ENERGY CHAIN COMPRISING ROLLERS

Abstract

An energy chain comprising rollers on a number of chain links of the upper strand and/or of the lower strand. The rollers project, at least to a slight extent, beyond narrow sides of the lateral plates in the direction of the respectively opposite strand, in order to allow for rolling action when the energy chain is displaced. The invention provides for the rollers to comprise a wheel body made of plastic and having a hub, a rim and a radial region, which connects the hub and rim. The material thickness of the radial region is reduced in comparison with the rim such that radial impacts during the course of the rolling action can be damped by elastic deformability of the radial region of the roller itself. This significantly reduces the development of noise and vibration caused by rollers located opposite one another coming into contact with one another. The invention also proposes a roller subassembly and/or a chain link made up of two opposite lateral plates with corresponding rollers and, as a further aspect, a special way of fastening the rollers on successive lateral plates.

Claims

1-26. (canceled)

27. An energy chain to guide at least one line, comprising: a plurality of chain links flexibly connected to each other, which each comprise lateral link plates parallel to one another and cross webs connecting the lateral link plates, wherein the energy chain is displaceable such that the plurality of chain links forms opposite strands as upper and lower strands, and a deflection area connecting the upper strand and the lower strand, wherein, to facilitate a rolling action when the energy chain is displaced, rollers are provided on at least some of the plurality of chain links of the upper strand and/or the lower strand, which project beyond narrow sides of the lateral link plates in a direction of the respectively opposite strand, wherein each of the rollers comprise a wheel body made of plastic with a hub, a rim and a radial region connecting the hub and the rim, wherein a material thickness of the radial region is reduced compared with the rim such that radial impacts during the rolling action are dampable by elastic deformability of the radial region.

28. The energy chain according to claim 27, wherein the wheel body with hub, rim and radial region of each roller is a one piece plastic body.

29. The energy chain according to claim 28, wherein the one piece plastic body in an injection molded one piece plastic body and/or the one piece plastic body is formed of a thermoplastic elastomer.

30. The energy chain according to claim 27 wherein the wheel body is formed of a thermoplastic elastomer which comprises a thermoplastic urethane.

31. The energy chain according to claim 27, wherein the rim comprises an outer rolling surface to roll on a running surface and the hub comprises a bearing receptacle coaxial with a rotary axis of the roller.

32. The energy chain according to claim 31, wherein the roller is attached by the bearing receptacle of the hub in a torque-proof manner to a pivot bearing unit, by which the roller is supported rotatably on a lateral link plate of the lateral link plates.

33. The energy chain according to claim 32, wherein the hub comprises on an inner surface an attachment profile with projections and/or recesses, for a force-fit and a form-fit connection to an outer surface of the pivot bearing unit.

34. The energy chain according to claim 31, wherein the running surface has a rolling profile that, in cross section, forms at least one concave recess and/or at least one convex bulge.

35. The energy chain according to claim 31, wherein the running surface has a rolling profile that is undulated in a circumferential direction with alternating crests and troughs.

36. The energy chain according to claim 35, wherein the alternating crests and troughs are directed obliquely to a meridian plane.

37. The energy chain according to claim 36, wherein two rotationally symmetrical profile halves are offset asymmetrically with respect to the meridian plane.

38. The energy chain according to claim 27, wherein each of the rollers has opposite sides, and wherein the radial region comprises at least one axial taper on each side of the opposite sides, respectively.

39. The energy chain according to claim 38, wherein the radial region has a mean axial thickness in a range of 33% to 60% of an axial thickness of the rim.

40. The energy chain according to claim 38, wherein the radial region has a minimal axial thickness in a range of 25% to 40% of the axial thickness of the rim.

41. The energy chain according to claim 27, wherein the radial region has, with an increasing radius of the wheel body, an axial thickness continuously decreasing down to a minimum and then continuously increasing axial thickness.

42. The energy chain according to claim 41, wherein the radial region has a face on each of the opposite sides of the roller, and wherein each face is concavely curved according to a radius of curvature.

43. The energy chain according to claim 42, wherein the radius of curvature is greater than a maximal axial thickness of each roller.

44. The energy chain according to claim 42, wherein a continuously curved transition is provided from each face of the radial region to an inner surface of the rim and/or to an outer surface of the hub, wherein the curved transition has a transition radius which is smaller than the radius of curvature.

