Segmented Cable Guide Flanges for Tray Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable guides for cable trays do not facilitate easy addition and removal of cables while securely holding them in place, which complicates maintenance tasks like adding new cables, removing unused ones, and replacing defective cables.
Innovation Solution
A cable guide system with opposing flanges that create a curved path for cable insertion and removal, allowing access while preventing cables from falling out, and can be adjusted in spacing and length based on cable size and tray width, and can be fastened to the tray for secure positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If cables are securely held in place in the cable tray, then cable stability is improved, but cable addition and removal becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The cable guide is divided into two separate flanges (first flange and second flange) that can be positioned independently. This segmentation allows the flanges to create a curved path that secures cables while leaving gaps for cable insertion and removal, resolving the contradiction between stability and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable guide system allows for adjustable spacing between flanges and flexible positioning to accommodate different cable sizes and stiffness. This dynamic adaptability enables the same structure to provide secure holding for installed cables while allowing easy insertion and removal by adjusting the effective constraint based on cable properties.
2Reliability
If cable guides are designed to hold cables securely, then cable retention is improved, but access to cable tray interior becomes restricted
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the cable guide into two flanges rather than a continuous barrier, the design creates openings between the flanges. This segmentation maintains cable retention through the curved path created by the flanges while providing access points for adding and removing cables, thus resolving the contradiction between retention and access.
Solution Approach 2:
The flanges act as intermediary elements that partially enclose the tray opening rather than creating a complete barrier. This intermediary approach provides sufficient guidance and retention for cables while leaving adequate space for maintenance operations, balancing retention and access requirements.
3Ease of manufacture
If cable guides are made as single integrated piece, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but adaptability to different cable sizes is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Dividing the cable guide into two separate flanges increases manufacturing flexibility. Each flange can be manufactured to specific dimensions and then positioned at appropriate spacings to accommodate different cable sizes and stiffness, providing adaptability while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing processes for each component.
Solution Approach 2:
The segmented design allows the spacing between flanges to be adjusted or specified for different cable types. This dynamic configuration capability enables the same basic flange design to adapt to various cable diameters and stiffness levels, achieving versatility without complex manufacturing.
Data Source
AI summary
A cable guide is dimensioned to fit as an insert inside a cable tray. It has a bottom, two sides and a top. The top is made of interleaving, resilient flanges that are spaced apart to define a serpentine path that is wide enough to enable the user to fit a cable into the interior of the cable guide and to remove the cable through the interleaved flanges without disturbing the positional integrity of other cables in the cable tray. The cable guide may be fastened to the cable tray using one or two bolts and may be fastened so that it is spaced apart from the wall of the cable tray. Two cable guides may be installed side-by-side and several can be installed at spaced intervals along a cable tray and throughout a system.