Cable management device and method for quick release of cables

Abstract

The application provides a cable management device and a quick release method of the cable, wherein the cable management device comprises a spool and a wire passing structure, wherein the wire passing structure is arranged on the axial surface of the spool to divide the axial surface of the spool into two wire storage areas to store the cable windings respectively, wherein the transition of the wire between the cable windings is guided by the guide wall of the wire passing structure to form an association, and the cable windings associated with each other are wound in the same number of turns in opposite directions respectively. Thus, the cable can be accommodated in a compact cylindrical space, and the kink of the cable can be eliminated when released.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to cable winding and release technology, and more particularly to a cable management device and a method for rapid cable release. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, cables (including optical fibers, wires, cables, hoses and ropes) are typically stored and transported by being wound in a loop on a cylindrical structure, and then released during use.

[0003] In use, the cable can be released either tangentially via a ring or axially via coiling. When released tangentially via the ring, the inventors discovered that the cylindrical structure and the cable wound around it require rotation, potentially necessitating a slip ring connection to one end of the cable. When the cable is pulled axially, it undergoes a helical deformation, resulting in a kink. When suspending a free load via the cable, the kink created after release requires reverse rotation of the free load to recover. This recovery process is time-consuming and involves repeated oscillations. For applications requiring angular stability, this recovery process delays the time it takes for the load to begin functioning.

[0004] like Figure 1 As shown, an analysis of one half-turn of the cable winding uses two colors to indicate the cable's twist state, making it easier to see. When the cable is released axially, as... Figure 2 As shown, when the two taps move in opposite directions, it can be seen that after the cable is straightened by translating at both ends, the cable will twist 180 degrees along its axis. When the cable is wound multiple times, the degree of twist will increase linearly according to the relationship of twisting 180 degrees for each half-turn of the winding.

[0005] To address these issues, a US patent (US7072560) disclosed a "Twist-free method of optical fiber stowage and payout," which proposed a figure-eight dual-winding cable winding method to reduce cable kinks during winding and unwinding. The principle is that two windings wound in opposite directions cancel each other out during unwinding.

[0006] However, the drawback of this method is that it requires two parallel and spaced spools to house the windings, which takes up a lot of space during implementation and is not very suitable for some compact applications, such as the storage and release of buoy cables. Summary of the Invention

[0007] Therefore, the main objective of this invention is to provide a cable management device and a method for rapid cable release, so as to realize the storage of cables in a compact cylindrical space and eliminate cable kinks during release.

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, according to a first aspect of the present invention, a cable management device is provided, comprising: a spool and a cable guide structure, wherein the cable guide structure is disposed on the spool axial surface to divide the spool axial surface into two cable storage areas for storing cable windings respectively, wherein each cable winding is associated with another cable through a guide wall of the cable guide structure, and the associated cable windings are wound with the same number of turns in opposite directions.

[0009] In a possible preferred embodiment, the guide wall of the cable guide structure is curved, and the radius of curvature of the guide wall is greater than the minimum bending radius of the cable.

[0010] In a possible preferred embodiment, the cable guide structure includes: a first transition member and a second transition member, wherein the first transition member and the second transition member are arranged at a predetermined distance apart, wherein the guide wall of the cable guide structure is formed by combining the guide surfaces of the first transition member and the second transition member, and is curved, and the radius of curvature of the guide wall of the cable guide structure is greater than the minimum bending radius of the cable.

[0011] In a possible preferred embodiment, the cable management device further includes: a plurality of latches, wherein each latch is axially spaced on the axial surface of the spool, and the wire guide structure is disposed on the axial surface of the spool and located between each latch, so as to define the cable storage area at the axial surface of the spool between each latch and the wire guide structure, and to store cable windings respectively, wherein the taps of each cable winding are locked by the latches.

[0012] In a possible preferred embodiment, the guide wall of the tenon is curved and has a wire-catching groove, wherein the radius of curvature of the guide wall of the tenon is greater than the minimum bending radius of the cable.

