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EP-4741680-A1 - DEVICE FOR GUIDING LONG OBJECT

EP4741680A1EP 4741680 A1EP4741680 A1EP 4741680A1EP-4741680-A1

Abstract

An elongated object guiding device includes links (20). Each link (20) includes two link plates (11), a first connecting member (12), and a second connecting member (13). The first connecting member (12) includes a plate-shaped body (12a), a first engaging portion (40) that engages with the first receiving portion (30a), and a second engaging portion (50) that engages with the second receiving portion (30b). At least one of the first receiving portion (30a) and the second receiving portion (30b) includes an outer receiving portion (32a). At least one of the first engaging portion (40) and the second engaging portion (50) includes a hanging wall (42) extending in a thickness direction of the body (12a), an inner engaging portion (43) that engages with the outer receiving portion (32a), and an outer protruding wall (44) protruding outward from the hanging wall (42).

Inventors

  • OYAMA, Ayaka

Assignees

  • Tsubakimoto Chain Co.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240702

Claims (6)

  1. An elongated object guiding device, comprising links pivotably connected in series to each other, wherein each of the links includes: two link plates facing each other; a first connecting member that couples the two link plates to each other; and a second connecting member that couples the two link plates to each other, the elongated object guiding device is configured to accommodate an elongated object in a space surrounded by the two link plates, the first connecting member, and the second connecting member in each of the links, one of the two link plates in each of the links includes a first receiving portion and the other one of the two link plates includes a second receiving portion, the first connecting member in each of the links includes a plate-shaped body, a first engaging portion that engages with the first receiving portion, and a second engaging portion that engages with the second receiving portion, a side where the two link plates face each other is defined as an inner side of the link, and a side opposite thereto is defined as an outer side of the link, at least one of the first receiving portion and the second receiving portion includes an outer receiving portion, and at least one of the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion includes: a hanging wall extending in a thickness direction of the body; an inner engaging portion located on the hanging wall and configured to engage with the outer receiving portion; and an outer protruding wall that protrudes outward from the hanging wall.
  2. The elongated object guiding device according to claim 1, wherein the first engaging portion includes a curved portion located between the hanging wall and the body.
  3. The elongated object guiding device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an outer surface of at least one of the first receiving portion and the second receiving portion includes a release recess for disengaging the inner engaging portion from the outer receiving portion.
  4. The elongated object guiding device according to claim 3, wherein a width of the release recess in a series-arrangement direction of the links is less than or equal to a width of the inner engaging portion of the first connecting member in the series-arrangement direction.
  5. The elongated object guiding device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an outer surface of the outer protruding wall of the first connecting member is located below an outer surface of the body of the first connecting member.
  6. The elongated object guiding device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the other one of the first receiving portion and the second receiving portion includes a hinge shaft-receiving portion, and the other one of the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion includes a hinge shaft that engages with the hinge shaft-receiving portion.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to an elongated object guiding device. BACKGROUND ART Patent Literature 1 discloses an energy chain. As shown in Fig. 15, the energy chain 80 includes two link plates 81 that face each other and a connecting piece 82 that integrally connects the two link plates 81 to each other. The two link plates 81 and the connecting piece 82 form a link 83. Further, a holding plate 84 spans between the two link plates 81. An energy conducting member such as a cable or hose is arranged in a space surrounded by the two link plates 81, the connecting piece 82, and the holding plate 84. Each of the two link plates 81 includes, at its upper end, an engaging piece for engaging the holding plate 84. The engaging piece is formed of a semicircular bar 85 having the inward-facing side of the two link plates 81 as a circumferential surface. The outward-facing side of the bar 85 defines a flat surface 85a. The flat surface 85a includes a groove 85b extending in the axial direction of the link 83. The holding plate 84 includes a base plate 86, a first side piece 87 hanging from one end of the base plate 86, and a second side piece 88 hanging from the other end of the base plate 86. The first side piece 87 includes a protruding piece 87a that engages with the groove 85b of the bar 85. The second side piece 88 includes a semicircular locking hole 88a fitted to the bar 85. To couple the holding plate 84 to the two link plates 81, the bar 85 of one of the link plates 81 is fitted into the semicircular locking hole 88a of the second side piece 88 of the holding plate 84. Next, the holding plate 84 is pivoted about the semicircular locking hole 88a. Then, the protruding piece 87a of the first side piece 87 of the holding plate 84 is engaged with the groove 85b of the bar 85 of the other link plate 81. As a result, the holding plate 84 is coupled to the two link plates 81. CITATION LIST Patent Literature Patent Literature 1: JPH02-526Y SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem In the energy chain 80, which serves as an elongated object guiding device disclosed in, for example, Patent Literature 1, the holding plate 84, which serves as a first connecting member, may be disengaged from the link plate 81 to allow inspection or replacement of the elongated object. In this case, an operator inserts, for example, a tool between the first side piece 87 of the holding plate 84 and the bar 85 of the other link plate 81 to disengage the protruding piece 87a of the first side piece 87 from the groove 85b of the bar 85. However, since the operator may find it difficult to understand how to disengage the holding plate 84 using a tool, it is difficult to disengage the holding plate 84. Solution to Problem An elongated object guiding device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes links pivotably connected in series to each other. Each of the links includes two link plates facing each other, a first connecting member that couples the two link plates to each other, and a second connecting member that couples the two link plates to each other. The elongated object guiding device is configured to accommodate an elongated object in a space surrounded by the two link plates, the first connecting member, and the second connecting member in each of the links. One of the two link plates in each of the links includes a first receiving portion and the other one of the two link plates includes a second receiving portion. The first connecting member in each of the links includes a plate-shaped body, a first engaging portion that engages with the first receiving portion, and a second engaging portion that engages with the second receiving portion. A side where the two link plates face each other is defined as an inner side of the link, and a side opposite thereto is defined as an outer side of the link. At least one of the first receiving portion and the second receiving portion includes an outer receiving portion. At least one of the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion includes a hanging wall extending in a thickness direction of the body, an inner engaging portion located on the hanging wall and configured to engage with the outer receiving portion, and an outer protruding wall that protrudes outward from the hanging wall. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an elongated object guiding device according to an embodiment.Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a link.Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a first connecting member.Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the first connecting member as seen from another angle.Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a second receiving portion of the link plate.Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the link.Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a hinge shaft is engaged with a hinge shaft-receiving portion.Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the outer receiving portion in the first receiving porti