The Cologne-based plastics
specialist igus has expanded its comprehensive range of P4 roller energy chains
system, now offering guide troughs for the P4.80. With it, a complete range of guide
troughs are now available for all P4 roller energy chains from stock. Due to its
special design, the P4 system can achieve travels of 800 metres or more in a
very energy efficient way.
Long travel lengths, high dynamics and high cable fill
weights are extremely important not only for crane and conveyor energy supply
systems. Speed and acceleration are important even in other sectors such as the
automotive industry. For this reason, igus GmbH developed its innovative roller
energy chain system which has been providing power and data reliably and safely
on hundreds (thousands?) of cranes and other material handling systems for more
than 15 years. Rollers made of special tribo-polymers provide a virtually
maintenance-free operation. They reduce abrasion and wear of the energy chain
considerably thereby increasing the service life of the system. As the
coefficient of friction is about 75 percent less with integrated rollers than
with the normal gliding contact friction, up to 57 percent less energy is
required to drive the energy chain system.
High speed, long
distance
The roller energy chain system is constantly evolving. The P4 system
is designed specifically for long travels up to 800m, high travel speeds over
10 m/s and high fill weights of up to 50 kg/m. The rollers of the upper run do
not run on the lower rollers, but are staggered to run between them. This is
also supported by the use of autoglide crossbars with “combs” that keep the
energy chain gliding in a straight line. The small pitch and uniform size of
the chain links - with and without the rollers - causes the polygon effect to
decrease and the chain thereby rolls smoothly and quietly. The chain is also
shaped to offer a wide continuous running surface for the rollers to run on..
Guide troughs also assist in the safe and reliable operation of the e-chain. Wear
pads integrated into the chain side links ensure a long service life when in
contact with the guide trough.
Strong and stable
Achieving exceptional stability at high speeds and
accelerations is one of the objectives of the P4 system from igus. The links in
the e-chain include a double “stop-dog” system, and tight tolerances allow a
low clearance motion which enables high acceleration. The large pin and bore connections
in the side links also provide stability, as does the “tongue and groove”
design which interlocks the chain links together. The P4 roller chain is offered with a range of
inner widths from 100 to 400 millimetres and inner heights of 32, 42, 56 and 80
millimetres. Three different bending radii for each type ensure flexibility in matching
the cable minimum bend radius requirements. The load capacity of the roller
chain can be increased further by using extension links to build a wider system.
Each extension link can carry up to 50 percent higher fill weight, increasing
the overall capacity. A double lock on the crossbar, which can still be opened
quickly and easily with a screwdriver, holds the cables and hoses securely in
the energy chain, even with large fill weights.
Everything from
one source
The P4 system is offered by igus as a modular system from a single
source. As a readychain, the roller chain can be supplied as a fully assembled
energy chain complete with cables, connectors and equipped with interface
components such as floating towing arms and even electronic condition monitoring
systems. These are delivered ready for installation together with the trough
system. Before specifying the roller energy supply system, the igus
installation team design the system, including all drawings and layouts. By working
directly with the customer the individual system requirements can be fully met.
For more
information please visit: http://www.igus.in/wpck/10847/banderolle_P4
Image PM2714-1
In the P4 system the rollers (marked in green) of the
upper run do not run onto the lower ones, but are staggered to run through them
and supported by comb-shaped autoglide crossbars (also in green). The
coefficient of friction when rolling drops by around 75 percent when compared
with gliding friction, which enables energy savings of up to 57 percent required
to drive the chain. (Source: igus GmbH)
About igus India
igus® operations in India started in the year 1998 with head quarters in
Bangalore. igus offers widest range of products that includes polymer bearings, igubal® spherical bearings, DryLin® linear
bearings & guide systems enable them to serve the whole industrial
establishments in India from a small work shop to huge industrial establishments.