[0013] In a possible preferred embodiment, the bobbin includes: a first bobbin segment and a second bobbin segment, wherein both the first bobbin segment and the second bobbin segment are provided with slots on their axial surfaces, and one side of the wire-passing structure is provided with a pin that mates with the slot, so that the first bobbin segment and the second bobbin segment can be detachably connected through the wire-passing structure.

[0014] In a possible preferred embodiment, the cable management device further includes: a connector, wherein one side of the connector is provided with a connecting shaft, wherein the spool includes: a first spool segment and a second spool segment, and both the first spool segment and the second spool segment are provided with connecting grooves that can mate with the connecting shaft, so that the first spool segment and the second spool segment can be detachably connected through the connector, and the cable guide structure is connected to the spool segment of either the first spool segment or the second spool segment.

[0015] To achieve the above objectives, corresponding to the structure of the aforementioned cable management device, according to a second aspect of the present invention, a method for rapid cable release is also provided, the steps of which include: simultaneously releasing each associated cable winding by a tap, and releasing at least a portion of the constraint on the spool to allow it to rotate axially during the release of each cable winding.

[0016] To achieve the above objectives, corresponding to the structure of the aforementioned cable management device, according to a third aspect of the present invention, a method for rapid cable release is also provided, the steps of which include: disconnecting the cable guide structure from the spool, releasing the cable from the cable guide structure, and gradually translating and separating the first spool segment from the second spool segment.

[0017] To achieve the above objectives, corresponding to the structure of the aforementioned cable management device, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a method for rapid cable release is also provided, the steps of which include: disconnecting the connector from the spool, releasing the cable from the cable passing structure, and gradually translating and separating the first spool segment and the second spool segment.

[0018] The cable management device and cable quick release method provided by this invention cleverly use the spool as a torsion transmission medium with axial rotational freedom, so that the torsion generated by the two windings can cancel each other out, thereby avoiding kinking when the cable is released. This allows the solution to be implemented in a compact cylindrical space, thus significantly improving the space utilization rate of cable storage and reducing the space requirements during implementation compared with the prior art.

[0019] Furthermore, in the corresponding spool segmented structure, since the cable is released between the first and second spools rather than from the tap, and the structure supports the gradual translation and separation of the first and second spool segments during cable release, the cable can rotate during release, but the first and second spool segments do not need to rotate. This allows the twisting to be canceled out by the reverse winding between the associated cable windings. Because the rotational inertia of the rotating part of the cable is small, especially when the cable is released in a fluid with high resistance or viscosity, the resistance / viscosity can be overcome better since the first and second spool segments do not need to rotate, thereby improving the cable release efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0020] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this application, are used to provide a further understanding of the invention. The illustrative embodiments of the invention and their descriptions are used to explain the invention and do not constitute an undue limitation of the invention. In the drawings:

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the twisted state of a cable in a conventional cable winding, as shown in the background art.

[0022] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the twisted state of a conventional cable winding when two taps of the cable are translated in opposite directions, as shown in the background art.

[0023] Figures 3 to 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a first example of the cable management device of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of a split-type cable management structure in the first example of the cable management device of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of a second example of the cable management device of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 9 This is a structural schematic diagram of a third example of the cable management device of the present invention.

[0027] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0028] 1. Bollard; 2. Cable winding structure; 3. Clip; 4. Connector; 5. Tap; 6. First shaft section; 11. Second shaft section; 12. First transition piece; 21. Second transition piece; 22. Detailed Implementation

[0029] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions of the present invention, the specific technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with embodiments, so as to help those skilled in the art further understand the present invention. Obviously, the embodiments described in this application are merely some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. It should be noted that, for those skilled in the art, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of this application can be combined with each other without departing from the concept of the present invention and without conflict. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort should fall within the disclosure and protection scope of the present invention.

