KR20000069673A - Energy-supply chain - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention comprises a plurality of chain links connected to each other in the form of joints which are formed by parallel straps 1 which receive cables, hoses and the like and are connected by cross-members 2, 3, wherein the straps 1 Relates to an energy guiding chain with fastening projections 7 on the side towards the inside of the chain for detachable, snap-in reception of correspondingly constructed cross-members 2, 3 or intermediate elements.

In order to extend the effective cross-sectional area of the modular energy guiding chain, the present invention provides at least some of the cross-members 2, 3 with at least one parallel upper and lower edge of the strap 1 on at least one side of the bracket. It is proposed to construct a multi-part bracket that forms an extension of the cross section defined by. The width and / or height of the bracket can be changed using the adapter 11.

Description

Energy-supply chain {ENERGY-SUPPLY CHAIN}

An example of an energy guiding chain of the above kind is disclosed in DE 35 31 066 A1. The energy guiding chain described therein consists essentially of straps formed by alternating pin and circular bore holes, which are connected to each other by removable upper and lower cross-members to form a chain link, the chain link The pins of one chain link are fitted in the bore holes of the next chain link so that they can pivot relative to each other. To accommodate the removable upper and lower cross-members, the straps are formed with inwardly directed protrusions or snap pins, which are fitted into the grooves of the cross-member. The cross-member is easily and securely connected to the strap by fitting it to the snap pins of the strap. In particular, known straps of energy guiding chains are simple to manufacture and easy to assemble because the straps constituting one chain link are each configured to be mirror to each other and the upper and lower cross-members are identical.

Another similar energy guiding chain is disclosed in DE 39 09 797. This energy guiding chain also consists of similar parallel straps pivotable to each other, which are connected to each other by removable upper and lower cross-members, both ends of the cross-member being detachably attached to a strap disposed at the same height. . In the case of this known energy guiding chain, the central portion of each chain strap is formed with upper and lower protrusions on both sides of the central longitudinal surface of the chain strap, each having a T-shaped groove to correspond to the cross-member. It will receive the formed end. The end of the cross-member is of T-shaped design and can be inserted from the side into the grooves formed by the protrusions.

In order to increase the effective cross-section of the chain, DE 39 09 797 can be inserted in pairs into two T-shaped straps located at the same height, with a cross having the same fixing elements and the same design as the chain cross-member of the strap. An updateable and rectangular adapter is proposed that can accommodate a member therebetween. These adapters are located with one wall at the upper or lower edge of the strap, thus forming an extension of the central longitudinal surface of the strap. Thus, only two strap chains are needed, and elements can be attached to the strap chain using adapters to accommodate cables other than cables or wires in this chain, so that the effective cross section and the capacity of the chain are significantly increased. Here, cross-members of the same design are always used.

The solution proposed in DE 39 09 797 has the advantage that a cross-member of the same design can always be used, but has the disadvantage that the assembly of elements that increase the effective cross section of the chain becomes very complicated. Each adapter must always be installed individually on each strap, which means that if necessary a total of four adapters must be installed on each chain link, and in addition, one or more cross-members between them must be installed between them. Means that. Since the cross-members are inserted into T-shaped grooves extending in the longitudinal direction of the chain, it is complicated to continuously open the energy guiding chain to insert or remove the cable. For example, if several cross-members are stacked as separators to divide the extension cross section or the interior of the original chain cross section, the entire chain must actually be disassembled to insert the cable into the chain cross section defined by the actual straps. do.

Also, in the above design, the width of the expanded cross section is predetermined by the distance between the straps, which determines the width of the chain. For example, this makes it impossible to make an expanded cross section that is biased or asymmetrical with respect to the original chain cross section defined by the straps.

In addition, since there are only two different kinds of parts, namely adapters and cross-members, design changes to the formation and separation of the expanded cross section are limited.

However, the most serious disadvantage of the known chain is that it is more difficult to continuously open the chain to insert or remove cables.

