EP0844702B1 - Line connection - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a line connection according to the preamble of patent claim 1 .

Line connections of this type are used to connect two lines together to be connected when used relative to each other about a common axis be moved; frequently, but not always, only one of the lines is moved while the other is stationary. An intermediate line is used to connect the two lines. One end of which is at a first connection to the first line and at one second connection connected to the second line. In cases where only a fixed to be connected to a moving line, one of the connections is fixed and the others movable. If the intermediate line is flexible, it will be used if necessary guided by a guide device.

These are line connections of this type with a fixed and a moving connection and a relatively less flexible, looped line known, the movement, starting from a zero position, in both directions of rotation extends over an angular range of approximately 90 °, that is to say in total over approximately 180 °, so that a semicircle can be covered.

In certain areas of application there is now a need in corresponding Way to cover the entire radius over 360 °, for reasons of practical Realization and compensation of inaccuracies even an overall angle of more than 360 °, i.e. about 400 °, should be coated. It would be certain constructions, on the one hand, require a very flexible intermediate line use; on the other hand, depending on the concept, the intermediate line should also be under pressure and not only be able to withstand tensile loads and therefore have no flexibility, as general a flexible element can only be used under tension, but not under pressure. These two requirements are not compatible.

It must therefore be ascertained that the line connections mentioned above Type with which large angles of rotation up to 360 ° and more can be coated are known.

The object of the invention is thus seen in a line connection of the beginning to propose the type mentioned, the relative rotation of two lines or connections by a full rotation of 360 ° or slightly more.

This object is achieved by the features of the characterizing part of the patent claim 1 solved. Preferred designs and advantageous developments of the inventive Line connection are through the dependent claims Are defined.

The new line connection is based on the principle, instead of the lines to be connected and the intermediate line to provide two lines or intermediate lines, which are functionally, but not geometrically, connected in parallel. This allows as will be described later, a mirror-symmetrical arrangement of the intermediate line and the additional intermediate line provided according to the invention in two to a certain extent opposite loops, which means that in each movement phase the Intermediate line and the additional intermediate line are stressed so that highly flexible cables can be used.

As a guide device for the intermediate line and the additional intermediate line two coaxial cylinders, namely an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder, are provided, that can rotate relative to each other. Also belongs to the guiding device a freely rotatable planet gear with a diameter in the circular ring between fits the two cylinders and its axis is parallel to the axis of the cylinders is. The first line is at a first connection with one end of the intermediate line connected; a first branch line branched off from it is connected to another Connection connected to one end of the additional intermediate line. The two mentioned Ports are located on one of the cylinders. To the other end of the intermediate line if the second line is connected to another connection, and to the other end of the auxiliary link is the last connection second branch line connected. The latter two connections are on the other the cylinder arranged as the two ports mentioned above. In the As already mentioned, the intermediate line and the Additional intermediate line as well as the planet gear symmetrical to a plane of symmetry arranged by the axis of the cylinder and the one in the zero position Axis of the planet gear is defined. The intermediate line runs from its first connection at one of the cylinders along this cylinder up to the planet wheel this along 180 ° and sits along the other cylinder until it is connected to it Cylinder on; the additional intermediate line runs accordingly from the connection on one Cylinder to the planet gear, half round it, complementary to the intermediate line, and sits along the other cylinder up to her on that cylinder arranged connection.

The line connection according to the invention described above is not only because of the Possibility to use highly flexible cables and thus also large angles up to 360 ° or more to brush, beneficial. The symmetrical arrangement is also with regard to the torque advantageous, there are no restoring forces and the friction of the whole arrangement is minimal. Another, in some cases significant advantage of The line connection according to the invention can be seen in the fact that it is neither inward still protrudes to the outside through a hollow cylinder, which through the inner and corresponds to the outer cylinder limited space, so that others in the middle in particular Components are housed, preferably those that are in a coaxial relationship stand for the relative movement of the two cylinders.

Even if it is possible to turn both cylinders, it often becomes a combination from a fixed and a rotatable cylinder preferred.

