Sheathed Cable Shaping Element for Cross-Section Restoration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Sheathed cables with larger diameters often deform from a round cross-section to an elliptical shape due to weight, causing issues in further processing and assembly, particularly when wound on cable drums or bobbins.

Innovation Solution

A device with a cutting unit and shaping element that impresses a round cross-sectional shape on the sheathed cable, using V-shaped or arc-shaped cutting edges and half-shells to cut the outer sheath without damaging the underlying shielding layer, ensuring the cable is restored to its intended shape for precise cutting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If sheathed cables are wound on cable drums or bobbins for storage or transport, then the cables can be stored and transported efficiently, but the cross-section of the sheathed cable deforms from round to elliptical due to weight

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage and transport efficiencyVSAvoidcross-sectional shape
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The shaping element restores the round cross-sectional shape of the cable before the cutting operation takes place. This preliminary shaping action ensures that when the cable subsequently undergoes cutting or stripping operations, the cable maintains its intended geometry, preventing deformation-related processing issues

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The shaping element changes the physical state of the cable cross-section by applying mechanical force to restore it from an elliptical deformed state back to its original round shape. This parameter change (shape restoration) enables subsequent processing operations to proceed accurately

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Volume of moving object

If the cross-section of the sheathed cable is deformed to an elliptical shape, then the cable can be compacted during storage, but further processing and assembly become problematic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable compactnessVSAvoidprocessing precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The shaping element performs a preliminary shaping operation that restores the cable's round cross-section before cutting or stripping operations. This ensures that subsequent manufacturing processes can be performed with the required precision, as the cable maintains its intended geometry throughout processing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The shaping element applies mechanical transformation to change the cable's cross-sectional shape parameter from elliptical back to round, enabling precise cutting and stripping operations to be performed without geometric interference

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If a cutting unit is used to cut the outer sheath of the sheathed cable, then the cable can be divided into segments, but the underlying shielding layer may be damaged without proper shaping

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting efficiencyVSAvoidshielding layer damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The shaping element performs a preliminary action by restoring the round cross-sectional shape of the cable before the cutting operation. This ensures that the cutting unit engages the outer sheath uniformly and cuts only the intended material, preventing the blade from slipping or deflecting onto the underlying shielding layer

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The shaping element acts as an intermediary between the cable and the cutting unit. By restoring the cable's geometry, it mediates the interaction to ensure that the cutting unit operates on the outer sheath only, preventing harmful effects on the shielding layer while maintaining cutting efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3533119B1Apparatus for manufacturing sheathed cables
Publication Date: 2022.11.02 LEONI BORDNETZ-SYSTEME GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3533119B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3533119B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3533119B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to an apparatus (2) for manufacturing sheathed cables (4) having a outer sheath (8). The apparatus comprises a cutting unit (14) with at least one blade (18) for cutting open an outer sheath (8) of a sheathed cable (4) and further comprises a shaping element (20) having a shaping surface (22) which impresses, for the step of cutting open the outer sheath (8), a cross-sectional shape onto at least one section of the sheathed cable (4), said shape being defined by the shaping surface (22).