Abstract:
The invention relates to an energy-conducting hose, the hose body (1) being formed by a plurality of C-shaped hose elements (2) and having a slot (3) which runs in the longitudinal direction of the hose. The slot is releasably closed by a cover (6) which consists of individual cover elements (7) which are each provided in the region of the two slot edges (3) with a recess (7a) intended for retaining and guiding the cover elements (7) on the hose body (1). Such an energy-conducting hose is distinguished by economical production, a high degree of rigidity and stability and by advantages in use.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to an energy-conducting hose which is bendable from an extended position to a curved position and consists of C-shaped hose elements which are movable relative to one another and which has a slot running in the longitudinal direction of the hose. A cover is movably mounted to the slot edges and releasably closes the slot. 
     Energy-conducting hoses of this type are used to receive electrical or hydraulic conduits which are arranged between movable and stationary machine parts. 
     An energy-conducting hose of the prior art is known for example from EP-A-259 725. In this case the cover which releasably closes the slot is formed by a cover band which extends over the entire length of the slot and is releasably connected to the C-shaped hose elements by clamps which are provided on one side of the cover band and in the region of the slot edges engage with the C-shaped hose elements. 
     Furthermore, the subject matter of the earlier German Patent Application P 38 23 609.5 is an energy-conducting hose, in which the cover is also formed by a band which is guided in the region of the two slot edges in two profile strips which on the one hand have an inner groove which is open towards the slot in the hose body and into which the cover band can be pushed, and on the other hand are provided with an outer groove in which the free ends of the C-shaped hose elements engage. 
     Finally, the subject matter of the earlier German Patent Application P 39 14 140.3 is an energy-conducting hose in which a locking band is arranged in the region of each of the two slot edges, is firmly connected to at least some hose elements and serves to stabilize the position and shape of the hose body formed by the C-shaped hose elements before the insertion or after the release of the cover band. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises an energy conducting hose of the type used for carrying energy and hydraulic lines between a fixed connection and a movable consuming device. Briefly described, the present invention comprises an energy conducting hose having individual C-shaped hose elements which form a hose body. Such C-shaped elements are shaped in such a manner whereby adjacent hose elements are movable relative to one another, are engaged to one another, and provide a continuous hose body. 
     The object of the invention is to make further developments to the energy-conducting hose of the prior art so that the manufacture and assembly are simplified, the stability and rigidity of the hose are increased and the ease of use is improved. 
     Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be understood from reading the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Some embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 shows a schematic top view of a part of the energy-conducting hose according to the invention, 
     FIG. 2 shows a section along the line II--II in FIG. 1, 
     FIG. 3 shows a section corresponding to FIG. 2 through a variant, 
     FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal section through a part of an embodiment of the cover, 
     FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal section through a part of another embodiment of the cover, 
     FIG. 6 shows a longitudinal section through a first embodiment of a hose body, 
     FIG. 7 shows a longitudinal section through a part of a second embodiment of the hose body. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The energy-conducting hose illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6 comprises a hose body 1 which can be bent between an extended position and a maximum curved position, consisting of C-shaped hose elements 2 which are movable relative to one another and has a slot 3 running in the longitudinal direction of the hose. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6 the hose elements 2 have an essentially S-shaped cross-sectional profile in the longitudinal direction, and adjacent hose elements 2 and 2&#39; engaging one another in the manner shown in FIG. 6. 
     In the region of each of the two edges of the slot 3 a locking band 4 is provided which is firmly connected at least to some hose elements--preferably by spot-welded connections 5--and thus fixes the extended position of the hose body 1 on the side of the hose body provided with the slot 3. Accordingly, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6 the hose elements 2 can move relative to one another on the underside of the hose body 1 opposite the locking bands 4, so that the hose body assumes a more or less curved shape. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6 the extended position of the hose body is fixed by the locking bands 4, which results in the lowest possible material consumption for the hose body. However, as a variant of this it is also possible to fix the compressed position of the hose body in the region of the edges of the slot 3 with the locking bands 4. In this case it is possible for the hose body to be curved in the opposite direction, so that the locking bands 4 lie on the inside of the curve. 
     The energy-conducting lines can be freely inserted into or withdrawn from the hollow space formed by the hose body 1 through the open slot 3. After the introduction of the energy-conducting lines into the hose body 1 the slot 3 can be closed by means of a cover 6 which according to the invention no longer consists--as was usual in the past--of one continuous band running over the entire length of the hose, but of individual cover elements 7 which succeed one another in the longitudinal direction of the energy-conducting hose and which--as will be explained below with the aid of FIGS. 2 and 3--are each provided in the region of the two edges of the slot 3 with a recess intended for retaining and guiding the cover elements 7 on the hose body 1. 
     Thus in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 recesses 7a are provided on the two outer narrow sides of the cover elements 7 facing the edges of the slot 3, these recesses opening on the two outer narrow sides and serving for engagement of the edge regions of the C-shaped hose elements 2 which are provided with the locking bands 4. 
     In the variant illustrated in FIG. 3, by contrast, recesses 7b which open on the broad side of the cover elements 7 face the interior of the hose body 1 and are approximately T-shaped and are provided on the broad side of the cover elements. In this case the entire upper region of the C-shaped hose elements 2 engages in these recesses 7b, and for improved guiding, a part of the recess 7b can be lined with sliding material 8. 
