Cable Conduit Holder Assembly With Self-Aligning Identical Halves

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cable conduit holders are not economically viable and reliable, and their assembly is prone to errors and inefficiencies due to non-uniform design of holder halves.

Innovation Solution

A holder for cable conduits with identically designed halves featuring aligning protrusions and recesses, symmetrical alignment sections, and support clamps that ensure secure and rapid assembly, using plastic materials like polyamide with flame retardants, and optional reduction shells and clamping inserts for various conduit sizes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If holder halves are made identical to reduce manufacturing complexity and cost, then manufacturing cost and complexity are reduced, but alignment and assembly become difficult and error-prone

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveholder half design simplicityVSAvoidalignment and assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by introducing aligning protrusions and aligning recesses that are not symmetric with respect to the holder's longitudinal axis. These asymmetric features break the symmetry of identical holder halves, enabling reliable alignment during assembly while maintaining the benefit of using identical halves for manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

2Reliability

If aligning features are added to prevent misalignment, then assembly reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly accuracyVSAvoidholder structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the alignment function into separate components: aligning protrusions on one holder half and corresponding aligning recesses on the other holder half. This segmentation allows the alignment feature to be integrated into the existing holder structure without requiring a completely new design, thus improving reliability while minimizing complexity increase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If multiple alignment features are implemented, then misalignment is prevented, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the alignment function with the existing holder half structure by integrating aligning protrusions and recesses directly into the holder halves. This combining approach allows multiple alignment features to be manufactured as integral parts of the holder halves rather than as separate components, preventing misalignment while avoiding additional manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3972066B1Holder for cable conduits

Publication Date: 2026.04.08 ABB (SCHWEIZ) AG

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AI summary

A holder (300) for cable conduits (306) comprising a first holder half (100) connected to a second holder half (100), wherein the holder halves (100) form at least one opening (308) for holding a cable conduit (306), wherein the holder halves (100) are aligned to each other by two aligning protrusions (124) of the first holder half (100) arranged inside two aligning recesses (126) of the second holder half (100) and two aligning protrusions (124) of the second holder half (100) arranged inside two aligning recesses (126) of the first holder half (100), wherein the aligning protrusions (124) of each holder half (100) are arranged symmetric to a central axis (132) of the holder (300) orthogonal to a connection plane (104) between the holder halves (100).