Multi-joint Link Cable Protection Guide Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cable protection and guide devices face issues with cable abrasion and increased inertial force due to their flexible interior structure, making it difficult to maintain high precision and causing noise and potential cable breakage from uneven curvature.
Innovation Solution
A cable protection and guide device with a multi-joint link system featuring holding members that securely engage the cable on both inner and outer sides, reducing friction and inertial force by allowing the link members to be compact and lightweight, with adjustable locking mechanisms and varying hardness for noise reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cable is accommodated in the interior with flexibility, then the cable can be guided smoothly, but the cable skin may be worn and generate frictional powder causing abrasion
Solution Approach 1:
The cable is extracted from the flexible interior accommodation and placed in an external groove structure. The groove is formed on the outer surface of the link member, separating the cable from the flexible interior space, thereby preventing contact with frictional powder while maintaining smooth guidance through the groove's geometric shape.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove acts as an intermediary structure between the cable and the link member body. It provides a dedicated pathway that guides the cable while preventing direct contact with the flexible interior materials that generate frictional powder, thus mediating the interaction to prevent abrasion.
2Reliability
If the cable protection and guide device is made larger to accommodate the cable, then the cable is better protected, but the device has increased mass and greater inertial force making it difficult to hold position with high precision
Solution Approach 1:
The link member is segmented into functional zones: the groove for cable guidance, the holding members for cable securing, and the connection pins for linkage. This segmentation allows the cable protection function to be integrated into the existing link member structure without requiring additional space or increasing overall device mass.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable protection and guidance functions are merged into the link member itself through the groove structure. The holding members are integrated with the link member body, combining cable securing with the structural component, thereby eliminating the need for separate protective housings that would increase mass.
3Reliability
If the holding members are made to securely hold the cable, then cable abrasion is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The holding members serve multiple functions: they secure the cable in place, prevent lateral movement, and work in conjunction with the groove to guide the cable. The connection pins also serve dual purposes as both linkage elements and positioning features for the holding members, reducing the need for separate fastening components.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding members provide localized cable restraint at specific positions within the groove, rather than requiring a completely enclosed protective structure. The inner side and outer side holding members create localized contact points that secure the cable where needed while leaving the overall structure open and simple.
Data Source
AI summary
A cable protection and guide device is provided, which prevents abrasion of the cable skin of a cable or the like and holds the position of a multi-joint link with high precision. The cable protection and guide device is characterized in that the multi-joint link includes a link member and a pair of holding members attached to the link member for holding the cable. A flexional inner side holding member has an inner side base part and an inner side holding part that are integrally formed. A flexional outer side holding member has an outer side base part and an outer side holding part that are integrally formed, and the outer side holding part cooperates with the inner side holding part to hold the cable.