U.S. patent application number 16/398819 was filed with the patent office on 2019-08-22 for guide rail assembly as well as guide rail holder.
This patent application is currently assigned to Xylem IP Management S.a r.l.. The applicant listed for this patent is Xylem IP Management S.a r.l.. Invention is credited to Gert Hallgren.
Application Number | 20190257468 16/398819 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53366226 |
Filed Date | 2019-08-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20190257468 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hallgren; Gert |
August 22, 2019 |
GUIDE RAIL ASSEMBLY AS WELL AS GUIDE RAIL HOLDER
Abstract
A guide rail assembly for a submersible machine as well as a
guide rail holder for such a guide rail assembly is described
herein. The guide rail holder includes a radially extending support
body and an axially extending post, which is rigidly connected to
the support body and which is adapted to be inserted into an end of
the guide rail. An engagement head is connected to the post at a
distance from the support body and has a greater radial extension
than the post. The engagement head includes a radially expandable
member that is adapted to be reversibly manipulated between an
active state, in which the expandable member is in engagement with
the guide rail, and an inactive state, in which the expandable
member is disengaged from the guide rail.
Inventors: |
Hallgren; Gert; (Hagersten,
SE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Xylem IP Management S.a r.l. |
Senningerberg |
|
LU |
|
|
Assignee: |
Xylem IP Management S.a
r.l.
Senningerberg
LU
|
Family ID: |
53366226 |
Appl. No.: |
16/398819 |
Filed: |
April 30, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
15309347 |
Nov 7, 2016 |
10330250 |
|
|
PCT/IB2015/053071 |
Apr 28, 2015 |
|
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|
16398819 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16B 7/0413 20130101;
F16B 7/1445 20130101; F16M 13/02 20130101; F16M 1/00 20130101; B66B
7/023 20130101; F16B 7/06 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F16M 13/02 20060101
F16M013/02; F16B 7/14 20060101 F16B007/14; F16M 1/00 20060101
F16M001/00; F16B 7/04 20060101 F16B007/04; B66B 7/02 20060101
B66B007/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 7, 2014 |
SE |
1450540-8 |
Claims
1. A guide rail assembly for a submersible machine, comprising at
least two guide rail holders and one guide rail, wherein each guide
rail holder comprises: a radially extending support body, an
axially extending post, which is rigidly connected to said radially
extending support body and which is adapted to be inserted into an
end of said guide rail, and an engagement head that is connected to
said axially extending post at a distance from said radially
extending support body and has a greater radial extension than said
axially extending post, the engagement head comprising a radially
expandable member that is adapted to be reversibly manipulated
between an active state, in which the expandable member is in
engagement with the guide rail, and an inactive state, in which the
expandable member is disengaged from the guide rail.
2. The guide rail assembly according to claim 1, wherein the guide
rail assembly further comprises a wall bracket per each guide rail
holder, the guide rail holder being pivotally connected to the wall
bracket about an axially extending pivot axis.
3. The guide rail assembly according to claim 2, wherein the guide
rail assembly further comprises an indexing means, which is
connected to a guide rail holder and which is adapted to turn the
guide rail holder about the pivot axis and is adapted to place the
guide rail holder in predetermined positions in relation to the
wall bracket.
4. The guide rail assembly according to claim 1, wherein, in the
inactive state, the axially extending post and the radially
expandable member are positioned within the guide rail.
5. The guide rail assembly according to claim 1, wherein, in the
inactive state, the radially expandable member is positioned within
the guide rail.
6. The guide rail assembly according to claim 1, wherein the
engagement head comprises a first plate and a second plate, said
radially expandable member being arranged between said first plate
and said second plate, the guide rail holder comprising means for
adjusting a distance between the first plate and the second
plate.
7. The guide rail assembly according to claim 6, wherein the means
for adjusting the distance between the first plate and the second
plate is constituted by at least one screw joint.
