Abstract: A line routing device for guiding a plurality of lines, such as cables, hoses, or the like, particularly for hanging applications, such as supplying a vertically traveling power head of a drill. The line routing device has a flexible carrying strand and a plurality of guide bodies arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the carrying strand. According to the invention, adjacent guide bodies can be deflected spatially toward each other and each guide body has a central part having a center axis, which extends coaxially to the carrying strand, and an outer part having at least one circumferential element. The outer part delimits a receiving region, which is open in the axial direction, for the lines, radially to the outside.

Abstract: The functional monitoring of a cable drag chain consisting of links or segments connected in an articulated manner for guiding one or more lines. The cable drag chain is equipped with a detection line for detecting a malfunction of the cable drag chain which is arranged at the level of the neutral fibre of the cable drag chain. According to the invention, the detection line is composed, at least over a part of the length of the cable drag chain, of a plurality of individual line sections which are conductively interconnected by detachable connections, such that a malfunction of the cable drag chain leads to the line-interrupting separation of at least one of the connections and the resulting line interruption can be detected by a detector. The invention further relates to a kit for retrofitting a cable drag chain having a detection line and to a monitoring system for an energy chain.

Abstract: A separating web for an energy chain for arranging between two cross webs. The separating web has recesses for mounting a respective compartment base. Each recess is flanked by a rigid continuous support region on one side and by an insertion opening on the other side for inserting a compartment base, and each recess is provided with an elastic tongue element for partly closing the insertion opening and for securing the compartment base. According to the invention, the elastic tongue element extends from the insertion opening to the opposing support region. One end of the tongue element is connected to the edge of the insertion opening, and the other end is connected to the support region. The tongue element side facing away from the recess is equipped with a free area into which the elastic tongue element can be deflected when inserting and removing a compartment base.

Abstract: An energy guiding chain and side part therefore are proposed. In energy guiding chains, the pivotability of connected chain links against each other is typically limited by cooperating abutments with abutment surfaces arranged on the side parts. The invention concerns elastically deformable damping elements which dampen the abutting motion of the areas between the abutments and the abutment surfaces. In accordance with the invention, at least some abutments have a damping bow which is convexly curved in the direction of the respective other abutment surface and behind which a free space is provided, both ends of the damping bow being firmly connected to the respective abutment in the manner of an arched bridge. Furthermore, the damping bow is connected in one piece to the inner wall of the respective side part facing the inner guide channel.

Abstract: A line guiding apparatus (1) includes a line guiding unit (2) having a direction-changing region (7) and a support unit (8) which has a slide (9) with a support element (10) arranged thereon for the direction-changing region (7), that at the inside bears against the direction-changing region (7) and permits a movement of the line guiding unit (2) about the centre point axis (17) of the direction-changing region (7). To displace a line guiding unit of high flexibility in a stable linear orientation the support unit (8) has a drive device engaging the slide (9) and driving it in the direction of displacement of the line guiding unit (2) and a control device which is operatively connected to the drive device and is not formed by the line guiding unit (2) itself and with which the drive device is controllable in dependence on the state of movement of a movable connecting region (5). (FIG. 1).

Abstract: A monitoring system for the operation of an energy chain. This has a movable strand, a stationary strand and a deflection bend therebetween. The system comprises at least one sensor which generates at least one output dependent on the condition of the energy chain, and an evaluation unit which evaluates the at least one output of the sensor in order to monitor whether a fault condition occurs during operation of the energy chain. The sensor has a non-contact working principle and is arranged so that the sensor interacts from a distance with at least a subregion of the deflection bend and/or a subregion of the movable strand. The sensor thus generates an output which is dependent on the position and/or speed of the energy chain.

Abstract: A line guide device for lines like for example cables, hoses or the like, in particular for a clean room application, which has a flexible sheath. The sheath is designed in the manner of a corrugated tube and has a corrugated profile for the purposes of flexibility. The sheath has an asymmetric bending characteristic in relation to curvature about the direction-changing axis and to opposite curvature such that the permitted bending sag is considerably less than the desired curvature. There is proposed a particular configuration of shell portions for constructing the sheath, in particular in respect of the corrugated profiles and the fixing of the shell portions. A further aspect concerns a supporting skeleton for a corrugated tube.

