U.S. patent application number 12/172232 was filed with the patent office on 2009-02-12 for cable protection and guide device.
Invention is credited to SHOICHIRO KOMIYA, Takayuki Matsuda, Katsuhide Yamashita.
Application Number | 20090039196 12/172232 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40227120 |
Filed Date | 2009-02-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090039196 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KOMIYA; SHOICHIRO ; et
al. |
February 12, 2009 |
CABLE PROTECTION AND GUIDE DEVICE
Abstract
A cable protection and guide device comprising a number of pairs
of right and left spaced side plates articulately connected to each
other in a longitudinal direction wherein the plates are identical
and interchangeable. Each of the link plates includes an arc shaped
concavity, a convex portion and, the convex portion of the next
adjacent link plate interengages the arc shaped concavity of the
link plate. The arc shaped concavity includes a warp limiting lock
groove and the convex portion includes an arc-shaped warp limiting
lock piece The arc-shaped warp limiting lock piece of the convex
portion interengages the arc-shaped warp-up limiting groove of the
arc shaped concavity of link plate so that the warping of the link
plates is substantially eliminated. The manufacturing cost for a
single link plate used in a cable protection and guide device is
reduced by half.
Inventors: |
KOMIYA; SHOICHIRO; (Osaka,
JP) ; Matsuda; Takayuki; (Osaka, JP) ;
Yamashita; Katsuhide; (Osaka, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WOODLING, KROST AND RUST
9213 CHILLICOTHE ROAD
KIRTLAND
OH
44094
US
|
Family ID: |
40227120 |
Appl. No.: |
12/172232 |
Filed: |
July 12, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
242/615.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16G 13/16 20130101;
H02G 11/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
242/615.4 |
International
Class: |
B65H 23/04 20060101
B65H023/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 8, 2007 |
JP |
2007-206079 |
Claims
1. A cable protection and guide device, comprising, a number of
pairs of right and left spaced side plates articulately connected
to each other in a longitudinal direction enabling said side plates
to form a flexional circumferential bend having a flexional inner
circumferential side and flexional outer circumferential side; each
of said side plates includes a flexional inner circumferential side
residing during bending on said flexional inner circumferential
side of said bend; each of said side plates includes and an outer
circumferential sides side residing during bending on said outer
flexional circumferential side of said bend; each of said link
plates includes a front side portion and a rear side portion;
connecting plates; said connecting plates are respectively bridged
over said bending inner circumferential side and said bending outer
circumferential side of said pairs of right and left spaced link
plates; connecting pins residing in said front side portion of each
of said link plates; said link plates include connecting pin holes
(recesses) in said rear side portion of each of said link plates; a
cable accommodating space formed by pivotally connecting said link
plates to the next adjacent link plates in a longitudinal direction
of the cable; a cable resides within said cable accommodating
space, and, said link plates are identical and interchangeable.
2. A cable protection and guide device according to claim 1,
wherein each of said link plates includes: an arc shaped concavity;
a convex portion; and, said convex portion of said next adjacent
link plate interengages said arc shaped concavity of said link
plate.
3. A cable protection and guide device according to claim 1,
wherein each of said link plates includes: an arc shaped concavity;
said arc shaped concavity includes a warp limiting lock groove; a
convex portion; said convex portion includes an arc-shaped warp-up
limiting lock piece; and, said arc-shaped warp limiting lock piece
of said convex portion of said next adjacent link plate
interengages said arc-shaped warp-up limiting groove of said arc
shaped concavity of said link plate so that warpage of said link
plates is substantially eliminated.
4. A cable protection and guide device according to claim 2,
wherein: said arc shaped concavity includes a warp-up limiting lock
groove; said convex portion includes an arc-shaped warp-up limiting
lock piece; and, said arc-shaped warp-up limiting lock piece of
said convex portion of said next adjacent link plate interengages
said arc-shaped warp-up limiting groove of said arc shaped
concavity of said link plate so that the warpage of said link
plates is substantially eliminated.
