TELESCOPIC COVER FOR A MACHINE TOOL

Abstract

A telescopic cover comprising several telescopic members for a machine tool. The telescopic members can move back and forth with respect to each other and are arranged so that they can be guided with respect to the direction of movement in an overplapping manner, can extend in two directions of movement and in guide rails that are arranged in parallel and at a distance from each other. In order to provide a telescopic cover that is constructive and easy to produce and light to move, the telescopic members respectively comprise a section with which they bridge over guide rails arranged at a distance therefrom forming a continuous arc-shaped cross-section in a first cross-section perpendicular to the direction of movement.

Claims

1-24. (canceled)

25. A telescopic cover for a machine tool, wherein the telescopic cover has a plurality of telescopic members which guided in a direction of travel are reciprocable relative to each other over a travel distance, wherein the telescopic members are arranged in mutually overlapping relationship with respect to the direction of travel and respectively guided laterally in two guide rails which extend in the direction of travel and are spaced from each other in parallel relationship at a spacing, wherein the telescopic members each have a portion with which they bridge over the spacing of the guide rails associated therewith forming a continuously arcuate cross-section in a first transverse direction perpendicularly to the direction of travel.

26. The telescopic cover as set forth in claim 25, wherein the telescopic members are arranged with respect to a second transverse direction perpendicularly or approximately perpendicularly to the direction of travel and relative to the first transverse direction parallel to each other and at least in the portion for bridging the spacing between the guide rails are of a lamellar form with two larger side surfaces which are parallel to each other with respect to the first transverse direction and of which one is in the form of a concave side surface and the other is in the form of a convex side surface.

27. The telescopic cover as set forth in claim 26, wherein the concave side surface is adapted to delimit an internal space in the machine tool and the convex side surface is adapted to delimit a surrounding relative to the internal space in the machine tool.

28. The telescopic cover as set forth in claim 25, wherein the telescopic members are arranged disposed step-like one above the other with respect to the first transverse direction.

29. The telescopic cover as set forth in claim 25, wherein at least the telescopic member which is arranged centrally or approximately centrally with respect to the direction of travel has a window opening for passing therethrough a working head of the machine tool out of the internal space thereof.

30. The telescopic cover as set forth in claim 25, wherein the guide rails are respectively in the form of a groove or channel which in the installation position is of a laterally open configuration towards the telescopic members and have a cross-sectional profile which is U-shaped with respect to the direction of travel.

31. The telescopic cover as set forth in claim 25, wherein the telescopic members for engagement into the groove of the respectively associated guide rails have a respective further portion at both ends with respect to the first transverse direction and which extends in the first transverse direction away from the arcuate portion, wherein the further portion of the telescopic members is adapted to the cross-section of the guide rail associated therewith.

32. The telescopic cover as set forth in claim 31, wherein the further portion of the telescopic members is of a right-angled cross-section.

33. The telescopic cover as set forth in claim 31, wherein the guide rails are arranged combined together block-wise, wherein the one of the two guide rails provided per telescopic members are arranged in one block and the other two guide rails provided per telescopic members are arranged in another block.

34. The telescopic cover as set forth in claim 31, wherein the further portion of the telescopic members is in the form of a laterally open channel with a cross-section in the manner of a ring portion.

35. The telescopic cover as set forth in claim 34, wherein the two channels of a telescopic member are associated with the telescopic member which is radially inwardly adjacent with respect to the direction of travel of the telescopic cover, as guide rails.

36. The telescopic cover as set forth in claim 31, wherein the telescopic members are combined together in paired relationship respectively to provide an enlarged telescopic member.

37. The telescopic cover as set forth in claim 36, wherein with respect to a neutral position in which the telescopic members are arranged in mirror-image symmetrical relationship with each other with respect to a plane of symmetry perpendicularly to the direction of travel the two telescopic members which are outward relative to the plane of symmetry and further stepwise towards the plane of symmetry the two respective telescopic members which are respectively adjacent thereto are arranged connected fixedly together by way of the further portions thereof.

38. The telescopic cover as set forth in claim 36, wherein the further portions in the enlarged telescopic member are adapted to extend in prolonged fashion relative to each other in the direction of travel so that their spacing axially with respect to the direction of travel is equal to the spacing of the unconnected telescopic members equivalent to the enlarged telescopic member in the neutral position.