A tubular, almost fully closed energy guiding chain is disclosed in US Pat. No. 3,779,003, the link consisting of a U-shaped substrate and a U-shaped cover fitted over the substrate. The U-shaped cover is formed with a snap tab, which snaps over the sides of the substrate forming each chain link and fits into the corresponding grooves. The cover disclosed in US 3,779,003 forms a closed, tubular energy guiding chain such that the pivot axes of the individual links are arranged below the central longitudinal plane of the cable guide to allow some deflection. This allows individual chain links or chain cross sections to have an asymmetrical shape with respect to the pivot axis of the link. The effective section of the chain does not extend in this way. The ratio of the height of the side of the chain link to the height of the cover and the effective cross section of the chain disclosed therein is determined by the desired deflection of the chain.

DE 37 30 586 C1 discloses the use of multi-component cross-members in an energy guiding chain, the cross-members being of a width of the internal space for the energy rays in such a way that they can be adjusted according to the thickness of the energy rays to be inserted. To make up, it has a central portion of adjustable length. The cross-members are adjusted by cutting the side portions of each cross-member to the desired length. In this case, the effective cross section only extends the width of the chain, and adjusting the chain in this way is very complicated and almost irreversible unless other additional materials are used.

Accordingly, the present invention aims to increase the effective cross section of the chain described above and to maintain the shape and design of the strap, while maintaining the advantages of the easy opening and closing enabled by this kind of chain and maintaining the above-mentioned shortcomings. It aims to be able to prevent it.

The present invention relates to an energy guiding chain for receiving cables, hoses and the like, in particular the energy guiding chain is formed by a balanced strap connected by a cross-member and has a plurality of chain links articulated with each other. The straps face the interior of the chain and have fastening protrusions in the transverse direction to receive the correspondingly configured cross-member or connector in a detachable or snap-in manner. This kind of energy guiding chain serves to guide cables, hoses and similar energy lines from one connection point to another, wherein the position of at least one of the connection points is variable.

1 shows an embodiment of the energy guiding chain according to the invention with brackets installed above and below the chain forming an extension of the cross section of the chain defined by the upper and lower edges of both straps of the chain.

2 shows an energy guiding chain according to the invention in which the bracket extends between the upper and lower strands of the chain and the bracket is provided on only one side.

Figure 3 is an energy guiding chain according to the invention that the bracket supports the chain when released, the bracket extended to one side is fixed.

4 is a side view and a partial cross-sectional view of the bracket.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the bracket shown in FIG. 4. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the bracket shown in FIG. 4. FIG.

7 is a front view of the chain link of the energy guiding chain according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a second embodiment of an energy guiding chain according to the present invention.

9 is an energy guiding chain of FIG. 8 with inner partitions and support elements.

10 is an energy guiding chain of FIG. 9 with an additional inner partition.

11 is another variant of the energy guiding chain according to the present invention.

12 is an energy guiding chain with brackets provided with support legs.

13 and 14 show two variants of the energy guiding chain with an effective cross section extending to both sides.

15 is an energy guiding chain according to the invention with a bracket of variable height.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the movement of an energy guiding chain in a guide channel. FIG.

17 is a side view of an intermediate element according to the invention.

18 is an intermediate element of FIG. 17 seen from the right side of FIG. 17;

19 is an intermediate element of FIG. 17 seen from the left side of FIG. 17;

20 is a bottom view of the intermediate element of FIG. 17.

21 is a top view of the intermediate element of FIG. 17;

Figure 22 is a side view of the insert consisting of fastening protrusions.

FIG. 23 is a left side view of the insert of FIG. 22; FIG.

24 is a plan view of the insert of FIG. 22;

25 is a front view of the chain link of the energy guiding chain with the bracket configured as a fragment arch.

FIG. 26 is a plan view of the chain link shown in FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is a side view of the chain link shown in FIG. 26; FIG.

28 to 31 show various shapes of the adapter.

32 shows a variant of the energy guiding chain with an effective cross section extended to one side through the use of the adapter shown in FIGS. 28 to 31.

According to the invention, the object is an extension of the cross section in which at least some cross-members are designed as brackets and at least one side of the brackets is defined by parallel upper and lower edges of the straps, the brackets being narrow in the straps. This is achieved by providing an installation surface having grooves extending substantially parallel to the upper and lower edges and corresponding to the fastening protrusions of the strap.

Thus, the present invention deviates from the principle of always using cross-members of the same design, preferably of a much simpler design. By using the bracket to expand the cross section, in particular, the maximum freedom is provided in designing the shape of the expanded cross section, regardless of the width of the energy guiding chain determined by the distance between the straps.