     In the embodiment according to FIG. 3 the cover elements 7 have a width measured in the cross direction of the hose body 1 which is greater than the width of the hose body 1 so that the cover elements 7 project like a roof over the hose body 1. In this way the deeper areas (cf. FIG. 6) on the outside between adjacent hose elements 2, 2&#39; are largely protected by the wider cover element 7 in practical operation against the penetration of shavings and other foreign bodies. 
     The individual cover elements 7 can be arranged freely, i.e. not joined to one another, adjacent one another, and in this case they are pushed in individually on closing of the slot 3 or drawn out individually on opening. 
     A construction is particularly advantageous in which the individual cover elements 7 are connected to one another so as to be capable of limited swivelling movement, preferably connected by means of a cylindrical coupling boss and a hollow cylindrical coupling socket. 
     In the embodiment of this type which is illustrated in FIG. 4 the individual identically constructed cover elements 7 are each provided on their two sides facing the adjacent cover elements with a coupling socket 7c formed in the cover element, and adjacent coupling elements are connected to one another by flexible links. These flexible links each have two cylindrical coupling bosses 9a and a connecting piece 9b arranged between them. 
     In the embodiment according to FIG. 4 the cover elements are advantageously made from extrusion-drawn metal, preferably aluminium, and the flexible links 9 from plastic. Naturally, the choice of other materials is also possible within the scope of the invention. 
     FIG. 5 shows a variant of the cover 6 in which the individual identically constructed cover elements 7 are each provided with a cylindrical coupling boss 7d formed integrally on one of their two sides facing the adjacent cover elements and a cylindrical coupling socket 7c formed in the cover element on the other side. 
     In this embodiment, in the extended position and in the maximum curved position of the cover 6, surfaces 7e which define the coupling socket 7c towards the exterior and surfaces 7f which define a connecting piece 7g bearing the coupling boss 7d come to rest against one another like stops, as can be seen from FIG. 5. 
     The gaps between the surfaces 7e and 7f which co-operate like stops are covered towards the broad side of the cover 6 by the cylindrical surfaces of the coupling socket 7c and of the coupling boss 7d which co-operate with one another. Towards the outer sides (which lie parallel to the drawing plane of FIG. 5) the gaps can be closed by additional protective covers. 
     If a cover 6 according to FIG. 5 is used in conjunction with a hose body 1 according to FIG. 1, then this energy-conducting hose contains two separate stop systems which can be used either or individually or jointly to determine the extended position and/or the maximum curved position of the hose body. One stop system is formed by the locking bands 4 described with the aid of FIG. 6 and the C-shaped hose elements 2 which come into contact with one another in the curved state of the hose body, whilst the second stop system is formed by the cover 6 according to FIG. 5. 
     The conditions could be chosen for example so that the two stop systems come to a stop simultaneously, thus supporting one another or so that first of all, only the stop system formed by the cover 6 is operative, which facilitates the relieving of strain and the gentle treatment of the hose body 1 which is frequently required. 
     It is also possible within the scope of the invention to dispense completely with the use of locking bands 4 (FIG. 6) and to transfer the function of fixing the extended position to the cover 6. The variant of the cover 6 illustrated in FIG. 5 can be used, for example for such a construction. In this case the cover 6 is releasably connected at least to some hose elements, preferably to hose elements at the two ends of the hose body 1. In this way the cover 6 fixes the extended or compressed position of the hose body on the side of the hose body which is provided with the slot 3. 
     The connection of the cover 6 to the hose elements 2 at the beginning and end of the energy-conducting hose, for example by screws, clamps or other releasable connecting means is released if the cover 6 is to be removed from the hose body 1. 
     FIG. 7 shows a further variant of a hose body 1 which can be used for the energy-conducting hose according to the invention. In this case internal C-shaped hose elements 2a are used which have the cross-sectional shape of a U which is open towards the outside, as well as outer C-shaped hose elements 2b which have the cross-sectional shape of a U which is open towards the inside. Two adjacent outer hose elements 2b in each case engage in an inner hose element 2a and conversely two adjacent inner hose elements 2a engage in an outer hose element 2b. 
     On the interior of the curve of the hose at the bottom in FIG. 7 a tension element 10 is arranged between the inner and outer hose elements 2a, 2b, is placed under tensile stress in the extended position of the hose and prevents bending of the hose towards the opposite side. 
     The hose body 1 according to FIG. 7 also has a slot running in the longitudinal direction which is closed by a cover consisting of individual cover elements. 
     Moreover, in the energy-conducting hose according to the invention a number of other measures can be adopted which are already known from another context. Thus it is possible to limit the radius of curvature of the hose by inserting locking elements into the outer spaces between adjacent hose element on the inside of the curve or by creating such locking elements by deformation of the hose elements in order in this way to be able to produce energy-conducting hoses with differing radii of curvature using similar basic elements. 
     Furthermore, if required a cable-protecting hose provided with a slide fastener can be placed in the space enclosed by the hose body 1 and the cover 6. It is also possible to use a helical band which encloses the cables. 
     While the foregoing embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that variations and modifications of the disclosed embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.