Guide chain

Abstract: A guide chain comprising: a plurality of chain members (10) serially connected, each the chain member (10) including: a pair of side plates (14a,14b) arranged in parallel; a bottom plate (12) connecting lower ends of the side plates (14a,14b) whereby the chain member (10) is formed into a U-shape; a pair of axis holes (20), each of which is formed in one section of each the side plate; and a pair of axes (18), each of which is outwardly projected from an outer side face of another section of each the side plate (14a,14b), the axes (18) capable of respectively fitting in the axis holes (20) whereby the adjacent chain members (10) are pivotably connected each other; a pair of stopper holes (32) respectively formed in the side plates (14a,14b) of each the chain member; a pair of stopper claws (30) respectively provided to each the axis (18), each stopper claw (30) movably accommodated in each the stopper hole (32) whereby pivoting angle between the adjacent chain members is limited; a pair of caps (34) respectively detachably attached to the side plates (14a,14b) of each the chain member (10), each the cap (34) capable of closing the axis hole (20) and the stopper hole (32) of each the side plate (14a,14b).

Description: The present invention relates to a guide chain, which protect a long flexible member, e.g., a cable, a hose, and guide its movement. The guide chain is employed to hold, protect and guide a long flexible member or members, e.g., cables, hoses, which are provided to a movable part of a machine. The guide chain guides the long flexible members to smoothly move with the movable member of the machine without undesirably bending and entangling the long flexible members. A conventional guide chain has: a plurality of chain members serially connected, the chain members capable of accommodating the long flexible member; and a stopper mechanism for limiting pivoting angle between the adjacent chain members , which have been pivotally connected to each other, the stopper mechanism provided at a connecting section of the adjacent chain members. The conventional guide chain is shown in Fig. 7. In Fig. 7, a couple of chain members 10 are pivotally connected to each other. Each chain member 10 includes a pair of side plates 14a and 14b arranged in parallel, and a bottom plate 12 connecting lower ends of the side plates 14a and 14b. With this structure, each chain member 10 is formed into a U-shape. A flap 16 is spanned between upper ends of the side plates 14a and 14b of each chain member 10. The flap 16 is capable of opening and closing an upper opening section between the upper ends of the side plates 14a and 14b. To accommodate the long member in the cable chain, the flaps 16 are opened, the long member is accommodated in inner spaces of the chain members 10, and the flaps 16 are closed. A plurality of chain members 10 are serially and pivotably connected each other. In each chain member 10, a pair of axis holes 20 are respectively formed in a forward section of each side plate 14a and 14b; a pair of axes 18 are respectively outwardly projected from an outer side face of a rear section of each side plate 14a and 14b. The axes 18 are capable of pivotably fitting in the axis holes 20 of adjacent chain member 10, so that a plurality of the chain members 10 can be serially and pivotably connected each other. To limit pivoting angle between the adjacent chain members 10, the stopper mechanism is provided therebetween. The stopper mechanism of each chain member 10 comprises: a pair of stopper claws 22, each of which is provided on an inner face of the front section of each side plate 14a and 14b; a pair of stopper grooves 22a, each of which is formed in an outer face of the rear section of each side plate 14a and 14b. The stopper claws 22 are capable of engaging with the stopper grooves 22a of the adjacent chain member 10. Note that, in Fig. 7, another pair of stopper claws 26 are respectively provided on the outer face of the rear sections of the side plates 14a and 14b of each chain member 10; another pair of stopper grooves 26a are respectively formed in the inner face of the front section of the side plates 14a and 14b of each chain member 10. The stopper claws 26 are also capable of engaging with the stopper grooves 26a of the adjacent chain members 10. In the case that the chain members 20 are mutually connected and rotating about the axes 18, the stopper claws 22 and 26 are capable of rotating, within prescribed angle, in the stopper grooves 22a and 26a. Bending angle of the guide chain is limited when the stopper claws 22 and 26 contact the ends of the stopper grooves 22a and 26a. Thus, the long member or members in the guide chain are smoothly guided and