U.S. patent application number 09/814150 was filed with the patent office on 2001-09-27 for articulated lock for a saw rope.
Invention is credited to Plattner, Josef, Spangenberg, Rolf.
Application Number | 20010023692 09/814150 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7636568 |
Filed Date | 2001-09-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010023692 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Spangenberg, Rolf ; et
al. |
September 27, 2001 |
Articulated lock for a saw rope
Abstract
An articulated lock for a saw rope (5) and including a first
articulated member (1; 21) having a sleeve-shaped region for
receiving an end of the rope (5) and a connection region (6; 26)
formed of two, spaced from each other cheeks (7, 8; 27, 28), a
second articulated member (2; 22) having a sleeve-shaped region for
receiving another end of the rope (5), and a connection region (9;
29) formed as an eye-shaped portion and extending into a space
defined by the two cheeks (7, 8; 27, 28) of the connection region
of the first articulated member (1; 21); and a joining bolt (10;
30) extending through the bores (11; 31) formed in the two cheeks
(7, 8; 27, 28) and the through-opening (12; 32) formed in the
eye-shaped portion for pivotally connecting the first and second
articulated members (1, 2; 21, 22) with each other, with the
through-opening (12; 32) of the eye-shaped portion having at least
in a region of the opposite side surfaces (13; 33) of the
eye-shaped portion, a diameter exceeding the diameter of the
joining bolt.
Inventors: |
Spangenberg, Rolf; (Gauting,
DE) ; Plattner, Josef; (Gallzein, AT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
David Toren
BROWN & WOOD LLP
One World Trade Center
New York
NY
10048-0557
US
|
Family ID: |
7636568 |
Appl. No.: |
09/814150 |
Filed: |
March 21, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
125/21 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B23D 61/185
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
125/21 |
International
Class: |
B28D 001/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 27, 2000 |
DE |
100 15 182.5 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An articulated lock for a saw rope (5), comprising a first
articulated member (1; 2 1) having a sleeve-shaped region for
receiving an end of the rope (5) and a connection region (6; 26)
formed of two, spaced from each other cheeks (7, 8; 27, 28) having
coaxial bores (11; 31) a common axis of which extends perpendicular
to a longitudinal extent of the first articulated member (1; 21); a
second articulated member (2; 22) having a sleeve-shaped region for
receiving another end of the rope (5), and a connection region (9;
29) formed as an eye-shaped portion having opposite side surfaces
(13; 33) and a through-opening (12; 32) and extending into a space
defined by inner, facing each other surfaces (14; 34) of the two
cheeks (7, 8; 27, 28) of the connection region of the first
articulated member (1; 21); and a joining bolt (10; 30) extending
through the bores (11; 31) of the two cheeks (7, 8; 27, 28) and the
through-opening (12; 32) of the eye-shaped portion for pivotally
connecting the first and second articulated members (1, 2; 21, 22)
with each other, the through-opening (12; 32) of the eye-shaped
portion having, at least in a region of both side surfaces (13;
33), a diameter exceeding a diameter of the joining bolt.
2. An articulated lock according to claim 1, wherein a distance (A)
between the two side surfaces (13; 33), which is measured parallel
to an axis of the through-opening (12; 32) diminishes at least
toward one of the receiving region (4; 24) and a free end of the
connection region of the second articulated member, and wherein a
largest distance (A) substantially corresponds to a distance (W)
between the inner surfaces (14; 34) of the two cheeks (7, 8; 27,
28) of the first articulated member.
3. An articulated lock according to claim 2, wherein at least end
sections of the opposite side surfaces (13; 33) form with each
other an angle (W1, W2) from 5.degree. to 15.degree..
4. An articulated lock according to claim 2, wherein the distance
(A) between the two side surfaces (13; 33) diminishes toward an
outer profile of the second articulated member (2; 22) in a
direction perpendicular to the axis of the through-opening (12;
32).
5. An articulated lock according to claim 1, wherein a width (W)
between the inner surfaces (34) of the two cheeks (27; 28) of the
first articulated member (21) increases toward at least one of the
receiving region (23) and the free end of the connection region
(26).
6. An articulated lock according to claim 5, wherein at least
sections of the inner surfaces (34) form with each other an angle
(W3, W4) from 5.degree. to 20.degree..
7. An articulated lock according to claim 1, wherein a width (W)
between the inner surfaces (14; 34) of the two cheeks (7, 8; 27,
28) increases toward an outer profile of the first articulated
member (1; 21) in a direction perpendicular to the common axis of
the bores (11; 31) formed in the cheeks.
