Energy chains find novel applications
An
Igus UK product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Jun 17, 2008
The European Vector Award competition showcases three novel applications of Igus energy chains.
Igus has named the winners of its European Vector Award competition, recognising innovative and novel energy supply applications with energy chains or induction/wireless technologies.
More than 80 entries were submitted, from Finland to France, from Romania to the UK, and from Switzerland to Spain.
The Vector Award is a joint initiative from Igus together with the tool machine laboratory (WZL) at RWTH Aachen, the Rhineland Technical Board (TUV) Product Safety and Quality Division, and the Special Automation Association within the German Central Association for Electrical Engineering and the Electronics Industry (ZVEI).
The energy chain competition is under the patronage of the Industrial Automation division of the Hanover Fair.
The Golden Vector and Eur 5000 in prize money went to Markus Domeier from Gudel in Osterburken.
The company has designed a customer-specific curve-compatible portal and transfer system for the automatic placement of truck shafts, in order to optimise production workflows.
The multicarrier system has several carriages and achieves higher system availability than comparable conventional linear linkups.
For the first time in industrial automation, an energy chain was used in a curved application with a very long travel distance.
The Igus E4/4 system bridges both the 45m long travel distance and the 90-degree curve.
"The plastic energy chain E4/4 is very strong in long applications as well as in freely suspended applications lying on the side", says Domaier.
In this case, the system was used lying on its side to be able to achieve the rapid curve movement.
The jury awarded the Silver Vector to Daniel Pfleger from Rail and Tracking Systems, Winnweiler.
The company manufactures systems for HD-TV transmission during track and field events, shows and concerts.
For this application, the outside broadcasting vans have to be connected to the cameras by fibre-optic cables.
At speeds up to 14m/s, with extremely fast acceleration and temperatures that can frequently reach 45C in direct sunlight, there is little room for error.
The Igus E6 plastic energy chain is used under these difficult conditions.
The energy supplied is fast, yet particularly quiet and with little vibration, as current tests from RWTH Aachen and TUV Rhineland have shown.
The E6 has already been tested at 37dB(A) self-supporting at 1m/s in the Igus test laboratory.
The Bronze Vector went to Mike Galbraith from Fountain Design in Bishop Auckland.
The company's tidal turbine generates power through the tidal flow off the coast of the Orkney Isles.
The turbine has a diameter of 6 metres.
Under very aggressive environmental conditions, an Igus 4040 series energy chain protects the Chainflex motor and control cables during the lifting and lowering movements of the turbine.
The travel distance is around 20 metres in a vertical direction, moving both above and below water.
The lubricant and rust-free plastic energy chain has a very low maintenance level at open sea.
"A metal chain", says Galbraith, "would not have met the combined climate related and mechanical requirements".
A Vector Awards brochure with detailed reports about all applications can be requested free of charge from Igus.
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Contact Igus UK
Tel +44 1604 677240
Other Igus UK stories
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Igus launches wear-resistant Iglidur compounds
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P4 energy chain system has two sizes
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Igus continuous-flex cables use bundling technique
In nearly all Igus Chainflex cables, the conductors are bundled to eliminate problems associated with cables constructed in layers. -
Igus offers free chain and cable inspections
Igus has announced that its engineers are available once again to examine energy chains and flexible cables free of charge, before or during factory shutdowns in July and August.
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