prevented from overbending. By the stopper mechanisms of the chain members 10, the pivoting angle between the adjacent chain members 10 are limited, so that the long members in the guide chain can be prevented from overbending and breaking. The pivoting angle of the chain members 10 is previously defined, so the chain members 10 must be changed when the pivoting angle is changed. Therefore, many kinds of the chain members 10 must be prepared according to the pivoting angle. DE-A-3605382 discloses a guide chain having features corresponding to the pre-characterising portion of claim 1. An aim of the present invention is to provide a guide chain, which is capable of changing the pivoting angle between the adjacent chain members without exchanging the chain members. With this aim in view, the guide chain of the present invention has a structure according to claim 1. With the basic structure, invading dusts via the connecting sections between the adjacent chain members can be prevented or reduced by the caps, so that the guide chain can be moved and bend smoothly. With this structure, the pivoting angle between the adjacent chain members can be changed by only exchanging the caps, and noise can be reduced. In the guide chain, each the stopper claw may be radially extended from an outer circumferential face of each the axis, and each the stopper hole may be a fan-shaped hole, in which the stopper claw can be moved, and which is communicated with each the axis hole. By the fan-shaped holes, the pivoting angle can be defined. In the guide chain, each the chain member may further include a flap, which is spanned between upper ends between the side plates, whose each end is pivotably attached to the upper ends of the side plates, and which is capable of opening from each end. With this structure, the long member can be accommodated in the guide chain easily. In the guide chain, each the chain member may further include a partition, which is formed on the bottom plate, and which is capable of engaging with the flap and dividing long members, which are accommodated in the chain members, which are serially pivotably connected. With this structure, a plurality of long members can be divided in the guide chain. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of examples and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a part of the guide chain of the embodiment; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the chain member of the embodiment; Fig. 3 is a side view of the chain member of the embodiment; Fig. 4A is a front view of a cap; Fig. 4B is a rear view of the cap; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the part of the guide chain; Fig. 6 is a side view of a chain member of another embodiment; and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a part of the conventional guide chain. Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present embodiment, chain members of a guide chain are made by resin molding, e.g., injection molding. The chain members are serially connected each other. The chain members of the present embodiment are shown in Figs. 1-6. In Fig. 1 is a perspective view of two chain members 10, which are serially connected. The chain member 10 is formed into a U-shape as well as the conventional chain member (see Fig. 7). Namely, the chain member 10 has: a pair of side plates 14a and 14b, which are arranged in parallel; and a bottom plate 12, which connects lower ends of the side plates 14a and 14b. Further, a flap 16 is spanned between upper ends between the side plates 14a and 14b. Each end of the flap 16 is pivotably attached to the upper ends thereof, and the flap 16 is capable of opening from each upper end. In Fig. 1, one of the flaps 16 is opened from the upper end of the side plate 14a. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the chain member 10. An axis hole 20 is formed in a rear section of each side plate 14a and 14b. An axis 18 is outwardly projected from an outer side face of a forward section of each side plate 14a and 14b, and the axes 18 are capable of respectively fitting in the axis holes 20, so that the adjacent chain members 10 can be pivotably connected each other. Note that, in the present embodiment, the axes 18 are provided in the forward sections of the side plates 14a and 14b; the axis holes 20 are formed in the rear sections of the side plates 14a and 14b. But, the axes 18 may be provided in the rear sections of the side plates 14a and 14b; the axis holes 20 may be formed in the forward sections of the side plates 14a and 14b. Inner diameter of each axis hole 20 is designed to slidably fit the axis 18 therein. A pair of stopper holes 32 are respectively formed in the side plates 14a and 14b. A pair of stopper