Demountable Cable Pulling Attachment for Connector Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pre-terminated cables are difficult to pull through small holes due to their connectors, requiring large holes or conduits, and existing solutions like 'Kellem Grips' or textile sleeve tools are either cumbersome or require additional affixing methods.
Innovation Solution
Development of compact demountable attachments for pre-terminated cables that allow easy mounting and demounting, protect the connector, distribute pulling force away from the connector, and are low-cost, disposable, or reusable, also applicable to unterminated cables.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If pre-terminated cables are pulled through small holes, then cable installation flexibility is improved, but the connectors may be damaged due to concentrated pulling force
Solution Approach 1:
A pulling attachment device is introduced as an intermediary between the pulling force and the cable connector. This attachment distributes the pulling force across multiple contact points on the cable sheath, preventing concentrated stress on the connector while enabling flexible installation through small holes.
Solution Approach 2:
The pulling attachment divides the pulling force into multiple distributed contact points along the cable sheath rather than concentrating it at a single point near the connector. This segmentation of force application protects the connector from damage while maintaining installation flexibility.
2Reliability
If large holes or conduits are used to pull pre-terminated cables, then connector damage is avoided, but installation complexity and damage repair requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pulling attachment serves as a mediator that enables force distribution without requiring large access holes. By attaching to the cable sheath rather than the connector, it protects the connector while allowing installation through small holes, thereby reducing installation complexity.
3Reliability
If textile sleeve tools are used for pulling pre-terminated cables, then connector protection is achieved, but additional affixing steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The pulling attachment is designed to self-adhere to the cable sheath through friction and normal force during the pulling operation itself, without requiring separate affixing steps such as taping or crimping. The act of pulling the cable through the attachment provides the necessary retention force.
4Reliability
If compact demountable attachments are used, then pulling force distribution is improved, but attachment mounting and demounting complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment utilizes the cable pulling force itself to secure itself to the cable sheath, eliminating the need for complex mounting mechanisms. The normal force generated during pulling provides sufficient friction to retain the attachment, and demounting is achieved by simply releasing the pulling force.
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 efficient pulling of pre-terminated cables through small holes with minimal damage to the connectors, facilitates storage, and can be used for both pre-terminated and unterminated cables.
Implementation Method 1
the cable is frictionally retained within the cable pulling attachment under application of a longitudinally load to the cable pulling attachment
Data Source
AI summary
There are many instances where electrical, RF and fiber optic cables require installation either initially within different environments or during upgrades, repairs etc. These cables may be pre-terminated or unterminated and generally physically pulled through holes within wood, concrete, brick, etc. as well as ducts. Prior art approaches are expensive wasting or damage the cables and labour intensive. To support pulling of pre-terminated cables and unterminated cables there are provided different designs of demountable attachments to provide an attachment means to a pre-terminated cable for pulling. The underlying design concepts of these demountable attachments for pre-terminated cable pulling are also applicable to attachments for unterminated cables for pulling these as well as to devices for the storage of pre-terminated cables.