Elastomeric Supporting Collar for Multidirectional Cable Movement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional supporting collars for cables or pipes in aeroplane engines restrict movement, causing stress and potential damage due to their inability to accommodate multidirectional movement, which hampers the freedom of movement of heavy modules and leads to damage of the harness and surrounding components.
Innovation Solution
A supporting collar design featuring a strap, an outer sleeve, an inner sleeve, and a deformable web formed by two annular membranes that allow the inner sleeve to move relative to the outer sleeve, providing multidirectional guidance while minimizing internal stresses through intrinsic and shape elasticity, and can be made from elastomeric materials like fluorosilicone for enhanced durability and cost-effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fastening strap is used to fix the harness to the casing, then the harness is securely held in place, but the harness is prevented from moving which causes significant stresses in the fastening strap and can damage the harness
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting collar incorporates a deformable web connecting the inner and outer sleeves, allowing the structure to dynamically adapt to movements of the harness and boxes. The web can deform in response to forces applied in any direction, converting the static fastening system into a dynamic one that absorbs movement rather than resisting it rigidly.
Solution Approach 2:
The supporting collar changes its structural parameters through the deformable web that can alter its shape and configuration in response to applied forces. This allows the collar to maintain secure holding while accommodating dimensional changes during operation, preventing stress concentration that would occur with fixed-parameter fastening.
2Reliability
If a supporting collar prevents all movement of the harness, then the harness is securely positioned, but the freedom of movement of the boxes is hampered and significant stresses are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting collar transitions from a static to a dynamic structure through the deformable web, enabling it to maintain harness positioning while accommodating box movements. The web's ability to deform allows the system to simultaneously achieve secure positioning and movement freedom.
Solution Approach 2:
The supporting collar is divided into distinct functional components: the outer sleeve for structural support, the inner sleeve for harness guidance, and the deformable web for movement accommodation. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while working together to resolve the contradiction between positioning and movement freedom.
3Reliability
If a rigid supporting structure is used to hold the harness, then the harness is securely supported, but the structure cannot accommodate multidirectional movement and causes damage
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting collar employs a deformable web that changes its structural parameters in response to multidirectional forces. This allows the support structure to maintain reliability while adapting to movement in any direction, unlike rigid structures that fail under such conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The deformable web acts as a flexible connecting element between the inner and outer sleeves, replacing rigid structural connections with a flexible membrane that can accommodate multidirectional movement while maintaining structural integrity and support.
4Reliability
If multiple separate components are used for the supporting collar, then each component can be optimized for its function, but the device complexity increases and production cost rises
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting collar merges the outer sleeve, inner sleeve, and deformable web into a single integrated component made of elastomeric material. This combining maintains the functional advantages of separate components while reducing assembly complexity and production costs through single-piece manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The supporting collar utilizes elastomeric materials that combine the properties of flexibility, strength, and deformability in a single material system. This allows the integrated component to perform multiple functions that would otherwise require different materials and separate parts.
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 collar enables limited movement in any direction, reducing stress on the harness and the fastening strap, increasing the lifespan of the collar by utilizing the intrinsic elasticity of the web, and simplifying production by integrating components into a single part.
Implementation Method 1
a deformable web connecting the inner and outer sleeves and allowing the inner sleeve to move relative to the outer sleeve... the web is made of an elastic material. The web thus has a so-called intrinsic elasticity
Implementation Method 2
the membranes forming the web are curved and, when the inner sleeve moves, one membrane stretches (i.e. its radius of curvature increases) while the other membrane bends (i.e. its radius of curvature decreases)... the web is designed to have deformations (curve(s) or fold(s)) giving it an elasticity of shape
Data Source
AI summary
Supporting collar (10) for an element (8) such as a cable or a pipe, comprising a strap (18) capable of being fixed to a support (12), an outer sleeve (16) encircled by this strap (18), an inner sleeve (14) through which said element (8) can pass, and a deformable web (15) connecting said sleeves (14, 16) and allowing the inner sleeve (14) to move relative to the outer sleeve (16). The outer sleeve (16), the web (15) and the inner sleeve (14) are formed as a single central part made of an elastomeric material, e.g. fluorosilicone. The element (8) is secured to the inner sleeve (14) with the aid of a fastening collar (20) that is fastened around the inner sleeve (14).