claws 30 are respectively provided to each axis 18, and each stopper claw 30 is movably accommodated in each stopper hole 32, so that pivoting angle between the adjacent chain members 10 can be limited. As shown in Fig. 2, the stopper holes 32 are formed into fan-shaped holes and respectively communicated with the axis holes 20. Radius of the fan-shaped stopper holes 32 is greater than that of the axis holes 20. By the fan-shaped stopper holes 32, the stopper claws 30 can be circumferentially moved in the stopper holes 32, so that the pivoting angle between the adjacent chain members 10 can be defined by the fan-shaped stopper holes 32. A pair of caps 34 are respectively detachably attached to the side plates 14a and 14b of each the member 10. Each cap 34 is capable of closing the axis hole 20 and the stopper hole 32 of each side plate 14a and 14b so as to cover the connecting section, which includes the axis 18 and the axis hole 20, between the adjacent chain members 10 (see Fig. 1). Each cap 34 has stopper pieces 40a and 40b (see Figs. 3 and 4), which are capable of being respectively accommodated in each stopper hole 32 of each side plate 14a and 14b when the caps 34 are respectively attached to the side plates 14a and 14b. By accommodating the stopper pieces 40a and 40b in the stopper holes 32, the circumferential movement of the stopper claws 30 in the stopper holes 32 are limited, so that the pivoting angle between the adjacent chain members 10 can be defined. A side view of the chain member 10 is shown in Fig. 3. Each stopper claw 30 is radially extended from an outer circumferential face of each axis 18, and each stopper hole 32 is the fan-shaped hole, in which the stopper claw 30 can be moved, and which is communicated with each axis hole 20. Cap cavities 36 are respectively formed in an outer face of each side plate 14a and 14b. The caps 34 can be fitted in the cap cavities 36. Notches 38a, 38b and 38c are formed in each side plates 14a and 14b so as to engage with the cap 34. Fig. 4A is a front view of the cap 34; Fig.4B is a rear view of the cap 34. The shape of the cap 34 for the side plate 14a and the shape of the cap 34 for the side plate 14b are mutually symmetry. The cap 34 shown in Figs. 4A and 4B is attached to the side plate 14a, which is shown in Fig. 3. As shown in Fig.4A, holes 42 for detaching the cap 34 from the side plate are formed in each cap 34. As shown in Fig. 4B, the cap 34 has a engaging edge 36a, which is capable of fitting with the cap cavity 36 of the side plate, and engaging sections 39a, 39b and 39c, which are capable of engaging with the notches 38a, 38b and 38c of the side plate. The stopper pieces 40a and 40b are accommodated in the stopper hole 32 of the side plate. In the present embodiment, the stopper pieces 40a and 40b correspond to both ends, in the circumferential direction, of the fan-shaped stopper hole 32. The stopper pieces 40a and 40b in the stopper hole 32 are shown by dotted lines in Fig.3. By the stopper pieces 40a and 40b, rotational angle of the stopper claw 30 is limited to angle shown by an arrow (see Fig. 3) by the stopper pieces 40a and 40b. With this structure, the pivoting angle between the adjacent chain members 10 can be limited. The caps 34 can be attached to and detached from the chain member 10, so the pivoting angle between the adjacent chain members 10 can be changed by exchanging the caps 34 in which positions of the stopper pieces 40a and 40b are changed. In the present embodiment, sizes of the axis hole 20 and the stopper hole 32 are greater than sizes of the axis hole and the stopper hole of the conventional chain members so as to make the pivotable angle of the chain members 10 wider. With the wide pivotable angle, the pivoting angle of the chain members 10 can be variously defined by the caps 34. In the present embodiment, diameter of the axes 18 are relatively greater, so toughness of the connecting sections of the adjacent chain members 10 can be improved, and the durability of the guide chain can be improved. Since the stopper claws 30 contact the stopper pieces 40a and 40b, noise caused by colliding the stopper can be reduced. In the conventional guide chain, the stopper claws 30 directly contact the chain member proper, so the chain member proper resonant, and the noise is amplified. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the chain member proper does not resonant because the stopper claws 30 contact the stopper pieces 40a and 40b, so that the noise can be reduced. In Fig. 1, the caps 34a are attached to the chain member 10 at an end of the guide chain. The end chain member 10 is fixed to a machine by metallic parts. In the present embodiment, the caps 34a respectively have attaching shafts 44, each of which is pierced through the axis hole 20 of the side plate and inwardly projected therefrom. The metallic parts can be connected with the attaching shafts 44. In the conventional guide chain, stopper members are outwardly and inwardly projected from the side plates, so various kinds of metallic parts for fixing the end chain member are required according to attaching manners. