E4.1 - ONE e-chain® series for almost all applications

The E4.1 system combines all the advantages of its three predecessors and is the best igus energy chain in the product range. The E4.1 series is stronger with the same or smaller dimensions than its predecessors. Almost all accessory components and connection dimensions are identical. With the igus E4.1 system, you can further increase the service life of your application and bring cost down at the same time.

Robust, quiet, modular. System E4.1 - utilised advantages of the proven E4 series
Opening the energy chain: Press the groove of the crossbar vertically with a screwdriver. Release with a lever movement (against the flange)
Straight running and quick assembly thanks to the inner/outer link principle. Very high stiffness, high load capacity with lateral forces due to undercut design
For particularly demanding applications
Undercut design for optimum lateral stability
Double stop-dog system and large pin/bore connection for high force absorption
High thrust force on long travels and for long unsupported lengths

Further advantages of the E4.1

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The E4.1 system is an e-chain series for almost all applications. Your advantages:

Easy to install and modular
Stronger than its predecessors with the same or smaller dimensions
Further increases the service life of your application while reducing costs

About the E4.1 system

Typical industries and applications of the E4.1 system
Cranes, indoor cranes, composting plants, wastewater treatment plants, machine tools, general mechanical engineering, conveyor technology, refrigeration, construction machinery, wood processing, robotics and handling

e-chain® with crossbars every link, openable from both sides - robust version

Series E4.21

inner height hi: 21mm
inner width Bi: 30 - 120mm
bend radius R: 38 - 200mm
pitch: 30.5mm

e-chain®, crossbars every link

Series E4.28

inner height hi: 28mm
inner width Bi: 40 - 300mm
bend radius R: 55 - 250mm
pitch: 46mm

e-chain®, crossbars every link

Series E4.32

inner height hi: 32mm
inner width Bi: 50 - 400mm
bend radius R: 63 - 300mm
pitch: 56mm

e-chain®, crossbars every link

Series E4.42

inner height hi: 42mm
inner width Bi: 50 - 400mm
bend radius R: 75 - 350mm
pitch: 67mm

e-chain®, crossbars every link

Series E4.56

inner height hi: 56mm
inner width Bi: 50 - 600mm
bend radius R: 135 - 500mm
pitch: 91mm

e-chain®, crossbars every link

Series E4.80

inner height hi: 80mm
inner width Bi: 50 - 600mm
bend radius R: 150 - 1000mm
pitch: 111mm

e-chain®, crossbars every link

Series E4.112

inner height hi: 112mm
inner width Bi: 50 - 600mm
bend radius R: 200 - 1000mm
pitch: 143mm

e-chain®, crossbars every link

Series E4.162

inner height hi: 162mm
inner width Bi: 200 - 600mm
bend radius R: 250 - 1000mm
pitch: 200mm

e-chain®, crossbars every link

Series 800

inner height hi: 200mm
inner width Bi: 200 - 600mm
bend radius R: 325 - 1000mm
pitch: 250mm

e-chain®, crossbars every link

Series 840

inner height hi: 204mm
inner width Bi: 100 - 563mm
bend radius R: 325 - 1000mm
pitch: 250mm

e-chain®, crossbars every link

e-chain® with crossbars every 2nd link, openable from both sides - standard version

Series H4.32

inner height hi: 32mm
inner width Bi: 50 - 400mm
bend radius R: 63 - 300mm
pitch: 56mm

e-chain®, with crossbars every 2nd link

Series H4.42

inner height hi: 42mm
inner width Bi: 50 - 400mm
bend radius R: 75 - 350mm
pitch: 67mm

e-chain®, with crossbars every 2nd link

Series H4.56

inner height hi: 56mm
inner width Bi: 50 - 600mm
bend radius R: 135 - 500mm
pitch: 91mm

e-chain®, with crossbars every 2nd link

Series H4.80

inner height hi: 80mm
inner width Bi: 50 - 600mm
bend radius R: 150 - 1000mm
pitch: 111mm

e-chain®, with crossbars every 2nd link

e-tube, openable from both sides, pivoting lid - protection against chips and dirt

Series R4.28

inner height hi: 28mm
inner width Bi: 50 - 300mm
bend radius R: 63 - 250mm
pitch: 46mm

e-tube, lid pivoting

Series R4.32

inner height hi: 32mm
inner width Bi: 50 - 300mm
bend radius R: 125 - 300mm
pitch: 56mm

e-tube, lid pivoting

Series R4.42

inner height hi: 42mm
inner width Bi: 50 - 300mm
bend radius R: 125 - 350mm
pitch: 67mm

e-tube, lid pivoting

Series R4.56

inner height hi: 56mm
inner width Bi: 75 - 462mm
bend radius R: 150 - 500mm
pitch: 91mm

e-tube, lid pivoting

Series R4.80

inner height hi: 80mm
inner width Bi: 150 - 460mm
bend radius R: 200 - 1000mm
pitch: 111mm

e-tube, lid pivoting

Series R4.112

inner height hi: 112mm
inner width Bi: 200 - 400mm
bend radius R: 250 - 1000mm
pitch: 143mm

e-tube, lid pivoting

System E4.1 modular system, sliding

The energy chain E4.1 is a stable, modular energy chain system that further increases the service life of your application while reducing costs. It is already in reliable use in many applications worldwide, e.g. in storage and retrieval machines, crane systems, washing systems, gantries, shuttles and many more.

