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Title:
SHEATHING CHAIN DEVICE
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2015/198126
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A sheathing chain device (1) for housing and holding cables and hoses is disclosed, wherein said sheath comprises chain elements (2) provided with at least one opening (5) for insertion of flexible cables or hoses or similar elements, and a connection rope (3) of said chain elements (2), said chain elements (2) being closeable to hold and protect said cables or hoses from wear and rubbing effects.

Inventors:
MUARI GIOVANNI (IT)
Application Number:
PCT/IB2015/001029
Publication Date:
December 30, 2015
Filing Date:
June 22, 2015
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
FINDALTO S R L (IT)
International Classes:
F16L57/02; H02G3/04
Foreign References:
FR2848735A12004-06-18
EP0412233A21991-02-13
FR2848735A12004-06-18
EP0412233A21991-02-13
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
RICCARDI, Sergio (Via Macedonio Melloni 32, Milano, IT)
Download PDF:
Claims:
CLAIMS

1. A sheathing chain device (1 ) for housing and retaining cable or hose bundles, comprising at least a plurality of chain elements (2) with at least one opening (5) for the insertion of said cables or hoses, a connection rope (3) passing through said chain elements (2), characterized in that said elements (2) comprise one or more flexible separate parts (2, 2', 2") so that the inside diameter (D) for housing said cables or hoses is variable and adaptable depending on the number of cables or hoses inserted into the elements (2), for holding and wrapping integrally said cables or hoses to prevent their rubbing or breaks.

2. The sheathing chain device (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said connection rope (3) is housed in a through hole (1 1 ) formed on said chain element (2).

3. The sheathing chain device (1 ) according to claim 2, wherein said chain element (2) includes further through holes (1 1 ') for housing additional ropes (3) for increasing the bearing power of said sheathing chain (1 ).

4. The sheathing chain device (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said element

(2) is made in one piece, comprising flexible areas (8) for opening and closing elasticity of said element (2).

5. The sheathing chain device (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said element (2) comprises at least two distinct elements (2 ', 2") adapted to be bound to each other by at least one rotational constraint (14,15,16).

6. The sheathing chain (1 ) device according to claim 1 , wherein said element (2) comprises recesses (7) on the outer side of said element (2) for housing a clamp for the closure of the element (2)

7. The sheathing chain (1 ) device according to claim 1 , wherein said element (2) comprises coupling elements between opposing zones (12) (13) for the closure of said element (2) with variable diameter.

8. The sheathing chain (1 ) device according to the preceding claims, wherein said sheath (1 ) comprises multiple elements (2,20 ...) adapted to house simultaneously more groups of cables or hoses.

9. The sheathing chain (1 ) device according to the preceding claims, wherein said elements (2) comprise notches (18) for the attaching or detaching said elements (2) from said connection rope (3).

10. The sheathing chain (1 ) device according to the preceding claims, wherein said sheath chain (1 ) comprises spacer members (4) to be inserted on the open areas of said rope (3).

AMENDED CLAIMS

received by the International Bureau on 1 1 DEC 2015 (1 1 .12.15)

1 . A sheathing chain device (1 ) for housing and retaining cable or hose bundles, comprising at least a plurality of chain elements (2) with at least one opening (5) for the insertion of said cables or hoses, a connection rope (3) passing through said chain elements (2), characterized in that said elements (2) comprise one or more flexible separate parts (2, 2', 2") configured so as to be opposed exerting a compression on the element (2) to house and surround firmly cables and hoses, so that the inside diameter (D) for housing said cables or hoses is variable and adaptable depending on the number of cables or hoses inserted into the elements (2), for holding and wrapping integrally said cables or hoses to prevent their rubbing or breaks.

2. The sheathing chain device (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said connection rope (3) is housed in a through hole (1 1 ) formed on said chain element (2).

3. The sheathing chain device (1 ) according to claim 2, wherein said chain element (2) includes further through holes (1 1 ') for housing additional ropes (3) for increasing the bearing power of said sheathing chain (1 ).

