In industry, slewing jib cranes transport workpieces of all kinds - at loading ramps, processing machines and assembly stations. However, failures can occur time and again - for example, if hanging cable loops are damaged by a forklift truck when unloading workpieces. This results in downtime, unplanned repair costs and, in the worst case, production delays. To increase plant safety and productivity, Igus has developed a cable carrier system called 'Guidelok swing'. With this system, the energy and data cables no longer hang in the air, but move directly in the carrier contour of the slewing jib crane thanks to the space-saving design of the cable carrier and therefore out of the reach of loads, industrial trucks or other slewing jib cranes.

Fail-safe running

The system works as follows: The power and data cables are inserted into an energy chain made of high-performance plastic. The lower run rests on the flange of the T-beam and is connected to the trolley. In contrast to traditional chain applications, the lower run of the 'Guidelok swing' is moved. The upper run is held above the trolley with the aid of rockers.

In a classic energy chain movement, the upper run would normally slide on the lower run. But Igus has come up with a design trick: Rockers are bolted to the web of the T-beam every 800 mm. When the upper run passes, the chain radius pushes the flaps of the rocker upwards and engages. In the opposite movement, the flaps open like a trap door and release the upper run again. The advantage: the upper run and lower run never touch each other. Wear is correspondingly low and the service life of the cable carrier is correspondingly long. In addition, no guide trough is required as the energy chain is held in position by the rockers and cannot break out to the sides. As a result, the cable carrier is priced at the same level as classic festoons. Existing systems can also be converted more quickly thanks to the absence of a guide trough.

First applications

The first user of the new guidance system is SEW- Eurodrive. The German manufacturer of drive technology has equipped an indoor crane at its plant in Gauteng, South Africa, with the 'Guidelok swing'. The crane moves components for chemical cleaning with a high-pressure cleaner. This is because the energy supply system not only prevents collisions with forklift trucks, it is also chemical-resistant, corrosion-free and maintenance-free, as no external lubricants are used.