Patent EP-1887263-A1 (EP)
Inventor: KREUTZER THOMAS
IPC: F16J3/04
Filed: 2007-08-07
Abstract: The protective bellows (46) comprises a series of single protective bellow segments (45) having cylindrical pleated bellow segment (47), a guidance framework (42) and an aperture diaphragm (48). The pleated bellow segment is produced from a flexible pleated bellow material. At the two axial ends of the bellow segment, connecting elements are mounted for connection with the adjacent pleated bellow segments and/or at the two axial ends of the pleated bellow segment, fastening elements are mounted for fixing the pleated bellow segments to guidance framework. The protective bellows (46) comprises a series of single protective bellow segments (45) having cylindrical pleated bellow segment (47), a guidance framework (42) and an aperture diaphragm (48). The pleated bellow segment is produced from a flexible pleated bellow material. At the two axial ends of the bellow segment, connecting elements are mounted for connection with the adjacent pleated bellow segments and/or at the two axial ends of the pleated bellow segment, fastening elements are mounted for fixing the pleated bellow segments to guidance framework, and at the two axial ends of the bellow segment, support elements for supporting and holding the aperture diaphragm are mounted. The guidance framework and the aperture diaphragm lie essentially in the same plane. The axial ends of the bellow segments are designed as terminal grommets, at which the connecting, fastening and support elements are arranged. The two axial terminal grommets have an inner radius that is larger than or equal to the outer diameter of the second terminal grommets, so that two adjacently-lying bellow segments can be connected to one another by insertion of the second terminal grommet of the second bellow segment into the first terminal grommet of the adjacently-lying first bellow segment. The connection elements comprise a connection lip that runs circumferentially along the interior surface of the first terminal grommet and a connection fold that runs circumferentially along an exterior surface of the second terminal grommet, so that the connection lip forms a positive connection by snapping into the connection fold of the second terminal grommet. The fasteners for attaching the bellow segment with the guidance framework comprise a fastening groove, which runs circumferentially along the exterior surface of the first terminal grommet and into which the guidance framework engages itself to form a positive connection. The pleated bellow segment is fastened by snapping the fastening groove into a recess of the guidance framework in a form-closed manner. The guidance framework has an essentially circular recess, whose diameter is essentially lesser than or equal to the diameter of the fastening groove and is designed as a two-piece component. The hollow segment is connected with the guidance framework by inserting the individual parts of the framework into the fastening groove. The parts of the guidance framework are connected together with the guidance framework connection components. By the connection of the individual parts of the framework, the entire assembly from the two connected bellow segments, aperture diaphragm and guidance framework are connected and fastened by positive and non-positive types of closure. The individual parts of the framework interlock with one another to form a positive closure and are mutually fixed by fixing lugs. The reception element for the reception and holding of hole aperture comprises a reception groove rotating the internal mantle of the second terminal grommet. The aperture diaphragm is circularly shaped and has an outside diameter that is essentially larger than or equal to the diameter of the slot, so that the aperture diaphragm can be snapped into the slot. In the connected state of two segments, the circumferentially-running fastening groove of the first grommet lies essentially in the same plane as that of the circumferentially-running slot of the second grommet, so that the aperture diaphragm that is mounted in the slot of the second segment lies essentially in the same plane. In the connection region of two adjacently-lying segments, a plastic clamping ring is arranged and functions as a connecting element and/or the fastening element for the attachment of the segment with the framework. The clamping ring comprises support element for housing and holding an aperture diaphragm, an annular ring and two flanks, which brace the terminal grommets and engages into the recess of the framework in the annular ring region between the grommets. The clamping ring is designed as a two-piece component and comprises outer and inner clamping rings, which form the clamping ring by a custom-fit attachment of the outer annular ring to the inner annular ring and which are connected by adhesive bonding, welding or riveting. The flanks of the clamping ring have inwardly-facing circular edges. The clamping ring assumes the function of the aperture diaphragm. The framework has a guidance support to support and lead the framework along guide rails. The bellow segment is composed of a gas-tight, elastic and flexible material, which is self-extinguishing and meets UL94-VO requirements. The connection of bellow segments with attached guidance framework and housed aperture diaphragm is gastight. The angular alignment of the guidance framework with respect to the length of the segment is specified by positioning lug.