Articulate Cable Retractor With Pivotable Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable retractors are often bulky and do not allow for easy installation or replacement of cables, leading to untidy and awkward cable management, especially when cables are longer than necessary or disconnected from equipment.
Innovation Solution
An articulate cable retractor design featuring a pivotably coupled housing with separable components, including a pulley assembly, spring, and cable clamp, which allows for the extension and retraction of cables without interrupting the cable path, using a coiled flat spring with a rotary damper for controlled retraction and a cable stop assembly for secure engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional cable retractors are used, then cable retraction function is provided, but the device becomes bulky and cable installation/replacement is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The cable retractor is divided into separable components including a housing assembly, cable stop assembly, and pulley assembly. These modules can be detached and reattached, enabling easy cable installation and replacement without requiring complete device disassembly or field intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The pulley assembly is positioned within the housing assembly, and the cable stop assembly integrates with the housing structure. This nested configuration reduces the overall volume of the cable retractor while maintaining all necessary functional components for cable management.
2Reliability
If cable path is interrupted for retraction, then cable management is simplified, but signal integrity and cable characteristics are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
A pulley assembly serves as an intermediary component that guides the cable through the housing without interrupting its continuous path. The cable passes over the pulley, allowing retraction functionality while maintaining uninterrupted signal transmission and preserving cable electrical characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable is pre-routed through the housing assembly and pulley system during installation, establishing a continuous cable path before operation begins. This preliminary configuration ensures signal integrity is maintained throughout the cable's operational life without requiring path interruption during use.
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 solution provides a compact, efficient, and reliable cable management system that preserves signal integrity and cable characteristics, enabling easy installation and replacement of cables while maintaining continuous cable paths, thus avoiding the need for slip rings and reducing signal degradation.
Implementation Method 1
a spring coupled to the end cap
Implementation Method 2
a spring coupled to the end cap, and a second pulley assembly coupled to the spring
Data Source
AI summary
A cable retractor is provided. In accordance with at least one embodiment, the cable retractor is articulate, comprising an articulate housing which comprises a cable stop housing pivotably coupled to a pulley housing. In accordance with at least one embodiment, the cable retractor also comprises a first pulley assembly coupled to the pulley housing, an end cap coupled to the pulley housing, a spring coupled to the end cap, and a second pulley assembly coupled to the spring. In accordance with at least one embodiment, the first pulley assembly and the second pulley assembly are disposed within the pulley housing. In accordance with at least one embodiment, a cable stop assembly is coupled to the cable stop housing. In accordance with at least one embodiment, the cable retractor is configured to be mountable to a cable access enclosure in a plurality of orientations.