Description
[0001] This patent application claims priority to Japanese Patent
Application No. 2007-206079 filed Aug. 8, 2007.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a cable protection and
guide device which securely protects and guides a flexible cable.
The device may guide an electrical cable, a hydraulic hose, a
pneumatic hose, or an optical fiber cable. The device may be used
in connection with a machine tool, an electric device, an
industrial robot, or a machine used in transporting objects. The
cables may carry electric energy and electric signals to the remote
end of the moving machine or the movable portions of the
machine.
BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY
[0003] FIG. 2 of Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No.
2007-10087 is a known cable protection and guide device which
includes a number of link frame bodies each comprising a pair of
right and left spaced link plates and connecting plates
respectively bridged over a bending outer circumferential side and
a bending inner circumferential side of the link plates.
PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION
[0004] In Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2007-10087, the
pair of right and left link plates must be molded by separate right
and left metal molds. As such, the production cost of the link
plates is high as the manufacturing costs are doubled because two
molds are needed. Further, in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication
2007-10087, the supply of left and right link plates must be
managed so that they are properly inserted for assembly and for
replacement.
[0005] Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to solve
the above-mentioned problems by providing a cable protection and
guide device wherein the mold manufacturing cost is cut in half by
using one mold. It is a further object to eliminate any error due
to connection and incorporation of the link plates. Still further,
it is an object of the invention to make the management of the
parts easy and simple.
MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS
[0006] A cable protection and guide device is disclosed which
comprises: a number of pairs of right and left spaced side plates
articulately connected to each other in a longitudinal direction
enabling said side plates to form a flexional circumferential bend
having a flexional inner circumferential side and flexional outer
circumferential side; each of the side plates includes a flexional
inner circumferential side residing during bending on the flexional
inner circumferential side of the bend; each of the side plates
includes an outer circumferential side residing during bending on
the outer flexional circumferential side of the bend; each of the
link plates includes a front side portion and a rear side portion;
connecting plates; the connecting plates are respectively bridged
over the bending inner circumferential side and the bending outer
circumferential side of the pairs of right and left spaced link
plates; connecting pins residing in the front side portion of each
of the link plates; the link plates include connecting pin holes in
the rear side portion of each of the link plates; a cable
accommodating space formed by pivotally connecting the link plates
to the next adjacent link plates in a longitudinal direction of the
cable; a cable residing within the cable accommodating space, and,
the link plates are identical and interchangeable.
[0007] A cable protection and guide device is disclosed wherein
each of the link plates includes: an arc shaped concavity; a convex
portion; and, the convex portion of the next adjacent link plate
interengages the arc shaped concavity of the subsequent link
plate.
[0008] A cable protection and guide device is further disclosed
wherein each of the link plates includes: an arc shaped concavity;
the arc shaped concavity includes a warp-up limiting lock groove; a
convex portion; the convex portion includes an arc-shaped warp-up
limiting lock piece; and, the arc-shaped warp-up limiting lock
piece of the convex portion of the next adjacent link plate
interengages the arc-shaped warp limiting groove of the arc shaped
concavity so that warpage of the link plates is limited.
EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0009] According to the cable protection and guide device of the
present invention the connecting plates are respectively bridged
over a bending inner circumferential side and a bending outer
circumferential side of pairs of right and left spaced link plates.
The cable protection and guide device, comprises, a number of pairs
of right and left spaced side plates articulately connected to each
other in a longitudinal direction enabling the side plates to form
a flexional circumferential bend having a flexional inner
circumferential side and flexional outer circumferential side; each
of the side plates includes a flexional inner circumferential side
residing during bending on the flexional inner circumferential side
of the bend; each of the side plates includes an outer
circumferential sides side residing during bending on the outer
flexional circumferential side of the bend; each of the link plates
includes a front side portion and a rear side portion; connecting
plates; the connecting plates are respectively bridged over the
bending inner circumferential side and the bending outer
circumferential side of the pairs of right and left spaced link
plates; connecting pins residing in the front side portion of each
of the link plates; the link plates include connecting pin holes
(recesses) in the rear side portion of each of the link plates; a
cable accommodating space formed by pivotally connecting the link
plates to the next adjacent link plates in a longitudinal direction
of the cable; a cable residing within the cable accommodating
space, and, the link plates are identical and interchangeable.
