# US 12,768,429 B2 · Drag chain > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,768,429 B2 - Document ID: US12768429B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/554,147 - Filed: 2022-04-07 - Published: 2024-06-20 - Granted: 2026-10-20 - Earliest claimed: 2021-04-09 - Assignees: Igus GmbH - Applicants: Igus GmbH - Inventors: Marcel Klein; Jörg Dommnik - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12768429B2 ## CPC - F16G 13/16: with arrangements for holding electric cables, hoses, or the like - F16G: BELTS, CABLES, OR ROPES, PREDOMINANTLY USED FOR DRIVING PURPOSES; CHAINS; FITTINGS PREDOMINANTLY USED THEREFOR ## Abstract A drag chain comprising a plurality of chain links connected to one another in an articulated manner for guiding cables between two connection points, wherein opposing link plates and crosspieces of the chain links form a receiving space for the at least one cable, wherein the drag chain can be arranged and moved as a structure formed by a lower track, an upper track and a deflection region connecting same, with the upper track being placed on the lower track, and wherein the chain links of the lower track and/or the upper track are or can be fitted with additional elements, e.g. sliding elements, on the side facing the respective other track. The chain has an end-securing part with connection-securing means for securing the end-securing part to a connection point or said chain is secured to a stationary connection point by means of same. At least one wedge-shaped ramp-type element is provided on the end-securing part of the lower track, on the side facing the upper track, said ramp-type element comprising a pointed end and a broad end spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the chain. The wedge-shaped ramp-type element is or can be arranged on the end-securing part with its longitudinal direction at least substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the chain, wherein, in the secured arrangement on the chain, the ramp-type element tapers in the direction leading away from the deflection region and the upper side of the ramp-type element facing the upper track forms a ramp-type surface for the upper track. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A drag chain for guiding cables between two connection points, the drag chain comprising: a plurality of chain links connected to one another in an articulated manner and succeeding each other in a longitudinal direction of the drag chain, wherein the chain links each have mutually opposite plates which are spaced apart laterally from one another and each have an inner and an outer side surface and each have two narrow sides which are opposite one another with respect to a plate height, wherein at least some or all of the chain links have at least one crosspiece which connects the plates of the respective chain link to one another, wherein the mutually opposite plates and the at least one crosspiece form a receiving space for at least one cable, wherein the drag chain is arrangeable and moved by forming a lower track, an upper track and a deflection region connecting the lower track and the upper track, with the upper track being placed on the lower track, wherein the chain links of the lower track and/or upper track are fitted or are fittable with additional elements on a side facing the respective other track, the drag chain having an end-securing part which is coupled to an end link of the lower track of the drag chain and which has connection-securing means to secure the end-securing part to a connection point or said chain is secured to a stationary connection point by the connection-securing means, wherein at least one wedge-shaped ramp-type element is provided, the wedge-shaped ramp-type element has a pointed end and a broad end, which are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the drag chain, in that the wedge-shaped ramp-type element is a separate element with respect to the end securing part of the lower track and is attached to the end-securing part of the lower track on the side of the end-securing part facing the upper track, the wedge-shaped ramp-type element is arranged or is arrangeable on the end-securing part with a longitudinal direction at least substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the chain, wherein, in a secured arrangement on the drag chain, the wedge-shaped ramp-type element tapers in a direction leading away from the deflection region and an upper side of the wedge-shaped ramp-type element facing the upper track forms a ramp-type surface for the upper track. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The drag chain according to claim 1, wherein in the secured arrangement of the wedge-shaped ramp-type element on the drag chain, the ramp-type surface at the broad end of the wedge-shaped ramp-type element is arranged at least substantially at a level of a sliding surface of a sliding element adjacent in the longitudinal direction of the drag chain or at least substantially at a level of the upper side of an additional element of the additional elements adjacent in the longitudinal direction of the drug chain. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The drag chain according to claim 1, wherein the pointed end of the wedge-shaped ramp-type element in the secured arrangement on the drag chain protrudes from a free end of the end-securing part. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The drag chain according to claim 1, wherein the wedge-shaped ramp-type element is arranged on side parts of the end-securing part. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The drag chain according to claim 1, wherein the wedge-shaped ramp-type element is securable or is secured to the end-securing part. