WO2020201201A1

WO2020201201A1 - Connector unit for a guide trough of an energy chain

Info

Publication number: WO2020201201A1
Application number: PCT/EP2020/058927
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thilo-Alexander Jaeker
Original assignee: Igus Gmbh
Priority date: 2019-03-29
Filing date: 2020-03-30
Publication date: 2020-10-08
Also published as: DE202019101817U1

Abstract

The invention relates to a connector unit (10) for a guide trough (1) for guiding an energy chain in a longitudinal direction (L). The trough pieces comprise lateral walls (3A) and bottom walls (3B). The connector unit (10) comprises a support (12) having two legs (12A, 12B), at least one leg (12A, 12B) of which has a supporting region (14A, 14B) for supporting an outer face of the walls (3A, 3B) of a trough piece. A holding element (20A, 20B) is provided for fastening a trough piece to the support (12) and has a holding area (22) for a front end (4) of the trough piece which can be inserted between the holding area (22) and the associated supporting region (14A, 14B). According to the invention, the holding element (20A, 20B) is detachably fastened as a separate component to the holder (16) of the support and, furthermore, the holder (16) and the holding element (20A, 20B) are designed in such a way that the holding area (22) of the holding element (20A, 20B) is offset outwardly relative to the associated supporting region (14A, 14B) of the support in the installed position. As a result, the front end (4) of the wall (3A, 3B) of a trough piece is deformed outwardly. This particularly allows for a butt joint of the trough pieces which is easy to install but has no interfering edges. The invention further relates to a guide trough (1) having such connector units (10).

Description

Connector unit for a guide trough of an energy chain

The invention relates generally to the field of guide troughs for energy guiding chains and in particular to a connector unit for trough pieces of a guide trough for guiding a

Energy chain.

Energy chains are used for the dynamic and protected guidance of flexible supply lines, e.g. for electricity, gases, liquids and the like, e.g. to supply the mobile consumer or to connect relatively mobile connection points. The type of energy chain itself is not important here.

Guide troughs are used to store and guide such energy chains, especially for long travels, depending on the chain type, e.g. from 5m to 12m path length. They support the smooth, low-friction running of the energy chain.

Guide troughs can be found e.g. in conveyor technology

Crane systems and other machines where a

Energy consumer has traveled a long way. Guide troughs are typically composed in sections of trough pieces that extend in a longitudinal direction and, in the assembly position, delimit an interior space within which the energy guiding chain can be moved.

With conventional guide troughs, two opposite side parts with L-shaped mounting brackets are used as trough pieces on a supporting structure, e.g. a base or one made of C- Subsurface construction made up of profiles, attached. This type of assembly is particularly common in connection with side parts in the form of extruded special profiles, e.g. made of aluminum. Such special profiles offer advantages and many functions are quite costly to produce. In addition, the

Assembly process quite time-consuming. At the junction of successive side parts or channel pieces are

To avoid interfering edges, which the energy chain

could damage. Due to their inherent dimensional stability, extruded special profiles can in principle be installed end to end face-to-face or flush with the surface without interfering edges.

However, a butt joint free from interfering edges requires a precise assembly process or adjustments in the case of uneven

Supporting structure.

As an alternative to extruded special profiles,

Channel pieces, e.g. Side parts, used, which are made by forming from sheet metal, in particular sheet steel. These are cheaper to manufacture and possibly more tolerant with regard to deformation or unevenness.

A generic connector unit according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from WO 00/63584 A1 and is offered by the applicant under the trade name "Steckrinnen System SP". This connector unit enables a butt connection by simply plugging together channel pieces, in particular side parts made of sheet steel Solution is a

angular support in the form of a mounting bracket with a first leg and a second leg is provided and the front end of a channel piece can be inserted between the holding surface of a holding element and the associated support area of the carrier. However, the holding elements themselves form smaller interfering edges and sufficient dimensional accuracy in the cross section of the channel pieces or sufficient play in the receptacle is required. Due to the design, this offers

Connector unit only a limited stable attachment of the

Gutter pieces, which are not for all applications, in particular not suitable for particularly long travels> 50m.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a

to develop generic connector unit so that

Interfering edges are reliably avoided and at the same time a

more robust attachment is achieved. In this case, the assembly should preferably be further simplified or accelerated and a solution should be proposed that is particularly suitable for channel pieces that are made from sheet metal using the forming process.

