| US 7,500,346 B2 | ||
| Energy guiding chain | ||
| Gunter Blase, Bergisch Gladbach (Germany) | ||
| Assigned to Igus GmbH, Cologne (Germany) | ||
| Filed on Apr. 20, 2007, as Appl. No. 11/738,143. | ||
| Claims priority of application No. 20 2006 006 640 U (DE), filed on Apr. 21, 2006. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2007/0246599 A1, Oct. 25, 2007 | ||
| Int. Cl. F16G 13/00 (2006.01); F16G 15/10 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 59—78.1 [248/49] | 7 Claims |
| 1. Energy guiding chain for guiding hoses and cables comprising;
a number of chain links connected to each other in articulated fashion, which are formed by mutually parallel side straps
and cross-members connecting said side straps, where the energy guiding chain can be traversed in such a way that it forms
an upper strand, a lower strand, and a deflection zone connecting them, where the upper strand rests on and is opposite the
lower strand,
and rollers provided on at least some chain links of the upper strand and/or the lower strand, said rollers having crests,
said rollers being arranged such that, when the energy chain moves, they can roll on running surfaces provided on the chain
links of the opposite strand, and including one or more, peripheral guide grooves in said running surfaces, which can be engaged
by the crests of the rollers of the opposite strand,
characterized in that the running surfaces display spaced longitudinal slits that allow the crests of the roller profile to
pass through, where webs between the longitudinal slits cover the guide grooves, such that the crests of the rollers of the
opposite strand can roll on the webs.
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