e-chains in use at -40 degrees

De-icing aircraft is an expensive and time-consuming process, as several work steps still require manual intervention. As soon as many aircraft have to be de-iced at the same time, de-icing becomes a bottleneck in airport operations. The same situation applies to aircraft cleaning: washing a Boeing 737 is a particularly time-consuming process that can take up to ten hours. MSG Production AS took on this challenge and developed a stationary, fully automatic system for the first time that fulfils two processes: De-icing and washing. This means that the de-icing time can be reduced to seven minutes and the washing time to twenty minutes. The system consists of three traverses, to each of which two telescopic arms with bars are attached. There is a nozzle system in the bars and floor. When an aircraft enters the hangar, it is pulled by an electric carriage and cleaned or de-iced by the system as in a car wash. As this must function reliably despite humidity, chemicals and cold, the manufacturer places special requirements on the system components.

The developers opted for energy chains from igus® for the safe guidance of the hose and cable. A total of 25 energy chains are used in the system. In addition to 19 e-chain® from the E4.1 series, MSG Production AS installed six energy supplies from the 2400 series. The igumid® G material ensures that the chains are resistant to moisture and chemicals. Temperatures as low as -40 degrees Celsius are also no problem. Both energy chain series are insensitive to dirt and require no lubrication, making them ideal for use in a de-icing or cleaning system.
igus® products were also relied on for the cable routing of the nozzle bearings. igubal® pillow block bearings reliably ensure the mobility of the individual nozzles. Due to their positions in the floor and bars, they are also permanently exposed to chemicals and moisture. Like all products from motion plastic specialist igus®, the bearings are lubricant- and corrosion-free, wear-resistant and low-friction. Another advantage: the service life of the bearings and the e-chain® can be calculated quickly and easily using an online tool. The predictions are based on the more than 12,000 tribological tests and 10 billion test cycles carried out annually in the company's own 2,750 square metre test laboratory. This provides the customer with a reliable statement about the service life of the bearings and e-chain® and cables used. This helps to avoid unplanned system downtimes.