In constructive terms, it is in many cases, especially because of the space for the moving Pipes, particularly suitable for moving the outer cylinder, although so that the disadvantage is associated with accelerating or decelerating a larger mass.

The exact locations of the connections are determined by the desired total angle of rotation and of course also determined by the diameter ratio of the two cylinders. For A rotation angle of approx. 200 ° can be achieved by choosing the diameter ratio in the approximate range of 1: 2 in the zero position, the connections on one of the Cylinder be arranged approximately diametrically, while the connections on the other Cylinders can collapse in the plane of symmetry.

To prevent the intermediate line and the additional intermediate line lying axially adjacent To prevent, it is beneficial if the guide surfaces, that is, the inner Circumferential surface of the outer cylinder, the outer circumferential surface of the inner cylinder and the outer circumferential surface of the planet gear extending in the circumferential direction Contain guide grooves or ribs; also corresponding cylinder bottoms or -Lids can perform management functions.

Although the new cable connection is also very suitable for small angles of rotation, it is particularly advantageous if a relative total angle of more than 360 °, that is approximately 400 °, is to be brushed so that there is a rotation from the zero position in each direction by about 200 ° in the extreme positions.

To determine the extreme positions, it is advantageous if appropriate on the cylinders Attacks are provided.

A particular problem with such stops arises when the total angle of rotation Exceeds 360 °. In this case, a stop element can be on one of the cylinders be provided. Two fixed stops are attached to the other of the cylinders; the The angular distance of these fixed stops is equal to the total angle of rotation minus 360 °. In the middle between these fixed stops is on the same cylinder between the fixed stops freely pivotable stop lever arranged. The fixed stops serve to the stop lever, which interacts with the stop plate in extreme positions, each to position according to extreme position. The stop lever is located in one extreme position between one fixed stop and one surface of the stop element, in the other extreme position, the stop lever is between the other fixed stop and the opposite surface of the stop element. For Change of the maximum swept angle of rotation and, if necessary, for adjustment this stop element can also be designed as a lever.

The line connections according to the invention are suitable for connecting lines of all kinds such as fluid lines, fiber optic lines and electrical cables, in particular Ribbon cable in the manner of flex prints.

Fig. 1

eine Leitungsverbindung nach dem Stand der Technik, zur Erläuterung des durch die Erfindung gelösten Problems, in stark vereinfachter, schematischer Darstellung.

Fig. 2

eine schematische Darstellung der Leitungsführung bei einer Leitungsverbindung nach der Erfindung; einer Leitungsführung nach der Erfindung;

Fig. 3

eine Leitungsverbindung nach der Erfindung, wobei sich die bewegbaren Teile in ihrer Nullage befinden, als vereinfachtes Schaubild;

Fig. 4

die Zwischenleitung und die Zusatzzwischenleitung, in gleicher Lage und Darstellung wie in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5A

eine Leitungsverbindung nach der Erfindung, in vereinfachter, schematischer Darstellung, wobei sich die bewegbaren Teile in der Nullage befinden;

Fig. 5B

die in Fig. 5A dargestellte Leitungsverbindung, wobei sich die bewegbaren Teile in der einen Extremallage befinden; und

Fig. 5C

die in den Fig. 5A und 5B dargestellte Leitungsverbindung, wobei sich die bewegbaren Teile in der anderen Extremallage befinden.

The various aspects of the invention are illustrated in detail below using a preferred exemplary embodiment and with reference to the drawing. It shows:

Fig. 1

a line connection according to the prior art, to explain the problem solved by the invention, in a highly simplified, schematic representation.

Fig. 2

a schematic representation of the line routing in a line connection according to the invention; a cable routing according to the invention;

Fig. 3

a line connection according to the invention, wherein the movable parts are in their zero position, as a simplified diagram;

Fig. 4

the intermediate line and the additional intermediate line, in the same position and representation as in Fig. 3;

Figure 5A

a line connection according to the invention, in a simplified, schematic representation, wherein the movable parts are in the zero position;

Figure 5B

the line connection shown in Fig. 5A, the movable parts being in one extreme position; and

Figure 5C

the line connection shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the movable parts being in the other extreme position.

