LINE GUIDE DEVICE FOR CLEAN ROOM APPLICATIONS

Abstract

A line guide device for lines in a clean room application, comprising an elongate, flexible envelope which is displaceable to-and-fro between a first connection point and a second connection point movable relative thereto, forming a deflection arc between two runs. The envelope has at least one undoable and reclosable connection region, for insertion or removal of a line when the connection region is open. The envelope, when closed, surrounds in dust-tight manner an inner space for accommodating one or more lines. A functional material is provided within the envelope to reduce the number of free particles in the inner space. The functional material may retain operationally released particles in the inner space and/or counteract the operational release of particles in the inner space.

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. A line guide device for lines, such as for example cables, hoses or the like, in a clean room application, comprising: an elongate, flexible envelope which is displaceable to-and-fro between a first connection point and a second connection point movable relative thereto, forming a deflection arc between two runs: the envelope having at least one undoable and reclosable connection region, for insertion or removal of a line when the connection region is open; and the envelope, when closed, surrounding in dust-tight manner an inner space for accommodating one or more lines, wherein within the envelope a functional material is provided to reduce the number of free particles in the inner space, wherein the functional material retains operationally released particles in the inner space and/or counteracts the operational release of particles in the inner space.

16. The line guide device as claimed in claim 15, wherein a functional insert, a functional inlay, a functional layer or a functional filling which comprises the functional material or consists thereof is provided in the inner space.

17. The line guide device as claimed in claim 15, wherein a coating of the functional material is provided at least in places on the inner wall of the envelope.

18. The line guide device as claimed in claim 16, wherein a fibrous structure, a nonwoven, with particle-attracting action and/or adhesive action, with electrostatic action, is provided as functional inlay.

19. The line guide device as claimed in claim 16, wherein a gel, a closed-cell foam and/or a pressure-sensitive adhesive is introduced into the envelope at least in places as the functional material, a high-viscosity functional filling or functional layer.

20. The line guide device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the gel or the foam or the pressure-sensitive adhesive has an adhesive action or permanent tackiness.

21. The line guide device as claimed in claim 19, wherein a functional layer with particle-reducing functional material is applied in places on the inner wall of the envelope.

22. The line guide device as claimed in claim 16, wherein a sliding film of a friction coefficient-reducing tribopolymer is provided as functional inlay.

23. The line guide device as claimed in claim 15, wherein at least one elongate tape-like functional insert or at least one elongate tape-like functional inlay is arranged in the inner space.

24. The line guide device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the functional material is provided in the inner space at least over a great majority of the length of the envelope.

25. The line guide device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the functional material forms at least one functional surface which faces the inner space and/or lines to be guided.

26. The line guide device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the functional material is embodied so as to be detachable from the inside of the envelope and/or from lines to be guided.

27. The line guide device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the connection region has two closure strips continuous in the lengthwise direction with meshing profiles.

28. The line guide device as claimed in claim 27, wherein the envelope is undoably assembled in portions of in each case of two opposing shell parts of plastics material, in particular of two shell parts with different corrugated profiles, which delimit a continuous inner space.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Further features and advantages of the invention may be inferred without limitation of the scope of protection from the following description of a number of preferred exemplary embodiments made on the basis of the appended figures, in which:

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-section through a line guide device according to a first exemplary embodiment;

[0031] FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross-section through a line guide device according to a second exemplary embodiment;

[0032] FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross-section through a line guide device according to a third exemplary embodiment;

[0033] FIG. 4 shows a schematic cross-section through a line guide device according to a fourth exemplary embodiment

[0034] FIG. 5A & FIG. 5B show schematic longitudinal sections for clarifying the arrangement of a functional material relative to the longitudinal direction of the line guide device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] FIGS. 1-4 and FIGS. 5A-5B are schematic representations of a line guide device 1 (FIGS. 5A-5B). This serves in protected guidance of cables, hoses or similar lines, denoted in general as 10 (cf. FIGS. 1-4). Between an upper run 2 and a lower run 3, the line guide device 1 variably or dynamically forms a deflection arc 4 with specified curvature about a deflecting axis. To avoid line breaks, the deflection arc 4 in particular has a specified, minimum radius of curvature and in this way ensures the radii of curvature do not fall below admissible radii of curvature for the guided lines 10. The deflection arc 4 travels over a distance relative to the stationary connection 5 together with the connection 7, which is here movable in linear manner for example, here for example in a vertical plane. In the example shown, the mobile connection 5 is located by way of example on the upper run 2 and the stationary connection 7 on the lower run 3. The upper run 2 is preferably self-supporting, i.e. has a self-supporting length.

[0036] The line guide device 1 has an envelope 11, which is embodied in the manner of a corrugated hose and has a corrugated profile, which on the one hand provides flexibility and on the other hand predetermines the radius of the deflection arc 4. The envelope 11 as such is embodied according to WO 2016/042134 A1, namely FIGS. 12-16 therein, i.e. assembled in portions of two joined-together shell parts 12A, 12B.

