Cable Cord Retractor With Damped Pulley System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable retraction mechanisms wear out quickly due to repetitive stress and premature breakage of cords, as they wind around drums or undergo twisting, leading to a need for a mechanism that maintains cable tension during withdrawal and retraction.
Innovation Solution
A cable retractor system utilizing pulleys with a damper and spring spool mechanism, where the cable is wound over pairs of pulleys with a gear system, and a slideable block, ensuring the cable remains in tension during retraction and withdrawal, and includes a dampening system to prevent whipping and excessive wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cord is wound around a drum for storage and retraction, then the cord can be stored and retrieved, but the cord wears out rapidly and must be replaced after a relatively short period of use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a pulley system as an intermediary mechanism between the cord and the housing. The cord passes over pulleys that redirect the force and motion, preventing direct contact and friction between the cord and the drum surface. This intermediary mechanism reduces wear on the cord while maintaining the storage and retrieval function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional drum-winding mechanical system with a pulley-based mechanical system. Instead of winding the cord around a rotating drum, the cord is routed through pulleys that move along tracks. This substitution eliminates the high-friction contact point that caused rapid cord wear in drum-based systems.
2Ease of operation
If the cord undergoes twisting for retraction, then the cord can be retracted, but repetitive stresses result in premature breakage of the cord wires
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the retraction mechanism into multiple independent pulleys rather than using a single twisting action. The cord passes sequentially through multiple pulleys, distributing the retraction force across several contact points rather than concentrating stress through twisting. This segmentation prevents repetitive stress concentration that leads to wire breakage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the traditional retraction approach by using a spring mechanism that pulls the cord through pulleys rather than using a motor or manual twisting action. The spring-driven retraction creates smooth, continuous tension through the pulley system, avoiding the repetitive twisting and stress cycles that cause cord wire breakage in conventional systems.
3Device complexity
If a simple pulley system is used for cord retraction, then the mechanism is simple, but the cord may whip or experience excessive wear during retraction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a damper mechanism that provides beforehand cushioning for the cord during retraction. The damper absorbs sudden movements and prevents whipping by providing controlled resistance to cord motion. This cushioning effect is built into the system in advance, preventing harmful whip-induced wear before it occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces additional pulleys and guide elements as intermediaries between the cord and the retraction mechanism. These intermediary components redirect and smooth the cord's path, preventing direct contact that would cause whipping and wear. The intermediaries maintain cord tension and alignment throughout the retraction process.
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
The system effectively extends and retracts the cable while maintaining tension, reducing wear and tear, and preventing premature breakage, thus providing a longer-lasting solution for managing variable-length cables.
Implementation Method 1
at least one spring spool... the intermediate storage section is in tension during retraction and withdrawal
Implementation Method 2
A damper is coupled to one of the second pair of pulleys... to damp the rotary motion of one of the second pair of pulleys
Data Source
AI summary
A mechanism for storing a length of cord that includes a first and second pair of pulleys mounted at opposite ends of a frame. An intermediate section of a cord is stored in the frame and has one end of the stored section fixed to the frame, with the other end extending from the frame. The stored cord section is at least partially wound over the pair of pulleys, and one pair of pulleys is slidably mounted for motion toward the other pair of pulleys. A damper is coupled to one of the second pair of pulleys, which engages the pulley to rotate about an axis to damp the rotary motion of one of the second pair of pulleys in such a manner that the intermediate storage section is in tension during retraction and withdrawal. The mechanism further includes a solenoid that is activated locally or remotely by a switch.