Patent ID: 7673440

Claim:
Energy guiding chain for guiding lines and cables between two consumers, at least one of which is mobile, where the energy guiding chain displays a plurality of directly adjacent links connected to each other in articulated fashion, each of which displays opposite side pieces and at least one cross-member connecting them, forming a cable guide duct, where the individual links are connected to each other by at least one connecting element that permits pivoting of adjacent links through a pivoting angle relative to each other, where the energy guiding chain can be arranged to form a lower run, a curved section and an upper run including end fastening links, and where the links consist at least partly of an electrically conductive material that permits the discharge of electrical charges over at least part of the chain length and said chain provides electrostatic discharge compatibility, characterized in that said at least one connecting element, can extend over two or more links, said two or more links providing contact areas that engage fastening areas at each end of the at least one connecting element in unchanging position in relation to the links during pivotion of said two or more links with respect to each other, and in that the contact areas in said two or more links and said fastening area at each end of said at least one connecting element form a continuous conductivity path with low electrical resistance, which extends at least over several links and permits use of the chain in ESD protection zones and wherein at least one, or more, of the links that are located between the end fastening links of the chain, or also encompass them, is grounded, or connected to a grounding device, or fitted with means for electrically conductive connection to a grounding device.