8. The guide rail assembly according to claim 6, wherein the first
plate of the engagement head is located nearest to the radially
extending support body, the axially extending post being rigidly
connected to said first plate.
9. The guide rail assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least
one of the guide rail holders comprises two axially extending
posts, which are rigidly connected to the radially extending
support body and which are diametrically projecting from the
radially extending support body, and said at least one guide rail
holder comprises two engagement heads.
10. The guide rail assembly according to claim 1, wherein a
distance between the engagement head and the radially extending
support body is greater than 100 percent of a smallest crosswise
distance of the engagement head.
11. The guide rail assembly according to claim 1, wherein a
distance between the engagement head and the radially extending
support body is greater than 50 percent of a smallest crosswise
distance of the engagement head.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional patent application of U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 15/309,347, filed Nov. 7, 2016, which
is a U.S. National Phase of PCT Application No. PCT/IB2015/053071,
filed Apr. 28, 2015, which claims priority to Swedish Patent
Application No. 1450540-8, filed May 7, 2014, each of which is
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates in general to a guide rail
assembly for a submersible machine, such as a mixer unit. According
to a first aspect the present invention relates to a guide rail
assembly comprising at least two guide rail holders and one guide
rail, and according to a second aspect the present invention
relates to a guide rail holder for connecting at least one guide
rail for a submersible machine to a wall bracket, the guide rail
holder comprising a radially extending support body, an axially
extending post, which is rigidly connected to said support body and
which is adapted to be inserted into an end of said guide rail.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART
[0003] Traditionally the guide rail of a guide rail assembly has
been supported and connected to a tank wall by means of guide rail
holders comprising rigid pipe segments welded thereto, the pipe
segments being inserted into the respective guide rail end such
that the outer surface of the pipe segment abut the inner surface
of the guide rail. U.S. Pat. No. 8,277,115 disclose such a rigid
arrangement. However, a rigid connection of this type is impaired
with several drawbacks. More specifically, the forces and bending
moments that the submersible machine exerts the connection between
the guide rail and the guide rail holder for, result in the guide
rail ends experiencing great stress and they risk to split open due
to the rigid connection. Thereto the mixer unit in operation
generates pulsating forces acting on the guide rail and guide rail
holders. This lead to the wall that the guide rail assembly is
connected to is worn out and shredded.
[0004] US 2002/162936 disclose an alternative way of connecting two
guide rails. It describes an adapter comprising a central body
having squared cross section and from which body two sets of
flexible members extend in the axial direction. The two sets are
inserted into the end of the respective guide rail, whereby a
connection of the guide rails is achieved. The flexible members
entail that abutment against the inner surfaces of the guide rails
is ensured. When the plant is in operation the guide rails may
neither be displaced/bend in relation to each other nor in relation
to the adapter, and thus also this connection is rigid and thereby
impaired with the above drawbacks.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention aims at obviating the aforementioned
disadvantages and failings of previously known guide rail holders
and at providing an improved guide rail holder. A primary object of
the present invention is to provide an improved guide rail holder
of the initially defined type, which guide rail holder spare the
guide rail ends, the wall brackets and the wall by reducing, and at
the best fully eliminate, the material fatigue that is the result
of the forces and bending moment that the submersible machine
exerts the guide rail assembly for.
[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
guide rail holder that entail that the guide rail ends does not
split open.
[0007] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
guide rail holder that dampen vibrations generated during operation
in the entire guide rail assembly and especially in the guide rail
holder.
[0008] It is also an object of the present invention to provide
great tolerances in the axial direction upon mounting of the guide
rail assembly, by having the guide rails displaceable in the axial
direction in relation to the guide rail holders.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0009] According to the invention at least the primary object is
attained by means of the initially defined guide rail assembly and
guide rail holder having the features defined in the independent
claims. Preferred embodiments of the present invention are further
defined in the dependent claims.