45. The energy chain according to claim 27, wherein the radial region extends in a radial direction over a proportion of at least 25% of a radial dimension of the wheel body.

46. The energy chain according to claim 27, wherein the radial region is formed as a rotationally symmetrical ring disc that is contiguous in a circumferential direction.

47. The energy chain according to claim 27, wherein the radial region comprises axial apertures arranged rotationally symmetrically in a circumferential direction, which form spoke-like radial webs in the radial region.

48. The energy chain according to claim 27, wherein each of the rollers is supported rotatably on the lateral link plates with a rotary axis held stationary in relation to the lateral link plates.

49. The energy chain according to claim 27, wherein the roller is supported by a pivot bearing unit, which is mounted on a swivel joint, which is formed by two adjacent lateral link plates and flexibly connects the two adjacent lateral link plates swivelably to one another, wherein the lateral link plates each have a corresponding recess, in which the roller is received between overlapping side wall areas of the lateral link plates.

50. The energy chain according to claim 27, wherein the upper strand is rollable on the lower strand and running surfaces for the rollers are formed by the narrow sides of the lateral link plates facing the opposite strand.

51. An energy chain to guide at least one line, comprising: two link plate strands comprising alternating inner link plates and outer link plates, which are connected swivelably to each other by flexible connections, wherein at least some of the outer link plates have cross webs holding the outer link plates respectively parallel to one another, wherein the energy chain is displaceable such that the energy chain forms opposite strands as upper and lower strands, and a deflection area connecting the upper strand and the lower strand, wherein, to facilitate a rolling action when the energy chain is displaced, at least the upper strand and/or the lower strand comprises a plurality of rollers, which project beyond narrow sides of the inner and outer link plates in a direction of the respectively opposite strand, wherein each roller is arranged respectively on a pair of outer link plates of the outer link plates, comprising a first outer link plate and an adjacent second outer link plate, swivelable in relation to one another, and the flexible connection of the pair of outer link plates comprises a joint pin, which is formed in one piece with the first outer link plate, and a corresponding joint mount, which is formed by the second outer link plate, wherein the joint pin engages in the joint mount and is swivelable therein, wherein the second outer link plate has a sleeve-like annular projection coaxial with a swivel axis, wherein the sleeve-like annular projection forms the joint mount, on which each roller is supported rotatably with a rotary axis of the roller coaxial with the swivel axis.

52. The energy chain according to claim 51, wherein each roller is mounted in a torque-proof manner on a first ring of a pivot bearing unit, which is attached by a relatively rotatable second ring in a torque-proof manner on an outer circumference of the annular projection of the outer link plate by press fitting.

53. The energy chain according to claim 51, wherein the energy chain has a uniform spacing and a position of a swivel axis of the pair of outer link plates corresponds in a longitudinal direction to the spacing and is offset in height with reference to a link plate height with respect to a central plane in a direction of the respectively opposite strand.

54. The energy chain according to claim 51, wherein one outer link plate of the pair of link plates has a first guide groove extending parallel to the swivel axis, wherein the other outer link plate of the pair of link plates engages in the first guide groove with a first guide part extending parallel to the swivel axis over the entire swivel angle, wherein the other outer link plate of the pair of link plates has a second guide groove extending parallel to a swivel plane, and wherein the one outer link plate of the pair of link plates engages in the second guide groove with a second guide part extending parallel to the swivel plane over the entire swivel angle.

55. The energy chain according to claim 51, wherein one of the outer link plates of the pair of link plates comprises a cover part which is appliable separately and which forms a lateral delimitation of a guide groove.

56. The energy chain according to claim 51, further comprising: a roller assembly, comprising respectively two opposite pairs, held parallel by cross webs, of a first and a second outer link plate, which are swivelable in relation to one another and comprise a roller coaxial with the swivel axis, wherein the two first outer link plates and the two second outer link plates are each identical.

