Flexible Pressure Lever for Compact Cable Identification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing marking devices for electrical lines have a high overall height due to clamps, making them unsuitable for installations with limited space, and they often fail to accommodate lines of different diameters effectively.

Innovation Solution

The marking device features a flexible pressure lever with a pressure piece and obtuse-angled receptacle prisms, allowing for a reduced overall height and adaptability to various line diameters, with a film hinge for latching and a recess for elastic deformation, ensuring secure locking without high forces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If clamps are used to form the cable holder, then the marking device can securely hold electrical lines, but the overall height becomes relatively large, requiring more installation space

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure holding of electrical linesVSAvoidoverall height
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure lever is designed as a flexible, elastically deformable component that can dynamically adapt to different line diameters and installation conditions. This flexibility allows the marking device to achieve secure holding without requiring a large overall height, as the pressure lever can deform to accommodate various configurations rather than requiring a fixed, height-consuming clamp structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The pressure lever is made from a flexible material that can elastically deform during the clamping process. This flexible design replaces the rigid clamp structure, enabling the marking device to achieve reliable line holding while maintaining a compact overall height that fits in cramped installation spaces

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Adaptability or versatility

If the pressure lever is made flexible to accommodate different line diameters, then adaptability improves, but the pressure force may be insufficient for secure clamping

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccommodation of different line diametersVSAvoidpressure force
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure lever is designed with a curved or bent geometry that provides mechanical advantage. When the pressure lever is pressed against the electrical line, its curved shape allows it to exert sufficient pressure force while remaining flexible enough to adapt to different line diameters. The curvature enables the lever to store and release elastic energy, maintaining consistent clamping force across various installation conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 design achieves a lower overall height and secure attachment to electrical lines of different diameters, reducing installation space requirements and ensuring stable fixation without requiring excessive force.

Implementation Method 1

the pressure lever is fixed by means of a hinge in the form of a film hinge on a transverse edge of the support plate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHinge: Hinge

Implementation Method 2

the pressure lever is provided with a recess in areas adjoining the pressure piece, at least on one long side, so that the width compared to the end areas is reduced. So that the pressure lever is sufficiently deformable for the elastic deformation with regard to the different diameters of the electrical lines

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2183736B1Identification device for electrical lines
Publication Date: 2015.11.11 WEIDMULLER INTERFACE GMBH & CO
  • EP2183736B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2183736B1 patent drawingFigure 3~6
  • EP2183736B1 patent drawingFigure 7~9

AI summary

The invention relates to an identification device (1) for electrical lines (11), comprising a support plate (2) which is provided with at least one line receiving element (5) and a pressure lever (3) that is pivotably coupled to one side of the support plate (2). Said pressure lever (3) can be locked with the support plate (2) on the side opposite the pivoting axis, wherein the line receiving element (5) is disposed on the inner side of the support plate (2) relative to the locked state of the pressure lever (3) and is facing said pressure lever (3). According to the invention, at least the pressure lever (3) has a flexible and elastic configuration.