United States Patent (19) 11 Patent Number: 5,201.885 Wehler Et Al
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USOO.5201885A United States Patent (19) 11 Patent Number: 5,201.885 Wehler et al. 45 Date of Patent: Apr. 13, 1993 3408912 8/1985 Fed. Rep. of Germany. (54) GUIDE CHAIN FOR GUIDING ENERGY 8513491 8/1985 Fed. Rep. of Germany ....... 59/78.1 LNES 3516448 9/1986 Fed. Rep. of Germany . 75) Inventors: Herbert Wehler, Neunkirchen; 3431531 2/1989 Fed. Rep. of Germany . Paul-Werner Mack, Wenden; 8910217 8/1989 Fed. Rep. of Germany . 9014027 9/1990 Fed. Rep. of Germany . Willibald Weber, Netphen, all of Fed. 902121 6/1991 Fed. Rep. of Germany . Rep. of Germany 9102122 6/1991 Fed. Rep. of Germany . (73) Assignee: Kabelschlepp GmbH, Siegen, Fed. Primary Examiner-David Jones Rep. of Germany Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Robert W. Becker & (21) Appl. No.: 839,580 Associates 22 Filed: Feb. 21, 1992 57 ABSTRACT (30) Foreign Application Priority Data A guide chain for guiding energy lines form a stationary connection to a movable consuming device is com Feb. 22, 1991 DE Fed. Rep. of Germany ....... 4105652 prised of a plurality of chain members being pivotably 51) Int. Cli.............................................. F16G 13/16 connected with one another. Each one of the chain 52 U.S. C. ....................................... 59/78.1;59/900; members is comprised of two side portions arranged at 248/49 a distance parallel to one another and two transverse 58) Field of Search .......................... 59/78, 78.1,900; elements that are connecting the two side portions. 248/48, 50, 51, 70 Separating cross-pieces which divide the energy line (56) References Cited channel may be arranged within the energy line channel in a slidable or fixedly connected manner because the U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS transverse elements are provided with a respective lon 3,848,407 11/1974 Moritz .................................. 59/78. gitudinal groove. A plurality of bores extends from the 4,833,876 5/1989 Kitao et al. ... 59/78.1 bottom of the groove through the transverse elements 5,014,506 5/1991 Moritz .............. ... 59/78.1 and each separating cross-piece is provided at its upper 5,108,350 4/1992 Szpakowski ......................... 59/78.1 and lower end with a holder comprising at least one pin, FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS the length of which corresponds to the depth of the 0161417 11/1985 European Pat. Off. groove. 0286442 12/1988 European Pat. Off. 2255283 5/1974 Fed. Rep. of Germany . 4 Claims, 2 Drawing Sheets U.S. Patent Apr. 13, 1993 Sheet 1 of 2 5,201.885 U.S. Patent Apr. 13, 1993 Sheet 2 of 2 5,201.885 19 19 NZNNNNN 22 g 5,201.885 1. 2 element: and at least one separating cross-piece ar GUDE CHAN FOR GUDING ENERGY LINES ranged between the transverse elements, the separating cross-piece, at ends thereof facing the transverse ele BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION ments, having a holder with at least one pin of a length The present invention relates to a guide chain for 5 corresponding to a depth of the groove. guiding energy lines, especially electric cable or hoses, A guide chain according to the present invention has from a stationary connection to a movable consuming the advantage that the transverse element may be device whereby the guide chain is comprised of a plu mounted in a simple manner between the side portions rality of chain members that are pivotably connected such that, on the one hand, the groove which is pro with one another. Each chain member is comprised of vided in the transverse element may be facing the en two side portions arranged at a distance parallel to one ergy line channel or may be facing in an outward direc another and two transverse elements connecting the tion. In the first instance, the separating cross-pieces are two side portions. connected to the transverse elements only with their Guide chains of the aforementioned type are known. holders provided at their upper and lower ends. Since For example, such a guide chain is disclosed in the the pins provided within the holders have only a length German utility model 89 10 217 in which a dividable that corresponds to the depth of the groove, the separat cross-piece for the energy line channel is provided. The ing cross-pieces are thus slidable in the longitudinal cross-piece is made of at least two transverse elements direction of the transverse elements. However, when with separating cross-pieces being arranged between the transverse elements are turned 180' so that the the transverse elements perpendicular to their extension groove is oriented in the outward direction the pins and with cross-members extending parallel to the trans engage the corresponding bores in the transverse ele verse elements between the separating cross-pieces. ments so that the separating cross-pieces are now This known guide chain is especially suitable for guid fixedly connected in an axial direction of the transverse ing energy lines in different channels that are separated elements. Accordingly, the inventive guide chain pro from one another within the main energy line channel. 