[0010] The link plates each have a singular plate shape (i.e., the
plates are identical) molded by a single metal mold. Thus,
manufacturing costs for the link plates is reduced by half because
only one mold is necessary. The same link plate may be used as a
right link plate or a left link plate. Further, there is no error
upon connection and incorporation of the link plates even if the
link plates are randomly connected to each other. Thus parts
management is not a problem because all of the parts are the
same.
[0011] A bending operation area limiting concave portion is formed
along an arc in the side plate. The arc is coaxially spaced from
the connecting pin or the connecting pin hole. A convex portion of
the next adjacent plate is fitted to the bending operation area
limiting concave portion in a concave element/convex element
engagement which allows rotational relative movement between the
plates. The concave portion and the convex portion are respectively
provided on opposite side surfaces of the link plates. The link
plates are connected in the longitudinal direction so that bending
(rotational movement) between the front side portion and the rear
side portion of adjacent link plates is limited. The degree or
extent of rotational movement between adjacent link plates during
operation of the device in a bending fashion is limited. Similarly,
a linear position during linear movement of the device is reliably
achieved. Further, the transition between linear and rotational
movement of the links plates is reliably achieved so that the cable
can be smoothly protected and guided.
[0012] A short arc-shaped warp-up (i.e. warp) limiting lock piece
of the convex portion of the link plate is fitted to the short
arc-shaped warp-up (i.e. warp) limiting lock groove of the next
adjacent link plate in a concave/convex engagement. The short
arc-shaped warp-up (i.e. warp) limiting lock piece of the convex
portion of the link plate and the (i.e. warp) limiting lock groove
reside on opposite surfaces of the link plate. The link plates, of
course, are connected in the longitudinal direction of the cable.
When an external force such as warp-up (warping or twisting) in the
width direction occurs at the front side portions and the rear side
portions of the adjacent link plates during bending, the short
arc-shaped warp limiting lock groove and the short arc-shaped warp
limiting lock piece, formed along the arc path, deform an outer
circumferential edge of the link plated to be warped up so that a
torsional phenomenon is produced between the outer circumferential
edge and related facing inner circumferential edge of the link
plates and disengagement is resisted in the width direction. As a
result warp-up (warping) in the width direction at a front side
portion and a rear side portion between adjacent link plates is
restricted so that inadvertent disengagement between the link
plates can be prevented. The short arc-shaped warp-up limiting lock
groove and the short arc-shaped warp-up limiting lock piece are
fitted to each other in a concave element/convex element engagement
without deformation during a connection and incorporation operation
between link plates because previous twisting of the device has
been prevented allowing easy maintenance and interchangeability of
the link plates. Thus the connection and incorporation operation
between link plates can be easily realized. The engagement
structure, to wit, the short arc-shaped warp-up limiting lock
groove and the short arc-shaped warp-up limiting lock piece is
simple and it is easy to make a metal mold therefor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a use form view of a cable or the like protection
and guide device, which is a first example according to the present
invention.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a connection state
between link plates in FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing an arrangement state
of link plates.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the link plate used in the
first example of the present invention viewed from a cable
accommodating space side.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the link plate shown in FIG.
4 viewed from the outside of the cable accommodating space.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a partially cut out perspective view of a
connection state between link plates viewed from the cable
accommodating space side.
[0019] FIG. 7 is a partially cut out perspective view of a
connection state between the link plates from the outside of the
cable accommodating space.
[0020] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a connection state
between link plates in the second example of the present
invention.
[0021] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the link plate used in the
second example of the present invention viewed from a cable
accommodating space side.
[0022] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the link plate shown in
FIG. 9 viewed from the outside of the cable accommodating
space.
[0023] FIG. 11 is a partially cut out perspective view of a
connection state between link plates viewed from the cable
accommodating space side.
