Glass-Fiber PBT Cable Hook for Fire- and UV-Resistant Load Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional hooks for cable and hose management in industrial settings fail to provide adequate safety and durability, especially in extreme environments and conditions such as fire, cold, heat, or prolonged light exposure, leading to risks of accidents and hazards like tripping, falling, and potential fires due to inadequate load-bearing capacity and material degradation.

Innovation Solution

Injection molded glass-fiber reinforced polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) hooks with 18% to 22% glass-fiber content, incorporating flame retardants and UV stabilizers, designed to withstand high loads and maintain structural integrity under various environmental stresses, featuring a unique S-shaped body with spherical ends for secure attachment and enhanced UV resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional hooks are used for cable management, then basic hanging function is provided, but safety and durability under extreme environmental conditions deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidmaterial degradation under extreme conditions
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The hook is made from a composite material consisting of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) resin combined with glass fibers (15-30 wt%), flame retardants (2-5 wt%), and UV stabilizers (0.5-2 wt%). This composite structure provides enhanced mechanical strength, fire resistance, and UV stability, allowing the hook to maintain its load-bearing capacity and structural integrity under extreme environmental conditions such as fire, cold, heat, and prolonged light exposure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If glass-fiber reinforced PBT composition is used to improve load-bearing capacity, then strength increases, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload-bearing capacityVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the composition parameters within specific ranges: glass fiber content (15-30 wt%), flame retardant (2-5 wt%), and UV stabilizer (0.5-2 wt%). By controlling these parameters, the invention achieves high load-bearing capacity (0.3 to 0.8 kg per gram of composition) while maintaining manufacturability through injection molding processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces complex mechanical assembly processes with a single-step injection molding process. The multi-component composite material (PBT, glass fibers, flame retardants, UV stabilizers) is mixed and injected directly into the mold to form the complete hook structure, eliminating the need for separate assembly steps and reducing manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Duration of action of stationary object

If hooks are made from flame-retardant and UV-stabilized composite material, then durability in extreme environments improves, but material cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidmaterial cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adds specific functional components (flame retardants and UV stabilizers) in optimized quantities to the base PBT material. The flame retardant content (2-5 wt%) and UV stabilizer content (0.5-2 wt%) are carefully controlled to provide necessary protection against fire and UV degradation while minimizing excess material usage and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3953628B1Improved hook for suspending cables or hose pipes
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 L F A WESTERBEEK VAN EERTEN PENSIOEN BV
  • EP3953628B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3953628B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The present invention relates to an improved hook for cable management during, for example, maintenance, turnarounds, construction works and industrial works. The present invention especially relates to an improved hook of an injection molded glass-fiber reinforced thermoplastic resin for suspending cables or hose pipes. The present improved hooks are capable of safely bearing high loads in the range of 30 to 400 kg. The present invention also relates to methods for providing the present improved hooks. Specifically, the present inventions relates to hooks for suspending cables and hoses, the hooks are comprised of 45 to 800 grams of an injection molded composition comprised of a polybutylene terephthalate resin, 18% to 22% per total weight of the composition glass-fiber, one or more flame retardants and one or more UV stabilizers; and the hooks have a maximum load bearing of 0.3 to 0.8 kg per gram composition.