Curved Profile Cable Track Resists Buckling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional cable track designs for scanning heads in paper machines are costly and prone to vibrations due to the use of snap links, and they do not allow cables to be effectively pushed or pulled over long distances without buckling.
Innovation Solution
A cable track with a curved profile is designed to be coupled to a movable object, allowing it to be both pushed and pulled without buckling, eliminating the need for snap links and reducing vibrations by incorporating a strength member that provides stiffness and flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional snap links are used to provide stiffness for cable track, then the cable track can be pushed and pulled without buckling, but the cost and assembly time increase and vibrations occur due to natural frequency overlap
Solution Approach 1:
The cable track is given a curved profile instead of a straight configuration. This curvature provides inherent stiffness and structural integrity, allowing the cable track to resist buckling during bidirectional movement without requiring additional snap links or support structures. The curved geometry transforms the cable track into a self-supporting structure that maintains its shape while accommodating scanning head movement.
2Ease of operation
If snap links are used to enclose cables, then the cables can be pushed and pulled over long distances, but the natural frequency of snap links overlaps with scanning head frequencies causing vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The curved profile of the cable track creates a structurally rigid form that resists vibrational forces. The curvature distributes mechanical stresses and forces along the length of the cable track, preventing the resonance and vibrations that occur with traditional snap link assemblies. This geometric solution eliminates the harmful vibrations while maintaining the ability to transmit forces for bidirectional cable movement.
3Stability of the object's composition
If multiple cables are bundled together, then tangling is avoided, but the bundle still cannot be pushed or pulled over long distances without buckling
Solution Approach 1:
The cable track integrates multiple cables into a single unified structural assembly. Rather than treating cables as separate entities that are merely bundled together, the curved cable track merges them into a composite structure where the track itself provides the structural strength and stiffness. This unified structure can be pushed and pulled as a single unit over long distances without buckling, while the cables remain organized and tangle-free within the track.
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 curved profile cable track effectively resists buckling and vibrations, reducing assembly costs and improving the operational efficiency of scanning heads by allowing bidirectional movement without the need for snap links.
Implementation Method 1
The cable track has a curved profile and is configured to be pushed and pulled by the movable object without buckling
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
An apparatus includes a cable track (208) configured to be coupled to a moveable object (402) and to be pushed and pulled by the movable object without buckling. The cable track is also configured to transport at least one signal or material to or from the moveable object. The cable track has a curved profile. A cross-section of the cable track showing a height, a width, and a thickness of the cable track can have a "(" shape. The cable track can be configured to be bent in order to create a "U" bend (408) in the cable track, and the cable track can be configured to be pushed and pulled without buckling to change a location of the "U" bend along the cable track. The cable track can be configured to change shape repeatedly between a "J" shape and a "U" shape.