25 vides a plurality of applications. However, the separating cross-pieces dividing the chan It is preferable that the transverse elements have a nel in the longitudinal direction of the transverse ele flattened cross-section over their entire length. The ments may not be moved so that an adaptation of the holder is expediently U-shaped and has cutouts for re distances between the cross-pieces is only possible when ceiving the transverse elements. Advantageously, the the guide chain is partly disassembled. U-shaped holder has two legs that are elastically de It is therefore an object of the present invention to formable transverse to a longitudinal direction of the provide a guide chain in which the energy line channel transverse elements, and the pin is arranged at a same is dividable by separating cross-pieces which, in a sim distance relative to the legs at the bottom of the U ple manner, may be slidably or fixedly arranged within shaped holder. the energy line channel. 35 In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS the transverse elements have a flattened cross-section This object, and other objects and advantages of the over their entire length and are insertable in a frictional present invention, will appear more clearly from the and form-locking manner into the corresponding hold following specification in conjunction with the accom ing members of the side portions The embodiment of panying drawings, in which: the transverse elements with a flattened cross-section FIG. 1 shows a chain member of the guide chain in an has the advantage that the transverse elements may be exploded perspective view; manufactured in a simple manner and then cut to length FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the chain member according to the desired dimensions, or may be manu according to FIG. 1 with separating cross-pieces that 45 factured to the desired length. Furthermore, the flat are slidable in the longitudinal direction of the trans tened embodiment of the transverse elements yields verse elements in a cross-sectional view along the line chain members of a flat construction having an energy II-II; line channel of a maximum size. FIG. 3 shows a separating cross-piece according to The holder of the separating cross-piece, in a further FIG. 2 in a side view along the line III-III; embodiment, is U-shaped and provided with undercuts FIG. 4 shows a chain member according to FIGS. 1 into which the transverse elements are insertable. In this and 2 with separating cross-pieces that are fixedly con embodiment, the transverse elements may be connected nected in the longitudinal direction of the transverse in a simple manner to the holders of the separating elements in a cross-sectional side view; and cross-pieces so that the transverse elements, even under FIG. 5 shows the separating cross-piece inserted into 55 great loads, will not be accidentally released from the the chain member according to FIG. 4 in a side view chain members. In the present invention, the attachment along the line V-V. of the transverse elements to the separating cross-pieces and to the side portions is achieved without screws or SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION other fastening means. The guide chain of the present invention is primarily Furthermore, it is suggested that the holder is pro characterized by a plurality of chain members being vided with two legs which are elastically deformable in pivotably connected with one another, each of the a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of chain members being comprised of Two side portions the transverse element and that the pin provided at the arranged at a distance parallel to one another; two cross-piece is arranged at a same distance from both transverse elements connecting the side portions with 65 legs. The elastic legs provide for an easy insertion and one another, each one of the transverse elements having removal of the transverse elements into, respectively, a longitudinal groove and a plurality of bores extending from the holder of the cross-pieces. Furthermore the from a bottom of the groove through the transverse elastic legs provide a secure fastening of the inserted 5,201.885 3 4. transverse elements. The identical distance of the pin 4, 5 are outwardly oriented, the pins 18 of the separating with respect to the legs of the cross-piece allows the cross-piece 16 engage the bores 15 of the transverse mounting of the transverse elements without any regard elements 4, 5 so that the separating cross-piece 16 is no to its orientation.