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a line connection according to the prior art. The line connection serves to connect line A to another line B , for which purpose an intermediate line C is used. The intermediate line C is connected at a connection D to the line A and at a connection E to the line B. Assuming that the line A and the connection D are fixed, the line B and the connection E are movable, the connection E must move by the required angle of rotation or on a corresponding circular line from one extreme position to the other extreme position, such as it is indicated in Fig. 1 by arrows starting from E. The connection E and thus the end of the intermediate line C connected there are guided by means of a guide device during this movement. In cases where the angle of rotation must be around 360 ° or more, for example, the connection D, which is considered to be movable, must rotate from a zero position in both directions of rotation by theoretically by 180 ° or, taking structural conditions into account, by 180 ° , which corresponds to a total rotation angle of over 360 °. Fig. 1 makes it clear that - as described above - the previously known line connections in the range of a total of about 50 °, but are not suitable for larger angles of rotation.

The basic idea of the present invention is now to be seen in that one combines as in the prior art, the lines A and B by the intermediate line C to give but as shown in Figure 2 purely schematically, the line A in a line A .1 and a branch line A.2, line B branches into a line B.1 and a branch line B.2 ; the lines A.1 and B.1 are connected by an intermediate line C.1 , while the branch lines A.2 and B.2 are connected by an additional intermediate line C.2 ; one arranges, as described further below, in particular with regard to the necessary movements, the intermediate line C.1 and the intermediate branch line C.2 . The cable line A.1 , C.1, B.1, on the one hand, and the cable line A.2 , C.2 , B.2, on the other hand, thus form parallel, but not geometrically, parallel lines.

The line connection 10 according to the invention shown in FIGS. 3-5 serves to connect electrical lines. It has an intermediate line 12.1 and an additional intermediate line 12.2 , both in the form of flex prints. An inner cylinder 20 and an outer cylinder 22 are provided as a guide device for the intermediate line 12.1 and the additional intermediate line 12.2 , which have a common axis M , about which they can be rotated relative to one another. In the illustrated embodiment, the inner cylinder 20 is fixed, while the outer cylinder 22 is rotatable. Arranged between the cylinders 20 and 22 is a freely movable planet gear 24 , which is also attributable to the guide device, the diameter of which essentially corresponds to the radius difference of the two cylinders 20 , 22 and the axis N of which is directed parallel to the axis M.

The intermediate line 12.1 connects a first line to a second line, and the additional intermediate line 12.2 connects a first branch line to a second branch line. One end of the intermediate line 12 is connected to the first line at a connection 18.1 and the other end of the intermediate line 12.1 is connected to the second line at a connection 19.1 . Accordingly, one end of the additional intermediate line 12.2 is connected to the first branch line at a connection 18.2 and the other end of the additional intermediate line 12.2 is connected to the second branch line at a connection 19.2 . The connections 18.1 and 18.2 are located on the outer cylinder 22 , which is moved in the present exemplary embodiment, and the connections 19.1 and 19.2 are located on the inner cylinder 20, which is fixed in the present exemplary embodiment. It is obvious that in the present configuration the connections 19.1 and 19.1 and thus also the second line and the second branch line could also be combined.

As can best be seen from FIGS. 4 and 5A , the intermediate line 12.1 , the additional intermediate line 12.2 and the planet gear 24 are arranged symmetrically in the zero position of the line connection 10 , specifically with respect to a plane of symmetry S , which is defined by the axis M of the cylinders 20 , 22 and the zero axis N of the planet gear 24 is defined and shown in FIGS . 5A-5C , where it presents itself as a vertical straight line.

The intermediate line 12.1 extends from the connection 18.1 along the inner wall of the outer cylinder 22 to the planet gear 24 , circles it along its one half and continues along the outer wall of the inner cylinder 20 to the connection 19.1 . The additional intermediate line 12.2 runs symmetrically to the connection 18.2, orbiting the other half of the planet gear 24 , to the connection 19.2.