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, a structure of a part connecting to the machine can be common, so common metallic parts can be used to fix the end chain member 10 to the machine. In Fig. 5, the flaps 16 are closed. Shapes of the flaps 16 can be optionally designed. The flaps 16 may be provided with proper separations; the flaps 16 may be provided with no separations. In the present embodiment, the bottom plates 12 of the adjacent chain members 10 are slightly overlapped so as not to form gaps between the bottom plates 12 of the adjacent chain members 10. Shapes of the bottom plates 12 also may be designed optionally. Another embodiment is shown in Fig. 6. In Fig. 6, there are provided a plurality of partitions 46 on the bottom plate 12. The partitions 46 divides the long flexible members according to, for example, types of cables. Grooves are formed in an upper face of each bottom plate 12, and lower ends of the partitions 46 are fitted in the grooves. Further, grooves are formed an inner face of each flap 16, and upper ends of the partitions 46 are fitted in the grooves. With this structure, the partitions 46 are held at prescribed positions by the bottom plate 12 and the flap 16. In the above described embodiments, parting lines, which correspond to parting faces of the resin molding dies, are not formed in inner faces of the chain members 10 to prevent damaging the long flexible members. Further, corners of each chain member 10 are made round to prevent damaging the long flexible members.

Claims: A guide chain, comprising: a plurality of serially connected chain members (10), each of said chain members (10) including: a pair of parallel side plates (14a, 14b); a bottom plate (12) connecting lower ends of said side plates (14a, 14b) whereby said chain member (10) is formed into a U-shape; a pair of axis holes (20), each of which is formed in one section of each of said side plates (14a, 14b); a pair of axes (18), each of which projects outwardly from an outer side face of another section of each of said side plates (14a, 14b), said axes (18) capable of respectively fitting in said axis holes (20) whereby adjacent chain members (10) are pivotally connected to each other; a pair of stopper holes (32) respectively formed in said side plates (14a, 14b) of each of said chain members (10); and a pair of stopper claws (30) respectively provided to each of said axes (18)for limiting the pivoting angle between adjacent chain members (10), each stopper claw (30) being movably accommodated in the respective stopper hole (32), characterised in that each of said chain members (10) further includes: a pair of caps (34) respectively detachably attached to said side plates (14a, 14b) of each of said chain members (10), each of said caps (34) capable of closing said axis hole (20) and said stopper hole (32) of the respective side plate (14a, 14b), and each of said caps (34) having stopper pieces (40a, 40b), which are accommodated in said stopper hole (32) of each of said side plates (14a, 14b), and which are capable of limiting movement of said stopper claw (30). The guide chain according to claim 1, wherein each of said stopper claws (30) radially extends from an outer circumferential face of the respective axis (18) and, wherein each of said stopper holes (32) is a fan-shaped hole, in which said stopper claw (30) can be moved, and which communicates with the respective axis hole (20). The guide chain according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each of said chain members (10) further includes a flap (16), which spans between upper ends of said side plates (14a, 14b), each end of the flap being pivotably attached to the respective upper end of said side plates (14a, 14b), whereby the flap is capable of being opened from each end. The guide chain according to claim 3, wherein each of said chain members (10) further includes a partition (46) formed on said bottom plate (12), the partition being capable of engaging with said flap (16) and separating long members which, in use, are accommodated in said chain members (10) when said chain members are serially pivotably connected.

Inventors: HAMA TOMIO, HAMA, TOMIO, Hama, Tomio, c/o Kabushiki Kaisha Harmo Souken
Applicants: HARMO SOUKEN KK, KABUSHIKI KAISHA HARMO SOUKEN
Application year: 1997
Main classification: F16G13
IPC codes: F16G13