Abstract: The invention concerns a line guide device (100 . . . 1100) for lines like for example cables, hoses or the like, in particular for a clean room application, which has a flexible sheath (210 . . . 610). The sheath (210 . . . 1100) is designed in the manner of a corrugated tube and has a corrugated profile for the purposes of flexibility. The sheath (210 . . . 1100) has an asymmetric bending characteristic in relation to curvature about the direction-changing axis and to opposite curvature such that the permitted bending sag is considerably less than the desired curvature. According to an aspect there is proposed a particular configuration of shell portions (331, 332; 1031, 1032; 1201, 1202) for constructing the sheath, in particular in respect of the corrugated profiles and the fixing of the shell portions (1201, 1202). A further aspect concerns a supporting skeleton (440; 540; 640; 940) for a corrugated tube.

Abstract: A monitoring system for monitoring the condition of and energy guide chain and/or a cable guided in an energy guide chain. Energy guide chains are used for guiding cables, hoses or the like, between abase and a moving end displaceable along a travel path and, in so doing, form a mobile run connected to the moving end, a stationary run with a connection end for the base and a deflection arc between the two runs. A monitoring device with at least one sensing component arranged on the energy guide chain. The monitoring device evaluates a signal generated using the sensing component in order to monitor the occurrence of a fault condition during operation of the energy guide chain. The sensing component includes an electrical indicator conductor guided by the energy guide chain and extending along the greater part of the length of the mobile run.

Abstract: Monitoring systems for energy chains which guide lines, and which are displaceable along a displacement path and thereby form a movable strand, a stationary strand, and a deflection arc therebetween. According to a first aspect, one or multiple sensors are arranged stationary and form a detection path along the displacement path of the energy chain, in order to react to an approaching and/or contact of the energy chain. According to a second aspect, a plurality of sensor modules are distributed along the energy chain. In this case, each sensor module has a measurand detector and a communication unit for transmitting outputs to an evaluation unit. The first and the second aspect allow function monitoring, for example for the purpose of a safety shutdown. According to a third aspect, a sensor module is arranged on the driver-side end region.

Abstract: A system for automatically docking a container stacker crane, in particular a RTG, to a movable supply, having a docking device with a transverse advancer unit and an extendable extension arm of which an end portion can be advanced transversely to the movable supply and connects thereto. An energy guiding chain with an entrainment member serves as a movable supply. A mechanical coupling is proposed with a coupling piece on the end portion and a coupling counterpart on the entrainment member. The entrainment member floatingly supports the coupling counterpart with transverse play. A plug connector on said end portion cooperates with a socket on the entrainment member. The mechanical coupling has a coupling piece configured as a funnel and a cooperating coupling counterpart configured as coupling head. The coupling head includes at least one extension, which cooperates with the funnel and/or a locking bolt for securing perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: The invention concerns an active line guide like for example an energy guiding chain with detection of deterioration. An apparatus for detection of deterioration in a critical region of at least one portion of the line guide is in the form of a radio circuit and is distinguished by a transponder and at least one detector element which cooperates with the transponder and which is so arranged that the detector element changes the behaviour of the transponder at a predetermined amount of deterioration wear in the critical region. In that way a change due to wear, for example due to abrasion wear, cracking and/or fatigue breakage, can be detected wirelessly, that is to say in contact-less fashion. A corresponding system and a method as well as a detection module for original fitment or retro-fitment to an active line guide having a function for detection of deterioration are proposed. A radio circuit is also disclosed for particularly reliable detection of deterioration.

Abstract: An energy guiding chain (12) with additional protection against a line break is proposed. It includes link members (20) or segments for guiding one or more lines like cables, hoses or the like, wherein the link members or segments can be angled relative to each other to form a direction-changing curve (28). The protection means includes a detector for monitoring the energy guiding chain. The detector (16) is mechanically operatively connected to a low-stretch triggering cord (30) and has a sensor (36) for detecting a kinematic parameter of the triggering cord (30). A break (13) in the energy guiding chain (12 can be detected in good time by a change in the kinematic parameter. In that way guided cables, hoses or the like can be protected against a line break.

Abstract: The invention relates to an energy guiding chain for guiding cables, hoses and the like between two connecting points that move relative to each other, comprising a plurality of tubular chain links (1), which are connected to each other in articulated fashion and made of plastic, and each of which displays a bottom wall (2), adjoining, opposite side walls (3, 4), and a cover wall (5), where the cover wall (5) is or can be detachably connected to the side walls (3, 4), the side walls (3, 4) each display a pivot pin (6) and a joint opening (7) for the articulated connection of adjacent chain links (1), the pivoting angle is limited by stops (8) in both pivoting directions, and the cover walls (5), side walls (3, 4) and bottom walls (2) overlap over the entire pivoting angle. On an energy guiding chain of this kind, the protection of the interior is to be even further improved, and handling during opening and closing of the energy guiding chain facilitated.

