Pre-expanded Cable Cover Friction Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cold shrinkable cover assemblies for electrical cables and connections are difficult to unroll due to high friction, often caused by mesh tubes digging into the rubber and grease settling in openings, leading to a hard-to-unroll jacket.
Innovation Solution
A pre-expanded cover assembly with friction reducing layers made of thin, flexible tubes wrapped around the outer sleeve and retention layers, providing a low friction surface for easier sliding and installation, and lubrication layers to facilitate unrolling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If mesh tubes and grease are used in the cover assembly, then the outer sleeve can be retained in folded state, but the friction increases making it difficult to unroll
Solution Approach 1:
A friction reducing layer made of PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) is introduced as an intermediary between the mesh retention layer and the outer sleeve. This mediator layer has low friction properties that prevent the outer sleeve from bonding to the mesh tube, allowing easy unrolling while the mesh tube continues to provide retention functionality.
2Volume of moving object
If the outer sleeve is made elastic and foldable, then it can be stored in compact form, but high friction prevents easy deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The PTFE friction reducing layer serves as a mediator between the elastic outer sleeve and the mesh retention layer, enabling the sleeve to be easily deployed from its compact folded state by reducing friction during the unrolling motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer sleeve is designed with elastic properties that allow it to change from a compact folded state to an expanded deployed state. The friction reducing layer ensures that this parameter change (expansion) occurs easily without excessive friction resistance.
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 solution significantly reduces the effort required to unroll the cover assembly, preventing bonding and maintaining a low friction interface, thus making the installation process easier and more reliable.
Implementation Method 1
an elastomeric outer sleeve defining a cable passage to receive the electrical connection
Implementation Method 2
Cold shrinkable covers are commonly employed to protect or shield electrical power cables and connections
Implementation Method 3
a first friction reducing layer between the first retention layer and the first outer section of the outer sleeve; a second friction reducing layer between the second retention layer and the second outer section of the outer sleeve
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
A pre-expanded cover assembly unit for covering an electrical connection between first and second cables includes a cover assembly in a folded state including an elastomeric outer sleeve defining a cable passage to receive the electrical connection. The outer sleeve includes an intermediate section and first and second outer sections. The first outer section is folded at a first annular fold and is on the intermediate section and/or the second outer section. The cover assembly includes a first retention layer between the intermediate section and the first outer section. The cover assembly includes a first friction reducing layer between the first retention layer and the first outer section. The cover assembly unit includes a removable holdout mounted within the outer sleeve. The cover assembly is movable from a folded state to an unfolded state by sliding the first outer section in a first axial direction away from the intermediate section.