Skate unit for cable protection and guide device

Abstract

A skate disposed between facing portions of a folded, flexible, cable guide includes a first set of rollers which contact only one of the two facing portions, and a second set of rollers which contact only the other of the two facing portions. A turning member mounted at an end of the skate is in rolling contact with the bent portion of the guide.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a is a schematic side elevational view of a cable guide assembly incorporating showing a skate according to a first embodiment of the invention, and also showing an enlargement of a portion of the skate to illustrate offset, overlapping, rollers;

FIG. 1 b is a schematic side elevational view of a cable guide assembly according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on section plane II-II of FIG. 1a.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on section plane III-III of FIG. 1a;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along section plane IV-IV of FIG. 1a;

FIG. 5 a is a top plan view of a skate according to the invention;

FIG. 5 b is a side elevational view of the skate of FIG. 5a ;

FIG. 6 is a schematic side elevational view of a cable guide assembly incorporating showing a skate according to a third embodiment of the invention, and also showing an enlargement of a portion of the skate to illustrate offset, overlapping, rollers;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view showing a cable guide incorporating a conventional skate, and also showing an enlargement of a roller on the skate;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of a conventional skate;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view showing a conventional cable guide in a laterally flexed state; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a conventional cable guide.

Claims

1. A cable guide assembly comprising: a flexible cable,a cable guide comprising a series of articulably interconnected links, each link comprising pair of side plates bridged by a pair of spaced connectors, the side plates and spaced connectors forming a protective channel through which the cable extends;the guide having a radius of flexion limited to a predetermined minimum radius, and having a fixed end and a movable end, and being folded on itself at a bend, whereby a first portion of the guide is in opposed relationship to a second portion of the guide, but the first and second portions are movable longitudinally relative to each other; anda skate disposed between the first and second portions of the guide to prevent contact between said portions of the guide;in which the skate comprises an elongated frame having first and second sets of rollers, the rollers of the first set being in rolling contact with only one of the opposed first and second portions of the guide and the rollers of the second set being in rolling contact with only the other of the opposed first and second portions of the guide; andin which the skate also comprises a turning member disposed at an end of the elongated frame and carried with the elongated frame, the turning member having a guide support in contact at least with plural, circumferentially spaced, portions of the guide along a circumferential side of the guide at the bend.

2. A cable guide assembly according to claim 1, in which the guide has a longitudinal axis is disposed substantially in a first plane, in which the skate is movable along a substantially straight longitudinal direction, and in which the guide support is in contact with portions of the guide on both sides of an imaginary second plane perpendicular to the first plane, parallel to said longitudinal direction and intersecting a center of the turning member about which said plural, circumferentially spaced portions of the guide are centered.

3. A cable guide assembly according to claim 1, in which the rollers of the first and second sets are flanged rollers.

4. A cable guide assembly according to claim 1, in which the first and second portions of the guide are spaced from each other by a distance less than the sum of the diameter of a roller of the first set and the diameter of a roller of the second set, and in which the rollers of the first and second sets are longitudinally offset, and overlap one another in a direction normal to the longitudinal directions of the first and second portions of the guide.

5. A cable guide assembly according to claim 4, in which the guide has a longitudinal axis is disposed substantially in a first plane, in which the skate is movable along a substantially straight longitudinal direction, and in which the guide support is in contact with portions of the guide on both sides of an imaginary second plane perpendicular to the first plane, parallel to said longitudinal direction and intersecting a center of the turning member about which said plural, circumferentially spaced portions of the guide are centered.

6. A cable guide assembly according to claim 4, in which the rollers of the first and second sets are flanged rollers.

7. A cable guide assembly according to claim 1, in which said guide support comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced rollers in rolling contact with plural, circumferentially spaced portions of the guide along a circumferential side of the guide at the bend.

8. A cable guide assembly according to claim 7, in which the guide has a longitudinal axis is disposed substantially in a first plane, in which the skate is movable along a substantially straight longitudinal direction, and in which the guide support is in contact with portions of the guide on both sides of an imaginary second plane perpendicular to the first plane, parallel to said longitudinal direction and intersecting a center of the turning member about which said plural, circumferentially spaced portions of the guide are centered.

9. A cable guide assembly according to claim 7, in which the rollers of the first and second sets are flanged rollers.

10. A cable guide assembly according to claim 7, in which the first and second portions of the guide are spaced from each other by a distance less than the sum of the diameter of a roller of the first set and the diameter of a roller of the second set, and in which the rollers of the first and second sets are longitudinally offset, and overlap one another in a direction normal to the longitudinal directions of the first and second portions of the guide.

11. A cable guide assembly according to claim 1, in which the turning member comprises a circular drum in contact with plural portions of the guide along the inner circumferential side of the guide at the bend.

12. A cable guide assembly according to claim 11, in which the guide has a longitudinal axis is disposed substantially in a first plane, in which the skate is movable along a substantially straight longitudinal direction, and in which the guide support is in contact with portions of the guide on both sides of an imaginary second plane perpendicular to the first plane, parallel to said longitudinal direction and intersecting a center of the turning member about which said plural, circumferentially spaced portions of the guide are centered.

13. A cable guide assembly according to claim 11, in which the rollers of the first and second sets are flanged rollers.

14. A cable guide assembly according to claim 11, in which the first and second portions of the guide are spaced from each other by a distance less than the sum of the diameter of a roller of the first set and the diameter of a roller of the second set, and in which the rollers of the first and second sets are longitudinally offset, and overlap one another in a direction normal to the longitudinal directions of the first and second portions of the guide.

15. A cable guide assembly according to claim 1, in which the turning member comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced rollers in contact with plural portions of the guide along the outer circumferential side of the guide at the bend.

16. A cable guide assembly according to claim 15, in which the guide has a longitudinal axis is disposed substantially in a first plane, in which the skate is movable along a substantially straight longitudinal direction, and in which the guide support is in contact with portions of the guide on both sides of an imaginary second plane perpendicular to the first plane, parallel to said longitudinal direction and intersecting a center of the turning member about which said plural, circumferentially spaced portions of the guide are centered.

17. A cable guide assembly according to claim 15, in which the rollers of the first and second sets are flanged rollers.

18. A cable guide assembly according to claim 15, in which the first and second portions of the guide are spaced from each other by a distance less than the sum of the diameter of a roller of the first set and the diameter of a roller of the second set, and in which the rollers of the first and second sets are longitudinally offset, and overlap one another in a direction normal to the longitudinal directions of the first and second portions of the guide.