Cable Coupling Structure With Guided Engagement Under Tension

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing control cable coupling structures face issues where the coupling means overhangs or fails to securely engage due to tensile forces, requiring manual intervention for adjustment, which complicates the coupling process.

Innovation Solution

A coupling structure with an engaging portion and an engaged portion, featuring an inclined surface and auxiliary member, allows for guided engagement and secure housing within a protection member, facilitating easy and stable coupling without manual adjustment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the coupling means is exposed from the movable protection tube for easy coupling, then the ease of operation is improved, but the coupling means may overhang or fail to securely engage due to tensile forces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of couplingVSAvoidsecure engagement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

An auxiliary member is introduced as an intermediary component between the coupling means and the protection tube. This auxiliary member includes a guiding portion that cooperates with the coupling means to provide proper alignment and positioning during engagement, ensuring both ease of operation and secure engagement under tensile forces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The auxiliary member is positioned in advance within the protection tube to create a guiding structure before the coupling operation. The guiding portion is pre-configured to receive and align the coupling means, enabling smooth engagement while preventing overhang or misalignment that would compromise secure engagement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the coupling means is exposed for easy coupling, then the ease of operation is improved, but manual intervention for adjustment is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of couplingVSAvoidmanual adjustment requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The auxiliary member with the guiding portion enables the coupling means to self-align and self-position during engagement. The guiding structure automatically guides the coupling means into the correct position without requiring manual adjustment or intervention, maintaining ease of operation while eliminating the need for manual positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If the coupling means is exposed from the movable protection tube, then the ease of operation is improved, but the coupling process becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of couplingVSAvoidcoupling process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The auxiliary member serves as a mediator that simplifies the coupling process by providing a built-in guiding mechanism. This guiding portion automatically aligns and positions the coupling means during engagement, eliminating the need for complex manual positioning procedures and reducing overall process complexity while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 coupling structure ensures good workability and stability by guiding the engaging portion into position, eliminating the need for manual adjustment and ensuring secure engagement, even under tensile forces.

Implementation Method 1

a biasing force of a compression coil spring

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3364058B1Joint structure
Publication Date: 2021.08.04 HI-LEX CORPORATION
  • EP3364058B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2(c)
  • EP3364058B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3364058B1 patent drawingFigure 4(a)~5(e)

AI summary

The present invention aims to provide a coupling structure which facilitates work of coupling an end portion of a cable to an object to be coupled. The present invention relates to a coupling structure that couples one end of a first cable and another member. The coupling structure includes a coupling portion that couples the one end of the first cable and the other member, and a protection member that slidably houses the coupling portion. The protection member has a first opening portion which is provided at one end portion of the protection member and through which the first cable is inserted such that the first cable and the protection member are relatively movable, and a second opening portion provided at the other end portion of the protection member and from which the first cable is extendable. The coupling portion has an inclined surface that is inclined from the other member side toward the first cable side so as to abut on the second opening portion and guide the coupling portion inside the protection member in a state where the coupling portion is positioned on a radially outer side of the second opening portion when the coupling portion is relatively moved with respect to and housed into the protection member. Thus, the present invention has good coupling workability.