39. The telescopic cover as set forth in claim 25, wherein the telescopic members are respectively arranged in sealing relationship with the telescopic members which are adjacent in the second transverse direction and/or are arranged sealingly in relation to the respectively associated guide rails.

40. The telescopic cover as set forth in claim 25, wherein there are provided at least on one of two telescopic members which are arranged in sealing relationship with each other at both ends with respect to the direction of travel a respective sealing lip which in the installation position respectively bears sealingly against the other telescopic member and/or sealingly against the respectively associated guide rail.

41. The telescopic cover as set forth in claim 40, wherein the sealing lip bears at the foot side sealingly against the guide rail.

42. The telescopic cover as set forth in claim 26, wherein the sealing lip of each telescopic member extends in a direction parallel or approximately parallel to the second transverse direction from its concave side surface towards the convex side surface of the adjacent cover member.

43. The telescopic cover as set forth in claim 39, wherein the telescopic members are arranged spaced by way of a gap relative to the respectively adjacent telescopic members with respect to the second transverse direction, wherein the sealing lip sealingly bridges over the gap.

44. The telescopic cover as set forth in claim 25, wherein the telescopic members are sealingly coupled together.

45. The telescopic cover as set forth in claim 25, wherein the telescopic members are motionally coupled together by way of a scissor mechanism.

46. The telescopic cover as set forth in claim 26, wherein the telescopic members respectively have a rib-like reinforcing structure at least at their concave side surface.

47. The telescopic cover as set forth in claim 25, wherein the telescopic members are respectively made in one piece from plastic.

48. The telescopic cover as set forth in claim 25, wherein the telescopic members are produced by means of additive manufacture.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Further details and advantages of the invention are described more fully hereinafter without restriction on the scope of protection by the description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description all terminology relating to the description of a location like up, down, front, rear, right and left are intended as they are shown in the respective Figure itself, unless otherwise defined. In the drawings:

[0031] FIGS. 1A-1G show different views and partial views respectively illustrating an embodiment of a telescopic cover with a plurality of telescopic members and associated guide rails,

[0032] FIGS. 2A-2D show different views and partial views respectively illustrating a telescopic member of the telescopic cover of FIGS. 1A-1G,

[0033] FIG. 2E shows a side view of a telescopic member similar to that shown in FIGS. 2A-2D but with a structured surface,

[0034] FIGS. 3A-3E show different views and partial views respectively illustrating a central telescopic member of the telescopic cover of FIGS. 1A-1G,

[0035] FIGS. 4A-4B show a side view and a partial view respectively of a further embodiment of the telescopic cover,

[0036] FIG. 4C shows an end view of guide rails assembled to form a block,

[0037] FIGS. 5A-5B show a side view and a partial view of a further embodiment of the telescopic cover,

[0038] FIG. 5C shows an end view of guide rails assembled to form a block,

[0039] FIGS. 6A-6G show different views and partial views respectively illustrating a further embodiment of the telescopic cover with a plurality of telescopic members, and

[0040] FIGS. 7A-7E show different views and partial views each illustrating a telescopic member of the telescopic cover of FIGS. 6A-6G.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] FIGS. 1 through 7 show different side views, partial views, sectional views and individual views of different embodiments of a telescopic cover 1 or components thereof for a machine tool (not shown here). The telescopic cover 1 has a plurality of telescopic members 2 which are arranged reciprocably guided here linearly in a direction of travel v relative to each other over a travel distance w. They are arranged in mutually overlapping relationship with respect to the direction of travel v. The overlap is maintained over the entire travel distance w. The telescopic members 2 are respectively guided laterally in two guide rails 3 extending in the direction of travel v. The guide rails 3 are arranged in mutually parallel spaced relationship at a spacing a transversely to the direction of travel v.

