Method and System for Establishing and Fixing the Course of an Elongated Structure

Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns a method for establishing and fixing a course of an elongated structure, by way of example a conveyor, and of the kind indicated in the preamble to claim 1.

The invention also concerns a system for use in performing the indicated method.

Background of the Invention In production premises it is often associated with relatively large cost to establish internal transport systems, by way of example between metal item storage and specific process stations. In practice, it also causes many problems that already established internal transport systems imply some inexpedient limitations to efficient utilisation of existing machinery, they being numerically controlled lathes, milling machines and similar expensive equipment.

Object of the Invention

On that background it is the object of the invention to indicate a method and a system for establishing and fixing a course, for example for internal transport systems, and which enables a considerably increased flexibility of by way of example internal conveyor systems.

Description of the Invention

The method according to the invention is peculiar in that the pivoting members are arranged in a desired course which is subsequently fixed by supplying a pressure medium to a flexible hose running through cavities of the pivoting members such that the external surface of the hose exerts a fixing pressure on the complementary joint faces of the pivoting joints. Hereby is enabled achieving a considerably improved flexibility of the course of by way of example internal conveyor systems in a very simple way.

By relieving the pressure in the hose, the course may be changed and fixed again by pressuring the hose, in that it is emphasised that the mutually interacting joint faces

may consist of simple rigid joint faces, as the fixing pressure acts between the outer side of the hose and the inner sides of the complementary joint faces. Besides, it is to be mentioned that it will be possible to achieve substantial advantages by establishing and fixing mechanical connections in general.

By the method according to the invention there is suitably used a hose of the type, which like a fire hose is flat when empty or not distended by other means.

The pressure medium for distending the hose may advantageously be pressurised air, but it is within the scope of the invention to use any other pressure medium, by way of example liquid in the form of water or hydraulic oil. In special cases it may be advantageous to use a liquid pressure medium for distending the hose, particularly if the system in that case may simultaneously be used for conveying the actual pressure medium.

Also, the invention concerns a system for establishing and fixing a course for an elongated conveyor or similar elongated apparatus, and including one or more mutually pivoting members which at opposite ends include pivot joints with mutually complementing joint faces, the system adapted to be supported on a surface, the system being characterized in that the pivoting members are adapted to be arranged in a desired course, that the pivoting members include longitudinal cavities which are adapted to receive a flexible hose adapted to be distended by introducing a pressure medium, by way of example pressurised air, such that the external surface of the hose exerts a fixing pressure on the complementary joint faces of the pivoting joints.

The system according to the invention may be simplified considerably by the pivoting members being constituted by link members, each consisting of two uniform shell parts which are assembled about a central longitudinal axis, and which at opposite ends have internal concave, spherical joint faces, and by joints, each consisting of two uniform shell parts which are assembled about a central longitudinal axis and which at opposite ends have external convex, spherical joint faces, the spherical joint faces constituting the complementary joint faces of the pivot joints.

The system according to the invention is suitably designed such that at opposing ends of the spherical joint faces, the link members have longitudinal slots, outside which

curved fish plates are provided for fastening bolts, the free ends of which being connected with an internal screw thread of pivots of one of the shell parts which is disposed at the opposite side of the joint.

With the intention of obtaining a simplification of the system according to the invention, it may be advantageous that the link members and the joints have longitudinal cavities which are adapted to receive a hose of the type which - like a fire hose - is flat when empty or not distended, and which is adapted to interact with the outer side of the hose when the latter is distended with the object of fixing the actual course of the system.

For use in establishing an internal transport system, the system according to the invention may e.g. be designed such that at a preferably upper and lower side, respectively, the link members are designed with longitudinal, countersunk grooves which are adapted to accommodate e.g. an endless bendable conveyor means, e.g. a chain, the conveyor means including drive means which preferably at the upper run are arranged to be connected with external conveyor means, such as transport palettes which are supported on one surface at one or both sides of the system.

For use in establishing an alternative internal transport system, the system according to the invention may be designed such that at each their side, the pivoting members are provided with a forward run and a return run of a bendable conveyor means, e.g. a chain, the conveyor means arranged to be connected with external conveyor means such as transport palettes which are supported on one surface at one or both sides of the system.

