Cable Strain Relief with Deformable Seal for Wide Diameter Range

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cable strain reliefs face misalignment issues during assembly, lack of tightness, and susceptibility to loosening due to temperature fluctuations and vibrations, especially when used with diverse cable diameters, leading to ineffective sealing in environments prone to conductive fluids or dust.

Innovation Solution

A cable strain relief design featuring a crown-like, deformable strain relief element and a holding element that form a unit, with a cylindrical elastic insert and latching elements, allowing for secure assembly and sealing over a wide range of cable diameters without the need for multiple seals, using a union nut and inclined stop surfaces for secure cable bushing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple sealing rings are included to cover different cable types, then adaptability to various cable diameters is improved, but device complexity and cost increase due to the large number of seals required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to various cable diametersVSAvoidnumber of sealing rings required
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing ring is designed with a deformable cross-section that changes shape under compression. When the cable is inserted, the sealing ring deforms radially to conform to the cable diameter, allowing a single sealing ring design to adapt to various cable sizes without requiring multiple sealed bore designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The holding element is designed with a sealed bore that can accommodate cables of different diameters through the deformable sealing ring mechanism. This universal design allows the same holding element to serve multiple cable types, eliminating the need for multiple specialized components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple sealing rings are included for different cable types, then coverage of wide cable range is improved, but manufacturing cost increases due to loss of standardized cable strain relief cost advantage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage of cable diameter rangeVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The holding element with the deformable sealing ring serves as a universal component that can accommodate various cable diameters. This standardization allows for mass production of a single holding element design, reducing manufacturing costs compared to producing multiple specialized holding elements for different cable sizes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing ring's ability to change its effective sealing diameter through deformation allows a single standardized sealing ring design to replace multiple fixed-diameter sealing rings, thereby reducing the variety of parts that need to be manufactured and stocked.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If loose individual parts are used for assembly, then ease of assembly is improved, but reliability decreases due to misalignment and loosening under external stress

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidtightness and seal integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The strain relief element and holding element are merged into a single integrated unit. This combination ensures that the elements remain aligned during assembly and operation, preventing misalignment issues while maintaining the ease of assembly as a single component. The integrated design also prevents loosening under external stress such as temperature fluctuations and vibrations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 solution ensures reliable strain relief and sealing across various cable diameters, minimizing production effort and assembly errors, while maintaining tightness and preventing fluid/dust ingress, even under external stress.

Implementation Method 1

a deformation of the strain relief element is caused, so that the diameter for a cable bushing is reduced

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDeformation: Deformation

Implementation Method 2

the strain relief element has a cylindrical, elastic insert

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2609657B1Cable strain relief
Publication Date: 2018.06.27 PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2609657B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2609657B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2609657B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a cable strain relief for a cable. The cable strain relief comprises a strain relief element (20) and a retaining element (10). The retaining element (10) is intended to be connected to a mating piece (40). The strain relief element (20) and the retaining element (10) are designed such that said elements form a unit (1). The invention further relates to a connector set and a feedthrough set, which comprises an aforementioned cable strain relief (10, 20) and a mating piece (40). The mating piece (40) is intended to be connected to the retaining element (10) of the cable strain relief (10, 20), wherein the mating piece can be pushed onto a cable.