[0042] The telescopic members 2 respectively bridge over the spacing a transversely to the direction of travel v. As can be seen for example from FIGS. 1A, 1C, 2A, 2B and 3A the telescopic members 2 each have a portion 21 with which they bridge over the spacing a between the two guide rails associated with them. The bridging configuration is transverse relative to the direction of travel v. It is effected with the implementation of a cross-section which is continuously arcuate with respect to a first transverse direction q1, perpendicularly to the direction of travel v. The arcuate shape is here shallow and also steady, that is to say without the involvement of interruptions, edges, breaks or sudden changes. The arcuate shape is elliptical, more specifically equal to a region of an ellipse, in which it is of the smaller diameter. It is of a height h shown in FIG. 2B, which is a multiple of its extent in the second transverse direction q2. By way of example, as shown in FIG. 2B, the extent e in the second transverse q2 is approximately ten times as great as the height h. The arcuate shape is of a mirror-image symmetrical configuration with respect to a central plane of mirror-image symmetry S1 perpendicularly to the first transverse direction q1. That portion 21 is a central portion with respect to the first transverse direction q1. The telescopic members 2 are arranged parallel from each other with respect to the second transverse direction q2. The telescopic members 2 remain arranged in mutually overlapping relationship over the entire travel distance v with respect to the direction of travel. The telescopic members 2 are each of a rectangular base shape with respect to the second transverse direction q2.

[0043] In the portion A the telescopic members 2 for bridging over the spacing a between the guide rails 3 are of a flat lamellar form with two larger side surfaces 22 which are parallel to each other with respect to the first transverse direction q1. As a result of the elliptical curvature the one side surface 22 is in the form of a concave side surface 221 and the other side surface 22 is in the form of a convex side surface 222. The concave side surface 221 is designed to delimit an internal space in the machine tool (not shown here) and the convex side surface 222 is intended to delimit a surrounding in relation to the internal space in the machine tool. In the embodiments illustrated here of the machine cover 1 shown in FIGS. 1 through 5 the telescopic member 2 which is central with respect to the direction of travel v has a window opening 23 for engagement therethrough of a working head provided on the machine tool, through the cover 1.

[0044] The telescopic members 2 are arranged in mutually superposed stepped relationship with respect to the first transverse direction q1 in a continuous sequence. The telescopic member 2 which is the lower one in FIGS. 1A and 6A is designed to delimit the internal space in the machine tool in the installation position with its entire concave side surface 221 of its portion 21, which surface is at the underside.

[0045] Correspondingly the upper telescopic member 2 in FIGS. 1A and 6A is designed to delimit the surroundings in relation to the machine tool in the installation position with its entire upwardly facing convex side surface 222 of its portion 21.

[0046] In the embodiments of the telescopic cover 1 shown here the telescopic members 2 are coupled together for movement with each other with respect to the direction of travel v. In that way the movement of the telescopic members 2 in the direction of travel v is synchronized. They are motionally coupled together by way of a conventional scissor mechanism 6. All telescopic members 2 can be moved together at the same time by virtue of the scissor mechanism 6. Here the scissor mechanism 6 has two parallel link chains 61 working in the same way, comprising scissor lever elements 62 which are arranged in a row with each other in the direction of travel v. They are respectively formed from two bars 64 held pivotably at an intersection point 63, as the levers. The scissor lever elements are rotatably connected together at the respective ends of the bars 64. Each individual one of the telescopic members 2 connected to the scissor mechanism 6 is connected to the intersection point 63 of the scissor lever element 62 associated therewith. For that purpose the telescopic members 2, for each intersection point 63 of the link chains 61, have a point of rotation 66 at which the associated intersection point is rotatably mounted. The intersection points 63 are clipped on at the points of rotation 66 in an assembly-friendly fashion. As there are two parallel link chains 61 the telescopic members 2 respectively have two points of rotation 66 for a respective scissor element 62 of the link chains 61. Provided at each telescopic member 2 is a longitudinal projection 65 extending in the first transverse direction q1. A respective point of rotation 66 is arranged at same at both ends thereof, wherein the points 66 are spaced from each other in the first transverse direction q1 and more specifically are arranged in mirror-image symmetrical relationship with respect to a central longitudinal axis parallel to the direction of travel v. Here the scissor mechanism 6 is arranged at the concave side surfaces 221 of the telescopic members 2. In that way in the installation position they are disposed protected in the interior of the machine tool (not shown here).

