Flexible Conductive Cable Protector for Aircraft Raceway Gaps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft electrical cable raceways have gaps between sections that leave wiring unprotected from mechanical damage and electromagnetic hazards, despite their rigid design intended to guide and shield cables.
Innovation Solution
A flexible, electrically conductive cable protector made of woven metallic mesh that connects to the raceway, providing a conduit for cables and ensuring electrical conductivity to bridge gaps between raceway sections, offering protection against mechanical and electromagnetic hazards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If rigid raceway sections are used to guide and protect cables, then mechanical protection and structural stability are improved, but gaps between sections leave wiring unprotected from electromagnetic hazards
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible conductive connector is introduced as an intermediary component between rigid raceway sections. This connector serves dual purposes: it physically bridges the gap to maintain mechanical protection continuity, and it provides electromagnetic shielding to protect cables from hazards in the gap region, thus resolving the contradiction between structural rigidity and gap protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a flexible conductive connector that can deform to accommodate misalignments and gaps between rigid raceway sections. This flexible component maintains both mechanical continuity and electromagnetic shielding effectiveness, allowing the system to achieve protection in the gap region without compromising the rigid structural framework.
2Adaptability or versatility
If spaces are included between raceway sections to accommodate movement and breakout locations, then adaptability and flexibility are improved, but the wiring becomes unprotected in those gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible conductive connector acts as a mediator that spans the necessary gap between raceway sections, allowing relative movement and positioning adjustments while maintaining continuous cable protection. This enables the system to accommodate movement requirements without creating unprotected zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible connector's ability to change its physical parameters (shape, length, position) allows it to adapt to various gap sizes and configurations while maintaining reliable cable protection throughout the range of motion, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and protection reliability.
3Reliability
If multiple separate cable protectors are used for each cable channel, then individual cable protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple cable protection functions into a single integrated flexible conductive connector that spans across multiple cable channels simultaneously. This unified connector provides individual protection for each cable channel while reducing the total number of separate components, thus resolving the contradiction between individual protection and 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 cable protector effectively safeguards cables in gaps between raceway sections by maintaining electrical conductivity and preventing arcing between adjacent cables, thus enhancing the overall protection and reliability of the cable system.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible, electrically conductive body defining a conduit through which an electrical cable can pass
Implementation Method 2
shielding the cables from electro-magnetic hazards (EMH)
Data Source
AI summary
A cable protector for connection to an aircraft electrical cable raceway, comprising a flexible conductive body defining a conduit through which an electrical cable can pass and an electrically conductive connection arrangement configured to enable connection of the body of the protector to a raceway in an electrically conductive manner.