The brackets according to the invention can be round or angular in shape, which is installed at the same height as the straps and is easier to assemble than a pair of adapters in which additional cross-members can be inserted between them. In particular, the brackets may be configured to fold open in the formed inner partitions, if desired.

Since the brackets are formed by providing an installation surface with grooves corresponding to the fastening protrusions of the strap, which extend substantially parallel to the narrow upper and lower sides of the straps, the straps on one or both sides of the chain instead of the other standard cross-members. It can be fitted to the fastening protrusions of the. In this respect, the mounting surface of the bracket can be conveniently designed according to the installation area of the existing cross-members, and the cross-member of the standard chain can be replaced by the brackets according to the present invention as needed.

The bracket is preferably designed with elements forming a rectangular expanded cross section. This makes it possible to use a known guide channel with sliding rails in the channel, in which an energy guiding chain with an extended cross section formed by brackets can be wound or unwound in this channel. Since the width of the bracket forming the expanded cross section is independent of the width of the chain defined by the distance between the straps, it is possible to use a relatively wide energy guiding chain according to the invention with a narrow and shallow guide channel.

For this purpose, at least the outer edges of the bracket are conveniently reinforced with slide and / or guide surfaces. These surfaces allow the energy guiding chain to move quietly and with little wear in the guide channel.

In a preferred configuration of the present invention, the bracket is composed of multi-parts so that the structure of the expanded cross section is in the form of a higher order modular system.

If the width and / or height of the bracket can be changed using an intermediate element consisting of an adapter, a modular structure of the expanded cross section formed by the bracket is particularly possible.

The adapter may at least partly resemble the shape of the fastening protrusion. For example, an adapter with fastening protrusions on both sides may be provided for varying the height of the bracket, and the elements constituting the bracket may be configured in a completely or partially existing cross-member fashion. For example, the adapter can also be configured to have an angled end as a corner or a T-shaped element with three mounting surfaces or a cross-shaped element with four mounting surfaces.

In a preferred form of the invention, the adapter has a complementary snap-fastening element such that the reference bracket can be used for various chain widths, for example.

In another advantageous form of the invention, an inward fastening projection of one strap of the chain link is provided on a bearing bore forming a hinge with a bearing journal provided on the bracket or adapter. The bracket can thus be rotated and opened on the hinge after one of the snap connections is opened, which makes it very easy to insert cables and / or lines into the chain. Here, the hinge is conveniently configured such that when the bracket is rotated and opened, the bearing journal can be released from the bearing bore, so that the bracket is easily removed.

Additional locking elements are preferably provided in the bracket and / or strap to accommodate the inner partitions.

In order to receive the inner partitions, a detachably installed insert forming the fastening projection can be provided as a fastening element which can be inserted into a corresponding groove of the bracket and / or strap, for example. For example, a fastening element of this kind can simply be inserted in the bracket forming the cross section as a cable-bearing separator or between the straps of the energy guiding chain.

If the bracket is subjected to heavy loads by means of a separator or other cable or a hose-bearing inner partition, the brackets can be conveniently provided on the cross-members on the opposite side of the bracket, respectively.

The separate support members may alternatively be provided to support the brackets for each opposing cross-member or to support the opposite brackets of the chain link with respect to each other.

The fastening protrusion may consist of known snap ridges that interact with known complementary grooves.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the bracket consists of a single part arch that forms a tunnel shaped cross section.

The invention also relates to an intermediate element comprising a web-like element provided on both sides of a snap-fastening element, essentially complementary or identically configured with each other, configured as an adapter for use in an energy guiding chain having the features described above. .

To allow the intermediate element to be used to change the height of the bracket, fastening projections are conveniently provided as snap-fastening elements on both sides of the web-like element.

In one form of the invention, the intermediate element is configured as an edge where the installation surfaces extend approximately at right angles to each other.

Finally, the present invention is directed to a known fastening protrusion and integral snap-in insert for insertion into a correspondingly formed groove of a bracket and / or strap, which is configured as a fastening protrusion for use in an energy guiding chain having the above-mentioned features. It relates to an insert containing the constructed basic elements. For example, this kind of insert allows the separator to be inserted into the energy guiding chain at virtually any desired location, and existing cross-members can be used as the separator.