4. The sheathing chain device (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said element (2) is made in one piece, comprising flexible areas (8) for opening and closing elasticity of said element (2).

5. The sheathing chain device (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said element (2) comprises at least two distinct elements (2 ', 2") adapted to be bound to each other by at least one rotational constraint (14, 15, 16).

6. The sheathing chain (1 ) device according to claim 1 , wherein said element (2) comprises recesses (7) on the outer side of said element (2) for housing a clamp for the closure of the element (2)

7. The sheathing chain (1 ) device according to claim 1 , wherein said element .

(2) comprises coupling elements between opposing zones (12) (13) for the closure of said element (2) with variable diameter.

8. The sheathing chain (1 ) device according to the preceding claims, wherein said sheath (1 ) comprises multiple elements (2,20 ...) adapted to house simultaneously more groups of cables or hoses.

9. The sheathing chain (1 ) device according to the preceding claims, wherein said elements (2) comprise notches (18) for the attaching or detaching said elements (2) from said connection rope (3).

10. The sheathing chain (1 ) device according to the preceding claims, wherein said sheath chain (1) comprises spacer members (4) to be inserted on the open areas of said rope (3).

Description:
SHEATHING CHAIN DEVICE

The present invention relates to a sheathing chain system particularly adapted for bundles of flexible cables or hoses, where said cables and/or hoses when in use undergo strong environmental impacts, or rubbing with nearby structures or operate in severe environments. Some examples are earthmovers and similar sectors, mining areas, tunnelling devices, automatic handling systems and the like.

It is well known that for bundles of cables used outdoor, more particularly when the cable bundles have a considerable size, are subject to contact with soil, both outdoor or indoor sheds or quarries or shattered soil or being part of a manufacturing line, in other words whenever it is necessary that the cable bundles be free from mechanical constraints forcing them in a fixed seat to keep the cables protected, it is necessary to wrap the cables in the so-called sheathing chains.

These sheaths are adapted to protect said bundles of cables and/or hoses, from wear due to excessive exposure to environmental agents, or to friction with soil or other nearby parts. Moreover said sheaths generally allow to keep the cables relatively adherent and fixed to each other, thus avoiding that the mutual rubbing causes additional wear, or they become entangled one another.

Clearly according to the kind of cables, their size i.e. diameter, and bundle length, different solutions may be considered as suitable, such as simple spirals generally made of plastics to wrap cables (mainly known for household use), or hose clamps and cable ties of various sizes, disposable or with belts and straps. These specific solutions are suitable for cable bundles of small or medium size and are mostly adapted, more particularly for said clamps or ties, to gather and assemble as a single bundle said flexible hoses and cables, but they achieve very little or even no protection to the cables.

However, more particularly for bundles of flexible hoses and cables mainly in the sector of earthmovers or automatic systems, the problem is to give also a proper protection against wear due to action of external agent, for instance rubbing with soil, and at the same time a possible adequate support to the bundle of cables.

Various more or less rigid systems were devised to house said bundles of cables, e.g. sheaths were provided with closed circular elements interconnected to each other in a modular form, so as to allow a flexible motion; this system is certainly advantageous from the point of view of protecting the cables, but in order to be mounted, it is necessary to detach the cables from their seat, insert them in the circular elements and then connect again all the members (cables and sheath) to all the terminals where they were originally connected, with a clearly long and difficult and even not always possible operation. Therefore it is clear that once a solution of this kind is adopted and assembled, it is no more possible to inspect the cables inside the system, nor to remove a single cable in case of failure, thus compelling to disassemble the whole system of sheath and cables.

