flexible traction element helically guided around the machine element in several turns the traction element being drivable in both directions application_number US 201013201490 A description certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting the words u201c right u201d and u201c left u201d designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made unless specifically set forth herein the terms u201c a u201d u201c an u201d and u201c the u201d are not limited to one element but instead should be read as meaning u201c at least one u201d the terminology includes the words noted above derivatives thereof and words of similar import fig1 shows a drive of a blower pipe 1 for a soot blower in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the blower pipe 1 only a short section of which is shown is preferably mounted in axially sliding and rotating fashion a common drive serves to drive the blower pipe 1 in its longitudinal direction and to simultaneously rotate the blower pipe 1 the drive essentially consists of an endless link chain 2 or round steel chain that is helically guided around the blower pipe 1 in several turns 3 the link chain 2 preferably consists of closed steel links not illustrated in more detail in the drawing that interlock at an angle of 90 u00b0 relative to each other such as described in din 22252 round steel chains or din 763 din 764 or din 766 roughly half a turn or a partial contact area 4 of the link chain 2 runs around a drum 5 which can optionally be driven in both directions by means of.