Breakaway Cable Coupler With Integrated Cutter for Pole Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable clamps and breakaway couplers fail to effectively manage excessive forces, leading to potential damage to poles and equipment, or create dangerous low-hanging cables that pose risks to pedestrians.
Innovation Solution
A break-away coupler with an integrated cable cutter that separates and cuts the cable when a preset load is reached, preventing damage to poles and equipment by ensuring the cable lies flat on the ground.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a cable clamp system is designed to be strong and durable to support aerial cable spans, then the cable clamp can reliably support cable weight and resist normal loads, but when excessive external forces are applied (such as vehicle contact), the cable may sever or the clamp may break, causing dangerous cable sagging and equipment disconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The cable support system is divided into separable components: the cable clamp, the breakaway coupler with preset fracture point, and the pole mounting structure. This segmentation allows the system to fail in a controlled manner at the breakaway coupler rather than causing damage to the pole or equipment, resolving the contradiction between overall system strength and protection from excessive force damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The breakaway coupler acts as an intermediary component between the cable clamp and the pole mounting structure. It includes a preset fracture point that serves as a sacrificial element, absorbing excessive forces through controlled breakage and preventing these forces from being transmitted to the pole or equipment, thus protecting the overall system.
2Reliability
If the cable clamp and anchoring system are designed to be extremely strong to prevent cable severing, then the cable can be securely held, but the pole may be pulled toward the roadway or bent/broken when excessive forces are applied
Solution Approach 1:
The breakaway coupler is designed as a disposable component with a preset fracture point that is intentionally weaker than other system components. When excessive forces are applied, this sacrificial element breaks first, allowing the system to fail safely without damaging the expensive and critical pole infrastructure, thus maintaining cable holding reliability while protecting pole structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The breakaway coupler with its preset fracture point serves as a pre-designed safety mechanism that cushions excessive forces before they can reach the pole. This beforehand cushioning ensures that when abnormal loads occur, the force is absorbed by the controlled breakage of the coupler rather than being transmitted to the pole, preventing pole damage while maintaining normal operational reliability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a breakaway coupler is added to the cable clamp system to prevent pole damage from excessive forces, then the pole and equipment are protected from damage, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The breakaway coupler integrates multiple functions into a single component: it provides the mechanical connection between the cable clamp and pole mounting structure, incorporates the preset fracture point for force limitation, and includes the cable cutter mechanism. This merging of functions reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate components for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The breakaway coupler serves multiple purposes within the cable support system: it acts as a mechanical connector, a force-limiting device through its preset fracture point, and an automatic cable cutter. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional separate components, thereby protecting against excessive force damage while minimizing increases in system complexity.
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
Prevents damage to poles and equipment while ensuring safety by cutting the cable when excessive force is applied, eliminating the risk of low-hanging cables.
Implementation Method 1
a breakaway member connecting said main body to said secondary body, said breakaway member being designed to fracture when a load beyond a preset value is applied thereto so as to detach said main body from said secondary body
Implementation Method 2
a blade edge formed on a side edge of at least one of said first, second, third and fourth openings, and wherein when said main body and said secondary body are attached said first and third openings are at least partially aligned to allow a cable to pass therethrough
Data Source
AI summary
A breakaway coupler includes a main body and a secondary body, removably attached to the main body. First and second attachment features are formed on the main and secondary bodies to permit attachment to first and second structures. A breakaway member connects the main and secondary bodies. A guide channel passes through an overlapped portion of the main and secondary bodies and accepts a cable therein. A blade passes across the guide channel to sever the cable when the secondary body is detached from the main body. In operation, a cable clamp frictionally holds the cable. The cable clamp is connected to the breakaway coupler, which is in turn connected to a fixed structure, e.g., a pole. When an excess force is applied to the cable, the main and secondary bodies of the breakaway coupler separate and the blade cuts the cable in the guide channel.