57. A roller assembly of an energy chain, comprising: a pair of lateral link plates, which are flexibly connected to one another and each comprise two narrow sides, and a roller arranged on the pair of lateral link plates, which is arranged such that the roller projects beyond a narrow side of the lateral link plates, to facilitate a rolling action when the energy chain is displaced, wherein the roller comprises a wheel body made of plastic with a hub, a rim and a radial region connecting the hub and the rim, wherein a material thickness of the radial region is reduced compared with the rim such that radial impacts during the rolling action are dampable by elastic deformability of the radial region.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0055] Further details, features and advantages of the invention result from the following detailed description of a preferred exemplary embodiment with reference to the enclosed figures. These show:

[0056] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a rolling energy chain comprising rollers;

[0057] FIGS. 2A-2D are an inventive roller according to a first aspect and first exemplary embodiment in a side view (FIG. 2A), a cross section according to section lines A-A (FIG. 2B), an enlargement of the cross section (FIG. 2C) and a longitudinal section (FIG. 2D);

[0058] FIG. 3 is an inventive roller according to a second exemplary embodiment in a side view;

[0059] FIGS. 4A-4B are an inventive roller according to a third exemplary embodiment in partial side view (FIG. 4A) and in an enlarged cross section (FIG. 4B);

[0060] FIG. 5 is an inventive roller according to a fourth exemplary embodiment in a side view;

[0061] FIG. 6 is an inventive roller according to a fifth exemplary embodiment in a side view;

[0062] FIG. 7 is interactive rolling profiles according to another exemplary embodiment in cross section;

[0063] FIG. 8 is a rolling profile according to another exemplary embodiment in cross section;

[0064] FIGS. 9A-9C are a rolling profile according to another exemplary embodiment in frontal view (FIG. 9A), in an enlargement of the frontal view (FIG. 9B) and in a partial side view (FIG. 9C); and

[0065] FIGS. 10A-B are views in perspective of two inventive outer link plates according to a second aspect, seen from the outside (FIG. 10A) and inside (FIG. 10B).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0066] FIG. 1 shows an energy chain 1 for the guiding of lines, such as hoses, cables or similar (not shown), with a number of chain links 2 flexibly connected to one another, which each comprise lateral link plates (cf. FIG. 10A-10B) parallel to one another and cross webs (not shown) connecting these of a known design. The energy chain is displaceable back and forth and in this process variably forms an upper strand 3, a lower strand 4 and a deflection area 5 connecting these. In the example in FIG. 1, rollers 20 are provided at regular intervals on selected chain links 2 of the upper strand 3 and the lower strand 4. The rollers 20 are arranged such that they project beyond narrow sides of the lateral link plates in the direction of the respectively opposite strand 3 or 4. When the energy chain 1 is displaced, the rollers 20 thus facilitate a rolling action of the upper strand 3 on the one hand on the lower strand 4 and moreover on a separate support surface 6, e.g. on a guide trough. With the exception of the design of the rollers 20 explained in greater detail below, the energy chain 1 according to the first aspect can have any known design.

[0067] FIG. 2 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a roller 20 according to the invention. The roller 20 is manufactured from uniform material and in one piece from plastic, e.g. by means of injection molding.

[0068] In addition to a bearing unit, not shown here, such as a rolling bearing (cf. FIG. 10A-10B), the roller 20 has a wheel body made of plastic with a hub 21, a rim 22 and with a radial region 23 connecting hub and rim, wherein hub 21, rim 22 and radial region 23 are manufactured from one piece. As can best be seen from FIG. 2C, the material thickness, here in particular the axial wall thickness, of the radial region 23 is perceptibly reduced compared with the axial dimension T1 of the rim 22 and the hub 21. The wheel body of the roller 20 can thus damp radial impacts by elastic deformability of the radial region 23, i.e. the roller 20 itself has an inherent shock-absorption effect. To this end there is provided on both sides symmetrical to the median plane B-B an axial tapering 24, which causes the substantial reduction in the material thickness. The narrowings or taperings of the wall thickness of the radial region 23 are formed by a radius R3, for which R3>>T1 and R3>>W1 applies, with W1 as the radial overall dimension of the wheel body from the inner surface of the hub 21 to the outer surface of the rim 22. Opposed faces 25 of the radial region are thus curved concavely according to the radius of curvature R3.

[0069] In the radially central region the radial region 23 has a minimal wall thickness T2<<T1, with e.g. T2=25-35% of T1. The central axial thickness of the radial region 23 is thus also significantly reduced relative to the external axial dimensions. As FIG. 2C further illustrates, the axial wall thickness increases continuously from the area with the minimum T2 radially inwards and outwards. Furthermore, a continuously curved transition, corresponding to the significantly smaller transition radius R2, is provided from each face 25 of the radial region 23 to the inner surface of the rim 22 and the outer surface of the hub 21, with R2<<R3. Finally, a reverse rounding takes place according to the radius R1, which is similarly dimensioned to R2, towards the opposite faces of the hub 21 and the rim 22. The resulting avoidance of sharp-edged transitions between radial region 23 and hub 21 and rim 23 is advantageous with respect to the deformability of the radial region 23. It is advantageous, furthermore, if the radial region 23 with reduced wall thickness extends at least over a radial section W2 of at least 25% of the radial dimension W1.