[0047] In the embodiments of the machine cover 1 shown in FIGS. 1 through 5 the guide rails 3 are respectively in the form of a groove 31 and as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 they are in the form of a channel 32. In the installation position in the machine cover 1 they are of a laterally open configuration facing towards each other and towards the telescopic members 2. They are of a U-shaped cross-sectional profile with respect to the direction of travel. The telescopic members 2 are here guided slidingly displaceably linearly in the guide rails 3. As usual the two outer telescopic members 2 in the direction of travel v are arranged held invariably in position in relation to the guide rails 3.

[0048] For engagement into the respective guide rail 3 the telescopic members 2 each have a further portion 24 at both ends with respect to the first transverse direction q1. The portion 24 extends in the first transverse direction q1 away from the arcuate central portion 21. The further portion 24 of the telescopic members 2 is of a configuration adapted to the cross-section of the guide rail 3 associated therewith.

[0049] Turning to the embodiments of the telescopic cover 1 in FIGS. 2 through 4 the further portion 24 of the telescopic members 2 is of a rib-like configuration. They are shown in the partial enlarged views ID, IVB and VB in FIGS. 1D, 4B and 5B taken from FIGS. 1C, 4A and 5A respectively. In accordance therewith the further portion 24 is of a right-angled cross-section with respect to the first transverse direction q1. In addition the guide rails 3 which are here in the form of mutually parallel grooves 31 are combined together block-wise in an uncomplicated fashion. The ones of the two guide rails 3 provided for each telescopic member 2 are arranged in a block 3a and the others of the two guide rails 3 provided for each telescopic member 2 are arranged in another block 3b. The blocks 3a and 3b are of the same structure. In addition the telescopic cover 1 has an odd number of telescopic members 2, here seven telescopic members 2, in which case the telescopic member 2 which is the central one in the sequence, here being the third one, has the window 23. The window 23 is arranged centrally with respect to the first transverse direction q1 and the direction of travel v.

[0050] In a further simplification of the telescopic cover 1 the telescopic members 2 are assembled as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 in paired relationship to constitute an enlarged telescopic member 25. The two telescopic members 2 which in a neutral position are arranged symmetrically relative to each other with respect to a central plane of symmetry S2 perpendicularly to the direction of travel v are assembled in paired relationship. As can be seen from FIG. 7 the two telescopic members which are the outer ones with respect to the plane of symmetry S2 are combined to form an enlarged telescopic member 25. That enlarged telescopic member 25 is stationary. In addition the two telescopic members 2 which are respectively adjacent thereto are fixedly connected together stepwise by way of the further portions 24 thereof. In all cases the further portions 24 in the enlarged telescopic member 25 are effectively prolonged in extending relationship with each other in the direction of travel v and are integrally connected together. The spacing A which is axial with respect to the direction of travel v and by way of which the two telescopic members 2 are arranged spaced from each other in the neutral position is maintained unchanged in the enlarged telescopic member 25.

[0051] In addition the further portion 24 of the telescopic members 2 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is in the form of a laterally open channel 32 of a cross-section which is like a portion of a ring transversely relative to the direction of travel v. The two channels 32 of a telescopic member 2 serve as guide rails 3 for the telescopic member 2 which is adjacent radially inwardly with respect to the direction of travel v of the telescopic cover 1. This means that the inwardly adjacent telescopic member 2 is guided slidingly displaceably and linearly in the further portions 24, in the form of channels 32, of the telescopic member 2 which is outwardly adjacent thereto. Accordingly the further portions 24 of a radially outward telescopic member 2 form the guide rails 3 or the channels 32 for the telescopic member 2 which is radially inwardly adjacent thereto. The telescopic member 2 which is radially outward with respect to the direction of travel v or which is rearward with respect to the second transverse direction q2 is arranged statically in the telescopic cover 1 while the other telescopic members 2 are arranged moveably relative to each other in the direction of travel v in the telescopic cover 1. The two channels 32 of a telescopic member 2 are thus associated with the telescopic member which is adjacent thereto and whose convex side surface 222 is towards same. The two channels 32 of a telescopic member 2 are associated with the telescopic member 2 which is adjacent thereto and whose convex side surface 222 curves outwardly towards it. Accordingly the channels 32 are nested within each other, wherein in the installation position an inner channel 32 fits snugly into the outer channel 32 associated therewith.

