Cable Distribution Assembly Friction Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cables used in underground applications, such as airport runway lighting systems, deteriorate prematurely due to corrosion and friction against bore edges during installation and removal, leading to frequent maintenance and safety hazards.
Innovation Solution
A cable distribution assembly with a rotatable shaft and adjustable roller system that inhibits contact between the cable and bore edges, featuring a concave contour base and arcuate slots for secure positioning and adjustable fastening, along with a monitoring device for measuring cable parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If cables are installed by sliding through bore edges, then cable installation is simple and quick, but cable deteriorates due to friction against bore edges
Solution Approach 1:
A distribution assembly with a bore receiver and cable guide components acts as an intermediary device between the cable and the bore edge. The cable guide components (including rollers and positioning elements) mediate the cable's passage through the bore, preventing direct contact between the cable and the bore edge while maintaining installation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The distribution assembly segments the cable installation process into controlled stages: the bore receiver captures the bore edge, cable guide components guide the cable through specific paths, and positioning elements control cable movement. This segmentation allows the cable to be installed without direct friction against the bore edge.
2Ease of repair
If cables are frequently removed and reinstalled for maintenance, then cable replacement is possible, but friction against bore edges accelerates cable deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The distribution assembly serves as a protective intermediary during maintenance operations. The bore receiver and cable guide components remain in place, providing a friction-reducing interface that protects the cable during repeated insertion and removal cycles, thereby reducing cumulative friction damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The distribution assembly is pre-installed and positioned before cable maintenance operations begin. The cable guide components are already in place to guide cable movement, preventing direct contact with bore edges during the maintenance process and reducing friction from the outset.
3Reliability
If cable distribution assembly is positioned to inhibit cable-bore edge engagement, then cable friction is reduced, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The distribution assembly integrates multiple functions into a single device: the bore receiver captures and positions the bore edge, the cable guide components guide and protect the cable, and the positioning elements control the assembly's location. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, managing complexity while providing comprehensive cable protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the bore receiver, cable guide components, and positioning elements into an integrated distribution assembly. This consolidation provides coordinated cable protection while reducing the number of separate parts that would otherwise be needed, balancing protection effectiveness with structural simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A cable distribution assembly is operable to reel in and pay out a cable through a bore. The alignment of the cable in relation to the cable distribution assembly adjusts to restrict contact between the cable and the bole edge. In this manner, friction between the cable and the bore edge, which may damage the cable, is restricted. A base positions adjacent to the bore, aligning the cable in relation to the bore edge. The base includes a concave contour that enables the cable to pass next to the base from a roller that carries the cable through the bore. A shaft drives the roller. Shaft regulators adjustably move horizontally and vertically along a shaft slot in a sidewall to dictate the position of the shaft and the roller that carries the cable. Fasteners secure the shaft regulator into place. A monitoring device provides information on the use of the assembly.