In addition, sheaths provided with a central inner core were devised, in order to confer bearing power to the bundle of hoses and prevent their bending to excessive angles so as to avoid failure. Examples of these sheaths comprise several hollow round elements provided with one or more openings to insert one length at a time of the bundle, and this kind of system, comprising rings preferably of plastics or similar materials for economic reasons, is suitable for inserting and housing one or more groups of cables. Flexibility and bearing power of the sheaths is achieved by the features of the interconnected structure and materials. This solution is particularly ingenious, but according to the known embodiments, the interconnected plastic elements may be rigidly structured to withstand impacts and hold the cables, but this may cause the elements to undergo excessive stress with consequent failure due to strong impacts, rubbing and the like. Another adopted solution was to use more expensive materials to increase the useful life of the element, but this is not a good factor for a kind of device that should be as economic and resistant as possible in view of the specific market sector. More particularly a problem intrinsic to the nature of this solution is that said rigid elements should have a predetermined size and diameter irrespective of the number of cables inserted in each seat, since in any case the diameter of the element would remain unaltered. Therefore it is likely that in a great number of cases, said cables are not sufficient to fill out the room, thus they can move to and from each other, with consequent problems of rubbing wear, or they can be jammed with elements on the ground when remaining slack within the sheath.

Moreover, plastics or similar materials used to make said sheath, in a cheap embodiment here of interest, if subject to impacts, are more inclined to breakage, if the stress is not deadened by the group of cables inserted inside the sheath. In case of a group or bundle of cables with excessive size or addition of further cables, the opposite situation may occur, that is the structure made of rigid plastics undergoes a stress exerted by the great number of flexible cables or hoses and beyond a certain threshold of said stress, the one or more rigid elements may yield and break, with consequent problems of hanging cables and so forth. It is to be noted that replacement of single sheath elements is impossible or at least very difficult, in view of the generally present central core to which the elements are fixed. Indeed said central core contributes to the bearing power of the structure, but in addition to making the replacement of a single chain element practically impossible, it makes the structure too rigid relative to bending stress, so as to limit frequently the flexure angle between the cable holding elements, often making the chain too much rigid and less adapted to conditions of use for reduced room or special forms (tunnels, bends, cavities, slopes and like).

This problem might be obviated by using more expensive materials, but this is not the sector of interest for the present invention which will be illustrated hereinafter. Moreover, the reinforcing central core, though useful for the bearing power of the sheath, makes the operations of cable insertion and extraction rather tiresome.

Chain sheaths for multiple use were devised in the prior art, such as document FR 2848735 A1 relating to a field with different technical problems and requirements, disclosing a device for holding electrical cables, comprising a side support electrically conductive cable and substantially round elements adapted to contain additional tube shaped seats for electrical cables. This device was particularly conceived to maintain current continuity in electric lines by means of said side support cable, if said cables when installed are subject to current break because of the raceway configuration; once fixed these raceways remain still and isolated and do not undergo any stress, the cables can neither come out, nor mutually slide, and there is no relevant motion of said cable holding device relative to the surrounding environment.

In addition document EP 0412233 A2 discloses a cable device, more particularly for installing cables for furniture, said device comprising a cable channel consisting of two rectangular rigid seats, having a sufficient flexibility at an opening side to allow the insertion of cables, and a central element including a groove in which a through rope is disposed, to connect said elements that are articulated to follow the cable form. Said device in generally rigid and the elements may only mutually rotate, still keeping a straight line with said guide rope. Said elements cannot be closed around the cables disposed therein, it is not possible to prevent the cables to slide on one another, there is no possibility to close said rectangular elements to avoid cables coming out nor said elements appear to have an inscribed area that can be modified to meet the cable internal volume for its stable seat. The object of the cited disclosure was generally aimed at giving more bearing power and flexibility to channels guiding cables in limited rooms, around angles and so on.

An object of the present invention is to accomplish a sheath for flexible hoses or chains, more particularly adapted for the sector of earthmovers or automatic handling systems, that should be cheap and flexible in both the manufacturing and operative stages.

Another object of the present invention is to make a sheathing chain which is wear resistant and stands well the stress forces.

A further object of the present invention is to make a sheathing chain having elements that may be easily replaced.

Another object of the present invention is to carry out a sheathing chain provided with a cable housing cavity of variable and adaptable diameter.

A further object of the invention is a sheathing chain stably supporting the cable bundle by maintaining the cables steadily wrapped in the chain element.

It is also an object of the invention a sheathing chain adapted to house several bundles of cables or hoses.