[0024] FIG. 12 is a partially cut out perspective view of a
connection state between the link plates from the outside of the
cable accommodating space.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0025] A cable protection and guide device, which is an example of
the present invention, will be described with reference to FIGS. 1
to 12.
EXAMPLE
[0026] FIG. 1 is a view of a cable protection and guide device,
which is a first example according to the present invention. FIG. 2
is a perspective view showing a connection state between link
plates in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing an
arrangement of link plates. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the
link plate used in the first example of the present invention
viewed from a cable accommodating space side. FIG. 5 is a
perspective view of the link plate shown in FIG. 4 viewed from the
outside of the cable accommodating space. FIG. 6 is a partially cut
out perspective view of a connection state between link plates
viewed from the cable accommodating space side. FIG. 7 is a
partially cut out perspective view of a connection state between
the link plates from the outside of the cable accommodating space.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a connection state between
link plates in the second example of the present invention. FIG. 9
is a perspective view of the link plate used in the second example
of the present invention viewed from a cable accommodating space
side. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the link plate shown in FIG.
9 viewed from the outside of the cable accommodating space. FIG. 11
is a partially cut out perspective view of a connection state
between link plates viewed from the cable accommodating space side.
FIG. 12 is a partially cut out perspective view of a connection
state between the link plates from the outside of the cable
accommodating space.
[0027] A cable protection and guide device 100, which is a first
example according to the present invention, is used for protecting
and guiding a cable C such as an electric cable, which performs a
transmission of electric signals or a supply of power. Instead of
an electric cable, a hose, which supplies hydraulic pressure or
pneumatic pressure, may be used in the cable accommodating space R.
The electric cable connects between a movable portion M and a
stationary portion F of, for instance, a plasma display, a
semiconductor production device or a vehicle as shown in FIG. 1.
Thus the cable protection and guide device 100 assumes a linear
position state or a bending position state in accordance with
movement conditions between the movable portion M and the
stationary portion F.
[0028] As shown in FIG. 2, the above-described cable protection and
guide device 100 is molded of a glass fiber reinforced polyamide
resin which exhibits excellent strength properties. The cable
protection and guide device 100 is manufactured by interconnecting
pairs of right and left spaced link plates 110, 110 together.
Bending inner circumferential side connecting plates 120 are each
attachably bridged over a bending inner circumferential side of
these link plates 110, 110. Bending outer circumferential side
connecting plates (not shown) are each attachably bridged over a
bending outer circumferential side of these link plates 110, 110 to
form a rectangular shape, in cross-section, of the device.
[0029] The link plates include a front side portion and rear side
portion. The above-described link plate 110 can be arranged as a
right or left link plate and connected in a longitudinal direction
as shown in FIG. 3. Arrows in FIG. 3 show alternate positions that
the link plates may assume. The arrows are meant to show that the
same link plate can be used anywhere in the device, to wit, on the
right or left side of the device.
[0030] Further, the link plate 110, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a
front side portion and a rear side portion form a stepped, a
so-called off-set, structure in the plate thickness direction. The
front side portion of this link plate 110 is provided with a
connection pin hole 111, and the rear side portion of this link
plate 110 is provided with a connecting pin 112 having
substantially the same outer diameter as the inner diameter of the
connecting pin hole 111 into which the connecting pin 112 is
fitted.
[0031] It is noted that the reference numeral 114 shown in FIG. 4
denotes a bending guide pin, which is fitted to the bending guide
hole (recess) 113 and guided. Reference numeral 113 shown in FIG. 5
denotes a bending guide hole (recess) by which adjacent link plates
110, 110 are pivoted with respect to each other and bent
(rotated).
[0032] Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, link plates 110, 110
are continuously interconnected with the next adjacent link plate.
The front and rear portions of the link plates are connected to
each other by fitting a connecting pin 112 to a connecting pin hole
111. The link plates 110, 110 can be bent (rotated with respect to
each other) by being pivoted about the connecting pin 112.