[0070] In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2, which is particularly preferable on account of its durability, the roller 20 is provided with an axially narrowed radial region 23, which is formed as a ring that is contiguous without interruptions in a circumferential direction and rotationally symmetrical to the rotary axis R, as the side view in FIG. 2A illustrates.

[0071] The design according to FIG. 2 can be combined, however, with axial apertures according to FIGS. 3-6 if an increased deformability or damping effect is desirable. The design of hub and rim in FIGS. 3-6 can correspond to that according to FIG. 2 and is not repeated.

[0072] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of a roller 30 with a plurality of axial apertures 37A, 37B in the radial region 33. The apertures 37A, 37B alternating in a circumferential direction each have different basic forms, a substantially oblate oval, convex basic form for the apertures 37A and a roughly T-shaped rounded concave basic form for the apertures 37B. The conjugate basic forms of the apertures 37A, 37B are selected such that they form radial webs 38A, 38B curved in the shape of a bow in the radial region 33, which webs run symmetrically but oppositely curved with reference to a symmetry radius of the apertures 37A, 37B. The radial webs 38A, 38B act here like precurved wheel spokes, which deform elastically and thus improve damping in the event of radial forces on the outside of the rim.

[0073] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of a roller 30 likewise with a plurality of axial apertures 47 uniformly distributed over the circumference in the radial region 43, here e.g. a number of approx. 25-30 apertures 47. The apertures have a crescent-shaped basic form here in the median plane and in a side view and thus form radial webs 48 curved respectively concordantly with an effect similar to FIG. 3. The shaping of the apertures 47 is selected such that the radial webs 48 have a substantially consistent thickness in a circumferential direction and transition continuously into the rim and the hub at the ends. FIG. 4B illustrates the combination of the apertures 47 with the tapering of the radial region according to the principle from FIG. 2. FIG. 4B further shows a rolling surface curved convexly outwards on the rim.

[0074] The variants of the rollers 50 and 60 according to FIGS. 5-6 differ likewise only due to the shape of the respective axial apertures. In FIG. 5 trapezoidal apertures 57A, 57B running alternately outwards and inwards are provided in a circumferential direction with isosceles trapeziums symmetrical to the radius as the basic form. Due to this, radial webs 58 remain that are slightly oblique to the radius and thus run towards or apart from one another outwardly when looked at in pairs. In FIG. 6 the apertures 67 each have an identical trapezoidal shape converging inwardly, so that the radial webs 68 remaining due to this run technically radially. The radial regions of the rollers 50 and 60 and their hub and rim can otherwise be configured likewise according to the principle from FIG. 2.

[0075] FIGS. 7-9 illustrate different profiles of the rolling running surfaces (rolling profile) in cross section through the rim 72, 82 and 92, wherein the configuration of the wheel body otherwise can correspond to one of the above exemplary embodiments.

[0076] In FIG. 7 the rolling profile 79 has a concave recess central to the median plane and on the outsides, symmetrical to the median plane, two convex bulges, which are formed conjugate to or matching the concave recess. By laterally offsetting 2 rollers 70 meeting one another, as shown in FIG. 7, the ramp in the spacing between the strands can be reduced or avoided entirely. The rolling profile 79 can here bring about a corresponding lateral offset autonomously.

[0077] FIG. 8 shows a rolling profile 89, the active principle of which is similar, but wherein an improved damping effect can be achieved by the two more strongly pronounced convex bulges on the end faces.

[0078] FIGS. 9A-9C show another rolling profile 99. This rolling profile 99 is undulated in a circumferential direction with alternating crests 99A and troughs 99B. In this case the crests 99A and troughs 99B are directed with their flanks at an angle oblique to the meridian plane, as FIGS. 9A-B illustrate. Moreover, the rolling profile 99 consists of two profile halves that are each rotationally symmetrical with reference to the circumferential direction, but are asymmetrically offset by half a wavelength in relation to the meridian plane, so that in an axial direction a crest 99A or a trough 99B of one profile half is opposed by a trough or crest of the other profile half (FIG. 9C). An additional damping effect is achieved by this rolling profile.