It is a further object of the invention a sheathing chain supporting integrally the bundles of cables or hoses, so that they do not rub on each other thus avoiding possible breaks.

These and other objects are achieved by the sheathing chain of the present invention, wherein said sheath comprises a plurality of link elements provided with at least one opening for insertion of flexible hoses, cables or similar elements, and a connection rope of said link element, which is positioned on one side of said elements, said elements having a diameter variable and adaptable to the diameter of the cable bundle to be housed therein, said plurality of link elements being provided with closure means such as clamps to be wrapped around said elements for closing and adjusting the link diameter.

Moreover the links of said sheathing chain comprise recesses adapted to house entirely said wrapping closure means, which may be a cable clamp or tie, to adapt the diameter of the link element to the diameter of the cable bundle to be housed in a practical and cheap way.

Said elements have a rounded form and a thickness suitable for protecting the cables against rubbing or scraping the ground. Moreover the rope interconnecting the links gives bearing power to the chain, and in a particularly advantageous way, the lateral position gives a greater freedom for the cable bending angle, still keeping the bearing power and without preventing but even increasing the structural solidity.

Use of a laterally arranged single rope makes the system highly flexible and at the same time resistant. Between two elements, which in any case may have variable diameters and lengths, around the rope spacers are arranged, in order to keep said elements at a predetermined mutual distance and also protect the rope from external corrosion or wearing agents.

The sheathing chain element in a particularly advantageous way, comprises two flexible opposite parts or shells, preferably made of cheap plastics. These flexible parts are very easy to be opened for inserting the cables, because they do not provide for the intrinsic strength to hold the cables inside the chain element, which will be achieved by closure for instance with a cable clamp or tie that will be made of plastics or other suitable material. This feature makes, in a particularly advantageous way, easy and convenient the installation of said sheath on already wired machinery, in view of the particular flexibility of the elements and easiness of opening the elements for housing the cables.

In a still more advantageous way, the combination of elastic clamps and shells allows to adjust the passage of cables or hoses until they can be tightened so as to achieve a single well aggregated skein.

These and other features and advantages of the sheathing chain of the present invention will become easily apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments according to the present invention, to be read making reference to the accompanying sheets of drawings, in which:

Figs. 1a and 1 b are perspective tridimensional side and front views, respectively, of the sheathing chain according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2a, 2b, 2c are top views of the sheath link element in different operative positions;

Fig. 3 is a perspective tridimensional view of a preferred embodiment of a sheath link element of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a perspective tridimensional view of an alternative embodiment of the sheathing chain according to the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a top view of the sheath link elements of the embodiment of Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an extractable embodiment of the sheath element.

With reference now to the accompanying drawings, Fig. a shows a particularly preferred embodiment of the sheathing chain of the present invention, wherein said sheath 1 comprises a plurality of link elements 2 of sheath 1 , and at least a rope 3 of a suitable material such as steel, connecting said elements 2 with one another, being inserted in a through hole 11. Said elements 2 are spaced by members like spacing tubes 4, which are also useful to protect the rope 3 from external agents. Said elements 2 include at last one opening 5, which in this embodiment is substantially arranged at the opposite side relative to the position of the bearing rope 3, although said opening may be arranged in any other suitable position on the periphery of element 2.

Said element 2, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, comprises at lest two parts or shells, e.g. of semicircular shape, that may be integral forming the element 2, and having an elasticity due to the intrinsic nature of the used material, besides the presence of flexible areas 8 conferring a greater elasticity to element 2 and suitable to allow a practical and easy opening of said link element so as to pressure insert the cables on said element, the detail of this operation being illustrated in Fig. 2. In a further preferred embodiment, said at least two parts may be two separate semicircular members 2', 2" which may be constrained to each other by at least a rotational constraint allowing an optimal opening of said element 2 for an easy insertion of cables or hoses, as described in detail wit reference to Fig. 3.

