Drag chain cables are primarily used in industrial automation systems, production line systems, welding robots, submersibles, and other applications requiring repetitive movement. To prevent cable entanglement, abrasion, pulling, hanging, and untangling, cables are often placed in cable drag chains. Let's take a look at the uses of drag chain cables and the precautions they should take during installation.
What are the uses of drag chain cables?
Ordinary drag chain cables offer advantages such as flexibility, mobility, wear resistance, oil resistance, and tensile strength. They are commonly used in automated mobile equipment, such as automated production lines, welding robot arms, and marine exploration equipment.
Specialized drag chain cables offer resistance to cold, oil, seawater, chemicals, low temperatures, and compression. They are primarily used in harsh outdoor environments with demanding cable requirements, such as marine automation systems and instrumentation, shallow-water robots, chemical automation equipment, and metallurgical automation.
What precautions should be taken when installing drag chain cables?
1. Cables in drag chains must be laid without twisting. This means that cables should not be unwound from either end of the cable drum or reel. Instead, rotate the drum or reel first to unwind the cable. If necessary, the cable can be unwound or hung. Cables used in this application should only be taken directly from the reel.
2. The cable bend radius must be carefully considered. The installation radius should be no less than six times the cable diameter.
3. Cables must be laid loosely side by side in the drag chain, separated as much as possible by spacers or inserted into the separation holes in the brackets. The spacing between cables in the drag chain should be at least 10% of the cable diameter.
4. Cables in the drag chain must not touch or become trapped.
5. Cables must be secured at both points, or at least at the moving end of the drag chain. Generally, the cable's moving point should be 20-30 times the cable diameter from the end of the drag chain.
6. Ensure that the cables can move completely within the bend radius; do not force them to move. This allows for relative movement between the cables and the guides. After a period of operation, check the cable position. This inspection must be performed after any pushing or pulling.
7. If the drag chain breaks, the cable must also be replaced, as damage caused by excessive stretching is inevitable.
This is a brief introduction to the uses and installation precautions of drag chain cables. Drag chain cables are special, wear-resistant, oil-resistant, and highly flexible cables suitable for applications where equipment units need to be moved back and forth. Enclosing the cables in a cable drag chain protects them from damage as they move back and forth with the chain. I hope this helps.
