DEVICE COMPRISING AN ENERGY CHAIN AND A SLIDING TABLE

Abstract

Techniques involve a device which includes an energy chain and a sliding table, the energy chain having a plurality of sliding shoes, each having a sliding surface for sliding on the sliding table. The sliding shoes each have a detection element, which is spaced from the corresponding sliding surface by a wearing layer. The sliding table has a sensor for determining the distance (d) between the sensor and the detection elements.

Claims

1. A device comprising an energy chain and a sliding table, wherein the energy chain has a plurality of sliding shoes with a respective sliding surface for sliding on the sliding table, wherein the sliding shoes respectively have a detection element which is arranged separated from the corresponding sliding surface by a respective wearing layer, and wherein the sliding table has a sensor for determining a respective distance (d) between the sensor and the detection elements.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, furthermore having a control unit which is adapted to determine a wear of the wearing layers of the sliding shoes from measured values of the distance (d) between the sensor and the detection elements.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sliding table is configured rigidly.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor is arranged on, inside or below a sliding layer of the sliding table.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor is adapted to determine only the distance (d) between the sensor and the detection element lying closest to the sensor at a particular instant.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor is adapted to determine the respective distance (d) between the sensor and the detection elements perpendicularly to the sliding table.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a fixed end of the energy chain is connected to the sliding table.

8. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein a distance (s) between the sensor and the fixed end of the energy chain corresponds at most to one third of a length (L) of the sliding table.

9. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein a distance (s) between the sensor and the fixed end of the energy chain lies in the range of between 0.8 and 1.2 m.

10. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detection elements are formed from a metal.

11. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detection elements are formed from a magnetic material.

12. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor is one of the following: an inductive proximity switch, a capacitive proximity switch, a magnetic proximity switch, an optical proximity switch, and an ultrasonic proximity switch.

13. An arrangement comprising: a static first body, a second body which is movable relative thereto, and a device, wherein the device includes an energy chain and a sliding table, wherein the energy chain has a plurality of sliding shoes with a respective sliding surface for sliding on the sliding table, wherein the sliding shoes respectively have a detection element which is arranged separated from the corresponding sliding surface by a respective wearing layer, and wherein the sliding table has a sensor for determining a respective distance (d) between the sensor and the detection elements, and wherein a fixed end of the energy chain is connected to the first body via the sliding table.

14. A control unit for a device, wherein the device includes an energy chain and a sliding table, wherein the energy chain has a plurality of sliding shoes with a respective sliding surface for sliding on the sliding table, wherein the sliding shoes respectively have a detection element which is arranged separated from the corresponding sliding surface by a respective wearing layer, and wherein the sliding table has a sensor for determining a respective distance (d) between the sensor and the detection elements, and wherein the control unit is adapted to determine a wear of the wearing layers of the sliding shoes from measured values of the distance (d) between the sensor and the detection elements.

15. A computer program for a control unit as claimed in claim 14, wherein the computer program is adapted to determine a wear of the wearing layers of the sliding shoes from the measured values of the distance (d) between the sensor and the detection elements.

16. A machine-readable storage medium on which a computer program as claimed in claim 15 is stored.

Description

[0054] FIG. 1: shows a schematic side view of an arrangement according to the invention,

[0055] FIG. 2: shows a more detailed schematic representation of a part of the arrangement of FIG. 1.

[0056] FIG. 1 shows an arrangement 13 comprising a static first body 14 and a second body 15, which is movable relative thereto. The arrangement 13 furthermore comprises a device 1. The device 1 comprises an energy chain 2 and a sliding table 3. The energy chain 2 can slide over the sliding table 3 by means of a plurality of sliding shoes 4. The sliding table 3 is configured rigidly. The energy chain 2 is formed by a multiplicity of links 16, which are connected to one another in an articulated fashion. By way of example, one of the links 16 is provided with a reference. A fixed end 11 of the energy chain 2 is connected to the first body 14 via the sliding table 3. A movable end 12 of the energy chain 2 is connected to the second body 15.

[0057] A sensor 8 is arranged inside the sliding table 3. In the embodiment shown, a distance s between the sensor 8 and the fixed end 11 of the energy chain 2 corresponds to less than one third of a length L of the sliding table 3 and lies in the range of between 0.8 and 1.2 m. The sensor 8 may, however, be arranged at any other position on the sliding table 3. The sensor 8 is connected to a control unit 9 by means of a cable 17. A result determined by the control unit 9 may, as indicated, be transmitted by radio to a process controller, for example.

[0058] FIG. 2 shows a more detailed schematic representation of a part of the arrangement 13 of FIG. 1. A link 16 of the energy chain 2 is shown. Arranged on the link 16, there is a sliding shoe 4 with a sliding surface 5, via which the sliding shoe 4 is in contact with the surface of the sliding table 3 in the situation shown. A sliding layer 10 of the sliding table 3 is partially shown. The sliding surface 5 is the lower boundary of the sliding shoe 4 in the representation of FIG. 2.

[0059] The sliding shoe 4 has a detection element 6, which is arranged separated from the sliding surface 5 by a wearing layer 7. The detection element 6 is preferably formed from a magnetic metal. When using an inductive proximity switch, however, the detection element may for example also be formed from a nonmagnetic material.

[0060] The sensor 8 of the sliding table 3 is to determine a respective distance d between the sensor 8 and the detection elements 6. The sensor 8 is adapted to determine only the distance d between the sensor 8 and the detection element 6 lying closest to the sensor 8 at a particular instant. The sensor 8 is furthermore adapted to determine the respective distance d between the sensor 8 and the detection elements 6 perpendicularly to the sliding table 3. The sensor 8 may be an inductive, capacitive, magnetic or optical proximity switch or an ultrasonic proximity switch.

[0061] The control unit 9 shown in FIG. 1 is adapted to determine a wear of the wearing layers 7 of the sliding shoes 4 from the measured values of the distance d between the sensor 8 and the detection elements 6.

[0062] In the device 1 described, a sensor 8 with which a distance d from detection elements 6 in sliding shoes 4 of an energy chain 2 can be measured is integrated into a sliding table 3. The wear of the sliding shoes 4 may be deduced particularly simply and reliably therefrom.

LIST OF REFERENCES

[0063] 1 device [0064] 2 energy chain [0065] 3 sliding table [0066] 4 sliding shoe [0067] 5 sliding surface [0068] 6 detection element [0069] 7 wearing layer [0070] 8 sensor [0071] 9 control unit [0072] 10 sliding layer [0073] 11 fixed end [0074] 12 movable end [0075] 13 arrangement [0076] 14 first body [0077] 15 second body [0078] 16 link [0079] 17 cable [0080] d distance [0081] s distance [0082] L length