[0030] Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," "S100," "S200," etc., used in the specification, claims, and drawings of this invention are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate so that embodiments of the invention described herein can be implemented in orders other than those described herein. At the same time, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. Unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "set," "arranged," "installed," "connected," and "linked" should be interpreted broadly, for example, as a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; or a connection within two elements. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this case according to the specific circumstances and in conjunction with existing technology.

[0031] To achieve cable management within a compact cylindrical space and eliminate cable kinks during release, such as Figures 3 to 6 As shown, the first example of the present invention provides a cable management device, which includes: a spool 1 and a cable guide structure 2, wherein the spool 1 is preferably cylindrical, and the cable guide structure 2 is disposed on the axial surface of the spool 1 to divide the axial surface of the spool 1 into upper and lower cable storage areas to store cable windings 3 respectively, wherein each cable winding 3 is connected by a cable through the guide wall of the cable guide structure 2, and the connected cable windings 3 are wound with the same number of turns in opposite directions.

[0032] Specifically, in this example, the associated cable windings 3 are wound in opposite directions, meaning that when the cable is wound onto the spool 1, the associated cable windings 3 are wound with the same number of turns in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions. The cable guide structure 2 provides a transition path for the cable windings 3 to be wound in reverse direction when transitioning to the next cable storage area, and also ensures that the associated cable windings 3 do not loosen at the transition point. Otherwise, it would be difficult to wind a continuous cable in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions on the cylindrical spool 1.

[0033] Furthermore, such as Figures 4 to 6 As shown, in this example, the cable guide component 2 is preferably designed in a semi-cylindrical shape to allow the cable to wind around the cable guide component 2 180°, transitioning from one winding to another. The guide wall on the side of the cable guide component 2 that guides the cable transition is curved, and the radius of curvature of this guide wall is greater than the minimum bending radius of the cable. This ensures that the cable will not be excessively bent on the guide wall of the cable guide component 2, thus preventing damage to the cable.

[0034] Furthermore, in other alternative examples, the cable guide structure 2 can also be designed with other three-dimensional geometric shapes containing curved surfaces, as long as the radius of curvature of its guide wall does not damage the cable. For example... Figure 7 As shown, an example of a possible alternative implementation of the cable guide structure 2 is illustrated. The cable guide structure 2 is a split structure designed to adjust the transition distance between cable windings 3, thereby controlling the size of the cable storage area on the spool 1 to manage the maximum number of turns of the cable windings 3, i.e., the overall cable storage length. For this purpose, the cable guide structure 2 includes: a first transition member 21 and a second transition member 22. The first transition member 21 and the second transition member 22 are fan-shaped columns, spaced at a predetermined distance apart, so that the cable direction can be rotated 90° through each transition member to transition to another cable winding 3 in the opposite direction. The guide wall of the cable guide structure 2 is formed by combining the curved guide surfaces on one side of the first transition member 21 and the second transition member 22, and is curved. The radius of curvature of the guide wall of the cable guide structure 2 is greater than the minimum bending radius of the cable.

[0035] On the other hand, in an optional example, the spool 1 can also be designed in an asymmetrical shape, such as the diameters of the upper and lower wire storage areas of the spool 1 being different. However, in order to eliminate cable kinking, it is necessary to ensure that the number of turns of the upper and lower cable windings are the same.

[0036] Furthermore, considering that although in some scenarios tap 6 of cable winding 3 will be associated with the device, thus forming a lock / release management system for tap 6, in other scenarios where only cable storage is required, in order to better manage tap 6 and prevent the cable from being unexpectedly released during storage, such as... Figures 4 to 6 As shown, the cable management device further includes: a plurality of latches 4, wherein each latch 4 is axially spaced on the axial surface of the spool 1, and the wire guide structure 2 is disposed on the axial surface of the spool 1 and located between each latch 4, so as to define the cable storage area at the axial surface of the spool 1 between each latch 4 and the wire guide structure 2, and respectively store cable windings 3, and the taps 6 of each cable winding 3 are locked by the latches 4.