It should also be noted that, depending on the flexibility of the line material and in particular if the axes M and N are not oriented vertically, the intermediate line and the additional intermediate line are not the ones from the departure point on the planet gear 24 to the connections 18.1 and 18.2 without additional design measures Inner wall of the outer cylinder 22 follow but will be arranged directly but in a corrugated arrangement.

The function of the structural elements described so far is explained below with reference to FIGS. 5A-5C , the diameters of the cylinders 20 , 22 and the lengths of the intermediate line 12.1 and the additional intermediate line 12.2 not being shown exactly to scale.

FIG. 5A shows the movable parts of the line connection 10 in their zero position, while FIG. 5B approximately represents one extreme position and FIG. 5C approximately the other extreme position of the movable parts of the line connection 10 .

It can be seen from FIG. 5B that the outer cylinder 22 was rotated counterclockwise by almost 180 ° in comparison with FIG. 5A , the connections 18.1 and 18.2 arranged on the outer cylinder 22 also being rotated, of course. The inner, fixed cylinder 20 and the connections 19.1 and 19.2 arranged on it are permanently in the position shown in FIG. 5A . Due to the movement of the connection 18.1 , the planet gear 24 has reached the region of its first extreme position by almost 270 ° around the axis M or has rolled between the inner cylinder 20 and the outer cylinder 22 . The proportion of the intermediate line 12.1 which runs on the inner cylinder 20 has thereby decreased, the portion of the intermediate line 12.1 running on the outer cylinder 22 having increased by the same length at the same time. Conversely, the proportion of the additional intermediate line 12.1 that runs on the inner cylinder 20 has increased and the proportion of the additional intermediate line 12.2 running on the outer cylinder 22 has decreased accordingly. With these changes in position, the intermediate line 12.1 was pulled to a certain extent from the connection 18.1 and led by the inner cylinder 20 , the outer cylinder 22 and the planet gear 24 moved thereby. At the same time, the additional intermediate line 12.2 was, as it were, pulled by the planet gear 24 and also guided by the inner cylinder 20 and the outer cylinder 22 . In contrast to the zero position, there is no symmetry of the movable parts of the line connection 10 in all other positions.

Following the described rotation of the outer cylinder 22 into the position shown in FIG. 5B , the latter is rotated further into its one extreme position. This is followed by the turning back into the zero position and the immediate further turning into the position shown in FIG. 5C , in which the movable parts are almost in their second extreme position; a total rotation of more than 360 ° was carried out clockwise. This is followed by a turn of more than 360 °, but counterclockwise. All of these rotations proceed analogously to the rotation described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B .

To fix the extreme positions, two fixed stops 30.1 , 30.2 and in the middle between them a freely movable stop lever 32, which can be blocked with a locking device, are mounted on the inner cylinder 20 . The mutual angular distance of the fixed stops is 40 ° if it is assumed that the total angle of rotation should be 400 °. A stop element 34 is fastened to the outer cylinder 22 . In one extreme position, the stop lever 32 is located between one fixed stop 32.1 and one surface of the stop element 34 , and in the other extreme position the stop lever 32 is located between the other fixed stop 30.2 and the other surface of the stop element 34.

3 clearly shows that the entire line connection can be arranged in a hollow cylindrical space which is delimited by the two cylinders 20, 22 . This means that both the central space in the inner cylinder 20 and the surroundings outside the outer cylinder 22 remain free for other components.

The line connection 10 described above represents only one embodiment of the Line connections according to the invention, being within the scope of the above description and the drawing and the claims are numerous other embodiments possible are.