The snap-in insert is preferably configured as a pin.

In particular, as shown in FIGS. 27 and 1 to 3, the energy guiding chain according to the invention comprises a chain link assembled to form a chain strand which is preferably bent in one direction. The chain link comprises a strap 1 in the form of a mirror image located parallel to each other and connected by upper and lower cross members 2, 3. The strap 1 and the upper and lower cross-members 2, 3 are injection molded from a thermoplastic material.

The strap 1 is bent inward with respect to each other on one side of the chain link and each is provided with cylindrical pins 4 which protrude outwards. The other side of the strap 1 is bent outwards with respect to each other and each engages a bore hole 5 of a dimension corresponding to the pin 4 so that the energy guiding chain is connected to at least two parallel strap strands that can be bent to one side. Is formed by.

It is apparent to those skilled in the art that the strap 1 does not necessarily need to be bent. Both the upper cross-member 2 and the lower cross-member 3 can be snap-fastened to the strap 1 in a detachable manner, but either one of the two cross-members 2, 3 is a strap 1. It may be composed of a component part of.

The upper and lower cross-members 2, 3 respectively connected to the strap 1 form the upper and lower walls of the channel formed by the chain links for receiving hoses, cables and the like.

In FIG. 7 an embodiment of the chain is shown according to the invention and in which the upper cross-member 2 consists of a rectangular bracket with an installation surface 6 extending in parallel with the lower cross-member 3. Both the upper and lower cross-members 2, 3 are snap-fastened in a detachable manner to the integrally molded fastening protrusion 7 provided inside the strap 1. The fastening protrusion 7 is indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 7, where only the top fastening protrusion 7 is visible. As mentioned above, the lower cross-member 3 may for example consist of a constituent part of the strap.

4 to 6, the upper cross-members 2, each consisting of a rectangular bracket, are shown. The mounting surface 6 of the rectangular bracket is configured along the mounting surface of the known cross-member, and provided with a groove 8 corresponding to the fastening projection 7. The inwardly fastening projections 7 of the strap 1 are configured in a manner known as protrusions with trapezoidal cross sections and bevel snap loops or undercut snap bevels 9 on both sides, respectively, which are associated cross-members 2, 3. Interact with the snap groove provided in the groove (8).

The design of the fastening projections 7 and the grooves 8 is described below and corresponds to the shape of the fastening projections 7 and the grooves 8 provided on the mounting surface 6 of the cross-members 2, 3. It is explained based on the adapter 11 shown in FIGS. 17 to 21, having a shape.

These figures clearly show that the upper cross-member 2 consisting of a rectangular bracket forms an upper extension of the effective chain cross section for cables, hoses and the like. This upper cross-member 2 can be assembled, locked and separated in a simple manner.

The rectangular shape of the bracket allows the shallow and narrow guide channel 12 to be a guide for the energy guiding chain, as shown in FIG. 16. In order to ensure low friction and quiet driving of the energy guiding chain in the guide channel, the edge of the bracket is reinforced with an additional sliding face or guide face 13. As shown in FIG. 16, the vertical face of the bracket can also be reinforced with a similar guide face 13.

8 shows an embodiment of the energy guiding chain according to the invention, the bracket having a multi-part shape, the face shown on the left of FIG. 8 being widened by an adapter 11 configured as an intermediate element. The design of the adapter 11 is shown between FIGS. 17-21. As described above on the left side of the adapter 11 of FIGS. 17, 20 and 21, a groove corresponding to the groove 8 of the mounting surface 6 of the upper and lower cross-members 2, 3 is provided. do. The right side of the adapter 11 consists of a fastening protrusion, the design of which corresponds to the inward fastening protrusion 7 of the strap 1. As an extension of the mounting surface 6 of the bracket, the adapter 11 is snap-fastened to the fastening projection 7 of the bracket and the strap 1. The stud 14 is located at the top of the fastening projection 7 of the associated strap 1, or at the top of the adapter 11, on the mounting surface 6 of the bracket or in the groove 8 of the adapter 11. Meshes with the same hole 15. The snap-in connection between each fastening protrusion 7 and the groove 8 can be opened nicely using a screwdriver in the window-like hole 15.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, a known divider 16 inserted between the adapter 11 and the lower cross-member 3 is provided for dividing the effective cross section of the energy guiding chain.

