Flat Cable Multi-Joint Support for Bend Radius and Sag Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flat transmission devices, such as cable and hose assemblies, experience reduced bend radius and sagging over time due to aging, leading to increased load on cables and shortened lifespan, and the use of supporting members to prevent this results in wear debris and increased thickness, potentially causing further issues.
Innovation Solution
A flat transmission device with a belt-like structure and an elongated multi-joint supporting member that restricts the bend radius and prevents sagging, using link members pivotally coupled to maintain the bend radius and inserted into tubular members to prevent wear debris dispersal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a supporting member is provided at the outer peripheral portion of the flat cable assembly, then the bend radius is maintained and sagging is restrained, but the thickness increases and wear debris is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting member is inserted into the hollow interior of the flat cable assembly, nesting the support structure within the existing geometry rather than adding it externally. This maintains the outer dimensions while providing internal support to prevent bending and sagging.
Solution Approach 2:
The supporting function is extracted from the outer peripheral portion and relocated to the interior space of the flat cable assembly. This removes the harmful external thickness while preserving the beneficial support function through internal placement.
2Reliability
If a supporting member is provided at the outer peripheral portion of the flat cable assembly, then the bend radius is maintained and sagging is restrained, but wear debris is generated through sliding contact
Solution Approach 1:
By nesting the supporting member inside the hollow interior, the support surface is positioned away from external sliding contact with facilities. The wear interface is eliminated while the bend radius control function is maintained through internal geometric constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The wear-generating sliding contact is extracted from the system by moving the supporting member from the outer peripheral portion to the interior. This removes the harmful wear debris generation while preserving the beneficial bend radius maintenance function.
3Ease of operation
If the flat cable assembly extends in the air between the flexed portion and movable body, then mobility is enabled, but sagging occurs due to own weight
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting member is nested within the hollow interior of the flat cable assembly, providing internal structural reinforcement that resists gravitational sagging without interfering with external mobility operations. The internal support maintains shape while allowing free movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The supporting member acts as an internal counterstructure that compensates for the cable assembly's own weight. By providing rigid internal geometry, it creates an anti-sagging effect that balances the downward gravitational force on the extended portion.
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 maintains the bend radius of the flexed portion for an extended period, limits the thickness of the belt-like portion, and prevents excessive sagging, thereby extending the life of the transmission device and reducing wear debris and noise.
Implementation Method 1
the link members in each adjacent pair are pivotally coupled to each other
Implementation Method 2
The multi-joint supporting member is inserted into at least one of the tubular members
Data Source
AI summary
A flat cable assembly has a belt-like portion. In the belt-like portion, cables capable of transmitting power and/or signals and a pair of tubular portions positioned at the opposite ends in the width direction are arranged in parallel with one another. Each tubular portion has a longitudinal multi joint supporting member inserted therein in a state where link members are arranged in series, and adjacent link members are pivotally connected to one another. The multi-joint supporting members are configured to limit pivoting motion in a first direction that intersects the longitudinal direction in a range to a previously defined bend radius, and to restrict flexing in a second direction that is opposite from the first direction.