Extendible Composite Mast With Embedded Conductors for Strain-Free Coiling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing extendible masts face challenges in efficiently transmitting signals and power to equipment while maintaining durability, ease of deployment, and practicality, especially when dealing with complex electronic equipment.
Innovation Solution
Position transmission elements near the neutral axis of the mast, incorporate cut-out portions in fibre layers to accommodate them, and use resiliently biased members to minimize strain, allowing flexible coiling and deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrical cables are attached to the side of the mast, then electrical services can be provided to equipment, but the cables interfere with the mast's ability to coil compactly and increase deployment complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical cables are merged with the mast structure by being embedded within the composite laminate during manufacturing. This integration eliminates the need for separate cable management systems and allows the cables to coil compactly with the mast without external interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The cables are nested within the mast structure itself, positioned at or near the neutral axis and embedded in the composite material. This nesting approach allows the cables to be protected while maintaining compact coiling capability and reducing deployment complexity.
2Ease of operation
If cables are positioned away from the neutral axis, then electrical connections are easier to access, but the cables experience higher strain during coiling and extending reducing product lifespan
Solution Approach 1:
The position parameter of the cables is optimized to be at or near the neutral axis of the mast. This parameter change minimizes the strain experienced by the cables during coiling and extending operations, thereby extending product lifespan while maintaining adequate electrical connection capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The mast structure is designed with local variations in fiber layer configuration to accommodate the cables at specific positions. The fiber layers are arranged to provide both mechanical strength and cable protection at the neutral axis position, creating locally optimized zones for cable placement.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple transmission elements are integrated into the mast, then complex electronic equipment can be supported, but the manufacturing process becomes more complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission elements are pre-positioned and embedded within the composite laminate during the mast manufacturing process. This preliminary action allows multiple cables to be integrated simultaneously in a single manufacturing step, avoiding the need for separate post-production cable installation steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The mast is constructed as a composite laminate structure that can incorporate multiple different transmission elements (electrical cables, fiber optics, hoses) within the same composite material system. This composite approach allows diverse functionality to be integrated while maintaining a unified manufacturing process.
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
Ensures robust and efficient transmission of signals/power to equipment, extending the product lifespan by reducing strain and damage, and facilitating quick, simple deployment.
Implementation Method 1
an extendible mast with integrated transmission element(s) such as electrical conductor(s)... a resiliently biased member which coils about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tube when in the extended form
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
An extendible mast (1) for deploying equipment comprises a composite member formed from plural fibre reinforced layers (75) laminated together in a matrix material in the form of a shell that is constructed and arranged so as to be configurable between a coiled form and an extended form. When extended the member is resiliently biased in the form of an elongate tube having a slit along its length formed by longitudinal edges of the member. One or more electrical conductors (50) extend along at least part of the longitudinal extent of the member for making connection to the equipment. The conductors are integrated between two or more layers within the laminate.