Modular Cleanroom Cable Conduit for Replaceable Support Chains

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cable routing devices for clean room applications are not suitable for easy maintenance and replacement of individual cables or support chains, leading to inefficient maintenance and increased costs due to the need for complete replacement of the cable protection guide.

Innovation Solution

A cable protection guide with a flexible casing that features detachable fastening bands allowing for the releasable connection of casing units, enabling the easy replacement of individual cables or support chains without dismantling the entire system, and allowing for partial or complete replacement of cable harnesses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of repair

If conventional cable protection guides are used, then the system is simple and compact, but individual cables or support chains cannot be replaced separately, requiring complete system replacement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of cable replacementVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cable protection guide is divided into multiple individual casing units that can be independently replaced. Each casing unit contains specific cables or support chains, allowing selective replacement of only the affected unit rather than the entire system. This segmentation enables easy repair while maintaining overall system simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The casing units are designed with detachable fastening bands that allow dynamic assembly and disassembly. This enables maintenance personnel to easily open and replace individual casing units without dismantling the entire cable protection guide, significantly improving ease of repair while keeping the system design relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If complete system replacement is required for cable maintenance, then the structure remains simple, but maintenance time and costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance efficiencyVSAvoidmaintenance time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the cable protection guide into replaceable casing units, maintenance personnel can quickly identify and replace only the defective unit containing the problematic cable or support chain. This eliminates the time-consuming process of replacing the entire system, significantly improving maintenance efficiency and reducing downtime.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The casing units are pre-configured with specific cables and support chains during assembly. This preliminary organization allows for rapid identification and replacement of affected units during maintenance, eliminating the need to reconfigure the entire system and reducing maintenance time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the cable protection guide is designed as a complete integrated system, then manufacturing is simpler, but adaptability for future modifications is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability for cable additionsVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The modular casing unit design allows for easy adaptation to future cable additions or modifications. New casing units can be manufactured independently and attached to the existing system using the standardized fastening band interface, providing versatility without significantly complicating the manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The standardized fastening band design creates a universal interface that can accommodate different types of cables and support chains. This universality allows the system to be easily modified and expanded for different applications while maintaining a relatively simple manufacturing process through standardized components.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3912242B1Compact protective cable conduit for clean room applications, and encasing unit and arrangement with support chain for same
Publication Date: 2024.04.24 IGUS SE & CO KG DE
  • EP3912242B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1C
  • EP3912242B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3B
  • EP3912242B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~5

AI summary

The invention proposes a protective cable conduit (900) for lines, such as cables, in a clean room application, with a flexible encasement (901A) which is movable back and forth for routing a line. Each receptacle (1002) extends in channel-like fashion from a first end to a second end. The encasement comprises at least one encasing unit (1001), which forms the at least one receptacle (1002) for a line. The encasing unit (1001) has a first fastening strip (1020) on one longitudinal side and a second fastening strip (1021) on the other longitudinal side. According to the invention, the first and the second fastening strip (1020, 1021) are designed for releasable connection by interlocking engagement and/or frictional engagement, for example with a cooperating hook profile (1025) and claw profile (1022), and are connectable to one another in a connection direction (N) transverse to the longitudinal direction (L). A plurality of encasing units (1001) can thus be fastened to one another releasably using mating fastening strips (1020, 1021) by connecting the fastening strips in a connection direction (N) transverse to the longitudinal direction. The invention also relates to an arrangement (900) of a protective cable conduit with support chains (135), wherein each support chain (135) is routed in an associated encasing unit (901B) which accommodates only the associated support chain(s) (135), such that this is replaceable separately from lines routed in the encasement (901A).