Patent ID: 6367238
Filing Date: 2002-04-09
Classification: F16G,Y10S

Abstract:
Energy guiding chain for housing and guiding energy transmission lines between a fixed base and a mobile driver, said chain comprising:two parallel plate-link lines consisting of plate-links which are opposite to each other in a direction transverse to the length of the chain and are connected by transverse members to form chain links, wherein those plate-links within each of said plate-link lines which are directly adjacent have overlapping joint areas at which they are connected so as to define axes about which the adjacent chain links are pivotable in relation to each other to permit bending of the chain; and at least one element which is substantially inextensible in the longitudinal direction of the chain and flexible in the direction of bending of the chain and which joins the chain links to each other in several sections of at least three links, wherein the chain links in said several sections and the driver are fixed to the element(s) in such a way that forces transmitted by the fixation to the chain links act approximately through the pivoting axes of the chain links and the tension of the element(s) in the longitudinal direction of the chain is such that it falls towards zero when the chain is thrust by the driver or comes to a halt after a thrust.