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The drag chain according to claim 5, wherein the wedge-shaped ramp-type element is detachably securable or is detachably secured to the end-securing part. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The drag chain according to any claim 1, wherein the end-securing part has a plurality of connection point securing regions for securing the end-securing part to the connection point in different spatial arrangements and the wedge-shaped ramp-type element is secured to or is securable to a connection point securing region of the end-securing part. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The drag chain according to claim 1, wherein the wedge-shaped ramp-type element has integrally formed securing means which correspond to connection point securing regions of the end-securing part. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The drag chain according to claim 1, wherein the wedge-shaped ramp-type element is at least substantially rigid. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The drag chain according to claim 1, wherein the wedge-shaped ramp-type element is elastically deformable. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The drag chain according to claim 1, wherein at least the ramp-type surface of the wedge-shaped ramp-type element consists of a material with low sliding friction and/or higher wear resistance compared to chain plate material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The drag chain according to claim 1, wherein a length of the wedge-shaped ramp-type element is greater than or equal to 0.5 times a length of the end-securing part. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The drag chain according to claim 7, wherein the end-securing part has an upper narrow side facing the upper track and/or a lower narrow side facing away from the upper track and/or an end side facing away from the drag chain and at least two connection point securing regions are provided on at least two sides of the end-securing part selected from the group of upper narrow side, lower narrow side and end side. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The drag chain according to claim 1, wherein the wedge-shaped ramp-type element comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the wedge-shaped ramp-type element is secured to the end-securing part of the lower track on top of the side of the end-securing part facing the upper track, wherein the first portion of the wedge-shaped ramp-type element is overlapping with the side of the end-securing part facing the upper track and wherein the second portion of the wedge-shaped ramp-type element is protruding from the side of the end-securing part facing the upper track in the longitudinal direction of the drag chain. ### Claim 15 A drag chain for guiding cables between two connection points, the drag chain comprising: a plurality of chain links connected to one another in an articulated manner and succeeding each other in a longitudinal direction of the drag chain, wherein the chain links each have mutually opposite plates which are spaced apart laterally from one another and each have an inner and an outer side surface and each have two narrow sides which are opposite one another with respect to a plate height, wherein at least some or all of the chain links have at least one crosspiece which connects the plates of the respective chain link to one another, wherein the mutually opposite plates and the at least one crosspiece form a receiving space for at least one cable, wherein the drag chain is arrangeable and moved by forming a lower track, an upper track and a deflection region connecting the lower track and the upper track, with the upper track being placed on the lower track, wherein the chain links of the lower track and/or upper track are fitted or are fittable with additional elements on a side facing the respective other track, the drag chain having an end-securing part which is coupled to an end link of the lower track of the drag chain and which has connection-securing means to secure the end-securing part to a connection point or said chain is secured to a stationary connection point by the connection-securing means, wherein at least one wedge-shaped ramp-type element is provided, the wedge-shaped ramp-type element has a pointed end and a broad end, which are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the drag chain, in that the wedge-shaped ramp-type element is a separate element with respect to the end securing part of the lower track and is attached to the end-securing part of the lower track on the side facing the upper track, the wedge-shaped ramp-type element is arranged or is arrangeable on the end-securing part with a longitudinal direction at least substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the chain, wherein, in a secured arrangement on the drag chain, the wedge-shaped ramp-type element tapers in a direction leading away from the deflection region and an upper side of the wedge-shaped ramp-type element facing the upper track forms a ramp-type surface for the upper track, wherein the end-securing part has a plurality of connection point securing regions for securing the end-securing part to the connection point in different spatial arrangements and the wedge-shaped ramp-type element is secured to or is securable to a connection point securing region of the end-securing part. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The drag chain according to claim 15, wherein the end-securing part has an upper narrow side facing the upper track and/or a lower narrow side facing away from the upper track and/or an end side facing away from the drag chain and at least two connection point securing regions are provided on at least two sides of the end-securing part selected from the group of upper narrow side, lower narrow side and end side.