[0010] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a guide rail assembly of the initially defined type,
and according to a second aspect of the present invention there is
provided a guide rail holder, wherein the guide rail holder is
characterized in that it also comprises an engagement head that is
connected to said post at a distance from said support body and has
a greater radial extension than said post, the engagement head
comprising a radially expandable member that is adapted to be
reversibly manipulated between an active state, in which the
expandable member is in engagement with the guide rail, and an
inactive state, in which the expandable member is disengaged from
the guide rail.
[0011] Thus, the present invention is based on the insight that a
radially expandable member, when in its expanded active state is
brought into engagement with the guide rail, allow bending of the
guide rail in relation to the guide rail holder having unchanged
structural support for the guide rail. More specifically, via the
member a flexible, i.e. non rigid connection between the guide rail
holder and the guide rail is achieved. The entire guide rail
assembly hereby achieves an increased structural flexibility and
may in a better way absorb the bending moment acting on the guide
rail. Thereto, the insight that by placing the engagement head at a
distance from the guide rail end, and not as customary, in the
immediate vicinity of the guide rail end, the result will be that
the guide rail ends will not split open. Thereto, the material
properties of the expandable member also makes it possible, when it
is forced in engagement with the guide rail, to dampen the
vibrations that during operation are generated in the guide rail
assembly and especially in the guide rail holder.
[0012] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention
the engagement head comprises a first plate and a second plate,
said expandable member being arranged between said first plate and
said second plate, the guide rail holder comprising means for
adjusting the distance between the first plate and the second
plate, that among other things entail the possibility to adjust the
degree of radial extension of the member. Hereby the state of the
member can be reversibly manipulated, i.e. change between an active
state and an inactive state.
[0013] According to another preferred embodiment the means for
adjusting the distance between the first plate and the second plate
is constituted by at least one screw joint. Hereby a simple and
robust as well as precise way of adjusting the distance between the
plates is accomplished.
[0014] According to a preferred embodiment of the guide rail
assembly it comprises a wall bracket per guide rail holder, the
guide rail holder being turnably connected to the wall bracket
about an axially extending pivot. Hereby the guide rail, including
the mounted mixer unit, may turn about the pivot. Consequently the
operator may choose which part of the liquid that shall be mixed.
This give enhanced possibilities to optimize the mixing
process.
[0015] In yet another preferred embodiment of the guide rail
assembly it also comprises an indexing means, which is connected to
a guide rail holder and which is adapted to turn the guide rail
holder about the pivot axis and is adapted to place the guide rail
holder in predetermined positions in relation to the wall bracket.
By means of the indexing means determining the turning step a
robust control of the positioning of the guide rail holder in
relation to the wall bracket is achieved.
[0016] Further advantages with and features of the invention will
be apparent from the other dependent claims as well as from the
following detailed description of preferred embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] A more complete understanding of the abovementioned and
other features and advantages of the present invention will be
apparent from the following detailed description of preferred
embodiments in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an installation of a
guide rail assembly during lowering of the corresponding mixer
unit,
[0019] FIG. 2 is a schematic view from above of the installation of
the guide rail assembly according to FIG. 1,
[0020] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view from above of a guide
rail holder in the form of a joint between two guide rails, the
guide rails are presented as transparent,
[0021] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view from below of the
guide rail holder according to FIG. 3, the guide rails are
presented as transparent,
[0022] FIG. 5 is a schematic exploded perspective view from above
of the guide rail holder according to FIGS. 3 and 4,
[0023] FIG. 6 is a schematic cross sectional front view of the
guide rail holder and the guide rail according to FIG. 3,
[0024] FIG. 7 is a schematic cross sectional side view of the guide
rail holder and the guide rail according to FIG. 3,
[0025] FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view from above of an
upper guide rail holder, the guide rail is presented as
transparent,
[0026] FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view from below of the
upper guide rail holder according to FIG. 8,
[0027] FIG. 10 is a schematic cross sectional front view of the
upper guide rail holder and the guide rail according to FIG. 8,
[0028] FIG. 11 is a schematic cross sectional side view of a part
of the upper guide rail holder and the guide rail according to FIG.