[0033] Further, the front side portion and the rear side portion of
the link plate 110 are respectively provided with a bend limiting
concave portion 115 (sometimes referred to hereafter as a bending
limiting concave portion) and a bend limiting convex portion 116
(sometimes referred to hereafter as a bending operation convex
portion) formed along arc paths L coaxially spaced from the
connecting pin 112 or the connecting pin hole 111.
[0034] A given plate has a preceding link plate which comes before
it in the device. Sometimes the preceding plate is referred to
herein as the next adjacent plate to the given plate. A given plate
also has a subsequent link plate which comes after the given plate
in the device. Sometimes the subsequent link plate is referred to
herein as the next adjacent link plate.
[0035] A bending operation area limiting concave portion 115 on the
front portion of a given link plate and a bending operation area
limiting convex portion 116 provided on a rear side portion of the
preceding link plate 110 are fitted together. A bending operation
area limiting convex portion 116 on the rear portion of given link
plate and a bending operation area limiting concave portion 115
provided on the front side portion of the subsequent link plate 110
are also fitted together. The link plates engage in a
concave/convex arrangement and limit relative movement. Thus the
bending operation areas in the front side portions and rear side
portions of the link plates 110, 110 are limited so that relative
rotational movement and stable linear position during linear
movement can be achieved. Further, transition between linear
movement and rotational movement of the device is reliably achieved
to smoothly protect and guide a cable C.
[0036] In the cable protection and guide device 100 of the first
example the link plates 110 have a singular plate shape, to wit,
they are identical (common to each other) and interchangeable. As
such, the side plates are used in any position in the device and
they are common to each other and can be molded from a single metal
mold. Thus molding/manufacturing cost for the link plate is reduced
by half. Further, there is no chance of error upon connection and
incorporation of the link plates 110 even if the link plates are at
randomly connected to each other. Thus the effects of the first
example of the invention are very large.
[0037] A cable protection and guide device 200, which is a second
example according to the present invention, will be described with
reference to FIGS. 8 to 12 hereinbelow.
[0038] First, as compared with the above-described cable protection
and guide device 100, which is the first example of the present
invention, the cable protection and guide device 200, which is the
second example of the present invention, is only different from the
cable protection and guide device 100 in that the cable protection
and guide device 200 includes a warp-up (i.e. warp) limiting
mechanism for limiting the warp-up in the front side portion and
the rear side portion of link plates 210, 210 in the width
direction. The other basic structure of the cable protection and
guide device 200 shown in FIG. 8 is substantially the same as the
cable protection and guide device 100. The front side portion and
the rear side portion of the link plate 210 each have a singular
plate shape (common or identical plate shape) so that the link
plate 210 can be arranged on either side of the device and all of
the link plates can be used as preceding or subsequent link plates
with respect to a given plate being referred to.
[0039] Therefore, in the explanation of the cable protection and
guide device 200 of the second example, the explanation of elements
of the cable protection and guide device 200 of the second example
which are the same as portions of the above-described cable
protection and guide device of the first example will be omitted.
Reference numerals described above in the 100s (first example)
having the same structure and function have been numbered using
like reference numerals in the 200s (second example).
[0040] A warp-up limiting mechanism provided in the cable
protection and guide device 200 of the second example will be
described in detail based on FIGS. 8 to 12.
[0041] Opposite surfaces of link plates 210 connected in a
longitudinal direction of the cable are respectively provided with
a short arc-shaped warp-up limiting lock groove 217 formed along a
virtual arc path L coaxially spaced from a connecting pin 212 or a
connecting pin hole 211. The lock grooves are in walls of the
arc-shaped concavities of the link plate. A short arc-shaped
warp-up limiting block piece 218 of the next adjacent link plate
fits to the warp-up (warp) limiting block groove 217 in a concave
element/convex element engagement and allows limited rotational
movement of the adjacent and interconnected plates. See FIGS. 9 and
10 for a good view of the lock grooves 217 and block pieces
218.