8. An articulated lock according to claim 1, wherein the diameter
of the through-opening (12; 32) increases toward the side surfaces
(13; 33).
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an articulated lock for a
saw rope and including a first articulated member having a
sleeve-shaped region for receiving an end of the rope and a
connection region formed of two, spaced from each other cheeks
having coaxial bores, a common axis of which extends perpendicular
to a longitudinal extent of the first articulated member, a second
articulated member having a sleeve-shaped region for receiving
another end of the rope, and a connection region having a
through-opening and connectable with the connection region of the
first articulated member, and joining bolt means for pivotally
connecting the first and second articulated members.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] For cutting of natural or virgin stone, brickwork,
reinforced concrete, and the like or for treating of precise
profiles, sawing ropes, which are provided in rope saws, are used.
For guiding a sawing or a saw rope in and outside of a rope saw,
deflection or guide rollers are used, with the rollers being
provided with an outer profile corresponding to the rope. The saw
rope is formed of a steel cable, a plurality of cutting beads
formed of diamond cutting grains and distributed over the steel
cable, and an articulated lock which connects the opposite ends of
the saw rope with each other. The saw rope, the cutting edges of
which have a circular outer profile, bends during treating of
constructional component, which results in rotation of the entire
rope about its axis. The advantage of this rotation consists in
that the outer profile of the cutting beads wears substantially
uniformly. In order for the rope to be guided about the deflection
rollers well and reliably also in the region of the articulated
lock, the lock includes, e.g., two articulated members with two
articulated axes crossing each other at an angle of 90.degree..
Because of this, the two articulated members can rotate or pivot in
opposite directions upon rotation of the rope by 90.degree.. A saw
rope of the type described above is disclosed in EP-680395B1.
[0005] Each of the two articulated members has a fork-shaped
receiving region with two cheeks and has a sleeve-shaped receiving
region fixedly connected with a saw rope end. The two articulated
axes are formed by two joining bolts which extend through
respective cheeks of the articulated members and respective bores
of an intermediate member that projects into the space between the
two cheeks of both articulated members. Because of the two
articulated axes arranged one after another in the longitudinal
direction of the articulated lock, the lock has a large length. In
addition, the lock is formed of a comparatively large number of
parts and has a relatively large weight.
[0006] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to
provide an articulated lock having a reduced length and a reduced
weight.
[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide an
articulated lock that can be economically produced and that insures
a reliable connection of the two ends of the saw rope.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] These and other objects of the present invention, which will
become apparent hereinafter, are achieved by forming the connection
region of the second articulated member as an eye-shaped section
and by providing in this section or portion a through-opening the
diameter of which exceeds the diameter of the joining bolt at least
in the region of the opposite, spaced from each other, side
surfaces of the eye-shaped portion.
[0009] The articulated lock according to the present invention has
two articulated members pivotally connected with each other by a
single joining bolt. Each of the two articulated members has a
sleeve-shaped receiving region which is fixedly connectable with a
saw rope end. Both articulated members are pivotable about two
articulated axes or in two planes in opposite directions, with the
axes or planes being arranged relative to each other at an angle of
90.degree.. The first axis is defined by the axis of the joining
bolt. Thus, the two articulated members are pivotable in opposite
directions in a first plane which extends perpendicular to the axis
of the joining bolt. Due to a particular shape of the
through-opening of the connection region of the second articulated
member, the second articulated member can rotate in a second plane
in which the axis of the joining bolt is located.
[0010] The particular shape of the second articulated member
insures a very short length of the entire lock. The inventive
articulated lock can be economically produced and has a reduced
weight as it is formed only of few, easily formed, components.
[0011] In order to provide for a reliable pivotal movement of the
second articulated member relative to the first articulated member
in the plane in which the axis of the joining bolt is located, the
distance between the two side surfaces of the eye-shaped portion,
which is measured parallel to the axis of the through-opening
formed in the eye-shaped portion, diminishes toward the receiving
region and/or the free end of the connection region. Preferably,
the largest distance between the two side surfaces corresponds to a
width between the inner surfaces of the two cheeks of the first
articulated member.
[0012] A good abutment and guiding of the saw rope over the outer
profiles of the deflection rollers is advantageously achieved when
the side surfaces of the eye-shaped portion or at least their
sections form with each other an angle from 5.degree. to
20.degree., preferably an angle of 15.degree.. With respect to the
longitudinal axis of the second articulated member, the angle, at
which the side surfaces extend thereto, is the same on both sides.
