GB1604069A

GB1604069A - Crossmember for mounting parts of machines and/or apparatus so as to be clear of the ground

Info

Publication number: GB1604069A
Application number: GB24109/78A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Meyer Roth and Pastor Maschinenfabrik GmbH
Current assignee: Meyer Roth and Pastor Maschinenfabrik GmbH
Priority date: 1977-07-07
Filing date: 1978-05-30
Publication date: 1981-12-02
Also published as: DE2730649A1; FR2396917B1; FR2396917A1; SE7804586L; IT7849305A0; SE426095B

Description

(54) CROSS-MEMBER FOR MOUNTING PARTS OF MACHINES AND/OR APPARATUS SO AS TO BE CLEAR OF THE GROUND (71) We, MEYER, ROTH & PASTOR MASCHINENFABRIK GmbH, a German Body Corporate, of Raderberger Str. 202, D-5000 Köln 51, Germany, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to a crossmember for securing or mounting machines, apparatus or parts of machines or apparatus in a manner so that they are clear of the ground, and particularly to a cross-member for mounting a wire delivery system of a wire cutting apparatus, on which securing means are provided for the machine or machine part which is to be underhung.

In elongated machines or apparatus comprising a plurality of machine parts associated with one another with a common axis, it is often necessary to leave a space below the machine so that it is possible to obtain free access to this space or to allow a product issuing from the machine to be transported away or passed on to a further processing station which is situated directly below the machine concerned. Suspending the machine or machine part in question from the roof structure of a building is not always possible because of constructional or space reasons, so that the machine has to be mounted on a special cross-member.The use of massive beams is disadvantageous since they have to be of very heavy construction in order to reduce to a minimum the tendency of the beam to bend under the load of the machine or machine parts suspended below it, and to avoid possible deformation influences on the machine part itself. This problem occurs particularly in the case of elongated machine pans where such a part has only a low degree of dimensional stability itself, but whereas there must be precise alignment, such as is necessary, for example, in the case of a wire delivery system for a wire cutting apparatus.

This is particularly true if the machine part is not in itself a rigid structure but is composed of several component parts. The same applies to beams in the form of lattice structures.

We have sought to provide a cross-member of the type initially specified with which it is possible to span a given distance and which is adjustable to a substantially non-sag mounting and/or operational axis independently of the weight of the machine or machine parts which are to be mounted, and the distance spanned, and with which the disadvantages described hereinbefore can be obviated.

Accordingly the present invention provides a cross-member for mounting machines, apparatus or parts thereof so that they are clear of the ground wherein the ends of the cross-member are connected to one another and braced against one another by means of at least one tie and the crossmember is provided at one or more locations between said ends with tie engaging means operable to vary the position of the crossmember relative the tie, thereby to permit adjustment of the alignment of the crossmember.

With this arrangement it is possible for the cross-member to be of substantially lighter construction with regard to its bending strength, since deflection under the influence of the weight suspended below it, can be compensated by operation of the tie engaging means bearing on the tie, thus ensuring that the axis of the cross-member remains substantially in a straight line.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention it is proposed that the crossmember has a tubular cross-section and that the tie extends substantially in the region of the tube axis. As a result, a cross-member is obtained which is not heavy in weight and has considerable rigidity, and its resistance to bending or buckling is the same in all directions, the clamping forces being distributed in an advantageous manner by the tie extending substantially coaxially with the cross-member.

In another embodiment of the present invention, it is proposed that the lie engaging means is or are adapted to vary said relative position at least in the vertical direction.

However, depending on the direction of the force applied by a load, it may also be advantageous if some of the tie engaging means are constructed to vary said relative position in the horizontal direction. The tie engaging means may consist of a screwthreaded spindle which is guided in a corresponding screwthreaded hole in a connecting element, by means of which an adjustable force-locking connection is produced between cross-member and tie. Advantageously, the tie engaging means and the connecting element in each case together form an integral unit, the tie engaging means being preferably subjected to tensile load in order to obtain more advantageous dimensions for it.

In a further embodiment of the present invention it is proposed that the crossmember is composed of component parts.