[0079] Returning to FIG. 2, the hub 21 of the roller 20 forms a substantially cylindrical receptacle 26 about the rotary axis R, with which the hub 21 is attached in a torque-proof manner to a pivot bearing unit (FIG. 10A). To this end the hub 21 has on an inner surface an attachment profile 26A, in particular with projections 26B and/or recesses, for a force- and form-fit connection to an outer surface of the pivot bearing unit.

[0080] FIGS. 10A-10B illustrate an independent second aspect of the invention, in which a roller 20 according to the first aspect can optionally be used.

[0081] In FIGS. 10A-10B a pair of interacting, adjacent outer link plates 110, 120 is shown, which are connected swivellably to one another. On the first outer link plate 110 there is formed in one piece with this a laterally projecting, substantially cylindrical joint pin 111. This acts to form a swivel joint together with a corresponding joint mount 121 on the second outer link plate 120 to form the swivellable flexible connection between the two lateral link plates 110, 120. This joint mount 121 of the second outer link plate 120 is formed by a sleeve-like annular projection 122 coaxial with the swivel axis, which projection is manufactured in one piece with the second outer link plate 120. In the assembled state, not shown here, the joint pin 111 is thus supported rotatably in the joint mount 121, so that the outer link plates 110, 120 are swivellable relative to one another. To further reinforce the swivellable flexible connection, the second outer link plate 120 has a coaxial centering pin 123, which engages swivellably in a cylindrical opening 113 in the joint pin 111.

[0082] The roller 20 is attached rotatably by means of a bearing unit 130, here a ball bearing, to a first and a second bearing ring 131, 132 on the annular projection 122 of the second outer link plate 120. To this end the hub is attached in a torque-proof manner, e.g. by force or form fit, on the first ring 131 and the second ring 132 is attached in a torque-proof manner on the annular projection 122, e.g. by a press fit or similar.

[0083] The first outer link plate 110 has a first guide groove 141 extending parallel to the swivel plane, in which groove the second outer link plate 120 of the pair engages with a first guide part 151 extending parallel to the swivel plane, in particular over the entire swivel angle. The second outer link plate 120 forms by means of a cover part 160 to be attached separately, e.g. by screw connection, a second guide groove 142 extending parallel to the swivel plane. The first outer link plate 110 has another, second guide part 152 extending parallel to the swivel plane, which part engages in the second guide groove, in particular over the entire swivel angle, in order to increase the lateral stability.

[0084] The rotary axis R of the roller 20 and bearing unit 130 is fixed here with reference to both lateral link plates 110; 120, namely here coaxial with the swivel axis, which is predefined by joint pin 111 and joint mount 121 etc.

Energy Chain Comprising Rollers

REFERENCE CHARACTER LIST

[0085] FIG. 1-2 [0086] 1 Energy chain [0087] 2 Chain link [0088] 3, 4 Upper strand and lower strand [0089] 5 Deflection area [0090] 20 Rollers [0091] 21 Hub [0092] 22 Rim [0093] 23 Radial region [0094] 24 Tapering or narrowing [0095] 25 Face [0096] 26 Receptacle (for pivot bearing unit) [0097] 26A Attachment profile [0098] 26B Projections/recesses [0099] 29 Running surface [0100] R Rotary axis [0101] R1, R2, R3 Radii [0102] T1 T2 Axial wall thickness [0103] FIG. 3-6 [0104] 30, 40, 50, 60 Rollers [0105] 33, 43 Radial region [0106] 49 Running surface [0107] 37A, 37B; 47; 57A, 57B; 67 Axial apertures [0108] 38A, 38B; 48; 58; 68 Radial webs [0109] FIG. 7-9 [0110] 72; 82; 92 Rim [0111] 79; 89; 99 Running surface or rolling profile [0112] 99A, 99B Crest and trough [0113] FIG. 10A-10B [0114] 110; 120 Outer link plates [0115] 111 Joint pin [0116] 113 (Centering) opening [0117] 121 Joint mount [0118] 122 Annular projection [0119] 123 Centering pin [0120] 130 Bearing unit (with ball bearing) [0121] 131, 132 Bearing rings [0122] 141 First guide groove [0123] 142 Second guide groove [0124] 151 First guide part [0125] 152 Second guide part [0126] 160 Cover part (as transverse securing part)