Portable Drill Puller Capstan for Ergonomic Cable Pulling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable pulling methods are strenuous and time-consuming, often requiring large machines or manual labor, especially for heavy-duty pulls, and lack portable solutions that can efficiently manage the force required for cable installation.
Innovation Solution
A portable drill puller with a frame, capstan, and boom assembly that allows for spooling and unwinding of a pull string using a conventional hand drill, providing a stable operation and reducing manual effort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a large cable puller machine is used for heavy-duty pulls, then the pulling force capability is improved, but the portability and setup complexity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the cable pulling function into two separate components: a portable drill puller for light-duty pulls and a large cable puller for heavy-duty pulls. The drill puller can be easily moved and set up, while the large cable puller remains stationary. This segmentation allows each device to be optimized for its specific function without compromising portability or pulling capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The drill puller is designed with a universal mounting bracket that can attach to various surfaces (walls, ceilings, conduits) and a reversible capstan that can pull cables in both directions. This multi-functionality allows a single portable device to handle diverse cable pulling scenarios, reducing the need for multiple specialized machines.
2Device complexity
If manual cable pulling is used, then the equipment cost and complexity are reduced, but the time consumption and physical strain increase
Solution Approach 1:
The drill puller acts as an intermediary device between manual operation and heavy-duty machine pulling. It uses a handheld drill (a common tool already present in many work environments) to rotate the capstan, providing mechanical assistance for cable pulling without requiring a large powered machine. This intermediary approach maintains simplicity while significantly reducing the physical effort and time required compared to pure manual pulling.
3Ease of operation
If a handheld drill is used to rotate the capstan, then the portability and ease of operation are improved, but the pulling force capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts to different pulling requirements by allowing the operator to switch between handheld drill operation for portability and large cable puller operation for maximum force. The reversible capstan design also allows dynamic adjustment of pulling direction. This dynamic flexibility enables the system to maintain portability while preserving the option to access higher pulling forces when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The drill puller is pre-positioned and mounted in strategic locations along the conduit path before cable installation begins. This preliminary positioning allows the capstan to engage the pull string early in the pulling process, providing mechanical advantage from the start and reducing the overall force required compared to starting the pull from a single endpoint.
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
Enables efficient and ergonomic cable pulling by allowing operators to use a hand drill to manage heavy-duty pulls, reducing physical strain and increasing operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the capstan having an upstanding end flange at the first end and a body extending from the end flange, the body having an angled wall portion
Implementation Method 2
A portable drill puller with a frame, capstan, and boom assembly that allows for spooling and unwinding of a pull string using a conventional hand drill
Implementation Method 3
a roller attached to the bracket and rotatable relative thereto, the roller having an axis of rotation which is parallel to the axis of rotation of the head
Data Source
AI summary
A puller in accordance with some example embodiments includes a frame and a capstan rotatably mounted on the frame. The capstan has a body having an angled wall portion and a movable end wall. A boom is mounted to the frame and has a head at an end thereof which can be positioned in a variety of positions.