Articulating Cable Tray Mechanism for Kink-Free Deployment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for dispensing elongate materials like cables and hoses face issues such as material loss due to kinks and twists when stored on spools, tangling, and difficulty in transporting and deploying them efficiently on challenging terrains like construction sites and oil rigs.

Innovation Solution

A mobile cable extension mechanism with articulating cable tray segments, a pulley system, and a geared motor that allows for hands-free storage, transportation, and deployment, enabling elongate materials to be extended and retracted without significant length loss, and featuring safety stops for controlled deployment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If elongate material is stored on a spool, then storage density is improved, but material loss due to kinks and twists increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage densityVSAvoidmaterial loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The cable storage system is divided into multiple cable tray segments that can be articulated relative to each other. Each segment contains cable trays arranged in an S-shape pattern, allowing the cable to be stored in a segmented, organized manner that prevents kinks and twists while maintaining high storage density within the housing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Speed

If a spool is pulled to dispense material, then dispensing speed is improved, but uncontrolled rotation causing tangling increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedispensing speedVSAvoidtangling control

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cable tray segments are equipped with wheel assemblies that automatically engage with the terrain as the segments articulate. This self-service mechanism provides automatic controlled dispensing of the cable, preventing uncontrolled rotation and tangling while maintaining efficient dispensing speed during deployment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Length of moving object

If cable trays are extended to full length, then material deployment capability is improved, but device collapsibility decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment lengthVSAvoidcollapsibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The cable tray segments are designed to be dynamically articulating, allowing them to collapse into a compact configuration for transport and then extend to full deployment length when needed. The wheel assemblies enable smooth articulation between collapsed and extended states, providing both portability and full deployment capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Quantity of substance

If multiple cable trays are stacked, then storage capacity is improved, but transportation difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidtransportation ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cable trays within each segment are arranged in a nested S-shape configuration, allowing multiple trays to be compactly stacked within each segment. The segments themselves can be articulated and collapsed, enabling the entire multi-tray system to be transported in a compact form while maintaining high storage capacity when deployed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 mechanism effectively extends elongate materials by up to 100% of their original length, reducing material costs and transportation weight, while preventing kinks and twists, and allows for easy, safe deployment on challenging terrains.

Implementation Method 1

A sheave is disposed on an axle between the first and second cable trays thereby forming an extendable elbow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSheave and axle mechanism: Pulley

Implementation Method 2

At least one wheel assembly is coupled to each cable tray segment to enable the tray segment to articulate between a first position wherein the elongate material is stored and has a first length shorter than an actual length of the elongate material and a substantially flat second position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWheel rotation: Wheel

Implementation Method 3

A pulley system that is operably controlled by a geared motor to retract at least tray segment

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPulley system: Pulley

Implementation Method 4

A pulley system that is operably controlled by a geared motor to retract at least tray segment

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGeared motor: Gear

Implementation Method 5

At least one safety stop that is operable to prevent extension of at least one of the plurality of tray segments to the second position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSafety stop mechanism:

Data Source

PatentUS8701897B2Cable extension module

Publication Date: 2014.04.22 NABORS INT

AI summary

In one embodiment, a cable extension mechanism includes a housing and a plurality of cable tray segments adapted to retain elongate material therein, wherein each cable tray segment includes first and second cable trays. A sheave is disposed on an axle between the first and second cable trays thereby forming an extendable elbow. At least one wheel assembly is coupled to each cable tray segment to enable the tray segment to articulate between a first position wherein the elongate material is stored and has a first length shorter than an actual length of the elongate material and a substantially flat second position, thereby extending a length of the elongate material disposed thereon.