Control Cable Lubrication Seal for Leak-Free Pressurized Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing control cable lubrication devices are inefficient, leading to messy application, significant lubricant waste, and incomplete lubrication due to poor sealing and adaptability to various cable sizes and configurations.
Innovation Solution
A cable lubrication device featuring a main body tube, locking ring, plunger, and spiral-cut seal that compresses around the control cable to form a secure seal, directing pressurized lubricant efficiently into the internal space, minimizing leakage and user exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a clamp with a tapered rubber sleeve is used to seal around the inner wire, then the device can be assembled, but it cannot provide a liquid-tight seal because the spiral-wound wire strands and flutes allow lubricant to leak past
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible O-ring seal that can deform and conform to the irregular surface of the inner wire, creating an effective barrier against lubricant leakage. The O-ring's elastic properties allow it to maintain sealing pressure despite the wire's spiral-wound construction and flutes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the sealing approach from rigid mechanical compression of a tapered sleeve to elastic deformation of an O-ring. This parameter change in sealing mechanism allows the seal to adapt to the wire's geometry and maintain liquid-tight sealing under pressure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a tapered rubber sleeve with a slit is clamped around the cable housing, then the device can accommodate different cable sizes, but the slit is difficult to clamp together to prevent leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a universal O-ring seal that can accommodate various cable housing diameters and inner wire configurations. The O-ring's elastic deformation allows it to seal effectively across a range of sizes without requiring size-specific components or complex clamping mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the sealing function from the clamping mechanism, using a dedicated O-ring seal that is separate from the structural components. This allows the seal to be optimized for liquid-tight sealing while the clamping mechanism focuses on mechanical retention.
3Productivity
If pressurized lubricant is applied directly through a nozzle to the access opening, then lubrication can be applied, but the operation is messy and wastes significant lubricant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary sealed chamber that captures the pressurized lubricant and directs it into the cable. This intermediary system prevents uncontrolled spray and ensures that lubricant is delivered efficiently into the cable's internal space rather than being wasted externally.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a seal that prevents lubricant from escaping in unwanted directions before the lubrication process completes. The sealing arrangement counteracts the natural tendency of pressurized lubricant to spray outward, redirecting it into the cable instead.
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
The device effectively directs lubricant into the control cable, reducing waste and user exposure, providing a better seal that pushes out debris and ensures even lubricant distribution, while accommodating various cable sizes and configurations.
Implementation Method 1
a spiral-cut seal (18) which is compressed inwardly when the locking ring (14) is advanced on the screw threads (22) towards the main body tube (12)
Implementation Method 2
directing pressurized lubricant efficiently into the internal space
Data Source
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AI summary
A cable lubrication device (10) for directing pressurized lubricant into the internal space of a control cable, the cable lubrication device having a main body tube (12), a locking ring (14), a plunger (16) and a spiral-cut seal (18).