8,
[0029] FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view from above of a
lower guide rail holder, the guide rail is presented as
transparent,
[0030] FIG. 13 is a schematic perspective view from below of the
lower guide rail holder according to FIG. 12, the guide rail is
presented as transparent,
[0031] FIG. 14 is a schematic cross sectional front view of the
lower guide rail holder and the guide rail according to FIG. 12,
and
[0032] FIG. 15 is a schematic cross sectional side view of the
lower guide rail holder and the guide rail according to FIG.
12.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0033] The present invention relates in general to a guide rail
assembly for a submersible machine, such as a mixer unit. Reference
is initially made to FIGS. 1 and 2, which are a schematic side view
and a schematic view from above, respectively, of an installation
of a guide rail assembly together with mixer unit during
lowering.
[0034] The guide rail assembly 26 disclosed comprises three guide
rail holders 2 that are attached to a supporting tank wall 8 by
means of respective wall brackets 3. The disclosed guide rail
assembly comprises two guide rails 4A, 4B or two guide rail
segments, which are supported by and hold by the guide rail holders
2. More specifically, as is apparent from FIG. 1 the guide rail
assembly 26 comprises an upper guide rail 4A that in an upper end
is hold by an upper guide rail holder 2A as well as in a lower end
is supported and hold by an intermediate guide rail holder 2B. The
guide rail assembly 26 further comprises a lower guide rail 4B that
in a lower end is supported and hold by a lower guide rail holder
2C as well as in an upper end is hold by the above mentioned
intermediate guide rail holder 2B. The respective guide rail holder
2A-2C and thereto belonging parts will be described in more detail
in connection with FIGS. 3-15. The guide rail 4 extends in parallel
with the wall 8, preferably in a vertical direction. The axial
length of a guide rail may be in the size of 3-6 meters.
[0035] A submersible mixer unit 6 is arranged in such a way that it
can be displaced along the guide rail 4 in a conventional way. The
axial displacement of the mixer unit 6 is controlled by a control
unit, disclosed in FIG. 1, that is located at an outside of the
tank wall 8. In this embodiment the displacement of the mixer unit
6 is made by means of a conventional winch device 52 comprising a
wire 54, in a conventional way. The displacement can be
accomplished either manually or by means of a motor, for instance
an electric motor. The disclosed guide rail assembly 26 comprises a
wall bracket 3 per guide rail holder 2, the separate guide rail
holder being turnably connected to the respective wall bracket
about an axially extending axis 30. By other words, the extension
of the axis 30 is parallel with extension of the guide rail 4. The
guide rail assembly achieved it this way is thus of turnable type.
This entail that the guide rail 4, including the attached mixer
unit 6, bay be turned about said axis 30. In an alternative, not
disclosed, embodiment the guide rail assembly is of stationary
type, i.e. the guide rail is rigidly attached to the tank wall. As
is apparent from FIG. 2 the guide rail assembly 26 comprises an
indexing means 32. The indexing means 32, that in this embodiment
is a rotatable disc having peripheral recesses, is adapted to
partly turn the guide rail holder 2 about above mentioned axis 30
partly position the guide rail holder 2 in determined positions in
relation to the wall bracket 3. The rotatable disc 32 is via a link
7 extending through an opening in the tank wall 8, connected to a
unit 19 that transfer the turning motion of the disc to a turning
of the guide rail 4. This unit is connected to the tank wall 8 by
means of a coupling member 5 comprising two arms. By turning the
disc 32 a turning motion of the guide rail is achieved, including
the attached mixer unit (not disclosed in FIG. 2).