According to the invention, the object is already achieved in that on the one hand the at least one holding element can be releasably fastened as a separate component to a holder of the carrier and

on the other hand, the holder and the holding element are designed so that the holding surface of the holding element is fixed in one

Mounting position opposite the assigned support area of the

Carrier is offset with respect to the interior to the outside.

Due to the offset in the outward direction, the holding element can deform the front end of a received channel piece outwards in the course of its attachment to the associated holder.

This achieves on the one hand that the corresponding joint or the front end of the channel piece is shifted away from the interior space, within which an energy chain can be moved, so that the channel piece itself cannot form an interfering edge even if the profile is less dimensionally accurate.

On the other hand, by frictional clamping of the front end, a robust fastening of the channel pieces on the carrier is achieved at the same time.

In a preferred embodiment, the carrier forms a receptacle in which the holding element can be inserted in the assembly position at least partially or completely outwards and / or can be fastened adjustable in the direction perpendicular to a support surface of the support area and to the longitudinal direction. The receptacle preferably has a sufficient depth transversely to the longitudinal direction so that the holding element can be at least partially or completely sunk into it, ie the holding element itself cannot Can form interfering edge.

For a favorable deformation of the front end areas of the channel pieces, it is advantageous if the holding element,

especially its holding surface, with a sufficient

dimensioned intermediate free space is arranged at a distance in the longitudinal direction to the assigned support area of the carrier, in particular the receptacle is dimensioned correspondingly larger in the longitudinal direction than the dimension of the holding element in the longitudinal direction. The free space can preferably be as follows

be dimensioned so that its dimension in the longitudinal direction corresponds at least to the effective dimension of the holding surface.

Particularly preferably, a clamping device is provided for fastening the holding element to the holder of the carrier. This allows the front end of a received channel piece by tensioning the holding element outwards in the course of fastening the

Holding element are deformed. Different clamping devices can be used for this purpose, e.g. a form-fitting

Toothing with locking steps, a stepped clip connection or the like. As an alternative to a clamping device, however, it is also conceivable, with a fixedly arranged holding element on one leg of the carrier, to incline the channel pieces with the holding surface thereof offset

use from behind and to achieve a deformation of the end area of the channel piece by pivoting the channel piece. On the other leg of the carrier, however, a detachable holding element should then be provided, if necessary with a clamping device.

A very robust and yet inexpensive clamping device can be made by simple screw connections with several

Implement fastening screws and the corresponding thread on each holder. During the assembly can be given by

Moment limit uniform deformation at all

Connector units are achieved. The fastening screws are preferably countersunk in countersunk receptacles in the holding element and screwed into the internal thread on the holder of the carrier.

Two legs of the channel piece are equally preferred attached to the approach according to the invention. To do this, see a

Further development provides that the first leg of the carrier has an essentially vertical support area for a lateral area of the channel piece and the second leg of the carrier has an essentially horizontal support area for a lower area of the channel piece, and that a first holding element with a holder on the first leg cooperates to deform the front end of the lateral area of a received channel piece outwards with its holding surface and a second holding element cooperates with a holder on the second leg in order to use its holding surface to the front end of the lower

To deform area of a recorded channel piece outwards.

The holding element can have different designs. In a preferred embodiment, each holding element is designed like a strip, in particular in the form of a transition profile, as is known for fastening flat floor coverings at their interfaces. The retaining element can in particular be designed in the form of a strip with a T-like cross-sectional profile, e.g. with two areas protruding from one or possibly more central reinforcement webs, which form the holding surfaces on the underside.

