Festoon Cable/Hose Systems

Product Details

NIKO C-Rail Festoon Systems provide travelling power, control or hose supplies to overhead cranes and other moving machinery. Cables or hoses are supported from free-running trolleys travelling inside a dedicated C-Rail track, allowing them to move smoothly with the equipment being supplied.

Systems can carry flat or round cables and hoses and are available in five track sizes to accommodate different cable loads and travel speeds.

A system can be configured as a Power Supply System, Pendant System, or combined Power & Pendant System, providing a flexible and cost-effective solution for a wide range of crane and moving machinery applications.

Benefits, Features, and Technical Specification

Features

Five C-Rail profile sizes: 21, 23, 24, 25 and 26
Track available in 3 m or 6 m lengths
Track supports typically at 1.5 m centres
Flat cable trolley options
Round cable/hose trolley options
Pendant trolleys available
Power-only systems
Pendant-only systems
Combined power and pendant systems
Auxiliary-line arrangements
Internal festoon arrangements

Benefits

Simple to install
Cost-effective alternative to conductor bar
More robust than catenary/taut-wire festoon systems
Free-running operation
High safety factor
Low maintenance
Suitable for flat and round cables/hoses
Wide range of trolley sizes
Suitable for power and control applications
Can be configured around the application’s cable load and travel speed

Technical Specification

Normal cable loop depth: approximately 0.7–1.0 m
Round cable capability: up to 60 mm depending upon trolley/system selection
Flat cable capability: up to 200 × 50 mm
For travel speeds above 2 m/s, additional cable protection should be considered.

Type of Festoon Systems

C-Rail can be mounted alongside the crane or moving equipment using dedicated track supports positioned to suit the system and supporting structure.

Flat Cable Trolleys

Available for flat cable sizes appropriate to the selected profile.

Round Cable/Hose Trolleys

Available for round cable and hose applications.

Configuration Options

Power Feed

Carries power cables or hoses to the moving crane or machinery.

Power and pendant system

Uses two C-Rail tracks to provide separate travelling power and control supplies.

Pendant System

Carries control cables or hoses and supports the travelling pendant/control arrangement.

Internal Festoon Supply

Compact arrangement integrated into compatible NIKO systems.

C-Rail Power Supply System

C-rail Power supply systems are used to feed power cables or hoses to overhead cranes and other moving machinery.

A standard kit comprises of:

Track (supplied in 3m or 6m lengths)
Track joints (where necessary)
Track supports (every 1.5m)
1 x End clamp
Cable trolleys (every 1.5m to give a cable loop depth of 0.75m)
1 x Towing trolley
1 x End stop
Cable or hose
2 x Glands

C-rail Pendant System

C-rail pendant supply systems are used to feed control cables or hoses to overhead cranes and other moving machinery.

A standard kit comprises of:

Track (supplied in 3m or 6m lengths)
Track joints (where necessary)
Track supports (every 1.5m)
1 x End clamp
Cable trolleys (every 1.5m to give a cable loop depth of 0.75m)
1 x Pendant trolley (supporting a terminal box or plug and socket connection)
1 x End stop
Cable or hose
2 x Glands

C-rail Power & Pendant System

C-rail power and pendant supply systems are used to feed both power and control cables or hoses to overhead cranes and other moving machinery.

A standard kit comprises of:

2 runs of track (supplied in 3m or 6m lengths)
Track joints (where necessary)
Track supports (every 1.5m)
1 x End clamp
Cable trolleys (every 1.5m to give a cable loop depth of 0.75m)
1 x Pendant trolley (supporting a terminal box or plug and socket connection)
1 x Towing trolley
2 x End stop
Cable or hose
Glands

Important factors & FAQs

When should I use festoon rather than enclosed conductor bar?

Festoon is a cost-effective solution where cables or hoses need to travel directly with a crane or moving machine. Conductor bar can be preferable where cable loops or the festoon parking/bunching area would create space restrictions.

Can a festoon system carry both power and control cables?

Yes. Separate power and pendant tracks can be combined to carry both power and control supplies.

Can the system carry hoses as well as electrical cable?

Yes. NIKO festoon systems can be configured for suitable cables or hoses.

Can NIKO Festoon Systems carry flat and round cables?

Yes. Different trolley designs are available for flat and round cables.

How do I choose the correct C-Rail profile?

Selection depends on factors including the total cable/hose weight, load per trolley, cable dimensions and required travel speed.

How is the number of cable trolleys calculated?

The trolley quantity is determined by the travel distance and required cable loop depth. The available vertical space beneath the track therefore needs to be considered during system design.

What cable loop depth should be allowed?

The technical guide indicates that loop depths are normally approximately 0.7–1.0 m, subject to available headroom and application requirements.

What happens at higher travel speeds?

The appropriate track/trolley system must be selected for the operating speed. For higher-speed applications, additional measures may be required to protect and control the cables.

Can a festoon system be retrofitted?

Yes, subject to the available supporting structure, space, travel length and cable/hose requirements.

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