Cable Spool Assembly with Drum Support Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable spool assemblies lack efficient mechanisms for deploying and managing fiber optic cables, particularly in telecommunications networks, where secure and flexible spooling solutions are needed to prevent tangling and facilitate easy deployment and storage.
Innovation Solution
A cable spool assembly design featuring a drum with a drum support and flanges, where the drum support has tabs and slots to secure the cable, allowing for efficient coiling and uncoiling, and the use of cable ties to manage the cable length, enabling secure storage and deployment of fiber optic cables.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a drum with drum support and flanges is used to spool cable, then cable deployment efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spool assembly is divided into distinct functional segments: a drum for cable winding, a drum support structure, flanges for mounting, and channels for cable routing. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall system productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The drum support is disposed within the bore of the drum, creating a nested configuration where the drum support is received by the drum. This nesting reduces the overall footprint and simplifies assembly while maintaining the functional complexity needed for efficient cable deployment.
2Ease of operation
If multiple channels and gaps are created in the drum structure, then cable management is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The drum structure incorporates channels and gaps at specific locations to facilitate cable routing and management. These localized features are positioned to guide cable flow and prevent tangling, improving ease of operation during cable deployment and storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The channels and gaps are pre-formed during manufacturing to establish predetermined cable pathways. This preliminary structuring of the drum ensures that cable routing is simplified during operation, reducing the need for complex manual cable management while maintaining reasonable manufacturing tolerances.
3Reliability
If cable ties are used to secure remaining cable, then cable storage reliability is improved, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The cable tie mechanism allows the cable to be easily secured to itself or to the drum structure using simple tying actions. This self-service approach enables reliable cable storage without requiring complex locking mechanisms, maintaining ease of operation while improving storage reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable tie system allows for quick attachment and detachment of cable segments. Used cable ties can be discarded while the cable itself is recovered and reused, providing a simple method to secure remaining cable lengths reliably while maintaining operational simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A spool assembly includes a drum having a first axial end and an oppositely disposed second axial end. The drum includes an inner surface that defines a bore that extends through the first and second axial ends. A drum support is disposed in the bore of the drum. The drum support includes a first end and an oppositely disposed second end. The drum support has an exterior surface. The exterior surface of the drum support and the inner surface of the drum define a plurality of channels. A first flange is engaged to the first end of the drum support. A second flange is engaged to the second end of the drum support.