Furthermore, the holding element has an inner surface facing the interior or facing away from the holding surface. This can preferably be slanted or convex in cross-section e.g.

rounded inner surface.

In the fastened mounting position, the inner surface of the holding element adjoins the interior space or is offset outwardly with respect to it, so that the holding element cannot form an interfering edge in the interior space.

Mechanically favorable is a design in which the

Holding surface runs obliquely to the longitudinal direction in order to achieve a flat contact of the held end region of the channel piece. The support area, on the other hand, should form a surface parallel to the longitudinal direction, in order to accommodate two areas between the support areas successive girders to ensure that the channel sections run as flat as possible.

The connector unit is preferably designed in such a way that it connects two channel pieces following one another in the longitudinal direction and fastened them together. For this purpose, a preferred embodiment provides that the carrier and the holding element

are designed symmetrically with respect to a main plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, each with a support area on both sides on the carrier and a holding surface on the holding element, so that two successive channel pieces in the longitudinal direction, each between a holding surface of the holding element and the associated

Support area of the carrier can be attached. At the ends of the

However, this design is not mandatory for the guide trough

required.

The carrier can, depending on the shape of the channel pieces, be designed as an L-shaped or U-shaped frame, preferably made of metal for robust attachment. The separate holding elements are preferably as molded plastic parts, in particular as

Injection molded parts, executed, which allows greater freedom of design with inexpensive manufacture.

In one embodiment, the carrier is designed as a U-shaped frame and has a double frame with two parallel first flat legs and two parallel second flat legs. This construction can e.g. can be made from sheet metal by forming. The support surfaces can through

Narrow sides of the flat legs are formed. Between the legs, transverse plates arranged in the longitudinal direction and offset outwardly with respect to the support surfaces can be held, which together form the holder for the associated holding element. Each transverse plate can preferably have a thread for the detachable attachment of a holding element.

The invention further relates to a guide trough for guiding an energy guiding chain, comprising several successive trough pieces, each extending in a longitudinal direction and serve to delimit an interior space within which an energy chain can be moved. For this purpose, the

Channel pieces a lateral and / or lower guide surface.

According to the invention, a connector unit according to one of the preceding embodiments is provided, which connects two successive channel pieces and attaches them to a support structure.

The proposed connector unit is particularly suitable for channel pieces that are made as sheet metal profiles, in particular from sheet steel using the forming process.

To make it easier to deform or to reduce the fastening force required for this on the holding element, it is recommended for L-shaped or U-shaped channel pieces, i.e. If the channel pieces each comprise at least one side wall and a bottom wall, it is advantageous to provide an incision in the longitudinal direction at both end faces between the side wall and the bottom wall, so that the end region of the side wall and the bottom wall, because of

cut-out connection, each lighter to the outside

are deformable.

The connector unit can be used for channel pieces which are used in pairs as opposite side parts or which have a substantially L-shaped cross section. The guide channel is constructed in sections in the longitudinal direction from two opposite channel pieces with an L-shaped cross section. In this design, two gutter pieces that are located opposite one another as separate side parts can each be paired with two

corresponding channel pieces are connected and installed by a connector unit.

The connector unit can also be used for channel pieces in the form of a trough section or section of a channel with an essentially U-shaped cross section, from which the

Guide trough is constructed in sections in the longitudinal direction. In this design, exactly two successive channel pieces can be connected and installed by a connector unit will .

A connector unit connects, regardless of the shape of the

Channel pieces, two successive longitudinal sections of the guide channel with each other.

When used as intended, the

proposed connector units used in an arrangement with a guide channel and an energy guide chain, which can be moved in the guide channel. The energy chain can be moved over part of the route, in particular with the upper run sliding or rolling on the lower run. Alternatively, the energy chain can also be moved laterally in the guide trough, i.e. moving with the main sides of the chain links on the bottom wall of the gutter.