[0037] The latch 4 is detachably connected to the spool 1. For example, the latch 4 has a shaft on its back and the spool 1 has a shaft hole. The detachable connection is formed by the engagement of the shaft and the shaft hole. Thus, when the cable winding 3 needs to be stored, the latch 4 is fixed on the spool 1, and the connection with the spool 1 can be released when it is released.

[0038] In a preferred embodiment, the guide wall on one side of the latch 4 guiding and locking tap 6 is curved to guide the tap 6 to extend radially from the spool 1 toward the axial direction of the spool 1, facilitating the transmission of torsion during release. The radius of curvature of the guide wall of the latch 4 is greater than the minimum bending radius of the cable to prevent cable bending damage. Furthermore, the guide wall is provided with a cable-locking groove for the cable to be inserted and locked.

[0039] Furthermore, corresponding to the cable management device of the first example structure, the present invention also provides a method for rapid cable release, the steps of which include: simultaneously releasing each associated cable winding 3 by a tap 6, and releasing at least a portion of the constraint on the spool 1 to allow it to rotate axially during the release of each cable winding 3. The release of the tap 6 may be driven by the release of the associated device, or it may be achieved by controlling the locking latch 4 to separate from the spool 1, thereby releasing the tap 6.

[0040] Therefore, through the ingenious structural design of the cable management device in the first example, the cable can be stored within a compact cylindrical space, significantly improving space utilization and reducing space requirements during implementation compared to existing technologies. Furthermore, the device design allows the cable to be in a state of minimal or neutral stress when stored. When the cable is released, both cable windings 3 will twist. Therefore, as long as the rotational freedom of the spool 1 is not restricted, the spool 1 can act as a medium. With each turn of cable winding 3 released, the spool 1 rotates 360° axially to transmit the twist between the upper and lower cable windings 3. This cancels out the twists generated by the two associated cable windings 3, resulting in a neutral state after the cable is fully released, thus eliminating the problem of cable kinking.

[0041] On the other hand, please see Figure 8 As shown in the second example of the present invention, a cable management device is also provided, which includes: a spool 1 and a cable guide structure 2, wherein the cable guide structure 2 is disposed on the axial surface of the spool 1 to divide the axial surface of the spool 1 into upper and lower cable storage areas to store cable windings 3 respectively, wherein each cable winding 3 is connected by a cable through the guide wall of the cable guide structure 2, and the connected cable windings 3 are wound with the same number of turns in opposite directions.

[0042] The bobbin 1 includes a first bobbin segment 11 and a second bobbin segment 12, wherein both the first bobbin segment 11 and the second bobbin segment 12 have slots on their axial surfaces. One side of the wire-passing structure 2 has a pin that engages with the slot, allowing the first bobbin segment 11 and the second bobbin segment 12 to form a detachable connection via the wire-passing structure 2. The two wire storage areas are respectively located on the first bobbin segment 11 and the second bobbin segment 12.

[0043] Furthermore, such as Figure 8As shown, in this example, the cable guide structure 2 is preferably designed in a semi-cylindrical shape, with a curved guide wall on the side where the cable transitions, and the radius of curvature of this guide wall is greater than the minimum bending radius of the cable. This ensures that the cable will not be excessively bent on the guide wall of the cable guide structure 2, thus preventing damage to the cable.

[0044] In this way, when storing the cable, the first shaft segment 11 and the second shaft segment 12 are merged by the wire structure 2, and the cable winding 3 is stored in their respective storage areas, with the wire structure 2 serving as a transition link to the cable winding 3; when releasing, the connection between the wire structure 2 and the first shaft segment 11 and the second shaft segment 12 is released from the transition section of the cable winding 3, allowing the first shaft segment 11 and the second shaft segment 12 to gradually move away.

[0045] Furthermore, in relation to the cable management device of the second example structure, the present invention also provides a method for rapid cable release, the steps of which include: disconnecting the cable guide structure 2 from the spool 1, releasing the cable from the cable guide structure 2, and gradually translating and separating the first spool segment 11 and the second spool segment 12.

