Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CABLE CARRIER GUIDE
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is based on and claims priority to U.S.
Provisional Patent
Application No. 61/614,896 filed on January 8, 2018, which is incorporated
herein by
reference in its entirety for all purposes.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of cable
carriers. More
particularly, the present invention relates to a guide for a cable carrier
where an upper
portion of the cable carrier is supported.
BACKGROUND
[0003] In the field of cable carriers, especially long travel cable
carriers, there is a
need to provide support and guidance to the cable carrier to ensure consistent
movement
of the cable carrier. Cable carriers, also known as drag chains, energy
chains, or cable
chains, are guides that surround and guide flexible cables and/or hoses that
are connected
to moving parts of a larger machine. Cable carriers reduce wear and stress on
the flexible
cables and hoses, prevent entanglement, and improve operator safety by
bundling
multiple cables together.
[0004] Typical cable carriers have a rectangular cross section, inside
which the
cables travel, and include a plurality of sections that are rotatably attached
to each other to
form a length of cable carrier. More or less sections may be included in the
cable carrier
to accommodate cables of any length. Cable carriers come in a wide variety of
sizes,
depending on the application and number of cables carried by the carrier.
[0005] The primary benefit of using a cable carrier is to keep cables
organized,
separated, and protected in applications where the cable must move relative to
the
machinery to which it is attached. Some common non-exhaustive examples of
where
cable carriers are used are automated car washes, elevators, cranes, vending
machines,
and machine tools. A cable carrier can be used to guide and protect cables in
any machine
that has a movable part connected to a power source and/or control board.
[0006] In applications where the cable carrier travels a long
horizontal distance,
it may be necessary to support the cable carrier with a cable carrier guide to
prevent
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damage to the cable carrier and to ensure efficient, low friction operation of
the cable
carrier. In particular, if the cable carrier travels a long horizontal
distance and has a lower
anchor point and an upper section that moves in relation to the lower anchor
point, gravity
causes the upper section to droop, and if the distance is long enough the
upper section
may droop so far that it contacts the lower section.
[0007] Existing solutions to this problem have included a plurality of
guideposts
with rollers that rotate between a resting position and an engaged position.
When the
rollers are in the resting position, the cable carrier can be supported by the
rollers.
However, when the cable carrier passes the guidepost, it engages the roller
such that it
rotates out of the way of the cable carrier. Such existing solutions are
somewhat effective,
but the rotational movement of the roller sometimes results in jamming or
ineffective
support of the cable carrier guide, particularly if the roller does not rotate
from the
engaged position to the resting position quickly enough. Furthermore, the
rotational
mechanism is complex and the manufacturing of the mechanism is expensive and
maintenance can be difficult.
[0008] As such, there is a need for a modular, low friction guide that
supports the
upper section of the cable guide, but is low cost, easy to assemble, and
eliminates the
rotational movement of the roller.
SUMMARY
[0009] The present invention relates to a guide for a cable carrier
that travels
along a path, the cable carrier having an upper portion, a middle portion, and
a lower
portion. The cable carrier guide includes a plurality of guideposts positioned
on either
side of the path. Each of the guideposts includes a support assembly including
at least one
support roller. The support roller is slidably attached to the support
assembly such that it
moves between an extended and a retracted position. The support roller is
biased toward
the extended position such that it can provide support to the upper portion of
the cable
carrier as it is needed.
[0010] The support assembly also includes a plurality of bumpers
positioned near
the support roller. The bumpers are rotatably attached to the support assembly
such that
when the cable carrier approaches the guidepost, the middle portion engages at
least one
bumper, thereby causing the roller to temporarily move to the retracted
position while the
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middle portion is engaged with the bumper and allowing the middle portion to
pass by the
guidepost.