At the same time, the connector units, together with the retaining elements, enable the channel pieces to be attached to the carrier in a robust manner, i.e. can be used to assemble channel sections of a guide channel on a

Support structure can be used. Each channel piece is attached to a connector unit at both ends by being force-locked with holding elements and against the support areas

is clamped.

Further features and advantages of the invention can be found in the following, more detailed description of preferred exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures, without restricting the scope of protection. Purely by way of example:

FIG. l: a side view of a longitudinal section of a

Guide trough with connector units according to a first

Embodiment;

FIG. 2A-2D: the connector unit according to FIG. 1 enlarged

Side view (FIG.2A), in section (FIG.2B)

corresponding to the section plane B-B from FIG. 2A parallel to

Longitudinal direction; and in FIG. 2C and FIG. 2D, respectively, in an enlarged vertical or horizontal partial cross-section

Areas C and D from FIG. 2B; and FIG. 3 shows a second exemplary embodiment of a connector unit according to the invention, especially for a guide trough with an energy guide chain lying on the side.

The overview in FIG. 1 shows a section of a guide channel 1 made of channel pieces 2, here in the form of side parts with an L-shaped cross section made of sheet steel, with the side wall 3A

visible. The guide channel 1 is in the longitudinal direction L of a plurality of sections, each with two opposite

Gutter pieces 2 composed, between which one

Energy chain is guided in the longitudinal direction L can be moved.

For the general structure of a guide trough known per se and the arrangement of an energy guide chain, the teaching is from

WO 00/63584 A1 included. The channel pieces 2 are through

Identical connector units 10 according to the invention, which are explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2A-2D.

The connector unit 10 comprises a carrier 12 which is designed as a frame made of metal and comprises a double frame, each with two parallel vertical legs 12A, made of flat steel, and two parallel horizontal legs 12B, made of flat steel. In receptacles 15 on the flat legs 12A, 12B, horizontally or vertically arranged transverse plates 16 are held parallel to the longitudinal direction L in the double frame, e.g. after screwing the respective parallel legs 12A, 12B together. The

Cross plates 16 are structurally identical and lie approximately in the middle of the width of the flat legs 12A, 12B.

The transverse plates 16 of each leg each form a holder for one of two separate associated holding elements 20, as can be seen in more detail in FIG. 2B-2D.

As FIG. 2C shows, the horizontal legs 12B of the carrier 12 form a horizontal surface on their inner narrow side, which serves as a support area 14B for the underside of the bottom wall 3B of the channel piece 2. In a receptacle 15 of the support 12 between the parallel lower legs 12B and the transverse plates 16 there, a holding element 20B is inserted horizontally. The Retaining element 20B is made as a strip-like molded part from injection molding and has two inclined retaining surfaces 22 on the outside . Everyone pulls

Holding surfaces 22 of the holding element 20B each have a front end 4, in FIG. 2C the bottom wall 3B, outwardly away from the interior and clamps the corresponding end 4 of the channel piece 2 against the surface of the support region 14B.

The structure of the vertical leg 12A and the mode of action of a further holding element 20A assigned to it are correspondingly also shown in more detail in FIG. 2D. Here form the vertical

Leg 12A of the carrier 12 on its inner narrow side a vertical surface, which as a support area 14A for a

Side wall 3A of the channel piece 2 is used. A second holding element 20A is received in a receptacle 15 between the parallel lateral legs 12A and transverse plates 16. This holding element 20A is also manufactured as a strip-like molded part from injection molding and has two inclined holding surfaces 22 on the outside. The holding element 20A is screwed to the here vertical transverse plates 16 and against the

Tensioned transverse plates 16 or the carrier. Everyone pulls

Holding surface 22 of the holding element 20A each have a front end 4, in FIG. 2D the side wall 3A, away from the interior space and outwards and clamps the corresponding end 4 of the channel piece 2 against the corresponding support surface of the support region 14A of the vertical leg 12A.

