Coaxial Cable Reel Layout for Torsion-Sensitive Cable Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable reels create twists and turns in cables, leading to impractical deployment and retraction processes, especially when handling multiple transmission systems like fluids, solids, electric power, and high-speed data, and existing solutions like slip rings and rotary unions face limitations in harsh environments and signal degradation.
Innovation Solution
A cable reel design with an outer spool and coaxially disposed inner drum, where the cable is reeled about the outer spool and into the inner drum, with a clock spring mechanism to manage tension and prevent torsional burdens, allowing for a unified deployment and retraction of mixed-use cables without excessive connectors or bends.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a cable reel is used to deploy and retract cables, then cable storage and mobility are improved, but twists and turns in the cable are created leading to impractical deployment processes
Solution Approach 1:
The cable reel system is divided into two separate functional components: an outer spool for cable storage and deployment, and an inner drum with a clock spring mechanism for tension management. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, enabling smooth cable deployment without twists and turns.
Solution Approach 2:
The clock spring mechanism acts as an intermediary between the cable and the reel system. It provides continuous tension to maintain cable configuration stability during deployment and retraction, preventing twists and turns while enabling smooth operation.
2Reliability
If slip rings are used to maintain constant connections on cable reels, then connection continuity is improved, but they are limited in harsh environments and subject to wear and friction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the slip ring component entirely from the cable reel system. Instead of using dynamic contact joints, the invention employs a clock spring mechanism that maintains constant connections through continuous tension without mechanical contact, eliminating wear and friction problems.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical slip ring system is replaced with an elastic deformation-based clock spring mechanism. This substitution eliminates the need for sliding contacts, removing wear and friction while maintaining connection reliability in harsh environments.
3Speed
If fiber optic wave guides are used for data transmission, then data speed is improved, but they are brittle and very sensitive to excessive bending and torsion
Solution Approach 1:
The clock spring mechanism provides beforehand cushioning by maintaining continuous tension on the cable before any excessive bending or torsion can occur. This pre-applied tension prevents fiber optic wave guides from experiencing damaging stresses during cable deployment and retraction.
Solution Approach 2:
The clock spring acts as an intermediary that buffers mechanical stresses between the cable reel system and the fiber optic wave guide. It absorbs and distributes forces, preventing excessive bending and torsion from reaching the fragile fiber optic components.
4Adaptability or versatility
If rotary unions are used for fluid power systems, then rotational capability is improved, but they cross over one another limiting use to a single tube
Solution Approach 1:
The cable reel system segments the rotational function into the outer spool while the inner drum with clock spring handles tension management. This segmentation allows multiple cables to be deployed independently without the crossover problems of rotary unions, enabling fluid power systems with multiple tubes.
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
The design enables predictable and efficient deployment and retraction of cables with mixed components, maintaining signal integrity and mechanical stability, suitable for complex environments and diverse tools like cameras, robotic arms, and welding systems.
Implementation Method 1
a clock spring mechanism to manage tension and prevent torsional burdens
Data Source
AI summary
A cable reel is disclosed having an outer deployment spool for deployment and retractive coiling of cable based on rotation about a central axis. The cable reel also has an inner, coaxial drum in which stored cable assumes tighter loops and relaxed loops responsive to the deployment or coiling of the cable on the outer spool. The cable extends from the inner drum through an opening in an axial tube and out of the drum orthogonally. The cable is contiguous from the deployable end on the outer spool, through the inner drum coils and through the axial tube. The reel may have a resistive spring or other means of retraction. The disclosed cable is not subject to acute bends, turns or torsion upon its long axis through deployed and retracted phases.