[0046] Specifically, in the second example structure, the spool 1 is composed of two separate spool segments. Therefore, during storage, the two spool segments and the cable winding 3 are locked together by the cable guide structure 2, ensuring that the cable does not come loose and that the relative positions of the two spool segments do not change.

[0047] Therefore, in order to eliminate cable kinks during release, in this example, the cable guide 2 needs to detach from the two bobbins 1, allowing the cable to be released from the middle and simultaneously releasing the locking of the two bobbin segments, allowing them to separate. At this point, the two bobbin segments can move freely apart. As the cable is released, the two bobbin segments and the winding move away from each other. This movement is translational and does not involve rotation.

[0048] Therefore, each time the upper and lower cable windings 3 release one turn, the released cable will rotate 360° as a whole, causing the torsion generated by the two cable windings 3 to cancel each other out, ensuring that no torsional deformation or stress occurs in the released cable. During this process, the upper and lower windings do not rotate. It is worth noting that because only the released cable needs to rotate, while the spool 1 does not, the moment of inertia of the rotating part is smaller than that of the release method in Example 1, making its release more efficient. Especially when the cable is released in a fluid with high resistance or viscosity (such as in the ocean), in addition to the moment of inertia, the spool 1 also needs to overcome resistance or viscosity to rotate, so the cable release efficiency of Example 1 is slightly lower than that of this example.

[0049] On the other hand, in order to better secure the two shaft sections and prevent the cable from unexpectedly coming loose during storage, such as Figure 9As shown in the third example of the present invention, the cable management device further includes: a connector 5, wherein one side of the connector 5 is provided with a connecting shaft, wherein the spool 1 includes: a first spool segment 11 and a second spool segment 12, and both the first spool segment 11 and the second spool segment 12 are provided with connecting grooves that can mate with the connecting shaft, so that the first spool segment 11 and the second spool segment 12 are connected to each other via the connector 5 in a separable connection, and the cable passing structure 2 is connected to either the first spool segment 11 or the second spool segment 12 on the spool surface.

[0050] Specifically, in this example, the cable guide 2 may not be completely detached from the spool 1, and may be fixed to either the first spool segment 11 or the second spool segment 12, as long as the cable at this transition point is allowed to be released and does not obstruct the separation of the first spool segment 11 and the second spool segment 12. The connector 5 serves to connect / separate the first spool segment 11 and the second spool segment 12.

[0051] Therefore, in response to the cable management device of the third example structure, the present invention also provides a method for rapid cable release, the steps of which include: disconnecting the connector 5 from the spool 1, releasing the cable from the cable passing structure 2, and gradually translating and separating the first spool segment 11 and the second spool segment 12.

[0052] In summary, the cable management device and cable quick release method provided by this invention cleverly use the spool 1 as a torsion transmission medium with axial rotational freedom, so that the torsion generated by the two windings can cancel each other out, thereby avoiding kinking when the cable is released. This allows the solution to be implemented in a compact cylindrical space, thus significantly improving the space utilization rate of cable storage and reducing the space requirements during implementation compared to the prior art.

[0053] Furthermore, in the corresponding segmented structure of the spool 1, since the cable is released from between the first and second spools instead of from the tap 6, and the structure supports the gradual translation and separation of the first and second spool segments 12 during cable release, the cable can rotate during release, but the first and second spool segments 12 do not need to rotate. Thus, the twisting is canceled out by the reverse winding between the associated cable windings 3. Therefore, the rotational inertia of the rotating part of the cable is small. Especially when the cable is released in a fluid with high resistance or viscosity, since the first and second spool segments 12 do not need to rotate, the resistance / viscosity can be overcome better, thereby improving the cable release efficiency.