[0036] Reference is now made to FIGS. 3 and 4, which are schematic
perspective views from above and from below, respectively, of an
intermediate guide rail holder 2B, comprising two engagement heads
14B, which guide rail holder constitute a joint between two guide
rails 4A, 4B, the guide rails are presented as transparent.
[0037] As has been mentioned above the inventive guide rail holder
2 is suitable for connecting a guide rail to a wall bracket 3. The
guide rail holder 2B disclosed in FIGS. 3-4 comprises a radially
extending support body 10b and two from said support body axially
extending posts 12B. The posts 12B are rigidly connected to the
support body 10B. Thereto each post 12B is adapted to be inserted
into the two opposite end of the two guide rails 4A, 4B. The guide
rail, and the posts, has in this embodiment a squared cross
section, seen in a radial plane, but it shall be realized that also
other cross sections are conceivable. The guide rail holder 2B
comprises also two engagement heads 14B that are connected to one
post 12B each and that are arranged at a distance from the support
body 10B. The engagement heads 14B have in the disclosed embodiment
squared cross section as the guide rails. The engagement heads 14B
have a greater radial extension than the posts 12B and each
engagement head comprises a radially expandable member 16 that is
arranged to be reversibly manipulated between an active state, in
which the expandable member 16 is in engagement with the guide
rail, and an inactive state, in which the expandable member 16 is
disengaged from the guide rail 4.
[0038] By arranging the engagement heads 14B according to the
above, i.e. short abutment in the axial direction between the guide
rail holder and the guide rail by means of the expandable member 16
of the engagement heads 14B at a distance from the support body,
bending of the guide rail in relation to the fixed guide rail
holder is allowed with retained firm support. The guide rail 4 is
supported by the expandable member 16 that in the active state is
in engagement with the guide rail 4 also during the event the guide
rail, due to external effect, is in bent condition in relation to
the guide rail holder 2B. Thereby a flexible, i.e. non rigid,
connection between the guide rail holder 2b and the upper guide
rail 4A and the lower guide rail B respectively, is attained. The
guide rail holder 2B also comprises an axially extending pivot 24
that is rigidly connected to the support body 10B. The pivot 24
extend in parallel with the posts 12B and is offset in the radial
direction in relation to said posts. The pivot 24 is journalled in
the wall bracket 3 that is provided with a round through hole. The
wall bracket 3 is in a conventional way, for instance by means of
suitable bolts, attached to the supporting tank wall 8. The
journalled pivot 24 can be freely turned within a predetermined
interval.
[0039] The respective engagement head 14B is, as disclosed above,
arranged at a distance from the support body 10B. More
specifically, the distance between the engagement head and the
support body may be greater than 50 percentage of the smallest
crosswise distance of the engagement head, preferably greater than
100 percentage of said crosswise distance. Such a location of the
engagement head 14 in relation to the support body 10B contribute
to eliminate split open of the guide rail ends. The different
components and function of the engagement heads will now be
described in more detail in connection with FIGS. 5-7.
[0040] In the following is referred to FIG. 5 that is a schematic
perspective exploded view from above of the intermediate guide rail
holder having two engagement heads, according to FIGS. 3 and 4, as
well as FIGS. 6 and 7, which are schematic cross sectional views
from the front and the side, respectively, of the guide rail holder
and guide rails according to FIG. 3. The guide rail holder 2B
comprises two axially extending hollow posts 12B, which are rigidly
connected to the support body 10B and which are diametrically
protruding from the support body. The guide rail holder 2B also
comprises two engagement heads 14B. The respective engagement head
14b of the guide rail holder comprise a first plate 18, located
closest to the support body, and a second plate 20, said expandable
member 16 being arranged between said first plate 18 and said
second plate 20. The expandable member 16 may be constituted by one
or more plates arranged onto each other. The post 12B is rigidly
connected, for instance welded, to the first plate 18, and the
first plate 18 is rigidly connected to the post 12B. In this
embodiment the respective second plate 20 is provided with an
axially protruding member 44 having an eye, protruding in the
direction against the support body. The expandable member 16,
typically made of rubber having suitable deformation
characteristics, is provided with one larger, centrally located
opening 45 as well as four smaller, peripherally located openings
42. The object of the larger opening is to allow passage of said
axially extending member 44 having an eye. The smaller openings 42
will be described in more detail in connection with FIGS. 8-11. The
rubber material will dampen harmful vibrations that are generated
during operation in the guide rail assembly and especially in the
guide rail holder.