Abstract: The invention concerns a line guide device (100 . . . 1100) for lines like for example cables, hoses or the like, in particular for a clean room application, which has a flexible sheath (210 . . . 610). The sheath (210 . . . 1100) is designed in the manner of a corrugated tube and has a corrugated profile for the purposes of flexibility. The sheath (210 . . . 1100) has an asymmetric bending characteristic in relation to curvature about the direction-changing axis and to opposite curvature such that the permitted bending sag is considerably less than the desired curvature. According to an aspect there is proposed a particular configuration of shell portions (331, 332; 1031, 1032; 1201, 1202) for constructing the sheath, in particular in respect of the corrugated profiles and the fixing of the shell portions (1201, 1202). A further aspect concerns a supporting skeleton (440; 540; 640; 940) for a corrugated tube.

Abstract: The invention relates to an energy guiding chain for guiding cables, hoses and the like between two connecting points that move relative to each other, comprising a plurality of tubular chain links (1), which are connected to each other in articulated fashion and made of plastic, and each of which displays a bottom wall (2), adjoining, opposite side walls (3, 4), and a cover wall (5), where the cover wall (5) is or can be detachably connected to the side walls (3, 4), the side walls (3, 4) each display a pivot pin (6) and a joint opening (7) for the articulated connection of adjacent chain links (1), the pivoting angle is limited by stops (8) in both pivoting directions, and the cover walls (5), side walls (3, 4) and bottom walls (2) overlap over the entire pivoting angle. On an energy guiding chain of this kind, the protection of the interior is to be even further improved, and handling during opening and closing of the energy guiding chain facilitated.

Abstract: A line guide device, especially an energy chain, for guiding cables, hoses or the like is proposed. It includes a plurality of links or segments connected together and made from plastic and hast at least one one-piece hinge (20; 40). The one-piece hinge (20, 40) can be provided for connecting two links or segments (45) together, which are adjacent in the longitudinal direction and which are pivotable relative to each other by the hinge (40) and/or for connecting two parts of a single link or segment, e.g. for connecting a transverse web (14) to a side portion (11) in such a way that the transverse web (14) can be opened. According to the invention, the one-piece hinge (20; 30; 40; 50) is of a lattice-like structure with a plurality of openings (22, 23; 32, 33; 42, 43) which are displaced in two directions transversely relative to each other in order to form in the hinge at least one torsional region (24; 34) which is transverse relative to the connecting direction (L).

Abstract: A system (10) for automatically docking a container stacker crane (11), in particular a RTG, to a movable supply, having a docking device (14) with a transverse advancer unit (16) and an extendable extension arm (20) of which an end portion (22) can be advanced transversely to the movable supply and connects thereto. According to the invention, an energy guiding chain (12) with an entrainment member (24) serves as a movable supply. A mechanical coupling is proposed with a coupling piece (26) on the end portion (22) and a coupling counterpart (28) on the entrainment member (24). The entrainment member (24) floatingly supports (34) the coupling counterpart (28) with transverse play. A plug connector (30) on said end portion (22) cooperates with a socket (32) on the entrainment member (24). The mechanical coupling has a coupling piece (26) configured as a funnel (40) and a cooperating coupling counterpart (28) configured as coupling head (42).

Abstract: An energy guiding chain (12) with additional protection against a line break is proposed. It includes link members (20) or segments for guiding one or more lines like cables, hoses or the like, wherein the link members or segments can be angled relative to each other to form a direction-changing curve (28). The protection means includes a detector for monitoring the energy guiding chain. The detector (16) is mechanically operatively connected to a low-stretch triggering cord (30) and has a sensor (36) for detecting a kinematic parameter of the triggering cord (30). A break (13) in the energy guiding chain (12 can be detected in good time by a change in the kinematic parameter. In that way guided cables, hoses or the like can be protected against a line break.

Abstract: This invention relates to an energy chain (100; 200 . . . 700) having a number of mutually articulated chain links (212; 312 . . . 812), at least some chain links present a housing (216; 316 . . . 816) for the feed-through of cables and hoses. Adjacent chain links are pivotable against each there by way of hinged connections in such a manner that between a fixed connector (105) and movable connector (107) of said energy chain a movable deflection zone (104) with a predetermined curvature is formed. The invention provides that a bendable tubular envelope (110; 210 . . . 810), in particular a corrugated hose or corrugated tube, surrounds the chain links in the circumferential direction and between said two connectors (105, 107) in a continuous manner. The envelope is supported and entrained by at least some chain links (212; 312 . . . 812) and is sufficiently flexible for absorbing the predetermined curvature of the deflection zone (104) and for following the reciprocating movement thereof.