Cable Guide Actuator for Angular Pull Alignment

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cable stringing equipment faces challenges in maintaining cable alignment during angular pulls, requiring manual intervention and posing safety risks, and the need to temporarily move roller assemblies obstructs the path for additional cables.

Innovation Solution

A stringer wheel and cable guide apparatus with pivotally movable roller assemblies, remotely actuatable and biased to a released configuration, allowing automatic displacement from the wheel assembly to prevent obstruction and maintain cable alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If roller assemblies are positioned to maintain cable alignment in the groove during angular pulls, then cable alignment reliability is improved, but the roller assemblies obstruct the path for additional cables pulled by running board

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecable alignment reliabilityVSAvoidpath clearance for additional cables

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The roller assemblies are made movable between a first position (adjacent to the wheel assembly for guiding cables) and a second position (displaced from the wheel assembly for clearing the path). This dynamic repositioning allows the system to adapt between two operational states: maintaining cable alignment during pulls and clearing the path for running board operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The roller assemblies are equipped with an actuator that automatically moves them between positions based on operational requirements. The system includes sensors and control logic that detect when the running board needs to pass and automatically reposition the rollers, eliminating the need for manual intervention and enabling the system to serve itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If roller assemblies are manually moved to clear the path for running board, then path clearance is achieved, but operation time increases and safety risks increase due to human intervention

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepath clearance capabilityVSAvoidoperation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The roller assemblies are equipped with an actuator that automatically moves them between positions based on operational requirements. The system includes sensors and control logic that detect when the running board needs to pass and automatically reposition the rollers, eliminating the need for manual intervention and enabling the system to serve itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical operation of moving roller assemblies is replaced with an automated actuator system. The actuator, controlled by electronic sensors and control logic, substitutes human physical action with an automated mechanical system, reducing operation time and eliminating safety risks associated with manual handling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If roller assemblies are manually moved to clear the path, then path clearance is achieved, but equipment damage risk increases due to improper handling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepath clearance capabilityVSAvoidequipment integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The manual mechanical operation of moving roller assemblies is replaced with an automated actuator system. The actuator, controlled by electronic sensors and control logic, substitutes human physical action with an automated mechanical system, reducing operation time and eliminating safety risks associated with manual handling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The roller assemblies are equipped with an actuator that automatically moves them between positions based on operational requirements. The system includes sensors and control logic that detect when the running board needs to pass and automatically reposition the rollers, eliminating the need for manual intervention and enabling the system to serve itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

Enables secure cable alignment during angular pulls without manual intervention, ensuring efficient cable stringing operations and reducing safety hazards by allowing remote actuation and automatic movement of roller assemblies.

Implementation Method 1

The roller assemblies are biased toward the released configuration when the locking assembly is unlocked

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring biasing: Spring

Data Source

PatentUS20170077684A1Cable Guide Actuation Apparatus

Publication Date: 2017.03.16 POWER LINE PRODUCTS LLC

AI summary

A cable guide actuator apparatus is disclosed for guiding a conductor cable onto a wheel assembly, the actuator apparatus including a framework operatively coupled to the wheel assembly. A pair of roller assemblies is pivotally coupled to respective ends of the framework, each having a roller member capable of maintaining the conductor cable in the groove of the wheel assembly. Each roller assembly is pivotally movable between a deployed configuration at which roller members are adjacent the groove and a released configuration at displaced from the groove. A locking assembly extends between the pair of roller assemblies and is selectively movable between a locked configuration that maintains the pair of roller assemblies at the deployed configuration and an unlocked configuration that allows movement to the released configuration. The roller assemblies are biased toward the released configuration when the locking assembly is unlocked. The locking assembly may be unlocked remotely.