For easy deformation, the end corner areas between side wall 3A and bottom wall 3B are cut through an incision 5. In addition, a sufficiently dimensioned free space 17A, 17B is provided on both sides between the holding elements 20A, 20B and the legs 12A, 12B.

As can also be seen from FIGS. 2C-2D, the inner surfaces 23 lie of the holding elements 20A, 20B received in the receptacles in a quasi-aligned manner or laterally slightly offset outwards with respect to the guiding inner surface of the side walls 3A or bottom walls 3B. With respect to a main plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L, both the carrier 10 and the holding elements 20A, 20B are

Symmetrically designed in order to clamp a front end 4 of the side or bottom wall 3A, 3B of a channel piece 1 on both sides, as described above. With the bracing of the channel pieces 1 on two connector units 10 (see FIG. 1), these are fastened in a robust and play-free manner. A couple of each

Connector units or a common connector unit 10 can connect two L-shaped side parts as channel pieces 2.

FIG.3 shows another embodiment of a

Connector unit 30 with a U-shaped cross section with two vertical legs 12A in a front view parallel to

Longitudinal direction. The construction otherwise corresponds to FIGS. 2A-2D. The connector unit 30 is particularly suitable for a guide trough of an energy guiding chain that moves laterally, as in DE 20 2017 106 108 Ul (cf. in particular FIG. 3A-3)

described, to whose teaching reference is made in this regard.

Reference character list

1 guide trough

2 channel pieces

3A side wall

3B bottom wall

4 front end

5 incision

10 connector unit

12 carriers

12A, 12B legs

14A, 14B support area

15 recording

16 holders (cross plates)

17A, 17B clearance

18 fastening screws

19 internal thread

20A, 20B holding element

22 holding surface

23 inner surface

A recording room

L lengthwise

Claims

1. Connector unit (10) for channel pieces (2) of a guide channel (1) for guiding an energy chain, the

Channel pieces are extended in a longitudinal direction (L) and, in the assembly position, delimit an interior space within which an energy guiding chain can be moved, comprising the connector unit (10)

- An angular support (12) with a first leg (12A) and a second leg (12B), at least one of the legs (12A, 12B) having a support area (14A, 14B) which faces the interior in the assembled position

Supporting an outside of a channel piece (2), and

- At least one holding element (20A, 20B) for fastening a channel piece on the carrier (12) with a holding surface (22) facing away from the interior for a front end (4) of a

Gutter piece; the front end (4) being insertable between the holding surface of the holding element and the associated support area of the carrier; characterized in that

the at least one holding element (20A, 20B) can be detachably fastened as a separate component to a holder (16) of the carrier and that the holder (16) and the holding element (20A, 20B) are designed so that the holding surface (22) of the holding element (20A, 20B) in a fixed mounting position opposite the associated support area (14A, 14B) of the carrier is offset outward with respect to the interior space, around the front end to deform a recorded channel piece outwards.

2. Connector unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the carrier (12) forms a receptacle (15) in which the holding element (20A, 20B) is inserted in the assembly position at least partially or completely in the outward direction and / or in the direction perpendicular to Support area (14A, 14B) and longitudinal direction (L) can be fastened in an adjustable manner.

3. Connector unit according to claim 1 or 2, in particular according to

Claim 2, characterized in that the holding element (20A, 20B), in particular the holding surface (22), with a

intermediate free space (17A, 17B) is arranged at a distance in the longitudinal direction from the associated support area (14A, 14B) of the carrier, in particular the receptacle (15) is dimensioned correspondingly larger in the longitudinal direction (L) than the holding element (20A, 20B).

4. Connector unit according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized

characterized in that a clamping device (18, 19) for

Attaching the holding element (20A, 20B) to the holder (16)

is provided so that the front end (4) of a

received channel piece is deformed by tensioning the holding element (20A, 20B) outward, wherein the tensioning device is preferably a screw connection with several

Includes fastening screws (18) and corresponding threads (19) on each holder (16).

