Space-saving energy supply for gate systems

Profile

• What was needed: micro flizz energy chain, chainflex cables
• Requirements: what was needed was a cable guide that was tough and could withstand rain, snow, fog, frost and heat. It also has to operate in extremely confined spaces.
• Industry: aerospace, aviation industry
• Success for the customer: since the upper and lower runs of the energy chain run separately, friction and wear are minimised. The compact, space-saving system is closed at the top and offers protection against dirt and dust. The use of the energy chain pays off, so that the system is now always installed in the telescopic doors.

Amongst other things, the micro flizz energy supply system is used in revolving doors. It has proven better compared to busbar systems, which require a lot of maintenance, and conductor lines, which are insecure.

Problem

Butzbach GmbH Industrietore is the market leader in Europe with well over 500 special gates installed. The specialist implements individual solutions for industry and aviation of all sizes, whereby each gate is a special construction. There are sliding gates with individually movable gate wings, telescopic gates and revolving gates - each with or without electric drive. Due to safety concerns, each gate panel should usually be individually equipped with a closing edge safety device. A continuous connection is necessary so that the information from the individual closing edge safety devices can run from gate panel to gate panel. As the nominal voltage of safety technology is usually 24V, busbar systems or conductor cables are at a disadvantage here. The sliding contacts or copper tracks on the rails hanging outdoors fog up/corrode due to environmental influences and malfunctions occur. For this reason, a cable connection is required for which a suitable cable guide must be used. It had to be tough and able to withstand rain, snow, fog, frost and heat.
Initially, Butzbach GmbH used a normal standard busbar system for data transmission, which, however, only functioned to a limited extent and was susceptible. The first complaints came after a year at the latest. The fault was with the rail. It was not flexible enough in the carriage area. Added to this are the extremely tight space conditions on site, which have made assembly or repair considerably more difficult.

Solution

Especially with the space-saving telescopic system, which is being used more and more often, the special micro flizz energy supply system has been proving its worth for years. It is an energy chain solution for horizontal applications that supplies energy to a moving consumer via a rolling or sliding carriage. It runs in a compactly built aluminium guide channel that separates the upper and lower runs of the chain. The reduced force minimises friction and wear. The compact, space-saving system is closed at the top and offers protection against dirt and dust.
The energy supply system is attached to the driven gate panel. The information of the individual closing edge safety devices is 'looped through' from gate panel to gate panel and connected to the gate control unit. If a closing edge is triggered, the control system reacts immediately, the motor shuts down at once and the entire gate stops. It is then reversed and moves back approx. 1m so that the obstacle is released.
Although a classic standard conductor line is more cost-effective in principle, it does not achieve the required level of reliable data transmission. Due to the requirements on site - tough, very narrow, small and pure information transmission - the use of the micro flizz energy chain is worthwhile, so that the system is now always installed in the telescopic gates.
We also supply the cables directly. Due to the low speed of 0.25m/s and the infrequent travel frequency, the gate specialist was able to cut back on the bend radii of the bend-resistant chainflex cables used for information transmission. It was also possible to put more cables in the energy chain.

Compactly built: energy supply system for the safety edge on door systems

The micro flizz system: as soon as the energy chain bends in the radius, side panels lie flat. The chain can leave the groove and lay down freely.

In the micro flizz, the upper and lower run are separated from each other to save weight. The system allows speeds of up to 6m/s in continuous operation.