US 12,304,771 B2
Energy chain and storage unit for an energy chain
Dominik Barten, Meckenheim (DE); and Andreas Hermey, Hennef (DE)
Assigned to igus GmbH, Cologne (DE)
Appl. No. 17/787,042
Filed by igus GmbH, Cologne (DE)
PCT Filed Dec. 18, 2020, PCT No. PCT/EP2020/087132
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 17, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/123242, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 24, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 20 2019 107 117.6 (DE), filed on Dec. 19, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0026012 A1, Jan. 26, 2023
Int. Cl. B65H 75/36 (2006.01); F16G 13/16 (2006.01); F16G 13/18 (2006.01); H02G 11/00 (2006.01)
CPC B65H 75/362 (2013.01) [F16G 13/16 (2013.01); F16G 13/18 (2013.01); H02G 11/006 (2013.01); B65H 2701/34 (2013.01); B65H 2701/3911 (2013.01); B65H 2701/50 (2013.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An energy chain (1) comprising a first chain portion (3) having a plurality of first chain links (2) and a second chain portion (5) having a plurality of second chain links (4), each of the second chain links including a different characteristic than each of the first chain links, wherein each of the first and second chain links (2, 4) of the first and second chain portions (3, 5) are pivotably connected to one another and each comprise two side parts (6, 7), which lie opposite one another in a transverse direction (q) relative to a longitudinal direction (l) of the energy chain (1) and which have upper and lower narrow surfaces (8) facing perpendicularly to the transverse direction (q) and to the longitudinal direction (I), wherein at least some of the first and second chain links (2, 4) have cross members (9) connecting the side parts (6, 7) of the first and second chain links, wherein at least some of the first chain links (2) of the first chain portion (3) have guide elements (12), which project outwards from the side parts (6, 7) in the transverse direction (q), for guiding the first chain links (2) against or on guide tracks (35) which can be arranged outside their side parts (6, 7), and at least some of the second chain links (4) of the second chain portion (5) have roller elements (13) or sliding elements (14), which project laterally beyond and over the upper or lower narrow surfaces (8) of the side parts (6, 7) and can roll or slide on a region which lies opposite the upper and lower narrow surfaces (8) and contacts the energy chain (1), and
wherein an overall width (b2) of the second chain links (4) of the second chain portion (5) in the transverse direction (q) is smaller than or equal to an overall width (b1) of the first chain links (2) of the first chain portion (3) minus a width in the transverse direction (q) of the guide elements (12).