MONITORING SYSTEM FOR CABLE DRAG CHAINS

Abstract

The functional monitoring of a cable drag chain consisting of links or segments connected in an articulated manner for guiding one or more lines. The cable drag chain is equipped with a detection line for detecting a malfunction of the cable drag chain which is arranged at the level of the neutral fibre of the cable drag chain. According to the invention, the detection line is composed, at least over a part of the length of the cable drag chain, of a plurality of individual line sections which are conductively interconnected by detachable connections, such that a malfunction of the cable drag chain leads to the line-interrupting separation of at least one of the connections and the resulting line interruption can be detected by a detector. The invention further relates to a kit for retrofitting a cable drag chain having a detection line and to a monitoring system for an energy chain.

Claims

1-22. (canceled)

23. An energy guide chain, comprising: a plurality of links or segments which are connected to one another to guide one or more lines between a base at one end of the energy guide chain and a moving end, which is mobile relative to the base, at another end of the energy supply chain; wherein the links or segments are pivotable relative to one another to form a deflection arc; wherein the energy guide chain is equipped with a detection line to detect a malfunction of the energy guide chain; wherein the detection line is arranged at a neutral axis height of the energy guide chain; and wherein the detection line comprises, along at least a part of a length of the energy guide chain, a plurality of individual line portions which are conductively connected to one another by disconnectable connections, the detection line operable such that a malfunction of the energy guide chain leads to at least one of the disconnectable connections being undone in conduction-interrupting manner and a resultant interruption in conduction is detectable with a detector.

24. The energy guide chain as claimed in claim 23, wherein the disconnectable connections which connect the plurality of line portions to one another comprise plug-in connections which are pluggable together in a longitudinal direction of the detection line.

25. The energy guide chain as claimed in claim 23, wherein at least one connector is provided for each disconnectable connection between two successive line portions.

26. The energy guide chain as claimed in claim 25, wherein the at least one connector is mechanically held at the neutral axis height of the energy guide chain by a holder on a link or segment and is locked or fixed in a longitudinal direction of the energy guide chain.

27. The energy guide chain as claimed in claim 23, wherein a disconnectable connection for conductively connecting line portions is on at least every second link or segment at least along a part of the length of the energy guide chain.

28. The energy guide chain as claimed in claim 23, wherein the line portions each comprise a pressure hose portion for a pressure medium, wherein successive line portions are connected by a coupling piece which has a duct for the pressure medium, wherein a hose nozzle is provided on each of both sides of the coupling piece in a longitudinal direction of the energy guide chain, respectively, and wherein each hose nozzle provides a disconnectable connection with one of the pressure hose portions, respectively.

29. The energy guide chain as claimed in claim 28, wherein each pressure hose portion comprises a pneumatic pressure hose portion.

30. The energy guide chain as claimed in claim 23, wherein the line portions each comprise an electrical conductor, and wherein each of the disconnectable connections comprises an electrical plug-in connector, respectively.

31. The energy guide chain as claimed in claim 30, wherein each of the plug-in connectors is held at the neutral axis height of the energy guide chain by a holder, wherein the holder has at least one socket configured to fit at least one of the plug-in connectors.

32. The energy guide chain as claimed in claim 23, wherein a tensile strength of each disconnectable connection between two successive line portions is lower than a tensile strength of the two successive line portions, and/or each disconnectable connection between the two successive line portions is non-destructively disconnectable and/or each disconnectable connection between the two successive line portions is disconnectable at a predefined force.

33. The energy guide chain as claimed in claim 23, wherein at least one connector, which is held by a holder on a link or segment, is provided for each disconnectable connection between two successive line portions, and wherein the holder has a lever projection protruding in a longitudinal direction of the energy guide chain, wherein the lever projection is configured such that, in an event of undesired pivoting of the links or segments, the lever projection interacts with a line portion to undo the disconnectable connection thereof to the next line portion.

34. The energy guide chain as claimed in claim 23, wherein at least one of the line portions of the detection line is disconnectably fastened to at least one of two adjacent links or segments of the energy guide chain.

35. The energy guide chain as claimed in claim 23, wherein the detection line forms a loop, which starts at one end of the energy guide chain and returns to the end of the energy guide chain.

36. The energy guide chain as claimed in claim 35, wherein the energy guide chain comprises links with an accommodation space for accommodating the one or more guided lines, wherein the links comprise side plates which are swivelably connected to one another in a longitudinal direction of the energy guide chain, wherein the detection line is arranged in the accommodation space.

