Ceiling Cup Cable Termination for Concealed Damper Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air balancing damper systems with exposed cable terminations are aesthetically unpleasing and obtrusive, particularly in office buildings where access needs to be limited, as they do not seamlessly integrate with the ceiling architecture.
Innovation Solution
A ceiling cup termination system that secures the integrated cable end within a ceiling or wall opening using a suspension mount, retaining bar, and cap, allowing for concealed access while preventing damage and ensuring aesthetic compatibility with the building's design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the integrated cable terminates at an exposed end cap, then access to the cable for controlling the damper is easy, but the appearance is obtrusive and non-aesthetic
Solution Approach 1:
The cable termination system employs a nested structure where the cable end is received within a ceiling cup, which is in turn covered by a decorative cap. This nested arrangement conceals the functional cable termination within aesthetically pleasing concentric elements that integrate with the ceiling architecture, resolving the conflict between accessibility and appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The ceiling cup and decorative cap serve as intermediary elements between the functional cable termination and the visible ceiling surface. These intermediaries conceal the obtrusive cable end while maintaining access capability, mediating between the conflicting requirements of aesthetic appearance and operational accessibility.
2Ease of operation
If the integrated cable terminates at an exposed end cap, then access to the cable is easy, but access to the cable is not limited
Solution Approach 1:
The ceiling cup and cap assembly provides a dynamic access control mechanism. The cap can be removed to allow access to the cable for damper control, and replaced to restrict access when not in use. This dynamic configuration enables the system to adapt between accessible and restricted states, satisfying both ease of operation and access control requirements.
3Ease of operation
If the integrated cable is exposed, then access to the cable is easy, but the cable may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The ceiling cup and cap assembly provides protective cushioning for the cable termination before it can be exposed to harmful environmental factors. This pre-protective enclosure shields the cable from physical damage, contamination, and other harmful effects while maintaining the ability to access the cable when needed, resolving the contradiction between accessibility and protection.
Data Source
AI summary
A termination system for a cable integrated to control a damper, wherein an end portion of the cable is provided about an opening formed in a ceiling or wall, the system includes: a suspension mount having a base and an opened region, the base has an aperture to receive the cable a retaining bar is secured to the suspension mount such that the ceiling or wall is positioned between the suspension mount and the retaining bar and such that the opened region of the suspension mount is positioned over the opening formed in the ceiling or wall, the retaining bar further including a central opening; and a cap having an inside portion and a peg extending from the inside portion, the cap further having an outer periphery sized larger than the retaining bar and larger than the opening formed in the ceiling or wall, and the central opening of the retaining bar is sized to engage the peg, wherein engagement of the peg with the central opening enables the cap to obscure from visibility the retaining bar, the opening in the ceiling or wall, and the cable, and wherein the cap is able to be removed from the retaining bar to provide access to the cable for controlling said damper.