5. Connector unit according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized

characterized in that the first leg (12A) of the carrier has a substantially vertical support area (14A) for a lateral area of the channel piece (2) and the second leg (12B) of the carrier has a substantially horizontal one

Support area (14B) for a lower area of the channel piece (2), and that a first holding element (20A) interacts with a holder (16) on the first leg (12A) to form the front end of the lateral area with its holding surface (22) recorded channel piece to the outside deform and a second holding element (20B) cooperates with a holder (16) on the second leg (12B) in order to deform the front end of the lower region of a received channel piece outward with its holding surface (22).

6. Connector unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each holding element (20A, 20B) is designed like a strip, in particular with a T-like

Has a cross-sectional profile and / or an inner surface (23) facing the interior, preferably an inner surface with a beveled or convex cross-section, which in the

attached mounting position adjoins the interior or is offset from this to the outside.

7. Connector unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

the holding surface (22) is designed obliquely to the longitudinal direction (L) and the support area (14A, 14B) one to the longitudinal direction

forms parallel surface; and or

the carrier (12) and the holding element (20A, 20B) are symmetrical with respect to a main plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L)

are designed with a support area (14A, 14B) on both sides on the carrier and a holding surface (22) on the holding element, so that two in the longitudinal direction (L) successive

Channel pieces can each be fastened between a holding surface (22) of the holding element and the associated support area of the carrier.

8. Connector unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier (12) is designed as an L-shaped or egg-shaped frame made of metal and each

Holding element (20A, 20B) is designed as a plastic molded part, in particular as an injection molded part.

9. Connector unit according to one of the preceding claims,

in particular according to claim 8, characterized in that the carrier (12) is designed as a frame and comprises a double frame with two parallel first flat legs each (12A) and two parallel, second flat legs (12B), with transverse plates (16) arranged on the flat legs in the longitudinal direction and outwardly offset from the support surfaces being held, which form the holder for the associated holding element.

10. Guide trough (1) for guiding an energy chain,

comprising a plurality of successive channel pieces (2) each extending in a longitudinal direction (L) and for delimiting an interior space within which one

Energy guiding chain is movable, form a lateral (3A) and / or lower guide surface (3B), thereby

characterized in that a connector unit (10) according to one of claims 1 to 8 connects two successive channel pieces (2) and attaches them to a support structure.

11. Guide trough according to claim 10, characterized in that the trough pieces (2) as sheet metal profiles, in particular from

Sheet steel are produced in the forming process.

12. Guide trough according to claim 11, characterized in that the trough pieces (2) each comprise at least one side wall (3A) and a bottom wall (3B), each of the two end faces between the side wall and the bottom wall having an incision (5) in the longitudinal direction.

13. Guide trough (1) according to claim 10, 11 or 12, characterized

marked that

the guide channel (1) is constructed in sections in the longitudinal direction from two opposite channel pieces (2) with an L-shaped cross section and two as separate ones

Side parts of opposite gutter pieces in pairs with two corresponding gutter pieces through one

Connector units (10) are connected and assembled; or

- The guide channel (1) is constructed in sections in the longitudinal direction from individual one-piece channel pieces in channel shape or with a U-shaped cross-section and in each case exactly two successive channel pieces through a connector unit (10) are connected and assembled.

14. Arrangement with a guide trough (1) according to one of claims 10 to 13 and an energy guide chain, which in the

Guide trough is movable, in particular movable with an upper run sliding or rolling on the lower run or movable laterally in the guide trough.

15. Use of connector units (10) according to one of claims 1 to 9 for the assembly of channel pieces (2) of a guide channel (1) on a support structure, each channel piece (2) at both ends (4) being attached to a connector unit (10) by it is frictionally clamped with holding elements (20) against support areas (14A, 14B).