[0041] The guide rail holder thereto comprises means 40 for
adjusting the distance between the first plate and the second
plate. In this embodiment the means for adjusting the distance
between the plates 18, 20 is constituted by at least one screw
joint. The screw joint 40 can be realized in different ways, for
instance by means of a turnbuckle, as the one disclosed in FIG. 5.
A turnbuckle 40 as a joint element is especially suitable in
applications having two opposite engagement heads. The turnbuckle
comprises two eyes 47, one in each end, that are connected to each
other by means of a so called buckle 49. The eyes are located at
two elongated threaded rods 43 that are in engagement with the
respective second plate, as is seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, in the shown
embodiment with the respective axially extending member 44 having
an eye belonging to the second plate, when the guide rail holder is
in use. By turning the buckle 49 in a first direction the eye rods
are screwed inwards. Thereby the entire length of the turnbuckle is
decreased, whereby the second plate 20 is moved towards the first
stationary plate 18. This entail that the expandable member 16 is
compressed and thereby expands in order to be brought in engagement
with the inner side of the wall of the guide rail. In other words,
one gets a possibility to adjust the degree of radial extension of
the member. When the expandable member 16 is in engagement with the
inner side of the wall of the guide rail, said radially expandable
member is in an active state. By turning the buckle 49 in a second
direction the eye rods are screwed outwards. Thereby the entire
length of the turnbuckle is increased, whereby the second plate 20
is moved away from the first plate 18. After a certain axial
displacement of the respective second plate in the direction away
from the respective first plate the engagement between the
expandable member 16 and the inside of the wall of the guide rail
cease. Then the expandable member 16 is in an inactive state. To
sum up, by controlling the turnbuckle 49 one may reversibly
manipulate the state of the members, i.e. change between an active
and an inactive state. The turnbuckle may either be controlled
manually or by means of any suitable tool. As is shown in at least
FIGS. 6 and 7, due to the present design in connection with the
interface between the two guide rails 4A, 4B, especially the shape
of the support body 10B, an opening 46 that admit access to control
the turnbuckle according to the above. According to an alternative
embodiment the two engagement heads 14b are manipulated
independently from each other by means of individual adjustment
means.
[0042] As is apparent from FIGS. 6 and 7 there is an axial
tolerance concerning the location of the upper end of the lower
guide rail 4B in relation to the guide rail holder 2B, thereto the
lower end of the upper guide rail 4A rest against the support body
10B.
[0043] Reference is in the following made to FIGS. 8-11. Some of
the parts/functions that are similar to the embodiment according to
FIGS. 3-7 are not referred to.
[0044] The upper guide rail holder 2A disclosed in FIGS. 8-11
comprises a radially extending support body 10A and an axially
extending post 12A. The body and the post are rigidly connected to
each other. Thereto the post 12A is adapted to be inserted into an
upper end of the upper guide rail 4A. The guide rail holder 2A also
comprises an axially extending pivot 25 that is rigidly connected
to the support body 10A. The pivot 25 extends in parallel with the
post 12A and is offset in the radial direction in relation to said
post.
