Prevent cable breaks with energy chains in a rotary crane in aluminium extraction

Profile

• What was needed: Reverse Bend Radius rotating energy supply with E4.1-series energy chain, chainflex® motor and control cables
• Requirements: Cables must be guided safely during rotary movements. The energy supply system was to save space and weight and be cleanroom-compatible and quick to install.
• Application area: Cranes
• Success for the customer: The Reverse Bend Radius energy chain in the rotary module saves weight and space and can be installed quickly and easily as a modular system. Since deployment, the customer has been satisfied, reporting trouble-free, uninterrupted production.

In the video: The E4.1 energy chain in the rotation module guides the rotary crane's cables in a confined installation space.

Problem

Magnetic fields, dirt, high cable loads. This crane with a PTM trolley, which is used to extract aluminium, must function reliably under all conditions. But increased cable failures sometimes prevented it from doing so. A festooning system used for cable guidance caused increased cable breaks resulting in high maintenance costs and time-consuming work. The special feature: Since the crane rotates around its own axis on a platform, the cables are exposed to both tangential and torsional forces. The responsible engineers were therefore looking for a new solution for energy supply to the crane that would flexibly and reliably follow rotational movement. As is often the case in indoor cranes, the system was to require as little space and weight as possible. It was also to be cleanroom-compatible and quick and easy to install and require little maintenance.

Solution

For rotary applications, we recommend our Reverse Bend Radius energy chains, which operate in a special rotation module. This is also the case for the PTM crane: A Reverse-Bend-Radius-design E4.1 energy chain is now used in aluminium production. Since the plastic energy chain in the rotary module saves both weight and installation space, the customer's choice was clear. And because the Reverse Bend Radius rotating energy supply system is manufactured individually for the customer, but delivered as a modular system, installation is quick and easy.
Since deployment, the customer has been satisfied, reporting trouble-free, uninterrupted production.
In addition to the energy supply system, the customer purchased several chainflex® cables, which we developed specifically for moving applications in our energy chains. Specifically, CF9 control cables and CF34 and CF300 motor cables operate in the rotary module today.

 

Tightly guided under the driver's cab: The modular but customer-specific rotary module allowed quick installation under the crane cab.

Even when the installation height was low, the rotational energy supply could be integrated into the design.