With the object of establishing a sufficiently flexible system, it may be advantageous that the link members and joints are mutually linked in such a way that the pivotability between respective parts of the system in a plane, e.g. a horizontal plane, enables an angular movement up to about 30°, and in a plane at right angles thereto, e.g. vertical plane, enables an angular movement up to about 1,0°.

With the intention of enabling storage of the system according to the invention, by way of example designed as an internal transport system, it may suitably be designed such that it is adapted to be coiled into a helical storage, where the system is coiled in

a plurality of levels upon each other, and from where the system may rapidly be brought into position for establishing and fixing a desired course.

Such a helical storage including required drive stations and by way of example com- pressor or other pressure medium source may possibly be designed as a mobile unit, by way of example in a trailer which possibly can be intended for rental.

Furthermore such helical course of the system according to the invention may be used for interconnection of more similar systems mounted on different floors of a building.

Description of the Drawing

The invention is explained more closely with reference to the drawing, on which:

Fig. 1 shows a view of an embodiment of a link member for a system according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a view of an embodiment of a joint for a system according to the invention; Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of one half part of a joint in fig. 2, viewed obliquely from the side; Fig. 4 shows the half part in Fig. 3 displaced 180° and viewed obliquely from below; Fig. 5 shows a further perspective view of a half part of the joint in Figs. 3 and 4;

Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of a system according to the invention in the form of a conveyor consisting of a number of link members according to Fig. 1 and a number of joints according to Fig. 2-5;

Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of a system according to the invention in the form of an end part of a conveyor consisting of a number of link members and a number of joints and an end part with a reversing or drive disc for a conveyor chain;

Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of the conveyor shown in Fig. 7 as seen from the right side on Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 shows a perspective view of a vertical longitudinal section through the conveyor shown in Fig. 7; Fig. 10 shows a view of free end part of a conveyor consisting of link members of

Fig. 1 and joints of Figs. 2-5, where a free end part of a fixing hose is closed by means of a hose clamp; Fig. 11 shows a view of a start end of the conveyor shown in Fig. 10, where an end part of a fixing hose is closed by means of a hose clamp through which a pressure medium, by way of example pressurised air, is supplied to the fixing hose; Fig. 12 shows a perspective view, partly in section, of a part of an embodiment of a conveyor, where a sectioned fixing hose is provided in position inside the conveyor; Fig. 13 shows a perspective view corresponding to Fig. 6 but seen from the opposite side; Fig. 14 shows a perspective view of a part of an embodiment of a conveyor by the system according to the invention;

Fig. 15 shows a perspective view of a part of the conveyor in Fig. 14, partly in sec- tion, for illustrating the mobility and flexibility, respectively, of the system, and shown without a fixing hose; and Fig. 16 shows a perspective view of a part of the conveyor according to Fig. 14 for illustrating the mobility and flexibility, respectively, of the system, and shown without a fixing hose.

Detailed Description of Example Embodiments

The link member 2 shown in Fig. 1 consists of two uniform shell parts 4 which are assembled about a central longitudinal axis and by means of bolt connections 6 between upper and lower plate members 8, respectively. At opposite ends, the link member 2 is designed with internal concave, spherical joint faces 10 (Figs. 6 and 9).

The link member 2 is designed with longitudinal slots 12 in the spherical joint faces 10 at opposite ends, outside which curving fish plates 14 are provided, serving to fasten bolts 16, the free ends of which being connected with an internal screw thread in pivots 18 of a shell part 22 which is disposed at the opposite side of an associated joint 20 (Figs. 2-5).

The joints 20 each consist of two uniform shell parts 22 that are assembled about a central longitudinal axis and which at opposite ends have external convex spherical

joint faces 24, the spherical joint faces 10, 24 constituting the complementary joint faces of the pivoting joints.

As it appears most clearly from Figs. 3-5, the joint 20 consists of two uniform shell parts 22 which at each their side of a central hollow body 23 are provided with external spherical joint faces 24, and which at an internal side 25 are provided with pivots 18 provided on curving "bridges" 26 such that a passage 28 for a hose 30 is formed between the joint 20 and the pivots 18.

The inner side 25 immediately beside the "bridge" 26 and the pivot 18, respectively, is designed with a cavity 32 adapted to receive the "bridge" 26 and the pivot 18, respectively, of a shell part 22, as these are mutually turned 180° before they are assembled for forming a joint 20, as the shell parts 22 are thereby held clamped against each other by means of the bolt engagement between the fish plates 14 and the pivots 18 from each their side of the link member 2.

