Automated Cable Runner Pathway for Faster Tray Cabling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manual process of laying cabling in datacenter infrastructure is time-consuming, laborious, and hazardous, with risks of damaging new or existing cabling and inefficiencies in estimating cable lengths.
Innovation Solution
An automated cable runner (ACR) system that includes a pathway, a carriage with a drive wheel and motor, and supports to connect the pathway over the cabling tray, allowing the carriage to autonomously deploy cabling from a start point to an end point.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual cabling installation is used, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but installation time and labor requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an automated cable runner system as an intermediary device between the cable source and the destination. This mediator automatically transports cables through trays and conduits, eliminating the need for manual pulling while managing the complexity through modular components including a carriage, drive mechanism, and cable management features.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of cable pulling with an automated mechanical system. The automated cable runner uses a motorized carriage that travels along a pathway, mechanically transporting cables without human intervention, thereby increasing productivity while containing complexity through standardized mechanical designs.
2Reliability
If manual cabling installation is used, then equipment simplicity is maintained, but risk of injury and cabling damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated cable runner system performs the cable installation task autonomously without requiring human operators to physically handle heavy or sensitive cables. The system serves itself by automatically navigating the pathway, managing cable tension, and delivering cables to the destination, thereby eliminating safety risks associated with manual labor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates cable management features in the automated carriage that protect cables from damage before the installation process completes. These features include cable support structures and tension control mechanisms that prevent excessive force or bending, ensuring cable integrity throughout the automated transport process.
3Loss of time
If manual cabling installation is used, then system simplicity is maintained, but time consumption and labor requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The automated cable runner system is pre-configured with pathways, supports, and carriage mechanisms before installation begins. The system prepares the cable transport route in advance, allowing rapid cable deployment when needed. This preliminary setup reduces installation time during actual cable runs, though it requires initial planning and configuration effort.
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 ACR system significantly reduces the time and labor required for cabling deployment, minimizes the risk of injury and cabling damage, and ensures more accurate and efficient cabling runs.
Implementation Method 1
a motor operable to rotate the drive wheel
Implementation Method 2
a drive wheel structured and arranged to contact the pathway
Data Source
AI summary
A method of deploying cabling in a tray using an automated cable runner (ACR). The ACR includes a pathway, a carriage operable to travel along the pathway, a plurality of supports connectable to the pathway and connectable to the tray and configured to support the pathway over the tray, and a cabling holder attached to the carriage. The carriage includes a drive wheel structured and arranged to contact the pathway, a motor operable to rotate the drive wheel, and a power source connected to motor. The method includes attaching the carriage to the pathway, connecting an end of a cabling to the cabling holder, and powering the motor to rotate the drive wheel to drive the carriage to travel along the pathway from a desired start point to a desired end point to deploy cabling into the tray from the start point to the end point.