Claims (11)

1. Line connection (10) for connecting a first line to a second line via an intermediate line (12.1), consisting of a first line, a second line and an intermediate line, which is joined at one end by a first connector (18.1) to the first line and at its other end by a second connector (19.1) to the second line, said connectors (18.1, 19.1) being adapted to rotate relative to one another about a common axis (M),
   characterised in that

   an auxiliary intermediate line (12.2) is arranged,

   as a guide fixture for the intermediate line (12.1) and the auxiliary intermediate line (12.2) there are provided an outer cylinder (22) and an inner cylinder (20) which are arranged so as to be able to rotate about the same axis (M) and relative to one another, and a planet wheel (24) which is adapted to rotate freely between the cylinders (20, 22) and the axis of which (N) is directed parallel to the axis (M),

   the first connector (18.1), and a third connector (18.2), which joins a first branch wire that branches off from the first line to one end of the auxiliary intermediate line (12.2), being disposed on one of the cylinders (20), and

   the second connector (19.1) and a fourth connector (19.2), which joins a second branch line that branches off from the second line to the other end of the auxiliary intermediate line (12.2), being disposed on the other of the cylinders (22),
   in such a manner that

   in a neutral position, from which the cylinders (20, 22) can be rotated relative to one another in both directions of rotation, the first connector (18.1), the second connector (19.1) and the intermediate line (12.1) on the one hand, and the third connector (18.2), the fourth connector (19.2) and the auxiliary intermediate line (12.2) on the other hand, are disposed symmetrically to a plane of symmetry (S) which is defined by the axis (M) of the cylinders (20, 22) and the axis (N) of the planet wheel (24) which is located in the neutral position, where in the neutral position

   the intermediate line (12.1) and the auxiliary intermediate line (12.2) run axially alongside one another, from their connectors (18.1 and 18.2, respectively) arranged on the one cylinder (22), along this cylinder (22) to the planet wheel (24), respectively run half around the latter in complementary fashion, and are routed along the other cylinder (20) to their connectors (19.1 and 19.2, respectively) arranged on the last-mentioned cylinder (20).
2. Line connection (10) according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   the line connection, preferably inclusive of the lines and the branch lines (14.2, 16.2), is arranged in the hollow cylinder delimited by the inner cylinder (20) and the outer cylinder (22).
3. Line connection (10) according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   one of the cylinders (20, 22) is stationary.
4. Line connection (10) according to claim 3,
   characterised in that
   the stationary cylinder is the inner cylinder (20).
5. Line connection according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   in the neutral position the connectors (18.1, 18.2) are spaced apart from the planet wheel (24) by more than 90°.
6. Line connection (10) according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   in the neutral position the planet wheel (24) is arranged diametrically to the second and fourth connectors (19.1, 19.2) which are not spaced apart from one another.
7. Line connection (10) according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   the planet wheel (24) on its external circumferential surface, the inner cylinder (20) on its external circumferential surface, and the outer cylinder (22) on its internal circumferential surface, have circumferentially extending guide channels and/or guide fins for the intermediate line (12.1) and the auxiliary intermediate line (12.2).
8. Line connection (10) according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   the cylinders (20, 22) are adapted to be rotated through more than 180° relative to one another out of the neutral position and into the extreme settings in both directions of rotation.
9. Line connection (10) according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   limit stops (30.1, 30.2, 32, 34) are provided to locate the extreme settings on the cylinders (20, 22).
10. Line connection (10) according to claims 8 and 9,
    characterised in that
    to locate extreme settings into which the cylinders (20, 22) are adapted to be rotated from the neutral position relative to one another through an angle exceeding 180°, on the one cylinder (22) there are provided two fixed stops (30.1, 30.2) and centrally between the fixed stops (30.1, 30.2) a swivelling stop lever (32), the angular spacing of the fixed stops (30.1, 30.2) being the same as the overall rotation angle exceeding 360°, and that fixedly mounted on the other cylinder (20) is a radially directed stop member (34) designed to cooperate with the stop lever (32) in the extreme settings, the stop lever (32) being situated in the one extreme setting between the one fixed stop (30.1) and a surface of the stop member (34), and in the other extreme setting between the other fixed stop (30.2) and the other surface of the stop member (34).
11. Line connection according to at least one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that
    the lines and the branch lines are electrical lines, with the intermediate line (12.1) and the auxiliary intermediate line (12.2) preferably being ribbon cables or "print flex".

Images