[0052] The enlarged telescopic member 25 which is central with respect to the direction of travel v has the window opening 23. Likewise the other enlarged telescopic members 25 each have a through opening 231, as a result of the spacing of the paired telescopic members 2 forming them. Their respective axial extent with respect to the direction of travel v however is greater than the axial extent of the window 23 of the inner enlarged telescopic member 25. That is of such a dimension that the window opening 23 of the central enlarged telescopic member 25 is not covered in any position over the travel distance w, even partially, by one of the other enlarged telescopic members 25.

[0053] Mutually adjacent telescopic members 2 are spaced from each other by a gap 4. The gap 4 is sealingly bridged over by means of a seal 5. A respective sealing lip 51 is provided at both ends at one of two sealingly mutually arranged telescopic members 2, with respect to the direction of travel v. The lip bears in the installation position sealingly against the other telescopic member 2 and in addition sealingly against the respective two associated guide rails 3. The sealing lip 51 of each telescopic member 2 extends in a direction parallel or approximately parallel to the second transverse direction q2 from the concave side surface 221 thereof towards the convex side surface 222 of the adjacent telescopic member 2 in the second transverse direction q2.

[0054] In addition the sealing lip 51 bears at its foot in sealing relationship against the guide rail 3, from which it extends. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 or FIGS. 5 and 6 a sealing action is achieved in that the cross-section of the further portion 24 is adapted to that of the groove 31 or that of the channel 32. As can be seen from FIGS. 1C and 1D the sealing lip 51, with respect to the first transverse direction q1, has at both ends a respective step 52 with an edge 54 extending in the direction of travel v.

[0055] Referring to FIGS. 1C and 1D the top side 311 of a wall 312 delimiting the associated groove 31 is in the form of a sealing surface, against which the sealing lip 51 bears sealingly with its step 52. As shown in FIGS. 4A through 4C that top side 331 is chamfered towards the plane of mirror-image symmetry E1, wherein the sealing lip 51 engages with its edge 54 sealingly against the chamfered top side 311. Referring to FIGS. 5A through 5C additional sealing lips 51 are provided at both inside surfaces 313 of the grooves 31, which lips sealingly engage the further portion 24 of the associated telescopic member 2. In order to indicate possible combinations of those three sealing measures in FIGS. 5A through 5C the sealing lip 51 also bears sealingly with its step 52 against the top side 311, as in FIGS. 1C-1D.

[0056] All telescopic members 2; 25 are provided in one piece. They are respectively produced in one piece from plastic by means of additive production.

[0057] FIGS. 2D and 2E respectively show a side view of an embodiment of a telescopic member 2. In accordance therewith the concave side surface 221 thereof can be smooth as shown in FIG. 2D or, as shown in FIG. 2E, can be provided covered with a reinforcing structure 7, here comprising a grid of parallel ribs 71. In both cases the projection 65 projects in the second transverse direction q2. That is also provided with a reinforcing structure 7 to save on material.

LIST OF REFERENCES

[0058] 1 telescopic cover [0059] 2 telescopic member [0060] 21 portion [0061] 22 side surface [0062] 221 convex side surface [0063] 222 concave side surface [0064] 23 window opening [0065] 231 through opening [0066] 24 further portion [0067] 25 enlarged telescopic member [0068] 3 guide rail [0069] 3a block [0070] 3b block [0071] 31 groove [0072] 311 top side [0073] 312 wall [0074] 313 inside surface [0075] 32 channel [0076] 4 gap [0077] 5 seal [0078] 51 sealing lip [0079] 52 further sealing lip [0080] 53 step [0081] 54 edge [0082] 6 scissor mechanism [0083] 61 link chain [0084] 62 scissor lever element [0085] 63 intersection point [0086] 64 bar [0087] 65 projection [0088] 66 point of rotation [0089] 7 reinforcing structure [0090] 71 rib [0091] A spacing [0092] a spacing [0093] S1 plane of mirror-image symmetry [0094] S2 plane of symmetry [0095] q1 first transverse direction [0096] q2 second transverse direction [0097] v direction of travel