E4Q energy chain designed to slash assembly time

For safe cable guidance in unsupported and long travels, igus has developed the E4Q energy chain. “The bionically inspired design saves weight, while crossbars with locking tabs reduces the assembly time of the e-chain by 40 per cent,” says the company.

To facilitate assembly further, igus has launched a new interior separation system for the E4Q. Universal separators are placed on the chain crossbars, shelves can be inserted from the left or right, along either the inner or outer radius. A mechanism in the separators automatically locks the chain when closing.

The separator and shelving system in the E4Q energy chain needed to be simple and easy to assemble. The result is an integrated energy supply system for unsupported and long travels that uses less material and is 10 per cent lighter than the previous E4.1 series energy chain, achieved through an organic bionically inspired design.

Open-and-shut case

It is also more robust and tougher than its predecessor, adds igus. “The chain can be opened and closed without tools, with the help of a special crossbar feature, saving the assembly time by 40 per cent,” a popular feature, it adds, among users, as well as the jury of the German Design Award 2021 where the E4Q won a prize for its pioneering design.

To populate the E4Q with cables even faster, igus has now developed a new flexible interior separation system in co-operation with its customers. The system consists of universal separators and lockable shelves, which keep cables separated on different layers.

The cable-protecting separators have fixtures for inserting the shelves. To assemble the interior separation system, the separators are placed on the crossbars, then the shelves can be pushed into the required level from both sides.

Double locked with slider and crossbar

An integrated slider allows the shelves to be locked in place so that they remain securely fitted even when the cable system accelerates quickly. "Even if the fitter has forgotten to secure the shelf, it's not a problem", explains Justin Leonard, e-chain director at igus. “When the crossbar is inserted, the lock is automatically activated.”

To modify the interior separation of the energy chain, the user simply opens the crossbar along the inner or outer radius, depending on the accessibility, then unlocks the shelf via the lateral slider and pulls it out. igus offers the new interior separation system for the four E4Q sizes in different widths.