Stainless steel drag chains operate best in heavy-duty environments. They offer better thermal protection in extreme heat and more support for heavy hoses or large numbers of cables. Flame Retardant Materials Drag conveyors are best suited for dry, free-flowing materials and are most useful for agricultural, railway, chemical, cement, and other applications which require metering and efficient movement of product. They can be inclined as well as horizontal, but their paddles must be designed for vertical conveying, if desired. They are easy to implement into plants and can be configured to have multiple inlets/outlets, making them a great plug-and-play conveyor type. They can also be used in tandem with other open conveyors to help reclaim any lost material, giving them additional applications in recycling, environmental protection, and accumulation functions. Types of drag conveyors

Not all sectors use the same terminology for drag chains. They have several other names, including:

Such innovation occurs with the addition of accessories such as wheels to promote smoother movement over prolonged distances. Another advancement has been the development of heavy-duty drag chains for use in tough environments, such as high-wear and high-stress operations of automated equipment. Drag conveyors are not unlike most other conveyors in terms of operation – a motor powers an endless single or double-stranded chain of flights (see Figure 1) which pulls or “drags” material through the bottom of the conveyor. The chain can be partially or completely enclosed, but in all cases, there must be some form of housing to allow material to be dragged by the flights to the outlet(s). These flights, known also as paddles or scrapers, are distinct in that they can use up to 50% of the available space within the conveyor for material movement, instead of the typical 20-45% of other conveyor types. They are, therefore, able to move more material with less power and are generally an efficient option of conveyance. The gaps between each paddle are large enough to allow for multiple inlets and top-loading of materials into the conveyor, making it a great-multi-purpose option. Initially, cable carriers were only made from steel. This metal was readily available due to mass production methods used for the past several decades. Plus, without the war efforts needing to use large amounts of steel, manufacturers could take advantage of this versatile material. They enforce a minimum bend radius for the cables and hoses they protect and offer physical protection around them. The biggest benefit is that different services can be run side by side together in the same system e.g hydraulics, power cables,data cables,fibre optic cables, fluids etc. This makes them flexible and versatile, even allowing easy and cheap cable upgrades during the system life. By being passive (i.e. being pulled and pushed by the machine), they need no extra power or drive system and being made from low friction plastics they are therefore corrosion resistant and virtually maintenance-free. How many cables fit into an energy chain?

This article presented an understanding of what drag conveyors are and their types, designs, and uses. For more information on related products, consult our other guidesor visit the Thomas Supplier Discovery Platformto locate potential sources of supply or view details on specific products. Sources: Image credit: https://www.biomassengineeringequipment.com/comparing-modern-drag-chain-conveyors-and-old-conveyors/fr-engimech-private-limited/ Cable chains (also known as drag chains or cable carriers) are an important part of cable management and routing. They help prevent entanglement and minimize wear by flexing cables evenly and at a fixed radius. They also help make your machine look organized and neat. ¶ Sizing Cable Chains The failure of cable drag chains can occur in one of three places — the cable, the carrier or a systemic failure of both. Knowing these types of problems and how to prevent them can keep your investment in a cable drag chain protected and your workplace operating efficiently. Cable FailureThe end links on either end of a cable chain are actually different. Unlike the normal chain links, these end links are fixed and cannot bend relative to the other links. However, one of these end links can be easily modified using a pair of cutting pliers. Find the end link with a small notch on either side, use your pliers and expand the notch slightly. Cable drag chains have been an integral part of manufacturing since their introduction in the 1950s. This innovation prevented damage to cables that would otherwise hang loosely from machinery until it sustained severe enough damage to warrant replacement.

Vehicle movers and car washes are some of the transportation industry applications for cable drag chains. These chains permit flexible or linear movement of the cables, even in applications that require heavy-duty use, such as moving extremely heavy vehicles. Robotics

e-chain® cable carrier online tools

Design of chains and turnkey assemblies: chain, hose, cable and fittings, and trays and substructures Though polypropylene entered the market in the 1950s, cable drag chain producers did not begin to use this flexible plastic until the 1970s. However, since then, both steel and plastic remain popular materials for cable carriers because they offer durability, flexibility and heat resistance. A cable chain, also known as a drag chain or energy chain is a flexible hollow structure used to guide and protect cables and hoses together in one system. It ensures a constant supply of energy, data and signals to machinery and equipment while it is continuously in motion. Cable drag chain is used in a wide range of industrial and commercial applications wherever there are moving cables or hoses. Constructed from durable, hard-wearing plastic cable drag chain can withstand the most arduous environmental conditions. Some of the most common are Present in the oil and gas market since the early 1970s, we have supplied hundreds of systems to all continents and applications. Our focus is quality and superior service life. We offer full engineering support in all relevant marketplaces. Customers benefit from our extensive industry, product and engineering know-how.

Over time cables and hoses connected to machinery can get damaged due to constant flexing and tension. Cable drag chain is designed to support them from such stresses. Using cable chains helps to extend the service life of cables and hoses, thus reducing machinery downtimes. Where would I use cable chains? For example, hot clinker and hot lime drag conveyors that run up to 1000ºF degrees. To provide greater fatigue life this series of chain is made with special heat treated and induction hardened pins. To provide a greater sliding resistance, both sides of the chain have a bead of hard face weld.

Specifications and selection criteria

Heavy Duty Steel Drag chains are designed for severely abrasive and extremely high-temp applications. KABELSCHLEPP Metool was the first company to pioneer the use of hose in drag chains in the North Sea, thus extending hose service life substantially. Since then, we have delivered many systems and applications to every continent and every offshore theatre in the world. Detailed references are available on request. When laying down your cable chain, pay attention to which side the latch opens up from. Ideally, you want to be able to open these latches with your screwdriver without completely uninstalling the entire cable chain. Now this end link will be able to bend just like the other chain links. The red area is cut away to allow the end link to bend ¶ Other Considerations