Product Overview

The YFFB cable is a flat, silicone rubber-insulated, multi-core flexible cable featuring a parallel arrangement and an outer silicone rubber sheath. Its design is centred on addressing power supply and signal transmission challenges arising from repeated bending, coiling and dragging in mobile equipment, lifting machinery and automated production lines. Compared to traditional round cables, the flat structure offers significant advantages in terms of bending radius, stacking stability and torsion resistance, making it particularly suitable for electrical connections in overhead travelling cranes, gantry cranes, hoists, lifts, roller shutters, stage machinery and various types of mobile trolleys.

The conductors consist of tinned copper strands; both the insulation and sheath are made of silicone rubber. The operating temperature range extends from –60 °C to +180 °C, and the cable features flame-retardant, halogen-free, oil-resistant, acid- and alkali-resistant, and UV-resistant properties. The conductors are colour-coded (blue, green, yellow, red, etc.) to facilitate on-site wiring and maintenance.

Structural Analysis

Conductor: Multi-strand tinned copper wire, compliant with the IEC 60228 Class 5 or VDE 0295 Class 5 standards for flexible conductors. The tin coating prevents oxidation of the copper wires whilst enhancing long-term stability following terminal crimping.

Insulation: Each core has independent silicone rubber insulation with colour-coded identification. Silicone rubber remains flexible across a wide temperature range; it does not become hard, brittle or cracked at low temperatures, nor does it soften or deform at high temperatures.

Sheath: A single, flat silicone rubber sheath encases the multi-core conductors in parallel. The flat cross-section allows the cable to stack naturally on reels or in cable chains, minimising the risk of tangling or knotting; stress is distributed more evenly when bent, and the minimum bending radius is significantly smaller than that of a round cable of the same cross-section.

Typical Applications

Lifting and material handling equipment: Power supply and control systems for trolleys on overhead travelling cranes, gantry cranes, electric hoists and similar equipment. The flat structure ensures the cables remain neatly arranged during winding and unwinding, avoiding the tangling and twisting issues commonly associated with round cables.

Lifts and lifting machinery: Lift travel cables and control cables for lifting platforms. The silicone rubber sheath is resistant to flex fatigue and is suited to frequent reciprocating motion.

Automated Production Lines and Cable Chains: Power and signal cables undergoing reciprocating motion within cable chains. Flat cables stack stably within the cable chain, take up minimal space and offer a long bending life.

Stage Machinery and Roller Shutters: Mobile power supply for stage lifts, turntables and roller shutter motors. The heat-resistant properties of silicone rubber make it suitable for high-temperature environments near stage lighting.

Outdoor and Harsh Environments: Electrical connections for port machinery, mining equipment and agricultural machinery that are exposed to sunlight, rain and oil contamination.

Key Selection Criteria

Number of Conductors and Cross-sectional Area: Determined based on the number of power supply phases, the number of control signal channels and the current per channel. Power and signal conductors can be integrated into a single cable to reduce the number of cables required.

Shielding Required: If there are strong sources of interference in the vicinity, such as variable frequency drives or servo drives, it is recommended to select the YFFBJ shielded type to prevent signal malfunctions.

Reinforcement Required: For long-distance suspension or applications involving high tensile forces, the YFFBG type reinforced with steel wire rope may be selected to enhance tensile strength.

Bending radius: The bending radius of flat cables is typically much smaller than that of round cables; however, during installation, the minimum value specified by the manufacturer must still be observed to avoid damage to the conductors caused by excessive bending.

Voltage rating: The standard rated voltage for YFFB is 300/500 V. If the system voltage is higher, it is necessary to confirm that the selected model meets the insulation requirements.

Installation and Usage Precautions

Avoid cutting against sharp edges: The silicone rubber sheath is flexible and has limited resistance to cutting. When passing through metal apertures or routing along sharp edges, a protective sleeve or cable duct should be fitted.

Securing and Guidance: When used in reels or cable chains, suitable guide rollers and cable clamps should be used to ensure the cable is wound and unwound along the intended path, preventing misalignment and wear.

Avoid Excessive Tension: Allow for an appropriate amount of slack during installation to prevent the cable from remaining under tension for prolonged periods. Types reinforced with steel wire can withstand greater tensile forces, but tension must still be controlled.

Terminal crimping: Take care not to damage the tinned copper wires when stripping the cable; select terminals of a size appropriate to the wire diameter to ensure low contact resistance and sufficient mechanical strength.

Regular inspection: Cables in mobile equipment are subject to wear and tear; it is recommended to regularly check for sheath wear, conductor breaks and loose terminals, and to replace them in a timely manner.