igus has introduced e-chain and chainflex cables that are an ideal solution for applications that must work reliably in frost and snow.
The new e-chain, called “ice-chain,” features injection-molded contact points that dramatically reduce the chance of freezing, along with the costs of downtime and maintenance.
The e-chains prevent freezing of the energy supply. Inclined lifts, for example, are used in a variety of places to carry people and/or products. These lifts require long-lasting, trouble-free operation. Failure frequently results in high maintenance costs due to poor access and height of the cables and stanchions. These challenges are compounded when inclined lifts are used in adverse weather conditions, such as passenger lifts at ski areas or on outdoor construction lifts.
Operations in those instances can continue only after defrosting. Components that prevent freezing, such as the innovative e-chain from igus, are needed to guarantee safety and reliability under these extreme conditions.
Raised domes injection molded on to crossbars
Freezing risks are elevated with energy chains that are rarely moved or if there’s a long interval between use in extreme weather. The freezing resistant e-chain from igus offers a reliable solution.
In the ice-chain, two raised domes per chain link are injection-molded on to the crossbars of the e-chain along the outer radius of the chain. As a result, the contact surface area and risk of freezing are substantially reduced. The e-chain safely sits in the guide, but it touches only a tiny surface area and does not stick. The domes applied on the crossbars by injection molding optimize the climate behavior of the ice-chain without compromising its strength.
The rectangular stop-dog system, which distributes the forces evenly, and the strong pin/bore connection in the side links, guarantee high strength, offering large payloads or fill weights. Since the domes only have a height of 1.8 mm, the installation height is only slightly larger. The e-chain can, therefore, be easily integrated even in confined installation spaces.
Made of weatherproof and media-resistant plastics
Like all e-chains for outdoor use, the ice-chain is made of weatherproof and media-resistant high-performance plastics. The material igumid G can be used in applications down to –40°F. Together with chainflex cables optimized for continuous dynamic use in energy chains, the ice-chain reliably moves applications in snow and ice.
With jacket materials made of polyurethane or thermoplastic elastomers, chainflex cables provide trouble-free service even at temperatures well below freezing over a long period of time. If temperatures should dip to –31°F, a chainflex F29 series servo cable will still reliably supply any drive system.
The ice-chain is also available as a complete system equipped with pre-harnessed cables that can be quickly installed and connected.
igus Inc.
www.igus.com
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