Transparent cable drag chain

• US 5,163,281 A
• Filed: 03/04/1992
• Issued: 11/17/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Company, Tsubakimoto Machinery & Engineering Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Company, Tsubakimoto Machinery & Engineering Company Limited
• Inventors: Kanehira, Makoto, Tsubakimoto, Yasumasa
• Primary Examiner(s): JONES, DAVID B
• Application Number:
  US07/846,788
• Time in Patent Office: 258 Days
• Field of Search: 59/78.1, 59/900, 248/48, 248/49, 248/50, 248/51, 248/78
• US Class Current: 59/78.1
• CPC Class Codes: F16G 13/16 with arrangements for holding electric cables, hoses, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 13/16 the pipe joint consisting of overlapping extremities having mutually co-operating collars
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/006 using extensible carrier for the cable, e.g. self-coiling spring extensible conductors or cables H01B7/06
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 59/90 Plastic

Abstract

A cable drag chain including a series of hollow links for guiding and protecting cables, hoses or the like conduits, the conduits being connected between a stationary power supply and a movable machine member. Each link includes a pair of opposite link plates connected in parallel relation between upper and lower coupling bars made of a transparent synthetic resin to enable defects in the conduits to be seen from outside the cable.

Claims

1. A transparent cable drag chain comprising a plurality of link bodies flexibly connected together, each of said link bodies having a passage extending therethrough, said connected link bodies together forming a continuous hollow passage, and said chain being connectible at one end to a fixed element and at the other end to a movable body, said chain being capable of enclosing a cable or hose extending through said continuous hollow passage, wherein each link body consists, at least in part, of transparent synthetic resin, whereby the condition of the cable or hose within the continuous hollow passage can be visually observed.