The E4.1 modular system has now been expanded with the new roller chain links and glide shoes. These components
enable a technically and economically customised energy supply for every application from 12 m to 500 m travel.

E4.1: high stability and long service life
E4.1 with rollers for maximum speeds
E4.1 with glide shoes for extremely abrasive environments

Request a project with the E4.1

E4.1 rolling with roller chain links

For maximum speeds
The integrated rollers greatly reduce the tractive/push forces on long travel distances and the energy chains used achieve a significantly longer service life. The new optimised roller chain links now also offer this advantage for the E4.1 modular system.

Learn more

E4.1 gliding with glide pads

For extremely abrasive environments
In applications where extremely abrasive environmental conditions lead to excessive wear of the sliding surfaces, the new retrofittable glide shoes can increase the service life of the energy supply.

Learn more

E4.1 system assembly instructions

Remove the crossbar from the first three chain links, then join the two ends together.

Mount crossbar, press with screwdriver and lever in

Mounting the energy tube: lid/floors - attach at an angle and snap into place.

Disconnect

lever open the crossbar with a screwdriver.

Remove the outer link to the side.

Pull the chain links apart and separate them.

Double closure

Proven and extremely secure opening principle. Two simple lever movements disengage the crossbar. Crossbars therefore hold reliably even with heavy filling and are still easily openable.

Double, rectangular end cap

More than two stop-dogs cannot or can hardly be synchronised. Due to the rectangular geometry, the force distribution is much better than with a round stop-dog (formula surface pressure, p=F/A). The complete E4.1 product range has the double, rectangular stop-dog.

Vertical stop-dogs and large pins

Cable and hose can simply be pressed into the chain with the thumb. This saves up to 80% assembly time.

Large pin/bore connection

Tightly toleranced and large pin/bore connections ensure a high push and/or pull force absorption capacity. Due to the tight tolerances and the resulting almost complete zero clearance, maximum acceleration can be achieved and wear is minimised.

Scaling of the crossbars

Scalable crossbars are standard for all E4 models. This makes pre-configuration with interior separation segments easier and reduces assembly time. The separators with locking cams can be positioned in 5mm increments in the crossbar and hold securely (approx. 25kg holding force of the separator in latching position). No spacers required for "side-mounted applications".

Openable lids

Cables and hoses can simply be pushed into the chain with your thumb. This saves up to 80% assembly time.

QuickLock crossbar

Two locking flaps on the top of the crossbar can be unlocked by hand or screwdriver. Lateral "sliders" then release the crossbar from the side part of the energy chain.

Undercut design

An "interlocking" of the chain links ensures a very high torsional strength of the energy chain and a high unsupported length even in side-mounted applications.

Inner/outer link principle

For straight running, high parallelism and high strength. Alternating inner and outer links ensure very straight running. Precise parallelism of the energy chain bands supports longevity.

Cable-friendly interior separation

Smooth, cable-friendly and rounded contours ensure a long service life for the cable and hose. In addition, better and more cable-friendly interior separation can now be achieved with fewer standardised parts.

Noise brake

Simple principle but highly effective. A wedge-shaped contour in the e-chains® stop-dog dampens the impact noise of the e-chain®.

Wear pad

For long service life even on long travels. Running performance of 10,000km and more guaranteed

Protection against dirt and swarf up to 850°C

igus energy tubes have been used successfully for almost 20 years to protect against swarf. Dust, dirt, oil, aggressive environments, moisture, cold and heat are no problem for the robust plastic energy supply. The optional HT material allows 850°C hot swarf to simply bounce off - no burn-in possible.

Smooth unrolling

The contour ensures better unrolling of the energy chain and easy and safe installation.

Without pretension

By simply turning the outer links, an energy chain with pretension can be quickly converted into a no camber version. No camber versions are only required for very special applications, e.g. for hanging application and where space is limited.

Few parts

Few parts made of one material, which guarantee the smallest possible clearance, are particularly important for high acceleration. The same material is ideal for material elongation or shrinkage caused by temperature differences.

Strain relief

Strain relief systems from igus have been specially developed for use in energy chain and dynamic applications. The combination of chainflex cable materials and the contacting plastic components of the chainfix strain relief systems are designed for high cable durability and maximum holding force.

Tight-sealing mounting bracket

Retrofittable and very tight. Assembled at the front, the tight-sealing plastic/metal connection (KMA) keeps out dirt and swarf all round.

Flexible modular system

The E4.1 system is highly flexible and can be customised to your application. The energy chain offers, e.g. extender crossbar for carrying hoses up to Ø 300mm, extension link for widths up to 3 metres or various noise-reducing options. For example, studs that reduce the rolling noise of the energy chain by up to 10db(A).

Application examples for the E4.1 system

High-temperature energy tube as an energy supply system in a CNC machining centre

Resistant to temperature and chemicals, the e-tubes withstand the ubiquitous chips and swarf, for example. They ensure flawless machine tool operation.

High-temperature energy pipes feed cable into machining centre igus®

Silt processing plant

The world's largest polymer energy chain - many times lighter than comparable steel chains, effortlessly moves more than 100 kg per metre fill weight.

Sludge treatment plant