Cable Duct Cover With Saddle-Lobe Hinge Preventing Accidental Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable duct hinges are prone to accidental closing when working in confined or hard-to-reach spaces, and they often limit the cover's range of motion, preventing it from opening beyond 90°.
Innovation Solution
A saddle-lobe hinge mechanism that allows the cover to pivot and lock into a 105° open position, preventing inadvertent closing, with a snap-on installation feature and a locking mechanism that uses projections and detent steps to secure the cover in place.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a hinge mechanism allows easy opening of the cover, then ease of operation is improved, but the cover becomes prone to accidental closing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by designing a hinge mechanism with a spring-loaded arm that continuously exerts a holding force on the cover to prevent accidental closing. The spring is pre-loaded to maintain constant pressure against the cover, creating a counteracting force that prevents unintended movement while allowing intentional opening when sufficient force is applied.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge mechanism transitions from a static connection to a dynamic system with a movable spring-loaded arm. The arm can deflect and return, providing adaptive holding force that adjusts to the cover's position. This dynamic mechanism maintains reliability during normal operation while permitting controlled opening when needed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the cover is designed to open beyond 90°, then the range of motion is improved, but the structural stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism enables dynamic range of motion beyond the traditional 90° limit while maintaining structural stability through the spring-loaded arm's continuous holding force. The spring compensates for the increased leverage and potential instability that occurs at greater angles, allowing the cover to pivot freely within an enhanced range without compromising the overall structural integrity of the cable duct assembly.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
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AI summary
An cable duct (16) is presented herein. The cable duct (16) includes a cover plate (10) having a double sided hinge (12a, 12b) allowing the cover (12) to be opened from one of two sides. The cover (12) has a pair of saddle features (24) longitudinally extending along distal edges (14a, 14b) of the cover plate (10), a base plate (18) arranged opposite the cover plate (10), and a sidewalls (20) extending from the base plate (18) to the cover plate (10). Each sidewall (20) defines a lobe mechanism (34) on a sidewall end opposite the base plate (18) that is configured to engage the corresponding saddle feature (24) releasably secure the cover plate (10) to the sidewall (20). Each saddle feature (24) is configured to pivot about the lobe mechanism (34). Each lobe mechanism (34) includes a rounded outer lobe portion (51) having a first radius and a rounded inner lobe portion (49) having a second radius. The first radius is greater than the second radius.