This feature has the advantage that with standardised component parts, it is possible for cross-members of varying lengths to be assembled. The tie generally has to be constructed as a part extending right through, although it is proposed to provide appropriate couplings such as plug and socket connections for a tie composed of component parts.

The arrangement of plug and socket connections of the present invention is advantageous since when the component parts are assembled to form a complete cross-member, it is possible to provide suitable centring means to ensure that the axis of the crossmember is in alignment in the non-loaded state, and the buckling strength of the mounted cross-member can be increased as a result. It is also unnecessary at the time of mounting to carry out mechanical processing and expensive joining operations such as welding or screwing.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention it is proposed that the tie engaging means are arranged in the region of the connecting elements of the respective component parts of the cross-member. This has the advantage that it is possible to use lengths divided off from conventional section mem- bers such as the component parts of the cross-member which require substantially no further treatment. The connecting elements require greater outlay as regards manufacture, since the tie engaging means have to be provided at these connecting elements.

The invention is further illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, wherein: -Figure 1 shows a stand with a tubular cross-member, Figure 2 shows a vertical section taken along the line II--II of Figure 1, Figure 3 shows on a larger scale a partial longitudinal section through a connecting element for a plug and socket connection, Figure 4 shows another constructional form for a plug and socket connection, Figure 5 shows another constructional form for a bracing system.

As the side view in Figure 1 shows, the stand comprises at its two ends an upright 1, 2 on the upper end of which there is secured a cross-member composed of a plurality of component parts 3, 4, 5, 6 which consist of cylindrical tubular elements. (It is also possible to use tubular elements having a different cross-section or through cross-members or cross members composed of component parts with different cross-sections, for example Tsections, double-T-sections or others.) The two uprights 1 and 2 are connected to one another by means of a tie 7 e.g. a steel rod which is connected at its end to an adjustable clamping element 8 of conventional construction.The tie 7 fixes the cross-member between the uprights 1 and 2 so that the tie is subjected to tensile stress and the crossmember, whether it is composed of a single througli section member or is composed of component parts as in the illustrated embodiment, is subjected to compressive stress. The desired preload can be monitored by a suitable measuring unit 9.

A machine part 11, for example a wire delivery system in the form of a duct connected for example with a wire cutting apparatus 12, is hung below the crossmember by means of suitable securing means 10, for example holding arms.

As the partial section, Figure 3, through the connection between the component parts 5 and 6 shows, the tubes are connected with a plug and socket connecting element 13 which will be discussed in more detail hereinafter.

Arranged in the plug and socket connecting element 13 as an adjustable tie engaging means 14 is a screwthreaded spindle which hangs with its free end on the tie 7. A suitable plug and socket connecting element 15 is provided at the uprights 1 and 2 respectively for receiving the respective end of the crossmember.

The underhung wire delivery system 11, which is given for example a length of about 4 m, has only low rigidity against bending stresses. But on the other hand, it is absolutely necessary for satisfactory functioning of the individual elements of the wire delivery system (which are not shown here in detail) that the system should be precisely in alignment if operational disturbances are to be avoided. This requirement applies not only to wire delivery systems but also to other elongated machines or machine parts.

Precise alignment of the machine part 11 is effected by aligning the cross-member in such a manner by means of the tie engaging means 14 that the underhung machine part 11 is in precise alignment.

In the sectional view on a larger scale shown in Figure 3 there is shown a constructional example of a connecting element for a plug and socket connection for tubular crossmembers. The two component parts 5, 6 of the cross-member are faced with great precision at their end faces and recessed for a short distance in the region of the end opening at the internal side. Otherwise the component parts are not machined. The connecting element comprises a substantially cylindrical plug body 16 which at its central plane comprises an encircling flange 17 whose end faces 18 are turned to be plane parallel.Peripheral surfaces 19 of the plug body 16 which are adjacent the end faces 18 of the flange are cylindrical in shape for a short distance in the axial direction and the subsequent surface portion is slightly conically shaped in order, on the one hand, to facilitate fitting and, on the other hand, to ensure precisely fitting seating of the connection in the assembled state.

The plug body 16 comprises a radially arranged screwthreaded hole in which there is held a screwthreaded spindle 20. Internal end 21 of the screwthreaded spindle bears by means of a shoe 22 on the tie 7 situated within the cross-member.