9 shows another embodiment of an energy guiding chain in accordance with the invention and in which the cross section of the chain link is divided by an additional inner partition 17. The lower edges 18 of the bracket angled towards the inside of the chain are supported by the individual support members 19 with respect to the lower cross-member 3. Here, the support member 19 is also used to receive the separator 20. At the end abutting the bracket, the support member 19 is provided with an angular support 21 for receiving the lower edge 18 of the bracket. An additional snap-fastening element can be provided on this angular support 21, into which the lower edge 18 of the bracket can be snapped.

FIG. 10 shows an energy guiding chain in which an additional separator 20 is provided in the expanded cross section formed by the bracket, shown in FIG. 9. A known side plate 22 is attached to the inside of the bracket to secure the separator 20. The separator 20 can be inserted into the side plate 22 so that the height can be changed. A divider 16 can be inserted between the separators 20 to further divide the expanded cross section.

11 shows another variant of the energy guiding chain in which the intermediate cross-member 23 according to the invention is inserted between the straps 1. The intermediate cross-member 23 is constructed in the manner of a conventional cross-member, and further fastening protrusions are provided inside the strap for receiving the intermediate cross-member 23. This fastening protrusion consists of an insert 24 detachably fixed, and is shown in FIGS. 22 to 24. The insert shown is configured in the manner of a fastening projection 7, provided with an approximately T-shaped pin 25 which can be snapped to the insert 24 into the groove of the strap 1 or the bracket (not shown). do.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, an additional corner partition 26 is provided for optimal use of the expanded cross section with which a smaller cable or hose can be fixed at the corner of the bracket. A clamp member 27 branched to the corner partition 26 and the divider 16 is provided, whereby it can be snap-fastened to the bracket.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 12, an intermediate cross-member 23 is installed in the expanded cross section formed by the bracket using the insert 24 described above. Since the bracket naturally takes a heavy load due to the cable and / or the hose and the intermediate cross-member 3 inserted on its top, it is supported by the support leg 28 on the lower cross-member 3. The lower end of the support leg 28 has a design similar to the divider 16.

13 shows an embodiment of an energy guiding chain in which a cross-member consisting of a bracket is provided in place of the reference design of the lower cross-member 3. This extends the effective cross-sectional area of the energy guiding chain both upwards and downwards. The inward corners 18 of the opposite brackets are supported relative to each other using the support member 19 described above.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the effective cross-sectional area of the energy guiding chain is extended to both sides of the strap using a rectangular bracket, and the strap is also provided with an additional inner partition by an intermediate cross-member 23.

FIG. 15 shows an energy guiding chain with an adjustable height multi-part bracket detachably mounted to the corner part 29. The corner piece 29 is configured in the manner of the adapter 11 shown in FIGS. 17 to 21. The installation surface 6 extending approximately parallel with the upper narrow surface of the strap 1 of the corner piece 29 is configured as a groove 8, and its vertical end extending upwards is composed of a fastening protrusion 7. do. The height of the bracket shown in FIG. 15 can be easily changed using a number of straight adapters 11 or other sized corner components 29.

The effective cross-sectional area of the energy guiding chain according to the invention can be extended as necessary in the manner of higher order modular systems using rectangular brackets as well as adapters 11, inserts 24 and edge parts 29.

The adapter 11 and the bracket are provided, for example, with a hinge that allows the energy guiding chain to be easily folded open.

25 to 27 show an embodiment according to the invention in which the bracket forming the upper cross-member 2 consists of a fragmented arch 30. This arch 30 enables a particularly simple and stable variant of the energy guiding chain according to the invention.

As shown in FIG. 25, the right side of the bracket is pivot-installed through a bearing journal in the bearing bore 32 of the associated fastening protrusion. When the bracket is in the open position, the bearing journal 31 can be easily snapped out from the bearing bore 32.

For stability reasons, the arch 30 is provided with a reinforcing rib 33 that drives in the circumferential direction.

