Aircraft Cable Retainer With Resilient Pad
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of aircraft cables requires significant manpower and can be uncomfortable due to limited accessibility, leading to increased installation time and potential health and safety issues, while existing cable retainer devices can cause wire kinks and accidental opening.
Innovation Solution
A cable retainer device with a base, a moveable member forming a channel, a resilient pad that deforms to secure the cable, and a support with a throughbore to hold the pad captive, allowing for easy installation and secure cable retention without damaging the cables.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid pressing tab is used to clamp cables, then the cable can be securely retained, but the rigid material may cause kinks in the wires
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing tab is designed with different local properties: the portion contacting the cable is made of resilient material to prevent kinks, while the body of the clamp remains rigid for structural strength and secure retention. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between secure retention and cable protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp assembly combines rigid material (for the main body and structure) with resilient material (for the pressing tab that contacts the cable). This composite approach allows the rigid structure to provide retention security while the resilient contact surface prevents wire damage.
2Ease of operation
If the cantilevered end of the holding portion is exposed, then the clamp can be easily opened, but accidental contact may result in inadvertent opening
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of having an exposed cantilevered end that can be accidentally activated, the pressing tab is designed to be substantially surrounded by the clamp body, with only a small portion exposed. This inverted configuration maintains ease of operation while preventing accidental contact and inadvertent opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressing tab has differentiated exposure: a small portion is exposed for intentional operation, while the majority is surrounded and protected by the clamp body. This local differentiation allows easy opening when needed while preventing accidental activation.
3Reliability
If bolting/screwing manipulations are used to fix cables, then secure cable fixation is achieved, but significant manpower and time are required
Solution Approach 1:
The complex bolting/screwing mechanical system is replaced with a simple snap-fit mechanism. The resilient pressing tab engages with the cable and locks in place through elastic deformation, eliminating the need for threads, bolts, or screws while maintaining secure fixation and dramatically reducing installation time.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp is designed to be self-installing through a simple insertion and snapping motion. The resilient material automatically engages with the cable structure, requiring no additional fastening operations or specialized tools, thus improving productivity while maintaining reliable fixation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device facilitates efficient and safe cable installation by reducing manual effort and preventing cable damage, while ensuring secure retention and easy removal without tools.
Implementation Method 1
the resilient pad being sized to deform from a rest state to a deformed state by the pad-deforming portion during insertion thereinto, the resilient pad being held captive after insertion into the pad-deforming portion by reforming toward the rest state
Data Source
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AI summary
A retainer device (10) for cable used e.g. in an aircraft and other vehicles comprises a base (12). A moveable member (14) is movably connected to the base (12) and forming with the base (12) a channel adapted to receive a cable (A). A pad-deforming portion is defined in the moveable member (14), the moveable member (14) being dis- placeable between an open position in which a portion of the moveable member (14) is separated from the base (12) to provide access to the channel, and closed positions in which the moveable member (14) is releasably connected to the base (12). A resilient pad (16) is located in the pad-deforming portion of the moveable member (14) adapted to contact the cable (A) received in the channel. The resilient pad (16) is sized to deform from a rest state to a deformed state by the pad-deforming portion during insertion thereinto, the resilient pad (16) being held captive after insertion into the pad-deforming portion by reforming toward the rest state. A method for retaining a cable in an aircraft is also provided.