Figure 4 shows a modified form for the plug connection of a tubular cross-member which is constructed on the principles described hereinbefore but wherein the plug body extends about the external periphery of the component parts of the cross-member.

Figure 5 shows a constructional form in which the cross-member is made up of component parts and connecting elements (only one 13' of which is shown) in the manner of the figure 1 embodiment and wherein a steel cable 23 is used as a tie. The steel cable tie is particularly advantageous for the preferred construction of the crossmember from component parts, since a steel cable can be supplied in a rolled-up condition to the assembly stage. The steel cable 23 is secured to end element 24 in the usual way by means of an eye 25. The other end of the steel cable 23 is secured to four rod-shaped tension elements 26 (only two shown) which are taken through appropriate holes in an end element 27. Free ends 28 of the tension elements are screwthreaded.Fitted on to the tension elements 26 at the external side of the end element 27 are cup springs 29 on which a pressure plate 30 is applied from the free ends 28 of the tension elements. By means of clamping nuts 31 the steel cable 23 can be subjected to tensile preload so that the tubular elements making up the cross member can be braced securely against one another in the manner described in connection with Figure 1. The amount of the bracing force can be read off and continually supervised by means of a scale with the use of the presettable characteristics of the cup spring assemblies 29 and the spacing a between the pressure plate 30 and the end element 27.

To monitor the deformations between the cross member and the respective tie 7 and steel cable 23 it is possible both in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 and in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 5 to provide a measuring rod 32 (shown only in Figure 5) whose end 33 is fixed in the region of the stationary end of the tie 7 or steel cable 23. The other end of the measuring rod 32 is taken through a suitable hole at the clamping end through the upright 1 and end element 27 respectively and provided at its free end with a scale 34.The variations in the spacing between the outer side of the end element 27 or outer surface of the upright 1 respectively on the one hand and a position disc 35 arranged on the free ends of the tension elements 27 or appropriate means on the tie 7 on the other hand, show all relative variations between the tie/steel cable and the cross-member since this measuring rod remains completely free of load when the supporting tube is braced. In this way, the elastic component reactions in the bracing of the cross-member can be observed independently of one another and made available for precautionary control operations. Settling phenomena, such as may occur when machine parts under static load over a relatively long period of time are not only detectable but are also made qualitatively apparent and can thus be corrected more readily.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A cross-member for mounting machines, apparatus or parts thereof so that they are clear of the ground wherein the ends of the cross-member are connected to one another and braced against one another by means of at least one tie and the crossmember is provided at one or more locations between said ends with tie engaging means operable to vary the position of the crossmember relative the tie, thereby to permit adjustment of the alignment of the crossmember.

2. A cross-member as claimed in Claim 1, which has a tubular cross-section and wherein the tie is situated substantially in the region of the axis of the tube.