37. The energy guide chain as claimed in claim 36, wherein the side plates are swivelably connected to one another by socket-and-pin connection in the longitudinal direction of the energy guide chain.

38. A kit for retrofitting an energy guide chain with a detection line to detect a malfunction of the energy guide chain, comprising: a plurality of individual line portions which are conductively connectable to one another by disconnectable connections to form a detection line, the detection line operable such that a malfunction of the energy guide chain leads to at least one of the disconnectable connections being undone in conduction-interrupting manner and a resultant interruption in conduction is detectable with a detector; connectors for creating the disconnectable connections between the line portions; and holders to arrange the detection line at a neutral axis height of the energy guide chain along at least part of a length of the energy guide chain.

39. The kit as claimed in claim 38, wherein the holders comprise separating webs which are mountable on links or segments of the energy guide chain.

40. An energy guide chain monitoring system, comprising: a detection line to detect a malfunction of the energy guide chain, wherein the detection line comprises a plurality of individual line portions which are conductively connected to one another by disconnectable connections, the detection line operable such that a malfunction of the energy guide chain leads to at least one of the disconnectable connections being undone in conduction-interrupting manner and the resultant interruption in conduction being detectable with a detector; holders to arrange the detection line at a neutral axis height of the energy guide chain along at least part of a length of the energy guide chain; a source for a detection medium which is conductable by the detection line, wherein the source is connected to the detection line such that the detection medium is feedable into the detection line; a detector which is connectable to the detection line and operable to detect an interruption in conduction; and an evaluation unit which is connectable to transfer data to the detector.

41. The monitoring system as claimed in claim 40, wherein: the source is configured to feed compressed air into the detection line and the detector is embodied as a pressure sensor; or the source is configured to apply an electrical voltage to the detection line and the detector is configured to monitor the voltage.

42. The monitoring system as claimed in claim 40, wherein the evaluation unit detects a malfunction of the energy guide chain when the detector detects an interruption of the detection line.

43. The monitoring system as claimed in claim 40, wherein the holders comprise separate components which are connectable to links or segments of the energy guide chain.

44. The monitoring system as claimed in claim 40, wherein the disconnectable connections which connect the individual line portions to one another comprise plug-in connections which are disconnectable at a predefined force.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0053] Further details, advantages and features of the invention may, without limitation, be inferred from the following part of the description in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in greater detail with reference to the appended drawings. Components with an equivalent function or structure are provided with corresponding reference signs. In the figures:

[0054] FIG. 1a shows a first exemplary embodiment of an energy guide chain with a pneumatic detection line, shown in longitudinal section;

[0055] FIG. 1b shows a magnified portion of FIG. 1a (region N);

[0056] FIG. 1c shows a perspective view of a separating web of the energy guide chain according to FIG. 1a;

[0057] FIG. 1d shows a front view of the separating web according to FIG. 1c;

[0058] FIG. 2a shows a second exemplary embodiment of an energy guide chain with a pneumatic detection line, shown in longitudinal section;

[0059] FIG. 2b shows a magnified portion of FIG. 2a (region R);

[0060] FIG. 2c shows a magnified portion of FIG. 2a (region M);

[0061] FIG. 2d shows a perspective view of a separating web of the energy guide chain according to FIG. 2a;

[0062] FIG. 3a shows a further exemplary embodiment of an energy guide chain, in this case with an electrical detection line, shown in longitudinal section;

[0063] FIG. 3b shows a magnified portion of FIG. 3a (region E);

[0064] FIG. 3c shows a perspective view of a separating web of the energy guide chain according to FIG. 3a;

[0065] FIG. 3d shows a front view of the separating web according to FIG. 3c;

[0066] FIG. 3e shows a cross-section of the separating web according to section plane E-E in FIG. 3d;

[0067] FIG. 4 shows a further exemplary embodiment of an energy guide chain with a pneumatic detection line, in this case in perspective view; and

[0068] FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of a monitoring system according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0069] FIG. 5 shows by way of example a schematic diagram of a monitoring system which monitors an energy guide chain 1 for malfunction. The energy guide chain 1 guides and protects lines from a usually stationary base 6 to a moving end 7 which moves, for example linearly back and forth, relative to the base 6. The energy guide chain 1 typically forms a deflection arc 3 with a predetermined radius and has a predetermined nominal course, for example with a straight lower run 2, an extended pretensioned, slightly sagging or slumping upper run 4 and the predetermined deflection arc 3 moving back and forth therebetween.

