Adjustable Cable Clamp for Mixed Fiber Cable Dimensions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable management systems struggle to accommodate fiber optic cables with varying exterior dimensions and shapes, as they require multiple clamps for different diameters and cross-sectional shapes, leading to inefficiencies and potential misalignment under external forces.
Innovation Solution
A clamp with an adjustable keeper that includes multiple clamping surfaces with different radii of curvature and cross-sectional shapes, allowing it to accommodate cables with different exterior dimensions and shapes by adjusting its position relative to a bolster, and featuring anti-slip surfaces to prevent slippage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple clamps are used for different cable diameters and shapes, then cable accommodation capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp is designed with a keeper that can be adjusted to provide different clamping surfaces (first, second, and third clamping surfaces) with different radii of curvature and cross-sectional shapes. This allows a single clamp to accommodate cables of various diameters and shapes, replacing the need for multiple specialized clamps while maintaining universal cable accommodation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The keeper is made adjustable relative to the bolster through a threaded fastener mechanism, allowing the separation distance between the keeper and bolster to be changed. This dynamic adjustment enables the clamp to adapt its geometry to match different cable dimensions and shapes, providing versatility without requiring multiple fixed-clamp configurations
2Ease of manufacture
If a fixed clamp design is used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but adaptability to different cable dimensions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp is divided into two main components: a stationary bolster and an adjustable keeper. This segmentation allows the bolster to maintain a simple, fixed geometry for ease of manufacture, while the keeper can be independently adjusted to provide the necessary adaptability for different cable dimensions without complicating the overall manufacturing process
3Adaptability or versatility
If the keeper is made separable from the bolster, then adjustability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The threaded fastener mechanism allows the separation distance between the keeper and bolster to be precisely changed by rotating the fastener, which moves the keeper along the threaded path. This parameter change approach provides smooth, continuous adjustability of the clamping surfaces while using a simple, well-understood mechanical fastening mechanism that does not significantly increase device complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A clamp, and cable management system including the clamp, includes a bolster with a first clamping surface, and a keeper that is to be coupled to the bolster. The keeper is adjustable relative to the bolster to establish a first separation of the keeper from the first clamping surface of the bolster, and a second separation of the keeper from the first clamping surface of the bolster. The first separation is different from the second separation. The keeper includes a second clamping surface configured to cooperate with a first object having a first exterior dimension, and a third clamping surface, different from the second clamping surface, that is configured to cooperate with a second object having a second exterior dimension.