3. A cross-member as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, which is composed of component parts.

4. A cross-member as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the component parts are each

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. only to wire delivery systems but also to other elongated machines or machine parts. Precise alignment of the machine part 11 is effected by aligning the cross-member in such a manner by means of the tie engaging means 14 that the underhung machine part 11 is in precise alignment. In the sectional view on a larger scale shown in Figure 3 there is shown a constructional example of a connecting element for a plug and socket connection for tubular crossmembers. The two component parts 5, 6 of the cross-member are faced with great precision at their end faces and recessed for a short distance in the region of the end opening at the internal side. Otherwise the component parts are not machined. The connecting element comprises a substantially cylindrical plug body 16 which at its central plane comprises an encircling flange 17 whose end faces 18 are turned to be plane parallel.Peripheral surfaces 19 of the plug body 16 which are adjacent the end faces 18 of the flange are cylindrical in shape for a short distance in the axial direction and the subsequent surface portion is slightly conically shaped in order, on the one hand, to facilitate fitting and, on the other hand, to ensure precisely fitting seating of the connection in the assembled state. The plug body 16 comprises a radially arranged screwthreaded hole in which there is held a screwthreaded spindle 20. Internal end 21 of the screwthreaded spindle bears by means of a shoe 22 on the tie 7 situated within the cross-member. Figure 4 shows a modified form for the plug connection of a tubular cross-member which is constructed on the principles described hereinbefore but wherein the plug body extends about the external periphery of the component parts of the cross-member. Figure 5 shows a constructional form in which the cross-member is made up of component parts and connecting elements (only one 13' of which is shown) in the manner of the figure 1 embodiment and wherein a steel cable 23 is used as a tie. The steel cable tie is particularly advantageous for the preferred construction of the crossmember from component parts, since a steel cable can be supplied in a rolled-up condition to the assembly stage. The steel cable 23 is secured to end element 24 in the usual way by means of an eye 25. The other end of the steel cable 23 is secured to four rod-shaped tension elements 26 (only two shown) which are taken through appropriate holes in an end element 27. Free ends 28 of the tension elements are screwthreaded.Fitted on to the tension elements 26 at the external side of the end element 27 are cup springs 29 on which a pressure plate 30 is applied from the free ends 28 of the tension elements. By means of clamping nuts 31 the steel cable 23 can be subjected to tensile preload so that the tubular elements making up the cross member can be braced securely against one another in the manner described in connection with Figure 1. The amount of the bracing force can be read off and continually supervised by means of a scale with the use of the presettable characteristics of the cup spring assemblies 29 and the spacing a between the pressure plate 30 and the end element 27. To monitor the deformations between the cross member and the respective tie 7 and steel cable 23 it is possible both in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 and in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 5 to provide a measuring rod 32 (shown only in Figure 5) whose end 33 is fixed in the region of the stationary end of the tie 7 or steel cable 23. The other end of the measuring rod 32 is taken through a suitable hole at the clamping end through the upright 1 and end element 27 respectively and provided at its free end with a scale 34.The variations in the spacing between the outer side of the end element 27 or outer surface of the upright 1 respectively on the one hand and a position disc 35 arranged on the free ends of the tension elements 27 or appropriate means on the tie 7 on the other hand, show all relative variations between the tie/steel cable and the cross-member since this measuring rod remains completely free of load when the supporting tube is braced. In this way, the elastic component reactions in the bracing of the cross-member can be observed independently of one another and made available for precautionary control operations. Settling phenomena, such as may occur when machine parts under static load over a relatively long period of time are not only detectable but are also made qualitatively apparent and can thus be corrected more readily. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A cross-member for mounting machines, apparatus or parts thereof so that they are clear of the ground wherein the ends of the cross-member are connected to one another and braced against one another by means of at least one tie and the crossmember is provided at one or more locations between said ends with tie engaging means operable to vary the position of the crossmember relative the tie, thereby to permit adjustment of the alignment of the crossmember.

4. A cross-member as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the component parts are each

linked to one another by means of connecting elements.

5. A cross-member as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the connecting elements are plug and socket connections.

6. A cross-member as claimed in any one of Claims I to 5, wherein the tie engaging means is adapted to vary said relative position at least in the vertical direction.

7. A cross-member as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 6, wherein the tie engaging means is arranged in the region of the connecting elements of the respective component parts of the cross-member.

8. A cross-member as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 7, wherein the tie engaging means is arranged at connecting elements and forms a single unit therewith.

9. A cross-member as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the tie is formed of a steel rope.

10. A cross-member as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9, wherein rigid end elements are arranged at the ends of the cross-member, one end element being connected securely to one end of the tie, and the other end of the tie being connected to at least one tension element which is taken through the associated end element and bears thereon by means of adjustable clamping means.

11. A cross-member as claimed in Claim 10, wherein said at least one tension element bears on the associated end element by way of an elastic element.

12. A cross-member as claimed in Claim I 1, wherein the elastic element is a cup spring assembly.

13. A cross-member as claimed in Claim 10 or 11, wherein said at least one tension element is formed of a screwthread spindle with a clamping nut.

14. A cross-member as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 13, wherein a measuring rod is arranged in the interior of the crossmember, one end of the measuring rod being secured to one end of the cross member and the other end of the measuring rod being taken through the other end of the crossmember and provided with a scale.

15. A cross-member substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and either 3 or 4, or to Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.