Ceiling Wiring Access Frame with Roller Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
The inefficient use of manpower in installing and maintaining wiring and cables in ceilings and walls, as it typically requires two persons to feed and pull wires through limited access areas, leading to suboptimal utilization of workers.
Innovation Solution
A temporary access frame member designed to fit within a standard ceiling tile grid, equipped with rollers to reduce friction and adjustable openings, which can be suspended from the ceiling and includes debris prevention features to facilitate the efficient insertion and pulling of wires through restricted access points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If two persons are used to feed and pull wires through limited access areas, then the wire installation can be completed, but the manpower utilization becomes inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the wire pulling function into two independent components: a feed mechanism on the floor and a retrieval mechanism in the ceiling. This allows one worker to operate both mechanisms sequentially, eliminating the need for two workers while maintaining the wire installation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The access frame member acts as an intermediary device that bridges the floor and ceiling spaces. It provides a structured pathway with guide members that direct wires from the floor access point through the ceiling grid, enabling single-person operation by coordinating feed and retrieval actions through this intermediary structure
2Ease of operation
If a temporary access frame member is installed in the ceiling grid, then wire threading is facilitated, but the ceiling structure is temporarily modified
Solution Approach 1:
The access frame member is pre-configured with guide members, roller members, and opening dimensions optimized for wire passage before installation. This preliminary preparation ensures that when installed temporarily in the ceiling grid, it immediately provides facilitated wire threading without requiring additional modifications to the ceiling structure
Solution Approach 2:
The access frame member is designed as a temporary installation that can be easily installed and removed from the ceiling grid. After wire installation is complete, the frame member is removed and the ceiling grid is restored to its original state, minimizing long-term impact on ceiling structure integrity
3Force
If roller members are added to reduce friction, then wire pulling resistance decreases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Roller members are applied locally only at the critical contact points where wires pass through the access frame member. This targeted application reduces friction where it matters most (at the ceiling access point) without adding rollers throughout the entire device, thereby minimizing the increase in device complexity while achieving the force reduction benefit
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 allows for single-person operation to efficiently install and maintain wiring by reducing manpower requirements and minimizing debris and dust fall, thereby optimizing worker utilization and maintaining operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the access frame member comprises roller members placed in proximity to the internal edges along the opening that help to reduce friction from the wire as it is being pulled up into the ceiling or wall area
Data Source
AI summary
A ceiling wiring access point device is comprised of a frame panel that can be temporarily placed in a grid ceiling system during the installation of wire and cable into a ceiling space. The frame panel has an opening through which wire and cable may be inserted as it is threaded up into the ceiling. The internal edges of the opening are provided with roller members to provide a relative frictionless edge against which the wires may pass. Dust guards are provided at the opening to prevent debris from the ceiling area from falling to the room below.