[0011] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that one or
more aspects of
this invention can meet certain objectives, while one or more other aspects
can lead to
certain other objectives. Other objects, features, benefits and advantages of
the present
invention will be apparent in this summary and descriptions of the disclosed
embodiment,
and will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such objects,
features, benefits
and advantages will be apparent from the above as taken in conjunction with
the
accompanying figures and all reasonable inferences to be drawn therefrom.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a prior art
long travel
cable carrier guide;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a long travel
cable
carrier guide in accordance with the invention showing a support roller in an
extended
position;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a front view of the long travel cable carrier guide
of FIG. 2;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a back view of the long travel cable carrier guide of
FIG. 2;
[0016] FIG. 5 is side view of the long travel cable carrier guide of
FIG. 2;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the long travel cable carrier guide
of FIG. 2;
[0018] FIG. 7 is another perspective view of the long travel cable
carrier guide of
FIG. 2 showing the top rear of a support portion in the extended position and
with a
protective cover removed;
[0019] FIG. 8 is another perspective view of the long travel cable
carrier guide of
FIG. 2 showing the bottom rear of a support portion in the extended position
with the
support base removed;
[0020] FIG. 9 is a top view of the long travel cable carrier guide of
FIG. 2
showing the rear of a support portion in the extended position;
[0021] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the long travel cable carrier
guide of FIG.
2 showing the support portion in a retracted position;
[0022] FIG. 11 is a top view of the long travel cable carrier guide of
FIG. 2
showing the support portion in the retracted position and with the protective
cover
removed;
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[0023] FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the long travel cable carrier guide
of FIG. 2
showing the support portion in the extended position with the support base
removed; and
[0024] FIG. 13 is another perspective view of the long travel cable
carrier guide
of FIG. 1.
[0025] FIG. 14 is a section view of the long travel cable carrier
guide of FIG. 2
taken generally along the line 14-14 in FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] Referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment of a long travel cable
carrier guide
100 in accordance with the invention is shown. The long travel cable carrier
guide 100
includes a plurality of guideposts 200 that are positioned along the length of
the path of
travel of cable carrier 102. Cable carrier 102 includes a plurality of
sections 104 that are
rotatably and removably attached to each other to create a chain that can
articulate. Cable
carrier 100 has an upper portion 106 and a lower portion 108. The lower
portion 108 is
anchored to a base such as a floor. Upper portion 106 is attached to a movable
part, such
as a component of a machine (not shown).
[0027] Upper portion 106 and lower portion 108 are connected to each
other by a
curved middle portion 110. The curved middle portion 110 has a consistent
geometry
based on the configuration of the sections 104 that only allow the curved
middle portion
to have a curvature that does not overbend the cables. As cable carrier 102
travels along a
horizontal path 105, the cable carrier has more or less of an upper portion
106, and more
or less of a lower portion 108, depending on the position of the cable
carrier. As shown,
the long travel cable carrier guide 100 of the present invention includes a
plurality of
guideposts 200 positioned along the length of the path of travel of the cable
carrier 102.
Although guideposts 200 are shown positioned directly across from each other
on either
side of cable carrier 102, the guideposts may alternatively be positioned in
any suitable
arrangement without departing from the invention, e.g., offset in position.
[0028] Turning now to FIGS. 2-14, one embodiment of a guidepost 200
for a long
travel cable carrier guide 100 in accordance with the invention is shown in
greater detail.
As shown, each guidepost 200 includes a base 202, a support assembly 204, and
a
protective cover 205. As shown, base 202 serves the purpose of positioning
support
assembly 204 a desired distance from the floor. In the embodiment shown, base
202 is
essentially a folded sheet metal box, but any suitable support may be used
without
departing from the invention. Some non-limiting examples of alternative bases
include a
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cylindrical post, or injection molded non-metallic material for use in
corrosive
environments.
[0029] In the embodiment shown, the support assembly 204 includes a
roller 206,
a vertical guide 208, and two bumpers 210. Roller 206 supports the upper
portion 106,
and the vertical guide 208 guides the upper portion to maintain its position
relative to the
lower portion 108. The bumpers 210 serve the dual purpose of protecting the
roller 206
and causing the roller to retract to a retracted position when either bumper
is contacted by
the cable carrier 102. Although one roller 206 is shown, a plurality of
rollers may
alternatively be used without departing from the invention.
[0030] Turning to FIG. 3, support assembly 204 further includes a
mounting
bracket 218, which is removably attached to base 202. Of course, in
alternative
embodiments, mounting bracket 218 could be integrally formed into base 202
without
departing from the invention. As shown in FIG. 6, mounting bracket 218 has two
ends
220 and further includes attachment holes 222 near each end.