[0045] FIG. 8 is a schematically perspective view from above of the
upper guide rail holder 2a, where the guide rail 4A is disclosed as
transparent. Parts of the winch device 52 comprising a wire 54 are
also disclosed. The engagement head 14A shown in FIG. 8 is made
much alike the one discussed above. More specifically, the
engagement head 14a also in this case comprises a first plate 18,
located closest to the support body 10A, and a second plate 20,
said expandable member 16 being arranged between said first plate
and said second plate. The first plate 18 is rigidly connected to
the post 12A that is rigidly connected to the support body 10A. The
plates 18, 20 and the expandable member 16 are kept together by
means of bolts 58 having corresponding nuts. The number of bolts in
this embodiment is four, without being limited thereto. Said bolts
extend through four smaller, peripherally arranged openings in the
respective plate and in the intermediate expandable member. These
openings have also been mentioned in connection with FIGS. 3 and 4.
Compression of the plates 18, 20 resulting in a radial extension of
the expandable member 16 is attained by tightening the nuts 50 that
are visible in FIG. 8. In the other respects this engagement head
operate in the same way as the engagement heads described in
connection with FIGS. 5-7. The nuts are preferably manipulated by
means of a suitable tool.
[0046] FIG. 10 is a schematic cross sectional front view of the
upper guide rail holder and the guide rail according to FIG. 8.
FIG. 11 is a schematic cross sectional side view of a part of the
upper guide rail holder and the guide rail according to FIG. 8.
Both figures contextualize the location of the guide rail holder in
relation to the actual guide rail in this embodiment. As is
apparent from FIGS. 10 and 11 there is an axial tolerance with
regards to the location of the guide rail end in relation to the
guide rail holder.
[0047] Reference is now made to FIGS. 12-15. Parts/functions that
are similar to the embodiments according to FIGS. 1-11, and
especially according to the embodiment according to FIGS. 8-11, are
not referred to. In this context as is shown in at least FIGS. 12
and 13, which are a schematic perspective view from below and from
the front, respectively, of the lower guide rail holder 2C, the
engagement head 14C is structurally and functionally similar to the
engagement head 14A discussed in connection with FIGS. 8-11.
[0048] FIG. 14 is a schematic cross sectional front view of the
lower guide rail holder 2C and the lower guide rail 4B according to
FIG. 12, and FIG. 15 is a schematic cross sectional side view of
the lower guide rail holder 2C and the lower guide rail 4B
according to FIG. 12. Both figures contextualize the location of
the guide rail holder in relation to the actual guide rail in this
embodiment. Thereto, as is especially apparent from FIGS. 14 and 15
the support body 10C of the lower guide rail holder comprises two
radially extending, parallel parts 9, 11. The post 12C of the lower
guide rail holder is connected to lower part 9 of the support body
10C and to the upper part 11 of the support body 10C in order to
obtain enough rigidity in the guide rail holder. The lower end of
the lower guide rail 4B abut against the upper part 11 of the
support body 10C. Thereto, the upper part 11 of the support body
10C is provided with a recess 53 that admit access for the
manipulation tool that may tighten/loosen the nuts 50.
[0049] Alternatively in all disclosed guide rail holders the second
plate may be rigidly connected to the post, whereupon the first
plate is axially displaceable in relation to the second plate in
order to activate/inactivate the expandable member.
Feasible Modifications of the Invention
[0050] The invention is not limited only to the embodiments
described above and shown in the drawings, which primarily have an
illustrative and exemplifying purpose. This patent application is
intended to cover all adjustments and variants of the preferred
embodiments described herein, thus the present invention is defined
by the wording of the appended claims and thus the equipment may be
modified in all kinds of ways within the scope of the appended
claims.
[0051] It shall also be pointed out that all information
about/concerning terms such as above, under, upper, lower, etc.,
shall be interpreted/read having the equipment oriented according
to the figures, having the drawings oriented such that the
references can be properly read. Thus, such terms only indicates
mutual relations in the shown embodiments, which relations may be
changed if the inventive equipment is provided with another
structure/design.
[0052] It shall also be pointed out that even thus it is not
explicitly stated that features from a specific embodiment may be
combined with features from another embodiment, the combination
shall be considered obvious, if the combination is possible.
* * * * *