Tough requirements, flexible solutions

Robust steel energy chains from Tsubaki Kabelschlepp have proven themselves in, among other things, horizontal drilling systems that enable trenchless laying of pipelines over long distances. So that the suppliers of the drilling systems can act as flexibly as possible, Tsubaki Kabelzieh implements the energy chains as customer-specific standard solutions with short delivery times.

The energy chains are attached to the side of the drilling rig's masts and guide and protect the hydraulic hoses there. The steel chains of the S series from Tsubaki Kabelschlepp are ideal for this purpose. The extremely robust and heat-resistant steel solutions were designed for high mechanical loads and harsh production environments and are also the ideal choice for drilling rigs. The steel chains from Tsubaki Kabelzieh are individually fine-tuned to meet the specific requirements of each project.

“The installation space for a deep drilling rig is limited. The chain therefore has to carry many large and heavy hoses with a very compact design,” explains Luis Miguel Berjano, designer at Tsubaki Kabelschlepp. The modifications therefore primarily relate to optimal use of installation space and a particularly stable design of the chain in the interior - specifically in the area of the dividers, which, like the chain links themselves, are made of steel. The experts at Tsubaki Kabelschlepp also design adapted connection elements and adjust the pretension of the chain in order to enable a large unsupported length of the chain despite the high cable weight of the hoses.

In this way, individual special solutions are created that are available within a short period of time. And Tsubaki Kabelzieh even goes one step further: To ensure that the customer always remains flexible in the development of their drilling systems, the manufacturer offers the project-specific energy chains as a modular system. To do this, the user defines several basic machines for which suitable basic chains are then developed.