Adjustable Strain Relief Backshell Assembly for Cable Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional backshell assemblies require separate tooling for different configurations, leading to increased costs and the need for additional assemblies during field changes, as users often cannot accurately predict the required configurations.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable strain relief backshell assembly with a housing and an adjustable strain relief structure that includes pivotable adjustment members and a movable locking mechanism with gear teeth, allowing for in-field adjustment of cable positions without disassembly, thereby eliminating the need for separate assemblies for different configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If separate backshell assemblies are manufactured for different configurations, then each configuration can be optimized for its specific use, but the manufacturing cost increases due to separate tooling requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The backshell assembly is designed with an adjustable strain relief structure that can accommodate multiple cable configurations (0°, 45°, 90°) within a single housing. The housing includes an adjustment extension with gear teeth that engage with a locking member, allowing the strain relief structure to be positioned at different angles relative to the connector interface. This universal design eliminates the need for separate tooling for each configuration while maintaining optimized performance for each angle.
2Adaptability or versatility
If users purchase multiple backshell assemblies for different configurations, then field changes can be accommodated, but the inventory cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The backshell assembly incorporates a movable locking member that can be shifted along the adjustment extension to lock the strain relief structure at different angular positions. The locking member includes gear teeth that mesh with the adjustment extension's gear teeth, providing discrete locked positions for 0°, 45°, and 90° configurations. This dynamic adjustability allows a single assembly to replace multiple fixed-configured assemblies, reducing inventory requirements while maintaining full field change capability.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional fixed configuration backshells are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but any field configuration changes require purchasing additional assemblies
Solution Approach 1:
The backshell assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: a housing with connector interface, an adjustment extension with gear teeth, a strain relief structure, and a movable locking member. The locking member can be independently actuated to shift along the adjustment extension and engage different positions. This segmentation allows the assembly to maintain simple manufacturing processes while enabling easy field adjustment between configurations without requiring complex mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A backshell assembly that includes a housing configured to terminate a cable. The housing has a main body defining a central longitudinal axis, a connector interface for mating with an electrical connector, and at least one adjustment extension extending from the main body opposite the connector interface and substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis. An adjustable strain relief structure is coupleable to the cable and the housing. The adjustable strain relief structure including at least one adjustment member cooperating with the adjustment extension of the housing such that the adjustment member is pivotable between different cable positions with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the housing. A movable locking member is coupleable with the adjustment extension of the housing and the adjustment member of the adjustable strain relief structure to releasably lock the adjustment member in a selected cable position with respect to the housing. A biasing member is supported by the locking member. The biasing member biasing the locking member into engagement with the adjustment extension of the housing and the adjustment member. The biasing member allows adjustment of the adjustment member between the different cable positions with respect to the adjustment extension of the housing without disassembly of the housing and the adjustable strain relief structure.