Cardan Shaft Cable Guide for E-Scan Antenna Mobility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable routing systems are inadequate for guiding cables to mobile objects, particularly in applications like modern combat aircraft equipped with electronically scanned radar antennas, as they fail to provide flexible and reliable routing under dynamic conditions.
Innovation Solution
A flexible cable guide utilizing a cardan shaft with ball joints or universal joints, coupled with a spherical bearing, allows for kinematic alignment with the object's movement, ensuring cables are securely routed through a repositioner system, including a swashplate repositioner with internal toothing and electric motors for precise adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If rigid cable attachment is used to an object, then cable routing is simple and stable, but the object cannot move freely
Solution Approach 1:
The cable guide incorporates a cardan shaft with universal joints that dynamically adapt to the movement of the object. The cardan shaft allows the cable harness to follow the object's motion in multiple directions while maintaining continuous cable connection, thus enabling mobility without compromising routing reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The cable guide acts as an intermediary component between the stationary cable source and the mobile object. It absorbs and accommodates the object's movements through its articulated structure, protecting the cable harness from damage while allowing full range of motion
2Adaptability or versatility
If cable harness is routed through joint bearing only, then structure is simple, but cable routing is not flexible enough for mobile objects
Solution Approach 1:
The cable guide is segmented into multiple functional components: a cardan shaft with front and rear universal joints, a cable harness clamping device, and a joint bearing. Each segment performs a specific function, allowing the overall system to achieve complex flexibility through coordinated operation of simpler parts
Solution Approach 2:
The cardan shaft serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical support for the cable harness, accommodates multi-directional movement, and maintains cable tension. The universal joints enable the structure to adapt to various movement patterns, making the cable guide universally applicable to different mobile object configurations
3Manufacturing precision
If E-scan antenna is equipped with repositioner for precise positioning, then positioning accuracy is improved, but mechanical complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The repositioner uses a swashplate mechanism with internal toothing that converts rotational motion into precise angular positioning of the E-scan antenna. The articulated cable guide dynamically adjusts to the antenna's repositioning movements, maintaining cable tension and routing without interfering with the precision mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The cable guide with its articulated cardan shaft acts as a mediator between the precise repositioner mechanism and the mobile antenna. It absorbs the mechanical complexity of accommodating antenna movement while allowing the repositioner to focus solely on achieving precise positioning without cable routing interference
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
This solution enables reliable and flexible cable routing for E-scan antennas, supporting their mechanical alignment and positioning, even in harsh conditions, ensuring continuous operation and increased variability with reduced mechanical complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a cable guide (10) with a cardan shaft (14), which has a first cardan shaft head (16) on a front end of a shaft piece (18) in the longitudinal direction of the cable guide (10) and a second cardan shaft head (20) on a rear end of the shaft piece (18)
Implementation Method 2
a joint bearing (36, 38), which is arranged in a stationary manner at a distance in the course of the cable harness (24) in the longitudinal direction of the cable guide (10) behind the second cardan shaft head (20) and is designed for passing through the cable harness (24)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The guide (10) has a drive shaft (14) that comprises a drive shaft head (16) i.e. ball-and-socket joint, at an end of a shaft piece (18) and another drive shaft head (20) at another end of the shaft piece. A device for fastening a harness (24) at the drive shaft head, and universal joint bearings (36, 38) i.e. spherical bearings, are stationary arranged by the latter drive shaft head for carrying-out the harness formed in a spacing. The universal joint bearings enable kinematics necessary for a guide of the harness. An independent claim is also included for an electronic-scan antenna.