Elastomer Cable Guide with Interdigitated Walls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cable protection and guide devices are complex, requiring numerous components and are difficult to manufacture and assemble, especially for long or wide designs, due to mold size limitations and temperature control issues in injection molding.
Innovation Solution
A tube type cable protection and guide device is created using an extrusion molded elongated elastomer resin sheet that can be folded to form a cable accommodating space, allowing for linear and flexible movement while maintaining dimensional stability and torsional rigidity, without the need for changing mold sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional protection and guide chain is used with multiple link plates and flaps, then the cable is protected, but the structure becomes complicated and requires numerous components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate components (link plates, flaps, bottom plates) into a single integrated elastomer resin sheet structure. The protective chain is formed by folding the sheet, which inherently provides both the link plate functionality and the flap connectivity, eliminating the need for separate connecting members and reducing overall structural complexity while maintaining cable protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a flexible elastomer resin sheet instead of rigid link plates and flaps. This thin film structure can be folded to form the protective chain, providing both protection and flexibility. The sheet's inherent flexibility replaces the need for multiple articulated rigid components, simplifying the structure while maintaining the ability to protect and guide cables through movement.
2Area of stationary object
If injection molding is used for wide or long protection devices, then the device can be manufactured, but the mold size becomes prohibitively large and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from creating a large 2D molded surface to forming a 3D protective structure through folding a smaller 2D sheet. The elastomer resin sheet is molded in a compact flat state and then folded to create the volumetric protective chain structure, effectively using the third dimension (folding) to achieve the required device size without requiring a proportionally large mold.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a segmented protective structure through folding the sheet at regular intervals, forming multiple protective loops or sections. This segmentation is achieved by folding the continuous sheet rather than molding separate large components, allowing the device to achieve its functional size while being manufactured from a smaller, more manageable sheet.
3Length of moving object
If injection molding is used for long protection devices, then the device can be manufactured, but temperature control during molding becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the molding process into manageable sections by working with a smaller elastomer resin sheet that can be uniformly temperature-controlled during molding. The final long protective device is then created by folding this uniformly molded sheet, avoiding the temperature control difficulties that would arise from attempting to mold a single large continuous piece.
4Stability of the object's composition
If a foldable protection element is made by injection molding as one piece, then the structure is integrated, but assembly becomes difficult and mold costs are prohibitive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by first creating a flat integrated sheet and then forming the 3D protective structure through folding, rather than directly molding the final 3D shape. This inversion allows the integrated structure to be achieved with a simple flat mold, making assembly easier while maintaining structural integrity.
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 solution enables easy assembly and manufacturing of long cable protection devices with dimensional stability and torsional rigidity, allowing for smooth linear and flexible movement, reducing the complexity and cost associated with conventional designs.
Implementation Method 1
An extrusion molded elongated elastomer resin sheet is folded on both sides along a longitudinal direction of the sheet
Implementation Method 2
The elastomer resin sheet includes outer circumferential wall forming portions which adjacently engage each other in a longitudinal direction of the sheet during linear movement and are separated from each other at predetermined pitches in the longitudinal direction of the sheet during flexional movement
Implementation Method 3
Inner circumferential wall forming portions are integrally molded with the pair of right and left side wall forming portions in a hung state and form a flush inner flat surface oppositely disposed on the outer circumferential wall forming portion by closing the inner circumferential wall forming portions while being interdigitatedly fitted to each other
Data Source
AI summary
A tube type cable protection and guide device in which the device can be easily manufactured by extrusion molding without changing the size of a mold so that devices of different lengths can be made. Smooth linear and flexional movements can be made while sufficiently ensuring dimensional stability and torsional rigidity of the device thus assuring stability of the cable accommodating space. A tube type cable protection and guide device includes integrally molded inner circumferential wall forming portions. The inner wall forming portions are interdigitatedly fitted in a male-female relationship in a longitudinal direction of the sheet forming a flush inner flat surface.