Cable Management Arm Connection Device with Nested Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connection mechanisms between cable management arms and rails protrude, occupying valuable space and requiring improvement to maintain or expand room within the housing.
Innovation Solution
A connection device featuring a fixing frame with a protrusion portion, a pivotably connected connection member with a contact portion, and a locking member with a resilient portion that locks onto the fixing frame's protrusion, allowing for secure attachment without protruding components, and an operation window for easy disengagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If plungers are used to connect the cable support arm to the rails, then the connection is secure, but the plungers protrude and occupy valuable space in the housing
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is nested within the cable support arm structure. The locking member is received in a recess of the cable support arm, and the resilient member is contained within the locking member, creating a compact nested arrangement that eliminates protruding components while maintaining secure connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection mechanism transitions from a protruding plunger design to a flush-mounted design where the locking portion engages with the rail in a different spatial dimension. The locking member pivots within the plane of the cable support arm rather than extending outward, changing the dimensional approach to achieving secure connection.
2Reliability
If a secure locking mechanism is implemented, then the connection is reliable, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient member automatically engages the locking portion with the rail protrusion when the cable support arm is inserted, and automatically maintains the locked position without requiring additional actuators or complex control mechanisms. The system serves itself by using the insertion motion to trigger the locking action.
Solution Approach 2:
The complex multi-component mechanical locking system is replaced with a simple resilient member that uses elastic deformation to provide locking force. This substitutes a potentially complex mechanical linkage system with a single elastic element that performs the same function more simply.
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 and space-efficient connection of cable management arms to rails, allowing for installation on either side of the rack without occupying additional room, and facilitates easy attachment and detachment without protruding parts.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient portion (42) which contacts the contact portion (32)
Data Source
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AI summary
A connection device of a cable management arm (10) includes a fixing frame (16) having a protrusion portion (26), a connection member (18) having a contact portion (32), and a locking member (20) pivotably connected to the connection member (18). The locking member (20) includes a locking portion (40) and a resilient portion (42) which contacts the contact portion (32) of the connection member (18). When the connection member (18) is pivotally connected to the cable management arm (10), the fixing frame (16) is fixed to a rail. When the connection member (18) is connected to the fixing frame (16), the resilient portion (42) provides a force to lock the locking portion (40) to the protrusion portion (26) of the fixing frame (16) so as to securely connect the connection member (18) to the fixing frame (16).