It is, of course, possible to provide side surfaces that would
extend to the longitudinal axis of the second articulated member at
different angles.
[0013] In order to form both articulated members of the lock so
that they can be guided over the outer profiles of the deflection
rollers, which serve for guiding the rope, the articulated members
are so shaped that they can slightly rotate in opposite directions
in a circumferential direction. This relative rotation is achieved
by reducing the distance between the two side surfaces, in a
direction perpendicular to the axis of the through-opening and the
longitudinal axis of the receiving region, toward the outer profile
of the second articulated member.
[0014] Advantageously, the width between the inner surfaces of the
two, spaced from each other cheeks of the first articulated member
increases toward the receiving region of the first articulated
member and/or toward the free end of the receiving, fork-shaped
region of the first articulated member. Thereby, a reliable pivotal
movement of the second articulated member relative to the first
articulated member in the plane of the axis of the joining bolt is
achieved. With this shape of the cheeks, the inclination of the
side surfaces of the connection region of the second articulated
member toward its longitudinal axis can be dispensed with, and they
can be so formed that the distance therebetween remains the same
over the entire length of the side surfaces.
[0015] An angle, over which the second articulated member rotates
relative to the first articulated member in the plane of the axis
of the joining bolt, depends on inclination of the inner surfaces
of the cheeks relative to the longitudinal axis of the first
articulated member.
[0016] Advantageously, the inner surfaces of the cheeks or at least
the sections of the inner surfaces form with each other an angle
from 5.degree. to 20.degree..
[0017] In order to adapt both articulated members of the lock so
that they can be guided over the outer profiles of the deflection
rollers, which serve for guiding the rope, the articulated members
are so shaped that they can slightly rotate in opposite directions
in a circumferential direction. This relative rotation is achieved
by increasing the width between the two inner surfaces of the
cheeks, in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the bores and
the longitudinal axis of the receiving region, toward the outer
profile of the first articulated member.
[0018] The pivotal movement of the connection region of the second
articulated member with respect to the joining bolt is additionally
improved when the diameter of the through-opening of the connection
region increases toward both side surfaces.
[0019] Generally, the largest distance between the side surfaces of
the eye-shaped portion of the second articulated member corresponds
to the smallest width between the inner surfaces of the two cheeks
of the connection region of the first articulated member.
[0020] The novel features of the present invention, which are
considered as characteristic for the invention, are set forth in
the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its
construction and its mode of operation, together with additional
advantages and objects thereof, will be best understood from the
following detailed description of preferred embodiments, when read
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The drawings show:
[0022] FIG. 1 a side view of a first embodiment of an articulated
lock for a rope of a rope saw according to the present
invention;
[0023] FIG. 2 a plan view of the articulated lock shown in FIG.
1;
[0024] FIG. 3 a cross-sectional view of the articulated members of
the articulated lock shown in FIG. 1, without the rope and without
the joint bolt;
[0025] FIG. 4 a side view of a second embodiment of an articulated
lock for a rope of a rope saw according to the present
invention;
[0026] FIG. 5 a plan view of the articulated lock shown in FIG. 4;
and
[0027] FIG. 6 a cross-sectional view of the articulated members of
the articulated lock shown in FIG. 4, without the rope and without
the joint bolt.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0028] FIGS. 1-6 show two embodiments of an articulated lock for a
saw rope 5; 25 according to the present invention which has two
articulated members 1, 2; 21, 22 which are pivotally connected with
each other by a joint bolt 10;30, respectively.
[0029] The first articulated member of each lock has, in its first
free region, a receiving region 3; 23 with a receiving sleeve in
which the first free end of a rope 5; 25 is received. At the second
end region opposite the receiving region 3; 23, the first
articulated member 1; 21 is provided with a fork-shaped region 6;
26 having two spaced from each other cheeks 7, 8; 27, 28. As it is
particularly shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, both cheeks 7, 8; 27, 28 of
the first articulated member 1; 21 have each a bore 11; 31 for
receiving the joining bolt 10; 30 as shown in FIGS. 1-2 and 4-5.
The joining bolt 10; 30 has a diameter corresponding to the
diameters of the bores 11; 31. A free end of the joining bolt 10;
30 is provided, e.g., with a surface profile which permits to
achieve particularly good holding values when the bolt 10; 30 is
received in bores 11; 31.