[0070] As shown in FIGS. 1a-1d, an energy guide chain 1 is for example made up of a plurality links 14 which are concatenated in the longitudinal direction and are pivotable relative to one another. The links 14 have limit stops for maintaining the deflection arc 13 with a predefined radius. Each link 14 comprises two side plates 15, only one of which is shown in FIG. 1a. The two side plates 15 of a link 14 are spaced from one another in the transverse direction, i.e. perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the energy guide chain 1 or the plane in FIG. 1a, and are connected to one another by two transverse webs 19 (cf. transverse webs 49 in FIG. 4). Concatenation of the side plates 15 in each case forms one of two strings of plates which are correspondingly connected to one another and held parallel by the transverse webs 19 (cf. FIG. 4). The side plates 15 and the transverse webs 19 form therebetween an accommodation space in which guided lines (not shown) are accommodated in the respective link 14. Adjacent plates 15 in each string of plates overlap in the longitudinal direction of the chain 1 and are pivotable relative to one another. FIG. la shows a design of a link chain with internal and external plates in which each link 14 is made up of four individual parts. The invention is, however, suitable for any design of active line guides.

[0071] As FIGS. 1a-1d further show, the energy guide chain 1 is equipped with a dedicated special line, namely a detection line 12. According to the invention, the detection line 12 consists of a plurality of line portions 121 which are serially connected to one another in the longitudinal direction. In the first exemplary embodiment, the detection line 12 is embodied as a pneumatic pressure hose which is composed of pressure hose portions 121. All the pressure hose portions 121 are identical, in particular with regard to length and predetermined nominal diameter. When using compressed air as detection medium, the detection line 12 is for example intended to maintain a specific pressure losslessly. Pairs of successive pressure hose portions 121 are disconnectably and conductively connected to one another by suitable connectors. Each connector in FIGS. 1a-1d is embodied as a coupling piece 122 or in the manner of a hose connector or hose nozzle to ensure a sufficiently pressure-resistant connection of two pressure hose portions 121. As shown in greater detail in FIG. lb, each coupling piece 122 is here embodied as an integral component of a special separating web 16 and produced in one piece therewith, for example from plastics by injection molding.

[0072] As is apparent in greater detail from FIG. lc, each separating web 16 may in known manner be fastened on both sides to a transverse web 19, for example in form-fitting and force-locked manner using fastening clips 161, 162. A separating web 16 here extends transversely of the transverse webs 19 and of the longitudinal direction of the chain 1 and (sub)divides the accommodation space of a link 14. Each separating web 16 forms two axially opposing hose nozzles 163, 164 as key components of the respective connector 122. The hose nozzles 163, 164 are positioned centrally on the separating web 16 such that, when the separating web 16 is installed in the energy guide chain 1, the hose nozzles 163, 164, and thus also the connector 122, are overall located at the neutral axis height of the chain 1. Each hose nozzle 163, 164 is appropriately dimensioned to form a disconnectable plug-in connection with a respective pressure hose portion 121. In particular, the diameters of the hose nozzles 163, 164 are coordinated with the diameter of the pressure hose portions 121 in such a manner that the pressure hose portions 121 can be manually pushed onto the hose nozzles 163, 164, so ensuring a conductive, in this case pressure-tight, connection. The dimensions of the hose nozzles 163, 164 and the length of the pressure hose portion 121 are moreover selected such that the connection is disconnected on exposure to unintended load, for example under slight tensile force by excessive bending of the pressure hose portion 121. As a result, the connection of the respective hose nozzle(s) 163, 164 with the pressure hose portion 121 may be disconnected automatically at a critical point should an undesired malfunction of the energy guide chain 1 occur, such as for example a break in the string of plates or the upper run 4 rearing up. It is alternatively also possible not to push the pressure hose portions 121 onto the hose nozzles 163, 164 but instead to insert them therein.

[0073] The two hose nozzles 163, 164 of a separating web 16 are connected by a duct for compressed air 165 in the separating web 16 which forms a further component of the connector 122 in FIGS. 1a-1d. In this embodiment, the detection line 12 thus consists of pressure hose portions 121, hose nozzles 163, 164 and ducts 165 in separating webs 16. Due to the design of the separating webs 16, the detection line is located at the neutral axis height of the energy guide chain 1 and is held in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the chain 1. In this case, the separating webs 16 thus firstly function as holders which hold the detection line 12 at neutral axis height and secondly function as connectors 122 which disconnectably connect the line portions 121. As shown in FIG. lc, the separating web 16 is embodied as a flat body, the thickness of which in the central region is, however, sufficient to accommodate the diameter of the duct 165.

