supply line placed between the recesses. This embodiment of the guide elements allows simple attachment to the supply line.

 To simplify the positioning of the rollers, these can be rotatably mounted on pins arranged between the two plates.

 The invention will be better understood using the description of an embodiment taken as an example, but not limiting, and illustrated by FIGS. 1 to 3.

 FIG. 1 shows in section the device for guiding two flexible supply lines 1.

Here, the device is cut into different planes in order to make them look as detailed as possible. On a base frame 5, are respectively fixed using a foot 3a three guide rails 3 of circular cross section, The fixing is carried out for example by means of a screw 3b embedded in the guide rail 3 , as illustrated in the upper part of figure 1.

 Between each rail 3 are disposed guide elements 2. These guide elements are respectively constituted by two parallel plates 2c and 2d secured by screws 4 with the insertion of a cylindrical spacer 6. As can be seen in plan in Figure 3, two screws 4 are placed in diagonally opposite locations.

 The plates 2c and 2d have cylindrical recesses 2e and 2f whose radius of curvature corresponds to the radius of the supply line 1. The length of the spacers 6 is calculated so that when the screws 4 are tightened, the supply line 1 is trapped in the guide element 2.

 Each guide element 2 further comprises two rollers 2a and 2b which are rotatably mounted between the plates 2c and 2d. To this end, in holes in the plates 2c and 2d are respectively engaged thrust bearings 2g in which the axis of the roller 2a rotates. The roller 2a is thus also fixed in the axial direction.

 The running surface of each roller 2a, 2b is adapted to the circular shape of the guide rall. Furthermore, the distance between two rails 3 is chosen so that the guide element 2 with the rollers 2a and 2b can be engaged and held together by a connection with interpenetration.

 The described guide elements are fixed at regular intervals on the supply line and can be wound with it, for example on the drum. It is thus possible to carry out an exact guidance of the supply lines 1 along a path traced in advance by the rails 3. Guiding on a curved path also presents no difficulty, the smallest possible radius of curvature being unliquely determined by the admissible curvature of the supply line 1. The supply line can thus be attached to a vehicle to be fueled when the guide rails 3 are arranged approximately parallel to the path followed by the vehicle.

 An embodiment according to Figure 2 allows further improved guidance of the supply line 1 in the curves. Here, a pair of rollers 2a, 2b and 2a ', 2b' offset in the longitudinal direction "on each guide rally 3. This prevents any cotncement of the rollers in the curves. The plates 2c, ~ 2d d for the line supply 1 are made in the form of a double T in the example shown.

 To engage the supply line 1 between two guide rails 3, it is advantageous to increase the dlstance of these at their ends which can be obtained for example by rounding their front edges as shown in the figure 3.

 The engagement of the supply line 1 between the two guide rails 3 is thus facilitated without other additional means.

Claims (7)

 1. Device for guiding a flexible supply line between a fixed station receiving the supply line and a vehicle carrying out a predetermined route, the supply line being guided by guide elements placed at regular distances and comprising respectively at least two rotary rollers between which the feed line is placed, characterized by the fact that the guide elements (2) are made integral with the feed line (1) and that each roller (2a, 2b) in the area of the course followed by the vehicle rolls on a guide rail (3) disposed substantially parallel to this course.  2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that each guide element (2) for each rail (3) comprises two rollers (2a, 2a ', 2b, 2b') spaced in the longitudinal direction of the rail (3) .  3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each guide element (2) rolls between two rails (3).  4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the distance between the two guide rails (3) is increased at the inlet of the supply line (1).  5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each guide rall (3) is a round profile and that the rolling surfaces of the rollers (2a, 2b) are adapted to the shape of this round profile.  6. Device according to any one of the reven dicatlons 1 to 5, characterized in that each guide element (2) comprises two parallel plates (2c, 2d) respectively having a recess (2e, 2f) adapted to the shape of the supply line (1) and that the two plates (2c, 2d) are screwed, the supply line (1) being inserted between the recesses (2e, 2f).  7. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the rollers (2a, 2b) are rotatably mounted on axes which are arranged between the two plates (2c, 2d).