[0037] The shell parts 12A, 12B consist of a resilient plastic with long-term bending resistance, and are preferably injection molded from thermoplastic material.

[0038] The shell parts have connecting strips 14A, 14B on both sides, arranged in each case opposingly on the neutral axis 13 (cf. FIG. 3), for example with teeth according to WO 2016/042134 A1. The connecting strips 14A, 14B form an undoable and reclosable connection region on both sides. In this way, the envelope 11 may be opened laterally over the entire length for insertion or removable of lines. The connecting strips 14A, 14B act as a dust-tight closure.

[0039] When closed, the envelope 11 defines or delimits a continuous inner space 15 in dust-tight manner lengthwise and in the circumferential direction. The inner space 15 serves to accommodate a plurality of lines 10. In relation to further structural details of the envelope 11, the teaching of WO 2016/042134 A1 (in particular FIGS. 12-16 therein) is here incorporated for the sake of brevity.

[0040] In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, to reduce the number of free particles in the inner space 15, two opposing tape-like functional inlays 100A, 100B are provided in places, which have a thin, flexible backing (not shown) with as functional face a functional material 101 on the surface facing the inner space. The functional material 101 may here for example take the form of a suitable pressure-sensitive adhesive or the like and has an adhesive action or tack with regard to clean room-critical particles released operationally in the inner space. It should be assumed that released particles move quasi-chaotically in the inner space on displacement of the line guide device 1, such that over a sufficiently long period the great majority of the particles are “captured” by the functional material 101 of the functional inlays 100A, 100B and remain adhered thereto. Thus, particles can no longer escape on opening. The functional inlays 100A, 100B may be provided over a great majority of the length of the line guide device 1, here on the inner wall of the envelope 11, or distributed lengthwise over a smaller proportion, as shown schematically in FIG. 5A, such that less weight is added and the cost of materials minimized.

[0041] In the variant of FIG. 2, a nonwoven with an electrostatically attracting action with regard to free dust particles is provided as functional inlay 200. The functional inlay 200 and/or adhesive action is provided. Microfibers, for example of polyethylene and/or of polyester, may here be used as functional material 201 in the nonwoven, preferably with a tacky coating for example of a pressure-sensitive adhesive or the like. The functional inlay 200 in FIG. 2 is arranged centrally, in particular at neutral axis height 13, and may extend continuously for example according to FIG. 5B over the entire length of the line guide device 1 or envelope 11. A further advantage of this arrangement consists in the fact that friction may be avoided between lines 10 which, as in FIG. 2, are not arranged at neutral axis height 13 (longitudinal plane which does not undergo any length modification in the deflection arc 4) and abrasion is correspondingly further reduced.

[0042] In the embodiment according to FIG. 3, a functional filling 300 of a gel 301 is provided as functional material. A preferred gel 301 is durably flowable, such that an incision for replacing a line closes again. In addition, the gel 301 may be embodied with tack or permanent tackiness, so as to retain particles. The gel may take the form for example of a suitable gel from the Relicon® product range from HellermannTyton GmbH (D-25436 Tornesch). Additionally, the lines may be frictionlessly held spaced apart by the gel 301. Alternatively, to reduce weight, a closed-cell, permanently tacky foam may also be used. Mixtures with a pressure-sensitive adhesive may also be considered for achieving an adhesive action or permanent tackiness.

[0043] In a further embodiment according to FIG. 4, three elongate functional inlays 400A, 400B, 400C are provided as functional material in the form of sliding films of a friction coefficient-reducing tribopolymer 401. A suitable tribopolymer is obtainable for example under the tradename Iglidur® tribo-tape liner from igus GmbH (D-51147 Cologne). According to FIG. 4, two such functional inlays 400A, 400B may in each case be provided between the inner wall 11A of the envelope 11 and guided lines 10. A further functional inlay 400C is provided centrally roughly on the neutral axis 13. The functional inlays 400A, 400B, 400C of tribopolymer 401 work to combat the cause of operational release of particles in the inner space, namely by largely preventing abrasion between the lines. Accordingly, the functional inlays 400A, 400B, 400C are preferably provided continuously in the lengthwise direction (cf. FIG. 5B).

[0044] In an arrangement according to FIG. 4, in addition or as an alternative to one or more of the functional inlays 400A, 400B, 400C, for example in addition to the middle functional inlay 400C, a nonwoven 200 may also be used according to FIG. 2 and/or a pressure-sensitive adhesive 101 may be used according to FIG. 1.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0045] 1 Line guide device [0046] 2 Upper run [0047] 3 Lower run [0048] 4 Deflection arc [0049] 5, 7 Connection point [0050] 10 Lines (e.g. supply cables) [0051] 11 Envelope [0052] 11A Inner wall [0053] 12A, 12B Shell part (of the envelope) [0054] 15 Neutral axis [0055] 14A, 14B Connection strips [0056] 15 Inner space [0057] 100A, 100B; 200 Functional inlay [0058] 101; 201; 301; 401 Functional material [0059] 300 Functional filling [0060] 400A-400C Functional inlay