[0031] Referring back to FIG. 3, the bumpers 210 are mounted
immediately
above mounting bracket 218 and are positioned on either side of roller 206. As
shown in
FIG. 7, each bumper 210 includes a substantially flat bumper pad 224 facing
the path 105.
In the embodiment shown, bumper pad 224 is a wear item and is easily replaced.
In
alternative embodiments, however, bumper pad 224 may be integrally formed into
the
bumper 210 without departing from the invention. Each bumper 210 includes a
bushing
226 at a first end, which is positioned above mounting bracket 218 and which
further
provides an axis of rotation around which bumper may rotate. A second end 229
of
bumper 210 is movably attached to a slot 240 in bearing block 228, such that
rotation of
bumper around the axis causes the second end 229 to translate linearly in a
direction
perpendicular to path 105. In the embodiment shown, each bumper 210 may move
independently, but the bumpers could alternatively be linked without departing
from the
invention.
[0032] Bearing block 228 includes a main portion 230, two upper
flanges 232 and
two lower flanges 234. The upper and lower flanges 232, 234 form channels on
either
side of the bearing block 228 through which portions of support base 212 pass
to guide
the movement of the bearing block described above. Bearing block 228 further
includes a
bearing 216 inserted into a bearing housing 238. In the embodiment shown,
bearing
housing 238 is integrally formed into bearing block 228, but any suitable
bearing housing,
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such as a pillow block, may be used without departing from the invention.
Finally,
bearing block 228 includes a slot 240 into which the second ends 229 of the
bumpers 210
may slide, causing the bearing block 228 to move from an extended position and
a
retracted position.
[0033] As shown in FIG. 14, roller 206 is attached to an axle 242.
Axle 242 is
rotatably attached to the bearing 236, which is disposed in the bearing block
228. As
shown, roller 206 can freely rotate. In addition to causing the displacement
of roller 206,
the bumpers 210 protect roller 206 and is protected by bumpers 210 that the
curved
middle portion 110 contacts as the cable carrier 102 passes by the guidepost
200.
[0034] As shown in FIGS. 7-9, bumper 210 and roller 206 are biased in
an
extended position by a spring 214. As cable carrier 102 passes guidepost 200,
cable
carrier 102 engages bumper 210, causing both bumpers and roller 206 to move to
a
retracted position as shown in FIGS. 10-12. After cable carrier passes
guidepost 200,
spring 214 causes roller 206 and bumpers 210 to return to the extended
position.
[0035] As shown, vertical guide 208 further includes a plurality of
tabs 209 that
are bent slightly away from the horizontal path 105 in order to provide a
gradual
transition into the guide path and to "catch" the cable carrier 102 if it
drifts toward the
outside of the path. In addition, vertical guide 208 includes an upper portion
211 that is
bent slightly away from the horizontal path 105, which prevents the cable
carrier 102
from jumping out of the path, but also minimizing the contact area between the
vertical
guide and the cable carrier. It is advantageous to minimize the contact area
between the
vertical guide 208 and the cable carrier 102 because the cable carrier slides
next to
vertical guide If desired, vertical guide 208 may also include at least one
roller to reduce
friction between the cable carrier 102 and the vertical guide.
[0036] As shown in FIGS. 6-7, vertical guide 208 is removably attached
to
support base 212 by two bolts 213 and nuts 215, which allows it to be easily
replaced.
Although nuts and bolts are shown here, vertical guide 208 may be attached to
support
base 212 by any suitable attachment without departing from the invention.
Further,
vertical guide 208 may alternatively be integrally formed into support base
212, although
doing so would likely decrease the usable life of the support base.
[0037] Although the invention has been herein described in what is
perceived to
be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that
the invention
is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiments set forth above.
Rather, it is
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recognized that modifications may be made by one of skill in the art of the
invention
without departing from the spirit or intent of the invention and, therefore,
the invention is
to be taken as including all reasonable equivalents to the subject matter of
the appended
claims and the description of the invention herein.
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