Flexible Protective Guide for Cables Absorbing Distortion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing protective guides for cables and ducts face challenges such as complex assembly, dust production, bending noise, and vibration due to polygonal action, especially when dealing with long movement strokes and varying lengths, and struggle to maintain cable guidance in both linear and bent postures.
Innovation Solution
A flexible protective guide made of synthetic resin with a curved strip-shaped base and sectioning members that absorb distortion through widening and narrowing gaps, eliminating the need for link plate assembly and allowing for easy customization of length, while maintaining cable guidance without backlash.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If an assembled protective guide chain using link plates is used to achieve long movement stroke, then the required movement stroke can be achieved, but lots of assembling work is involved and dust is produced due to friction between link plates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple link plates into a single continuous flexible guide structure made of elastomeric material. This eliminates the need to assemble individual link plates, flaps, and bottom plates, thereby dramatically reducing assembling work while maintaining the ability to achieve long movement strokes through the flexible material's inherent properties
2Length of moving object
If an assembled protective guide chain using link plates is used, then the required movement stroke can be achieved, but dust is produced due to friction between link plates and noise is caused when bent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid link plates with a flexible guide structure made of elastomeric material. This flexible shell design eliminates friction between discrete components, thereby preventing dust generation and reducing noise when bent, while still accommodating long movement strokes through the material's flexibility
3Length of moving object
If an assembled protective guide chain using link plates is used, then the required movement stroke can be achieved, but vibration is caused due to mutual polygonal action of link plates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple discrete link plates into a single continuous flexible guide structure. This merging eliminates the mutual polygonal action between separate components that causes vibration, while maintaining the ability to achieve long movement strokes through the flexible material's properties
4Ease of manufacture
If injection-molding synthetic resin into one-piece flat segments is used to eliminate assembling work, then assembling work is dramatically facilitated, but the protective member is very often difficult to be manufactured with the length suitable for long movement stroke
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from rigid injection-molded segments to flexible elastomeric material. This allows the guide structure to be manufactured as a single piece with sufficient length for long movement strokes, while maintaining ease of manufacture through simple molding processes and eliminating the need for assembly
5Ease of manufacture
If a foldable cable protective member with segments connected via bendable bridges is used to eliminate assembling work, then assembling work is dramatically facilitated, but the protective member is very often difficult to be manufactured with the length suitable for long movement stroke
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a continuous flexible elastomeric guide structure that eliminates the need for discrete segments and bendable bridges. This single-piece flexible design can be manufactured in sufficient lengths for long movement strokes while maintaining ease of installation and use
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 assembly efficiency, reduces noise and vibration, and ensures smooth cable guidance across varying lengths and postures, preventing cable departure and maintaining protection without the need for complex assembly or multiple die sets.
Implementation Method 1
The curved strip-shaped base has a cross section inwardly curved toward the space, as viewed in the longitudinal direction. Each of the plurality of sectioning members has a ceiling opposed to the curved strip-shaped base, the ceiling being divided into two portions in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
Data Source
AI summary
A protective guide internally holds long members including at least one of flexible cables and ducts. The protective guide includes a flexible curved strip-shaped base and plural flexible sectioning members. The base is made of a synthetic resin, formed into a long plate and has a longitudinal direction. The sectioning members are also made of a synthetic resin, permitted to uprise from both ends of the base and spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction, the both ends being opposed to each other in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The sectioning members cooperatively define a space for accommodating the long members along the base. The base has a cross section inwardly curved toward the space, as viewed in the longitudinal direction. Each sectioning member has a ceiling opposed to the base, the ceiling being divided into two portions in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.