[0054] The preferred embodiments of the present invention disclosed above are merely illustrative of the invention. These preferred embodiments do not exhaustively describe all details, nor do they limit the invention to the specific implementations described. Clearly, many modifications and variations can be made based on the content of this specification. This specification selects and specifically describes these embodiments to better explain the principles and practical applications of the invention, thereby enabling those skilled in the art to better understand and utilize the invention. The present invention is limited only by the claims and their full scope and equivalents. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the invention should be included within the protection scope of the invention.

[0055] Furthermore, all or part of the steps in the methods of the above embodiments can be implemented by a program instructing related hardware. This program is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a microcontroller, chip, or processor to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as a USB flash drive, a portable hard drive, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

[0056] Furthermore, various different implementations of the present invention can be combined arbitrarily, as long as they do not violate the spirit of the present invention, they should also be regarded as the content disclosed in the present invention.

Claims

1. A cable management device, comprising: A bobbin and a wire guide structure are provided, wherein the bobbin includes a first section and a second section, the first section and the second section being detachably connected. The wire guide structure has a curved guide wall and is disposed on the bobbin surface to divide the bobbin surface into two wire storage areas located at the first and second sections, which are continuous cable windings. When the two wire storage areas transition, a reverse winding conversion path is provided to simultaneously store cable windings in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions on the bobbin. The cable windings located at each wire storage area are connected by the guide wall of the wire guide structure, and the two connected cable windings are wound with the same number of turns in opposite directions to support the release of the cable from the wire guide structure. When the first and second sections are gradually translated and separated, the two cable windings wound around the first and second sections are released by relative rotation, canceling out their own twisting to maintain the first and second sections in a non-rotating state.

2. The cable management device according to claim 1, wherein the radius of curvature of the curved guide wall of the cable guide structure is greater than the minimum bending radius of the cable.

3. The cable management device according to claim 1, wherein the cable passing structure comprises: A first transition member and a second transition member are provided at a predetermined distance from each other. The guide wall of the cable-passing structure is formed by combining the guide surfaces of the first and second transition members and is curved. The radius of curvature of the guide wall of the cable-passing structure is greater than the minimum bending radius of the cable.

4. The cable management device according to claim 1, further comprising: A plurality of locking tabs are provided, wherein each locking tab is axially spaced on the axial surface of the spool, and the wire guide structure is provided on the axial surface of the spool and located between each locking tab, so as to define the wire storage area at the axial surface of the spool between each locking tab and the wire guide structure, and to store the cable windings respectively, and the taps of each cable winding are locked by locking tabs.

5. The cable management device according to claim 4, wherein the guide wall of the tenon is curved and the guide wall is provided with a cable clamping groove, wherein the radius of curvature of the guide wall of the tenon is greater than the minimum bending radius of the cable.

6. The cable management device according to claim 1, wherein the first shaft segment and the second shaft segment are each provided with a slot on their shaft surfaces, and one side of the cable passing structure is provided with a pin that mates with the slot, so that the first shaft segment and the second shaft segment can be detachably connected through the cable passing structure.

7. The cable management device according to claim 1, further comprising: A connector, wherein one side of the connector is provided with a connecting shaft, wherein the first shaft segment and the second shaft segment are each provided with a connecting groove that can mate with the connecting shaft, so that the first shaft segment and the second shaft segment can be detachably connected through the connector, and the wire guide structure is connected to the shaft surface of the first shaft segment / second shaft segment.

8. A method for quick cable release using the cable management device as described in claim 6, comprising the following steps: Disconnect the cable guide structure from the spool, allowing the cable to be released from the cable guide structure. Gradually separate the first and second spool sections, causing the two cable windings wrapped around the first and second spool sections to rotate relative to each other and release, thus canceling out their own twisting and keeping the first and second spool sections in a non-rotating state.

9. A method for quick cable release using the cable management device as described in claim 7, comprising the following steps: Disconnect the connector from the spool, allowing the cable to be released from the cable passing structure. Gradually separate the first and second spool segments, causing the two cable windings wrapped around the first and second spool segments to rotate relative to each other and release, canceling out their own twisting to maintain the first and second spool segments in a non-rotating state.

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