In Fig. 6 is seen a conveyor 32 consisting of a number of link members 2 and joints 20, where only one shell part 4 of each link member 2 is shown, and where only the middle joint 20 is complete. Moreover, it appears clearly that the hose 30 runs cen- trally through the conveyor 32 and runs through the "bridges" 26 and the bodies 23 of the joints 20.

Figs. 7-9 show an end part of an embodiment of a conveyor 34, where link members 36 are designed with upper and lower countersunk grooves 38, respectively, for an endless conveyor chain 40, which at one end is reversed and/or driven by means of a reversing and/or drive wheel 42.

It will be understood that the conveyor chain 40 has carrier pins (not shown) projecting up from the countersunk grooves 38, and which at least at the upper active run of the conveyor path 34 are adapted to interact with suitable conveyor means, by way of example floor supported conveyor trucks or palettes at one or both sides of the conveyor 34.

The conveyor 34 is, as most clearly seen in Fig. 8, shown without internal fixing hose 30, whereby it becomes possible to see both free passages for the hose 30 and oval

passages against which the hose 30 is pressed when distended, by way of example by means of pressurised air.

Figs. 10 and 11 show how a free end of the hose 30 is shut off by means of a hose clamp 44 (Fig. 10), and how the opposite end of the hose 30 is provided with a special hose clamp 46 (Fig. 11) with a feed hose 48 for pressure medium, e.g. pressurised air.

Fig. 12 shows a view of the system according to the invention, shown by a horizontal section through respective parts. Compared to Fig. 6, Fig. 13 shows a reverse view of the conveyor 34.

Fig. 14 shows yet a conveyor 50 consisting of two complete link members 2 and also two joints 20 and fixing hose 30.

Figs. 15 and 16 illustrate the good flexibility (mobility) between the individual parts of the system. In that connection it is to be mentioned that the mobility provides the possibility of up to about 30° angular displacement between two link members 2 in one plane, by way of example vertical plane, and an angular displacement up to 10° between two link members in a plane perpendicularly to the first-mentioned plane, by way of example a horizontal plane.

With the object of storing the system according to the invention by way of example designed as an internal conveyor system, it may suitably be designed such that it is adapted to be coiled in a helical storage where the system is coiled in a plurality of levels above each other, and from where the system may quickly be brought into position for establishing and fixing a desired course.

Such a helical storage including required drive stations and by way of example compressor or other pressure medium source may possibly be constructed as a mobile unit on a trailer which possibly may be intended for renting.

With the object of optimising the mobility of the system, by way of example in lateral direction, it may be possible to sectionalise the fixing hose such that it is not required to relieve the entire fixing hose in order to adjust part of an established course of the structure.

In that the system may thus operate with individually adjustable parts with pressure supply and controlling the fixing hoses for individual parts of the course, a significantly greater flexibility is achieved. For use in establishing internal conveyors, by way of example between certain work stations, it may furthermore be possible to work with a kind of memory such that specific parts of a particular course may automatically be changed and re-established according to need.

It is to be mentioned that the method and system according to the invention are pri- manly developed for use in connection with a support face (floor or table face), but it will be within the main aspect of the invention to apply the described establishing and fixing systems, respectively, of a course more generally, where the task is by way of example to establish and fix a spatial mechanical connection between various structural parts.

It is to be mentioned, that the method and the system according to the invention may relatively easily be further developed for use in by way of example thorax surgical interventions, where an opening is established into the chest cavity, where the opening may be fixed by means of relatively special small pivotable members including pivot- ing joints, which may be adapted to form a closed circuit for use as distending mechanism adapted to keep a surgical opening open and fixed.

Finally, it is to be mentioned that the method and the system according to the invention may further find application more generally for establishing flexible spatial (canti- lever) mechanical connections, where the task by way of example may be to establish a cantilever rigid connection between a fastening rail or bar at the side of a surgical bed and a surgical instrument which is to be fixed in a certain position during a surgical intervention. In such a situation, fixing systems according to the invention may substitute one or more assisting persons which thereby may be released for other sur- gical work, and furthermore the safety and stability of the fixing of the surgical instrument will be substantially enhanced by a fixing system according to the invention.