Flat Energy Cable Segmentation for Buckling Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flat energy cables lack stability and resistance to wear, particularly under push and pull forces, which can cause buckling and increased friction, leading to damage in moving devices.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a push-pull strength member with magnets and a connecting system to provide stiffness and tensile strength, along with reinforcement elements and clips to manage mechanical forces and reduce friction, while maintaining flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the flat cable is divided into upper and lower length portions with a bent section to enable movement over large areas, then the cable's flexibility and ease of manufacture are improved, but the cable's stability and resistance to wear deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The cable is divided into multiple sections with reinforcement elements distributed at specific intervals along its length. This segmentation allows the cable to maintain flexibility in non-reinforced areas while gaining enhanced stability and wear resistance at critical sections where reinforcement elements are positioned, particularly at the bent section and contact areas.
Solution Approach 2:
Reinforcement elements are applied locally at specific positions along the cable rather than uniformly throughout. The reinforcement is concentrated at critical areas such as the bent section and regions subject to friction and mechanical stress, providing enhanced stability and wear resistance exactly where needed while preserving the cable's overall flexibility.
2Ease of operation
If the cable is made more flexible to accommodate movement, then the ease of operation is improved, but the resistance to push and pull forces and buckling deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cable structure is segmented with reinforcement elements positioned at specific intervals, creating a combination of flexible segments and reinforced sections. This allows the cable to bend and move easily in non-reinforced areas while the reinforced segments provide the necessary strength to resist push and pull forces and prevent buckling.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable combines different materials with complementary properties: the base cable material provides flexibility and ease of movement, while the reinforcement elements (such as steel wires, rods, or profiles) provide tensile strength and resistance to buckling. This composite structure allows the cable to simultaneously achieve both flexibility and mechanical strength.
3Reliability
If reinforcement elements are added to improve stability and resistance to wear, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the entire cable structure complex and reinforced, the solution segments the reinforcement application by positioning discrete reinforcement elements at specific critical locations along the cable. This segmented approach enhances reliability where needed while keeping the overall structure simple and easy to manufacture in non-critical areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcement strategy applies local quality by concentrating reinforcement elements only at specific positions where stability and wear resistance are critical, such as the bent section and areas subject to friction. This localized reinforcement improves reliability without requiring complex reinforcement throughout the entire cable, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
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 enhances the cable's stability and resistance to wear, minimizes friction, and prevents buckling by maintaining a constant bending radius and reducing mechanical stress, thus extending the cable's lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of magnets connected to the connecting system, said magnets having parallel commonly oriented magnetic axes, directed at right angle to the surface of the sheath
Data Source
AI summary
A flat energy cable includes at least one push-pull strength member; a connecting system connected to the outer surface of a cable sheath; and a plurality of magnets connected to the connecting system.