As above mentioned, said generally round element 2 is adapted to be opened for the insertion of cables and/or hoses, and closed strongly wrapping said cables. The shaped areas 12, 13 may be overlapping by mutual opposition, thus pressing said element 2 or reducing the diameter, opening 5 is being closed. Element 2 may be closed by any kind of clamp or tie (not shown) adapted to be disposed in appropriate depressed recesses 7, made along the whole periphery or circle of element 2. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, element 2 has preferably a convex outer shape, to give a greater protection to the cables contained in the sheath. Said recess 7, in a particularly preferred embodiment like that shown in the drawing, may be substantially circular being made on the outer surface or circumference of said element 2.

As one can clearly see in Fig. 1b, it is apparent that said elements 2, in a particularly advantageous way, may be opened so as to widen opening 5 for an easy insertion and extraction of said bundles of cables or hoses.

Moreover, said element may comprise another round through hole 10, adapted to house special kinds of cables requiring a particular protection, such as optical fibers.

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, said elements 2 may comprise additional through holes 11' for possible insertion of further support ropes 3, for making the sheathing chain 1 sturdier if required, according to the condition of use of said chains, the environment where the chains are arranged, and the kind of cables housed therein.

As above mentioned, two embodiments of the chain element 2 for the sheathing chain 1 of the present invention are particularly preferred, but only as illustrative examples, where element 2 shown in figure 2 is one of these examples. More particularly, the top view of the sheathing chain element 2 made of a single piece of a preferably cheap plastic material, allows to have a clear representation of one of the main advantages of the invention. More particularly Fig. 2a shows the element 2 at rest, namely undergoing neither compressive nor extensive stress. One can clearly see the through holes 11 , 11' for insertion of one or more support ropes 3, the flexible areas 8 conferring elasticity to said element 2 in the opening and closing operation, the opening 5 defined by the distance between the shaped areas 12, 13 configured so as to be opposed exerting a compression on the element 2 for its closure. Fig. 2b shows element 2 in the closed condition, i.e. opening 5 is no more present because the two opposable areas 2 and 13 are in mutual contact thus closing the element 2.

Diameter D' of the closed element is lower than diameter D of the element at rest of Fig. 2a but it is to be noted that in any case it is possible to further reduce diameter D' by exerting a higher compression on element 2, since the opposed areas 12, 13 may slide, the one inside the link and the other outside the link, and the flexible areas 8 allow a greater closure of element 2, therefore with further reduction of diameter, if one should need to house and surround firmly a particularly thin bundle of cables or hoses.

In addition, Fig, 2c shows element 2 in the opening condition beyond diameter

D at rest (here identified as diameter D" greater than D, even if element 2 has no more an exact round form because of its distortion or strain). In this case opening 5, still defined by the distance between the opposed areas 12, 3, has an extension far bigger than the same opening 5 at rest (Fig. 2a). It is to be noted that in this position it is possible to insert/extract the bundle of cables or hoses as well as to house them. However, when the bundle of cables has particularly big overall dimensions in view of the diameter of the cable bundle, it is still possible to use easily the sheathing chain 1 comprising the above described elements; indeed said cables will be secured inside said chain element 2 by said clamps or ties normally used, since they are housed in recesses 7 made along the periphery of the chain element, such as an appropriate depressed area in the preferably convex outer side of the element, to hold the clamp or tie firmly positioned. Obviously, in a particular advantageous way, the clamp or tie may be so adjusted as to secure firmly the bundle of cables inside element 2 and act also as a closure member for element 2. Moreover, in view of the very high economy of said clamps, it is apparent that they could be removed and replaced at any moment and several times according to the needs. Said particularly extended opening condition is advantageously possible also in view of said flexible areas 8.

In Fig. 3 as already mentioned, a further particularly preferred embodiment of the link element of the chain of the present invention is shown, wherein said element comprises two parts or shells 2', 2" generally of semicircular shape, including coupling means such as tabs 14 and insertion seats 15 for said tabs, and protrusions 16 adapted to be inserted into suitable recesses made at a corresponding position on both semicircular parts constituting the chain element. More particularly protrusions 16 include the main through hole 1 1 , and once assembled they are kept together by the support rope 3 which is inserted into the main through hole 1 1 , thus creating a rotational constraint.

