Treotham Automation presents two new igus products that meet the heavy-duty cabling demands of industrial settings.
The new igus E4Q energy chain is a lightweight igus e-chain for unsupported lengths and long travels. The first prototype was presented by igus at the Hannover Messe 2019.
The chain links of the e-chain have a smooth, contoured design and a completely new crossbar concept with locking straps for weight reduction. These ensure that the new series can be opened and closed in seconds without tools. The energy chain has been specifically developed for the special requirements of unsupported lengths and long travels.
High unsupported lengths and long travels with large fill weight create extreme stress on energy chains. The igus developers have designed the E4Q e-chain intended for such application scenarios. Based on the robust energy chain standard E4.1 from igus, the new series brings along a long service life and a high degree of modularity. In order to optimise material and therefore the weight of the energy chain, shapes inspired by nature are used.
The smooth, contoured design can be found on the outside of the chain links as well as on the stop-dogs. Despite material recesses, the new development has a high strength and stability comparable to the E4.1 series.
Tool-free and quick installation with new crossbars
Another special feature of the E4Q are the crossbars. These can be opened and closed completely without tools. On the top of the crossbar, there are two hollows for the fingers, by which the locking hooks can be easily pulled up. Unlocked on both sides, the crossbar can be removed with little effort. This allows the easy opening and closing of the chain even in a guide trough and accelerates the filling of the e-chain by up to 40 percent. Another advantage: The new crossbar has significantly higher pull-out forces than its counterparts in the locked state thanks to its innovative type.
Optionally with new additional noise dampening
Due to the special design of the e-chain, this is very quiet in the movement. However, if the user desires additional noise reduction, igus has integrated an optional system in the inner horizontal stop-dog for the E4Q. These are two connected balls that dampen the impact during the radius and extension stop. The balls are made of a new noise-optimised and soft material that further reduces the sound level without restricting the stability of the stop-dogs.
Energy supply in all directions
Also available from Treotham is the new igus e-spool that can up 21 metres of cables and hoses safely without a motor.
Whether at lofty heights, flat on the ground or in depth, with the e-spool – the slip-ring-free cable drum – Treotham offers an energy supply for different application scenarios. The compact, spring-driven system can safely guide energy, media or fibre optic data cables. To enable users to access the energy chain system even for longer lengths, igus has developed a new standard. Thanks to an optimised design, the e-spool can now extend cables and hoses up to 21 metres without the need of a motor.
In stage technology, on oil platforms or in process cranes, the rollable e-spool is used wherever cables have to be moved safely and in the tightest of spaces. The compact igus energy chain system from Treotham is an alternative to the classic cable drum, but with two major differences: the e-spool is the only solution that can carry not only energy, but also all media such as data, compressed air and liquids. Because, it connects two different energy supply systems in one. A standard e-chain, which is guided by a guide roller, always ensures with an integrated retaining spring the correct length and tension of the e-chain system. An igus twisterband is responsible for the rotational movements. This special structure makes movements in every direction possible. Another difference: the e-spool does not need an expensive slip ring. This means that the most diverse cables can be continuously connected in a confined space in a system, and also be replaced or added at any time. To help users to fall back on the practical energy chain solution for longer travels, igus has developed a new e-spool standard for 21 metres.
Optimised structure for more filling and carrying capacity
The new e-spool has evolved from customer requirements and experience of recent years and covers the gap between the spring-driven standard e-spool for up to 14 metres extension length and the motorised e-spool for large projects, for example in the offshore sector or in opera houses. The new energy chain system was equipped with a larger twisterband for a higher filling. To compensate for the payload and extension length, the new structure of the e-spool provides more bracing, a more stable all-enclosing body and a reinforced floor plate as a retraction safeguard. In order to withstand the higher forces, the developers also opted for an optimised mechanism for adjusting the spring force. The new e-spool standard is available either as a spring-driven version with 2 HD springs or as a motor-driven version with a built-in stationary motor.