Articulated Awning Arm Cable Guide Through Rotation Axis

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing articulated arms for deploying flexible covers like awnings subject the electrical cables to significant stress when moving from closed to extended positions, leading to potential damage and reduced lifespan.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a guide within the joint that allows the electric cable to pass through the axis of rotation, reducing elongation stresses by keeping the central segment stationary and allowing the cable segments to pivot around it, thus minimizing deformation and stress.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the electrical cable passes through the joint without a guide, then the cable can connect the arm sections, but the cable experiences high tensile stress and premature damage during arm movement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecable lifespanVSAvoidtensile stress on cable

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

A guide component is introduced as an intermediary element between the electrical cable and the joint mechanism. This guide forces the cable to pass through the axis of rotation, mediating the stress distribution and preventing direct tensile loading on the cable during arm movement between closed and deployed positions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the electrical cable is routed through the joint, then electrical connection is maintained, but the cable undergoes deformation and elongation stresses

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvearm movement between positionsVSAvoidcable structural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of allowing the cable to follow the conventional path that creates tension, the guide inverts the routing strategy by forcing the cable through the axis of rotation. This inversion causes the cable to experience bending deformation rather than tensile stress, preserving cable strength while maintaining ease of arm operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the cable is stretched during arm movement, then the arm can transition between positions, but the cable functionality deteriorates over time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvearm position flexibilityVSAvoidlighting component functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The guide acts as a mediator that decouples the arm position flexibility from cable stress. By routing the cable through the axis of rotation, the guide allows the arm to move freely between closed and deployed positions while preventing cable stretching, thus maintaining lighting component functionality and overall system reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4375448A1Articulated arm for the deployment of a flexible cover and awning comprising such an articulated arm

Publication Date: 2024.05.29 MATEST

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AI summary

The articulated arm (1) comprises: - a first arm section (21) having a first articulation end (23); - a second arm section (25) having a second articulation end (27); - a joint (29) from the first articulation end (23) to the second articulation end (27), configured so that the first arm section (21) and the second arm section (25) are pivotable relative to each other about an axis of rotation (R); - an electrical cable (31), extending from the first arm section (21) to the second arm section (25) through the joint (29); the joint (29) comprising a guide (53) guiding the electrical cable (31) so that the electrical cable (31) passes through the axis of rotation (R).