Fig. 4 shows another preferred embodiment of the sheathing chain of the present invention wherein in a particularly advantageous way, said sheath comprises a plurality of elements 2, adapted to house at least two different groups or bundles of cables or hoses, said elements being mutually connected by said support rope 3 acting as a structural support for both elements 2, adapted to house a first bundle of cables or hoses, and elements 20 adapted to house a second bundle of cables or hoses. Said elements 2, 20 may be either identical or made according to alternative embodiments of the present invention.

In this case it is apparent how in a particular advantageous way the sheathing chain 1 carries out the function normally developed by two different devices for holding and/or protecting the known cables (e.g. those previously described). This involves a considerable economic saving, as well as saving of time for assembling/disassembling the device, saving of room for positioning cables and moreover an increased structural bearing power of the bundles held in it. In the detail of figure 5 it is particularly well visible how the elements 2,20 of the sheath of figure 4 are connected to one another. Moreover it appears further apparent from the figures, that each of said elements 2,20 may be closed around the cables therein contained, taking any diameter independent from diameter taken by element 2 disposed in a mirror position with regard to element 20 and even for elements 2,20 belonging to the same group of elements.

It is to be noted that in this case the support rope 3 results to be further protected and the elements 2,20 stably spaced between each other, since from time to time each element 2 acts as spacer member between two successive elements 20 and viceversa.

Moreover, it would also be possible to insert additional elements to house another bundle of cables or hoses; therefore the sheathing chain according to the present invention, keeping at least a support rope 3 arranged on one side of said element 2, may be designed in such a way that several bundles of cables are held by a plurality of elements 2,20...., and so forth, according to the requirements and the relevant embodiments.

Finally with reference to Fig. 6, in a further advantageous way, it is also possible to make said elements 2, for instance of the single piece kind, comprising one or more notches 18 in the area close to the main through hole 11. These notches are preferably made originally in the mould. Therefore in case of need, or for instance when any element 2 is damaged and/or its replacement is required, it is possible to take out the cables from the chain element 2, and exerting an inward pressure on both sides of said element, reducing the diameter D to a minimum, thus reaching such a pressure to cause break of the element area where said one or more notches 18 were made with their consequent voluntary break. In a similar way, by exerting an inward pressure on said element 2, said one or more notches 18 when opened may allow insertion of said element 2 on said support rope 3. It is immediately apparent that this is particularly advantageous, since it allows to replace individual sheath elements 2 without being compelled to disassemble sheath 1 , with a consequent important reduction of maintenance costs and time, as well as versatility and practicality of use.

At last it is to be noted that it is also possible to make the opposable areas 12 and 13 in such a way that they may be provided with such connection members as to allow closure of element 2 with different diameters according to the selected connection area. For instance a plurality of tabs and insertion zones for said tabs, may be provided on the one or the other of said opposable areas or connection/release systems for this purpose and said tab may be inserted at will into one of said insertion zones, and according to the selected insertion zone, the diameter where the cables are surrounded will be bigger or smaller.

These and other variations and embodiments of sheathing chain comprising the chain elements according to the present invention, and one or more support ropes, will be obviously comprised in the here described scope of protection. The parts such as couplings, protrusions, engagements and all preformed and shaped parts may be made of any suitable material. It is also obvious that the substantially round shape of the link element is only one of the possible embodiments of the element according to the present invention. The more or less convex form of said element may be varied and variable according to the kind of sheathing chain and any production requirement or customer's need, merely modifying the required mould or any other suitable production means. Moreover also the number of through holes may be varied, as well as the number of sheath pitches, the kind of closure elements and so forth.

Therefore each of these elements may be made in any suitable material and may include alternative embodiments other than the preferred ones previously illustrated, wherein modifications and changes for instance related to geometries chosen for individual mobile or fixed elements, materials adopted for each member, and even the specifications of the operative system, may be resorted to, without departing however from the scope of protection of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.