Wire guide module and system
AssigneeELCo Enterprises, Inc.
InventorEdward L. Cooper
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A plurality of wire guide modules are interconnected and pivotally attached to each other. The wire guide modules are pivotable between straight configuration and a curved configuration. Each wire guide module defines a channel (22) extending longitudinally therethrough with bearings (24, 26, 28) on opposite lateral sides of the channel. The wire guide modules are defined by first (10a) and second (10b) halves that are joined together to define the channel and retain the bearings. Each wire guide module defines a slot portion (40a) at a first end and tongue portion (42a) at the second end. The tongue portion is sized to be received within the slot portion. The tongue portion defines a pivot hole and the slot portion defines pivot pins received in the pivot hole to define the pivot axis therebetween.
Claims20
A wire guide module for feeding large diameter wire, the module comprising:
- a housing having a having a first end and a second end, wherein the main body extends longitudinally between the first end and the second end;
- a slot portion defined at the first end of the housing;
- a tongue portion defined at the second end of the housing, the tongue portion having a thickness generally corresponding to a space defined by the slot portion, such that the tongue portion of the module is receivable within the slot portion of an identical further housing;
- a first port defined at the slot portion and a second port defined at the tongue portion and a channel extending longitudinally from the first port to the second port for feeding the wire therethrough;
- wherein the channel includes a central section extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing and the channel further includes a tapered portion extending from the central section toward the first port or the second port;
- at least two rotatable bearings disposed in the main body on opposite lateral sides of the channel, wherein the bearings are configured to contact and feed the wire through the channel.
A flexible wire guide module system, the system comprising:
- a plurality of interconnected wire guide modules including at least a first wire guide module and a second wire guide module, each wire guide module of the plurality of interconnected wire guide modules comprising:
- a slot portion defined by a pair of slot flanges at a first longitudinal end of the module;
- a tongue portion defined by a pair of tongue flanges at a second longitudinal end of the module;
- a module channel extending between a first port at the first and a second port at the second end;
- a plurality of bearings disposed within the module adjacent the module channel including at least one bearing on each lateral side of the module channel;
- wherein the first and second modules are pivotally connected via a positive connection fit between the tongue portion of the first module and slot portion of the second module;
- an overall channel comprising each of the module channels, wherein the overall channel changes depending on a relative orientation of each module.
A method of interconnected a plurality of wire guide modules, the method comprising;
- providing a first half of a wire guide module, wherein the first half includes a slot flange at a first end and a tongue flange at a second end, wherein the slot flange includes a post projecting therefrom and the tongue flange defines pivot hole extending therethrough;
- placing a plurality of bearings adjacent a channel defined in part by the first half and extending longitudinally between the first end and the second end, wherein the bearings are placed on opposite lateral sides of the channel;
- providing a second half of a wire guide module, wherein the second half includes a slot flange at a first end and a tongue flange at a second end, wherein the slot flange includes a post projecting therefrom and the tongue flange defines pivot hole extending therethrough;
- attaching the second half of a wire guide module to the first half and capturing the bearings therebetween, wherein the tongue flanges of the first and the second half combine to define a combined tongue portion defining a combined pivot hole therethrough;
- in response to attaching the second half to the first half, defining an assembled first wire guide module;
- after defining the first wire guide module, attaching a further first half of a wire guide module to the combined tongue portion by inserting the post of the further first half into the combined pivot hole of the combined tongue portion;
- attaching a further second half of a wire guide module to the combined tongue portion by inserting the post of the further second half into the combined pivot hole of the combined tongue portion;
- disposing further bearings between the further first and second halves;
- in response to attaching the further first and second halves to the combined tongue portion and disposing further bearings therebetween, defining a further combined wire guide module;
- wherein the first wire guide module and the further wire guide module are pivotally connected in positive locking engagement therebetween.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.