Coil Spring Cable Drum for Long-Travel Moving Contacts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical contacting methods for movable elements, such as vehicle seats, face issues with soiling and damage due to exposed cable sets, especially with extended movement paths exceeding one meter, which are aesthetically and safety-wise unacceptable.
Innovation Solution
A device utilizing a coil spring arrangement with a rotatable rotor and stator, where cables are wound in opposite directions within a winding gap, providing a robust and visually appealing electrical connection between movable contact points via ribbon cables or dummy cables.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cable sets are dragged along underneath the seat for electrical contacting, then electrical connection is achieved, but the cable sets become exposed and visually unacceptable for long travel paths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible cable drum housing that encloses the cable set, allowing the cables to be retracted inside the drum during movement. This flexible enclosure protects the cables from exposure while maintaining the necessary flexibility for long travel paths, resolving the contradiction between reliable electrical connection and visual acceptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable set is nested within the cable drum, which itself is integrated into the seat structure. This nesting arrangement allows the cables to be concealed within the drum during operation, eliminating visual exposure and safety concerns while preserving electrical connectivity through the drum's cable access points.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If sliding contact rails are used for electrical contacting, then contact problems from soiling or damage occur, but cable sets underneath the seat are avoided
Solution Approach 1:
The cable drum with its flexible housing protects the cable sets from environmental contaminants and mechanical damage throughout their entire travel path. This enclosed flexible structure eliminates the soiling and damage issues associated with exposed sliding contacts while maintaining reliable electrical connection through the protected cable routing.
3Adaptability or versatility
If cable sets are exposed for long travel paths greater than one meter, then movement freedom is achieved, but safety and aesthetic acceptance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The cable drum integrates multiple functions: it serves as the structural housing, the cable routing mechanism, and the retraction system. The nested arrangement of cables within the drum allows for extended movement ranges while keeping cables concealed, thus maintaining safety and aesthetic acceptance even for travel paths exceeding one meter.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable drum system dynamically adapts to the seat's movement, automatically retracting and extending cables as needed. This dynamic behavior allows the system to accommodate long travel paths and varied movement patterns while maintaining cable concealment, thereby preserving safety and aesthetic qualities throughout the entire range of motion.
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
Ensures reliable and aesthetically pleasing electrical connection over long travel paths by minimizing cable exposure and potential damage, while meeting mechanical and electrical requirements.
Implementation Method 1
The drum forms a rotor part of a coil spring arrangement. The rotor part is arranged to be rotatable about its longitudinal axis, coaxially with respect to a fixed cylindrical stator part of the coil spring arrangement.
Data Source
AI summary
A coil spring arrangement for providing an electrically conductive connection between movable first and second contact points is provided. The coil spring arrangement includes a stator, a rotor, first and second cables, and a cable connection point. A first end of the first cable is connectable to the first contact point, a first end of the second cable is connectable to the second contact point, and respective second ends of the first and second cables are connected at the cable connection point. The first cable is unwindable from a drum forming the rotor against a force of a return apparatus. The second cable is situated in a winding gap delimited by an outer surface of the stator and an inner surface of the rotor with the first end of the second cable being fastened to the stator and the second end of the second cable being fastened to the rotor.