ENERGY CHAIN, PARTICULARLY FOR CLEAN ROOM APPLICATIONS

摘要

This invention relates to an energy chain (100; 200 . . . 700), in particular for a clean room application, comprising a number of mutually articulated chain links (212; 312 . . . 812), wherein at least some chain links present a housing (216; 316 . . . 816) for the feed-through of cables, hoses or the like. Adjacent chain links are pivotable against each other by means of hinged connections in such a manner that between a fixed connector (105) and movable connector (107) of said energy chain a movable deflection zone (104) with a predetermined curvature is formed.;The invention provides that a bendable, preferably tubular envelope (110; 210 . . . 810), in particular a corrugated hose or corrugated tube, surrounds the chain links in the circumferential direction and between said two connectors (105, 107) in a continuous manner. The envelope is supported and entrained by at least some chain links (212; 312 . . . 812) and is sufficiently flexible for absorbing the predetermined curvature of the deflection zone (104) and for following the reciprocating movement thereof.