Rotating Closure Ring Bundle Gripping Tool
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bundling and tying of wires in complex electronic and electromechanical systems, such as aircraft or vehicles, is highly labor-intensive due to the need for intricate harness arrangements, and existing solutions like ribbon tying and automatic knot-tying devices are not efficient for handling bundles of varying sizes and complexities.
Innovation Solution
A bundle gripping tool with a support ring and a rotatable closure ring, where snare cables are engaged between the rings to encircle and consolidate wire bundles, using an operating mechanism to transition from an open to a closed position, allowing for efficient handling and consolidation of wire bundles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If ribbon tying or automatic knot-tying devices are used, then wire bundling can be performed, but the process remains labor-intensive and inefficient for bundles of varying sizes and complexities
Solution Approach 1:
The closure ring is made rotatable about the bundle axis, transitioning between open and closed positions. This dynamic mechanism allows the snare cables to automatically adjust their configuration (from convex to concave) to accommodate wire bundles of varying sizes and complexities, eliminating the need for manual reconfiguration and significantly improving bundling efficiency for different bundle types
2Stability of the object's composition
If the closure ring is in the closed position, then wire bundles are effectively consolidated and maintained in central position, but the central aperture is gated and bundle insertion is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The closure ring transitions dynamically between open and closed positions. In the open position, the aligned open sectors expose the central aperture for easy bundle insertion. Upon rotation to the closed position, the misaligned sectors gate the aperture while the snare cables encircle and consolidate the bundle. This dynamic state change resolves the contradiction between insertion ease and consolidation stability
3Productivity
If snare cables are engaged between support ring and closure ring, then bundles can be consolidated, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Snare cables (flexible elements) are engaged between the support ring and closure ring, allowing the device to consolidate bundles of varying sizes without requiring complex rigid mechanical structures. The flexibility of the cables enables automatic adaptation to different bundle configurations, achieving high productivity with relatively simple device architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The snare cables serve multiple functions: they transfer force from the rotating closure ring to encircle the bundle, consolidate wires of varying sizes, and maintain bundle integrity during handling. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components, keeping the device structure simple while maintaining high bundle handling efficiency
Data Source
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AI summary
A bundle gripping tool employs a support ring (12) concentric to a bundle axis (14) and having a first open sector (16) accessing a central aperture (20). A closure ring (22) mounted on the support ring is concentric with and rotatable about the bundle axis and has a second open sector (30) wherein rotation of the closure ring to an open position at least partially aligns the first and second open sectors exposing the central aperture. Rotation to a closed position misaligns the second open sector from the first open sector, covering the first open sector gating the central aperture. A plurality of snare cables (38) is engaged between a first set of attachment points (40a, 40b, 40c) on the support ring and a second set of attachment points (42a, 42b, 42c) on the closure ring. The first set of attachment points and second set of attachment points are relatively positioned whereby each of said plurality of snare cables partially encircles the bundle axis in the closed position and exposes the bundle axis in the open position. An operating mechanism (48) is configured to rotate the closure ring.