Cable Packaging Assembly with Rotatable Drum and Protective Container

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cable packaging solutions lack effective protection against moisture and mechanical damage, and are cumbersome to handle and unspool, especially when stacked.

Innovation Solution

A cable packaging assembly featuring a plastic frame with a rotatable cable drum and compartment, made from recycled polypropylene, with a flexible joint and locking elements, allowing easy assembly and disassembly, and angled sides for efficient stacking, providing protection against dirt and moisture while facilitating easy handling and unspooling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If cable is stored in cardboard box or plastic wrapped bundles, then protection against moisture is provided, but handling and unspooling becomes cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against moistureVSAvoidhandling and unspooling
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The packaging assembly is divided into separate functional components: a protective container for moisture barrier, a drum support structure for mechanical support, and a cable drum for unspooling. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its function while working together as an integrated system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cable drum is nested within the container, which is supported by the drum support structure. The drum support features a recess that receives the drum, creating a nested arrangement where the drum is protected by the container while maintaining rotational freedom for easy unspooling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If cable is stored on traditional reels or drums, then unspooling is facilitated, but protection against mechanical damage and moisture is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveunspoolingVSAvoidprotection against mechanical damage and moisture
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cable drum is nested within the protective container, allowing the drum to rotate freely for easy unspooling while the container provides enclosed protection against moisture and mechanical damage. The drum support structure with its recess cradles the drum, enabling rotational movement within the protected space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The assembly combines different material properties: the container provides moisture barrier properties, the drum support provides structural mechanical strength, and the drum enables rotational unspooling. This composite structure integrates multiple material functions into a single protective system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Productivity

If multiple containers are stacked for storage, then space efficiency is improved, but mechanical damage from weight stacking increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage space efficiencyVSAvoidmechanical damage from weight stacking
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The drum support features a flexible joint that allows dynamic adjustment and absorption of mechanical stresses from stacked containers. This flexibility enables the structure to adapt to loading forces while maintaining structural integrity and protecting the cable drum underneath.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of manufacture

If frame is made as single body, then assembly is simplified, but adaptability and ease of disassembly is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidease of disassembly
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The frame is segmented into separate components: the container, the drum support structure, and the cable drum. These segmented parts can be easily assembled and disassembled through their interfaces, providing adaptability for different cable types and sizes while maintaining manufacturing simplicity for each individual component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4046950B1Cable packaging assembly for storing and unspooling of an electric cable
Publication Date: 2023.12.20 NEXANS SA
  • EP4046950B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4046950B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4046950B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The present invention relates to a cable packaging assembly (10) for storing and unspooling cable, comprising a frame (20), a cable drum (30) and a packaging container (40). The frame (20) comprises a base plate (21) and a drum support (24) protruding from the base plate (21). The cable drum (30) is rotatably connected to the drum support (24). The packaging container (40) comprising a compartment (44) and an opening (43) for accessing the compartment (44). The drum support (24) and the cable drum (30) are provided within the compartment (44). The frame (20) is connected to the packaging container (40); and the base plate (21) is arranged in the opening (43) of the packaging container (40).