[0042] It is noted that the reference numeral 218a shown in FIGS. 9
to 12 denotes a warp-up limiting arc surface formed on the short
arc-shaped warp-up limiting block piece 218.
[0043] The short arc-shaped warp-up limiting lock grooves 217 are
arranged in the bending operation area limiting concave portion 215
along a virtual arc path L. The short arc-shaped warp-up limiting
lock pieces 218 are arranged on the bending operation area limiting
convex portion 216 along a virtual arc path L. The lock pieces 218
interengage the grooves 217 of the next adjacent link plate. When
the device is bending, the limiting convex portions 216 include
limiting lock pieces 218, 218 which substantially function as a
series of arc-shaped warp-up limiting lock pieces interengaging a
series of lock grooves 217. In other words, when the device bends,
a plurality of pairs of link plates are bending with respect to
each other and a plurality of lock pieces interengage a plurality
of lock grooves. In this way warpage during bending is
substantially prevented.
[0044] In the second example according to the present invention,
link plates 210 each have a singular plate shape (i.e. they are
identical) and can be arranged anywhere, for example, as any of the
right or left link plates in the longitudinal direction of the
cable. The link plates can thus be molded by a single metal mold.
Thus the metal mold manufacturing cost for the link plates is
reduced by half. A single link plate 210 performs all necessary
functions and thus the manufacturing cost of a link plate metal
mold can be reduced as only one mold is required. Further, since
there is no error possible upon connection and incorporation of the
link plates 210, even if the link plates 210 are at randomly
connected to each other, management of parts is easy.
[0045] The short arc-shaped warp-up limiting lock groove 217 formed
along a virtual arc path L coaxially spaced from a connecting pin
212 or a connecting pin hole 211 is fitted to a short arc-shaped
warp-up limiting lock piece 218 in a concave element/convex element
engagement to allow limited relative movement therebetween. The
lock groove and the lock piece of the respective mating plates are
provided on opposite surfaces of the link plates 210, 210 connected
in the longitudinal direction of the cable. When the link plates
210, 210 are transferred from a linear state to a bending state,
even if an inadvertent external torsional (twisting) is applied in
the width direction between the front side portions and the rear
side portions of the adjacent link plates 210, 210, large torsional
resistance in the width direction is generated between
interengaging surfaces of the adjacent link plates 210, 210. The
opposed circumferential edges 219 between the link plates 210, 210
which would tend to otherwise warp (warp up) excessively come into
contact with the next adjacent link plates in a torsion state so
that warp-up in the width direction at a front side portion and a
rear side portion between adjacent link plates 210, 210 is reliably
restricted and inadvertent disengagement between the link plates
210, 210 is prevented. The engagement structure between the short
arc-shaped warp-up limiting lock groove 217 and the short
arc-shaped warp-up limiting lock piece 218 is simple to make and
can be made from a single metal mold.
[0046] The short arc-shaped warp-up limiting lock groove 217 and
the short arc-shaped warp-up limiting lock piece 218 are fitted to
each other in a concave element/convex element engagement without
deformation thereof in the width direction during a connection and
incorporation operation when assembling the device or replacing
link plates. Thus the connection and incorporation operation
between link plates 210, 210 is easily performed. Thus the effects
of the second example are very large.
DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0047] 100, 200 . . . Cable protection and guide device [0048] 110,
210 . . . Link plate [0049] 111, 211 . . . Connecting pin hole
[0050] 112, 212 . . . Connecting pin [0051] 113, 213 . . . Bending
guide hole [0052] 114, 214 . . . Bending guide pin [0053] 115 . . .
Bending operation area limiting concave portion [0054] 116 . . .
Bending operation area limiting convex portion [0055] 217 . . .
Warp-up limiting lock groove [0056] 218 . . . Warp-up limiting lock
piece [0057] 218a . . . Warp-up limiting arc surface [0058] 120,
220 . . . Bending inner circumferential side connecting plate
[0059] C . . . Cable or the like [0060] R . . . Cable accommodating
space [0061] L . . . Virtual arc path
* * * * *