[0074] The separating webs 16 thus hold each pressure hose portion 121 in place at its ends on two adjacent links 14 in the longitudinal direction of the energy guide chain 1. A break in a link 14, for example a break in a side plate 15, will change the distance between separating webs 16 located on each side of the breaking point. Such a change in distance will lead to at least one of the two connections between the pressure hose portion 121 directly by the breaking point and one of the two adjoining separating webs 16 being undone or disconnected. An at least transient pressure drop occurs, this being easily measurable at one end of the detector line 12. The energy guide chain 1 is to this end equipped with a compressed air source 17 and a detector 18 which is embodied as a pressure sensor. The detector 18 and compressed air source 17 are connected to the opposite ends of the detector line 12. The compressed air source 17 serves as a buffer and ensures that a specified pressure is maintained in the detection line 12 over the long term. The pressure sensor 18 can establish whether the pressure in the detection line 12 has fallen in the short term as a result of the detection line 12 being undone in conduction-interrupting manner For automation purposes, the pressure sensor 18 is connected for data transfer to an evaluation unit 50 which is in turn connected for data transfer, for example, to the controller of the moving end 7, for example wirelessly by radio. The evaluation unit 50 may in particular trigger an emergency stop of the moving end 7 of the energy guide chain 1 such that the chain 1 can be repaired after a break before more serious damage, in particular to the guided lines, occurs.

[0075] FIGS. 2a-2c show a second exemplary embodiment of the monitoring device according to the invention for an energy guide chain 1. Said device also makes it possible reliably to detect an unintended course of the energy guide chain 1, in particular undesired pivoting of the links 24 (contrary to the pivoting direction of the deflection arc 23).

[0076] The variant in FIG. 2a primarily differs from that in FIG. 1a by the separating webs 26 having an additional function. In this embodiment, the separating webs 26 additionally have a lever projection 266 which protrudes in the longitudinal direction of the energy guide chain 1. When, as a result of a fault, adjacent links 24 pivot toward one another beyond the predetermined angular range in a direction which does not correspond to the nominal or forward pivoting direction of the links 24 in the deflection arc 23, the lever projection 266 comes into contact with the adjacent line portion 221 and, by lever action, undoes the connection of the corresponding line portion 221 to the connector 222 on the adjacent separating web 26. The integrity of the detection line 22 is also interrupted as a consequence and this can be detected by the detector 28. The pivoting direction of the adjacent links 24 shown in greater detail in FIG. 2b corresponds to the desired pivoting direction for forming the deflection arc 23, and the lever projection 266 does not obstruct said pivoting direction. In FIG. 2c, in contrast, the pivoting direction of the adjacent links 24 does not correspond to the desired pivoting direction. The lever projection 266 then acts on the line portion 221 in order to undo the connection of the line portion 221 to the connector 222 on the adjacent separating web 26. FIG. 2d shows the separating web 26 as an individual part which, as in FIG. 1c, has per se known fastening clips 261, 262 for the transverse web 29 and, according to the invention, a connector 222 with hose nozzles 263, 264 and a compressed air duct 265.

[0077] FIG. 3a shows an alternative exemplary embodiment of the detection line 32 according to the invention which functions by an electrical principle of operation. The energy guide chain 1 is similar in structure to FIG. la with the exception of the design of the detection line 32 and the separating webs serving as holders for the detection line 32. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3a, the detection line 32 comprises a plurality of line portions 321 which comprise electrical conductors. The electrical line portions 321 are conductively connected to one another by electrical plug-in connectors 322 in order to permit a disconnectable current-conducting connection of two line portions 321. Current or voltage may thus be used in this case as the detection medium or signal. It is in principle also possible to use an optical principle of operation with light guides.

[0078] FIG. 3b shows the disconnectable plug-in connection in greater detail. Each electrical plug-in connector 322 is held on a separating web 36 at neutral axis height. The separating web 36 forms to this end a socket 365 which is embodied to fit the two interacting (male/female) connector parts of the plug-in connector 322. Each of the separating webs 36 here therefore serves, without contributing to the actual connection function, as a holder for the plug-in connector 322 and thus also for positioning the two adjacent line portions 321. When the separating webs 36 are installed, the sockets 365 for the plug-in connectors 322 are likewise located at neutral axis height such that the separating webs 36 position and hold the detection line 32 at neutral axis height. The plug-in connectors 322 may be disconnectably locked in the sockets 365 in the longitudinal direction of the energy guide chain such that a malfunction of the chain 1 between in each case two sockets 365 leads to the connection of the two line portions 321 being undone in conduction-interrupting manner FIG. 3e shows a section plane E-E of the separating web 36 along the neutral axis in which a locking device 367 is visible in the socket 365. A variant in which the separating webs 36 are as in FIGS. 2a-d is also possible.

