Cable Connector Carriages for Automated Tension-Controlled Cabling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cabling systems face challenges in automating the connection and management of cable connectors due to the complexity of cable configurations, limited space, and potential for damage to components, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A system with first and second carriage assemblies that support cable connectors, monitored and adjusted by a controller to maintain tension within a specified range, using electromechanical mechanisms and a robotic tool for automated cabling operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automated cabling systems are implemented to improve efficiency, then productivity increases, but device complexity and risk of cable damage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides cable management into separate functional modules: carriage assemblies for connector support, electromechanical mechanisms for tension control, and monitoring systems for position tracking. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high automation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces carriage assemblies as intermediary devices between the automated cabling system and cable connectors. These carriages act as mediators that simplify the interaction by providing dedicated support and control mechanisms, thereby reducing the complexity of direct system-cable interaction while enabling efficient automated operation.
2Reliability
If cable tension is tightly controlled to prevent damage, then reliability improves, but device complexity increases due to monitoring and adjustment mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs monitoring mechanisms that continuously track cable connector positions and tension levels. This feedback is fed back to the control system, which automatically adjusts electromechanical mechanisms to maintain tension within specified ranges. The closed-loop feedback control ensures cable integrity while managing complexity through automated regulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The electromechanical mechanisms are designed to automatically adjust cable tension based on monitored conditions without requiring external intervention. The system self-regulates by detecting tension deviations and autonomously making corrections, thereby maintaining reliability while minimizing the need for complex external control systems.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple carriage assemblies are used to support cable connectors, then manufacturing precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple independent carriage assemblies, each responsible for supporting and positioning a specific cable connector. This segmentation allows each carriage to be optimized for its specific positioning task, achieving high manufacturing precision through specialized simple units rather than one complex integrated system.
Solution Approach 2:
The carriage assemblies are designed with universal functionality to handle different cable connector types while maintaining consistent positioning precision. Each carriage can perform multiple operations (support, position, tension control) on its assigned connector, reducing the need for specialized complex mechanisms for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
A system is provided which includes a first carriage assembly to support a first cable connector of a cable, and a second carriage assembly to support a second cable connector of the cable. The first carriage assembly and the second carriage assembly move along a guide. Further, the system includes a controller to monitor and adjust position of at least the second carriage assembly to maintain a tension on the cable within a specified range during an automated cabling operation of the system.