Link structure for chains for supporting and guiding energy conveying conductors

Claim 1

A link structure for use in chains for supporting energy conductors, especially cables and hoses, which includes: a first and a second link member arranged in spaced relationship and parallel to each other, a web arranged between and connected to said first and second link members while having its longitudinal extension substantially at a right angle with regard to the longitudinal extension of said first and second link members, said web comprising at least two traverse means arranged in substantially parallel and spaced relationship to each other and extending in the longitudinal direction of said web, at least one of said traverse means having two oppositely located rounded sections the contour of which corresponds to that of a cylinder and also having two oppositely located plane sides spaced from each other by a distance considerably less than the maximum distance between said rounded sections, a plurality of spacer webs respectively extending transverse to said traverse means and substantially parallel to each other while being spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction of said web, each of said spacer webs having two end portions at least one of which is provided with an undercut rounded coutout conforming in cross section to said rounded sections of said traverse means, at least one of said traverse means normally resting in said cutouts of said spacer webs and being non-removable therefrom when said rounded sections of said traverse means occupy a first position in the pertaining rounded cutouts of said spacer webs in which position said plane sides of said traverse means form a right angle with the distance line between said at least two traverse means, at least said one traverse means being rotatable from said first position into a second position angularly offset to said first position by about 90* for removal from the pertaining cutouts in said spacer webs, and locking means associated with said rotatable traverse means for preventing accidental turning thereof in the pertaining cutouts of said spacer webs.