Adjustable Cable Placement Fixture for Precise Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for installing cable assemblies in space-limited areas, such as ships or vessels, face challenges due to the difficulty in accurately routing and dressing cables without the equipment present, often requiring rough estimations and excess cable length, which complicates the process and reduces efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable cable placement fixture with a base and adjustable frame, equipped with a cable support portion and connector templates, allows for precise cable routing, dressing, and connectorization in the absence of equipment, enabling efficient cable assembly preparation and simplified hardware integration by simulating the future cable interfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If cable routing is performed without equipment present using rough estimations, then cable installation can proceed before equipment delivery, but cable routing precision deteriorates requiring excess cable length
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a template that copies the equipment's cable interface locations and routing paths. This template serves as a surrogate for the actual equipment, allowing precise cable routing to be performed in advance by replicating the exact cable entry points, paths, and connector locations that will be present when the equipment is installed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables preliminary cable routing and connector installation by using the template to establish accurate cable paths before the equipment arrives. The cable assemblies are prepared, routed, and connectorized in advance based on the template, so that when equipment is installed, the cables are already in their final positions requiring only connection to the equipment.
2Ease of manufacture
If excess cable length is left for later cutting and dressing, then cable routing can be done in advance, but cable assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the need for mechanical cable cutting, stripping, and connector installation with a template-guided system. The template provides pre-marked routing paths and connector locations, allowing cables to be routed and prepared using the template as a guide, thereby reducing the complexity of manual cable assembly operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The template serves as a self-guiding system that provides all necessary routing information, connector locations, and cable path markings. This self-service capability eliminates the need for complex measurement and calculation procedures, allowing technicians to follow the template directly for accurate cable preparation without requiring extensive expertise or complex procedures.
3Area of stationary object
If cable routing is performed in the absence of equipment, then space can be utilized more efficiently, but cable placement accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The template creates an accurate copy of the equipment's cable interface geometry and routing requirements. By replicating the exact cable entry points, connector locations, and routing paths on the template, the system maintains measurement precision equivalent to working with the actual equipment present, while still enabling space-efficient preliminary cable preparation.
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable fixture used in the fabrication of cable assemblies including a base, an adjustable frame, and a cable support arrangement attached to the frame. The cable support arrangement configured to house a cable position template, and a plurality of cable fasteners for attaching a plurality of cables into positions indicated by the cable position template.