[0030] The bolt 10; 30 extends through an opening 12; 32 which is
provided in the connection region 9; 29 of the second articulated
member 2; 22. The connection region 9; 29 is formed integrally with
the receiving region 4; 24 of the second articulated member 2; 22.
The receiving region 4; 24 has a blind bore in which another free
end of the rope 5 is received. The connection of both articulated
members 1, 2; 21, 22 with the rope 5; 25 is effected by radial
compression of both articulated members 1, 2; 21, 22 in the region
of the receiving region of these two articulated members 1, 2; 21,
22.
[0031] Two side surfaces 13; 33 of the connection region 9; 29,
which are spaced from each other by a distance A, extend
substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the opening
12; 32. The inner surfaces of the cheeks 7, 8; 27, 28 of the first
articulated member 1; 21 are spaced, in the direction of the axis
of bores 11; 31, by a distance W which substantially corresponds to
the largest distance A of the two surfaces 13; 33.
[0032] The central region of the opening 12; 32 in the connection
region 9; 29 has a diameter which substantially corresponds to the
diameter of the joining bolt 10; 30. Generally, the diameter of the
opening 12; 32 widens, from the central region, to both side
surfaces 13; 33 by an angle W5 of 15.degree..
[0033] In the articulated lock shown in FIGS. 1-3, the adjacent
surfaces 14 of the cheeks 7, 8 extend parallel to each other. The
connection region 9 of the second articulated member 2, which
extends into the space W limited by the two surfaces 14, has two
side surfaces 13, as discussed above. The distance A of two
surfaces 13, measured in direction parallel to the axis of the
opening 12, diminishes toward the receiving region 4 of the second
articulated member 2. Both side surface 13 extend toward each other
at angle W1 from 5.degree. to 20.degree., preferably
15.degree..
[0034] The first articulated member 21 of the articulated lock,
which is shown in FIGS. 4-6, likewise has two cheeks 27, 28 having
inner surfaces 34 facing each other. The surfaces 34 are spaced
from each other in the direction parallel to the axis of the bore
31 by a distance W which increases, starting from the center of the
bore 31 in opposite directions, toward the receiving region 23 and
to the free end of the fork-shaped region 26. The opposite sections
of the surfaces 34 form with each other an angle W4 from 5.degree.
to 20.degree., preferably 15.degree..
[0035] The connection region 29 of the first articulated member 21,
which projects into the space defined by the distance W, has two
side surfaces 33, as it has already been discussed above, and which
are spaced from each other, in the direction parallel to the axis
of the bore 32, by a distance A. Starting from the center of the
opening 32, the distance A diminishes in opposite directions,
toward the receiving region 24 and toward the free end of the
connection region 29. The opposite end sections of the surfaces 33
form with each other an angle from 5.degree. to 20.degree.,
preferably, an angle of 15.degree..
[0036] The distance A between the two side surfaces 13; 33 can
diminish, in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the opening
12; 32, toward the outer profile of the articulated member 2; 22.
This provides for a small rotation in opposite directions of both
articulated members 1, 2; 21, 22 about their respective axis.
[0037] The width W between the inner surfaces 14; 34 of the cheeks
7, 8; 27, 28 can increase, starting from the center of the opening
1; 31, in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the opening 11;
31 toward the outer profile of the first articulated member 11; 21.
This profile of the inner surfaces 14; 34 provides also for a small
rotation in the opposite directions of both articulated members 1,
2; 21, 22 about their axes.
[0038] Basically, it is not important that both articulated members
1, 2; 21, 22 have the special profile of the side surfaces 13; 33
and the cheek surfaces 14; 34 shown in FIGS. 4-6. It is quite
sufficient when only one of the two articulated members 1, 2; 21,
22 has a special profile, as described above, and the side surfaces
13; 33 and/or cheek surfaces 14; 34 of the other articulated member
1, 2; 21, 22 extend parallel to each other. In this case, the width
W between the cheek surfaces 14; 34 and/or the distance A between
the side surfaces 13; 33 remains constant.
[0039] Though the present invention was shown and described with
references to the preferred embodiments, such are merely
illustrative of the present invention and are not to be construed
as a limitation thereof, and various modifications of the present
invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is,
therefore, not intended that the present invention be limited to
the disclosed embodiments or details thereof, and the present
invention includes all variations and/or alternative embodiments
within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by
the appended claims.
* * * * *