Several variants of the adapter 11 are shown in FIGS. 28 to 31, for example FIG. 28 shows that the mounting projections 6 all have fastening projections in the manner of the fastening projections 7 of the chain strap 1. The corner part 29 comprised like 7 is shown.

FIG. 29 shows an adapter 11 having a substantially T-shaped design, in which two mounting surfaces 6 are provided with fastening projections 7 and one mounting surface with a groove 8. The adapter 11 shown in FIG. 30 also has a T-shaped design, and all three installation surfaces 6 are provided with fastening protrusions 7. Finally, FIG. 31 shows a cross or star adapter 11 provided with an installation surface 6 consisting of four equally fastening projections 7.

32 shows various uses of the adapter 11 shown in FIGS. 28 to 31.

Claims (21)

A plurality of chain links formed by parallel straps which receive cables, hoses, and the like, connected by cross-members and connected to each other in the form of joints, said straps being removable snaps of correspondingly constructed cross-members or connectors; In an energy guiding chain with fastening projections 7 on the side facing the inside of the chain for accepting phosphorus, At least part of the cross-members 2, 3 is configured as a bracket, and at least one side of the bracket forms an extension of the chain cross section defined by parallel upper and lower edges of the strap 1, and The bracket is provided with an energy guiding surface, which is provided with mounting surfaces 6 which extend approximately parallel to the upper and lower narrow surfaces of the strap and have grooves 8 corresponding to the fastening projections 7 of the strap. chain. The energy guiding chain according to claim 1, wherein the bracket is configured as an element forming a rectangular expanded cross section. Energy guiding chain according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least the outer edge of the bracket is reinforced with a sliding surface and a guiding surface (13), or one of them. The energy guiding chain according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the bracket is a multi-component construction. Energy guiding chain according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the height and width of the bracket or one of them can be varied by the use of an intermediate element configured as an adapter (11). Energy guiding chain according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adapter (11) is at least partly similar in shape to the fastening projections (7). Energy guiding chain according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adapter (11) has a complementary snap-fastening element. 8. A bearing bore (32) is provided in the inwardly fastening projection (7) of one strap (1) of the chain link, which bearing bore (32). An energy guiding chain, characterized in that it forms a hinge with a bearing journal (31) provided on it. Energy guide according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bracket and the strap (1), or one of them, are provided with additional fastening elements for receiving the inner partitions (17, 23). Ding Chain. 10. The bracket and strap (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a detachably mounted insert (24) forming a fastening projection (7) for receiving the inner partitions (17, 23) is provided. Or as a stationary element that can be inserted into one corresponding groove of the same. The energy guiding chain according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bracket is provided with support legs (28) respectively installed on the cross-members (3) opposite the brackets. 12. An individual support member (19) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein individual support members (19) for supporting the brackets against each opposing cross-member (3) or for supporting the opposite brackets of the chain link against each other are: Energy guiding chain, characterized in that provided. The energy guiding chain according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fastening protrusion (7) consists of a known snap ridge which interacts with a known complementary groove (8). The energy guiding chain according to claim 1, wherein the bracket is configured as a fragment arch (30) forming a tunnel-shaped expanded cross section. An intermediate element configured as an adapter for use with an energy guiding chain having the features of any of claims 1 to 14, wherein a snap-fastening element is provided that is substantially complementary or identically configured on at least two sides. An intermediate element consisting of one or more web-like elements shaped similarly to snap-fastening elements of one of the cross-members or straps of the energy guiding chain. 18. The intermediate element according to claim 15, wherein the snap-fastening element is provided with at least one of a locking projection (7) and a complementary groove (8) with a snap groove (10). 18. The intermediate element according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that it is configured as a corner part with mounting surfaces (6) extending approximately perpendicular to each other. The intermediate element according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that it is configured as a T-shaped element with three mounting surfaces (6). The intermediate element according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that it is configured as a cross-shaped element having four mounting surfaces (6). An insert 24 configured as a fastening protrusion for use with an energy guiding chain having the features of any of the preceding claims, comprising a basic element configured as a known fastening protrusion 7, brackets and straps. (1), or an insert consisting of an integral snap-in insert for insertion into one of the correspondingly formed grooves. 21. Insert according to claim 20, characterized in that the snap-in insert is configured as a pin (25).