[0079] The detection line 32 shown in FIG. 3a is connected at the end with a current or voltage source 37 and with a detector 38 which can detect electrical voltage. The detector 38 can for example establish when the voltage in the detection line 32 changes abruptly, as is intended to occur as a result of the detection line 32 being undone in conduction-interrupting manner The detector 38 is connected for signaling to an evaluation unit 50 which is in turn connected to the controller of the moving end 7.

[0080] The electrical detection line 32 shown in FIG. 3a may be more easily laid as a loop, i.e. starting from one end of the energy guide chain 1 and returning to said end. A loop need not here extend over the entire energy guide chain 1. Each plug-in connector 32 is embodied as a connector for a pair of two electrical conductors. In FIG. 3a, the source 37 and the detector 38 are arranged as a functional unit at the same end of the energy guide chain 1.

[0081] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of the energy guide chain 1 in which the detection line 42 is embodied as a compressed air line which forms a loop along the energy guide chain 1. The compressed air source 47 and the detector 48 are both arranged at one and the same end of the energy guide chain 1. The detection line 42 in FIG. 4 adjoins the inner sides of the plate strings, laterally externally in the accommodation space of the energy guide chain 1 so as to be able more readily to detect a break in each string of plates. The detection line 42 extends along a string of plates starting from the source 47 at the base 6 of the chain 1 to the other end of the chain 1 and back along the other string of plates. The holders for the detection line 42 are arranged on the side plates 45 such that more space for lines such as hoses and cables remains in the central region of the cross-section of the energy guide chain 1.

[0082] As mentioned above, FIG. 5 shows a general schematic diagram of the monitoring system according to the invention for an energy guide chain 1. The monitoring system comprises a detection line 52 which is held by holders at neutral axis height, a source 57 which can feed a detection medium into the detection line 52 and a detector 58 which monitors the detection medium in the detection line 52 with regard to a change of state. An evaluation unit 50 is connected for data transfer to the detector 58 in order to trigger measures for protecting the energy guide chain 1 and the lines guided therein if undesired behavior is indicated by the detection line 52.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0083] FIG. 1

[0084] 12 Detection line

[0085] 121 Line portion

[0086] 122 Coupling piece

[0087] 13 Deflection arc

[0088] 14 Energy guide chain link

[0089] 15 Side plate

[0090] 16 Separating web

[0091] 161; 162 Fastening clips

[0092] 163; 164 Hose nozzles

[0093] 165 Duct in the separating web

[0094] 17 Source

[0095] 18 Detector

[0096] 19 Transverse web

[0097] FIG. 2

[0098] 22 Detection line

[0099] 221 Line portion

[0100] 222 Coupling piece

[0101] 23 Deflection arc

[0102] 24 Energy guide chain link

[0103] 25 Side plate

[0104] 26 Separating web

[0105] 261; 262 Fastening clips

[0106] 263 Hose nozzles

[0107] 265 Duct in the separating web

[0108] 266 Lever projection

[0109] 27 Source

[0110] 28 Detector

[0111] 29 Transverse web

[0112] FIG. 3

[0113] 32 Detection line

[0114] 321 Line portion

[0115] 322 Plug-in connector

[0116] 33 Deflection arc

[0117] 34 Energy guide chain link

[0118] 35 Side plate

[0119] 36 Separating web

[0120] 361; 362 Fastening clips

[0121] 365 Socket in the separating web

[0122] 367 Locking device

[0123] 37 Source

[0124] 38 Detector

[0125] 39 Transverse web

[0126] FIG. 4

[0127] 42 Detection line

[0128] 421 Line portion

[0129] 43; Deflection arc

[0130] 44 Energy guide chain link

[0131] 45 Side plate

[0132] 47 Source

[0133] 48 Detector

[0134] 49 Transverse web

[0135] FIG. 5

[0136] 1 Energy guide chain

[0137] 2 Lower run

[0138] 3 Deflection arc

[0139] 4 Upper run

[0140] 6 Base (fixed point)

[0141] 7 Moving end

[0142] 50 Evaluation unit