Helical Cable Module for Industrial Truck Rotative Joints

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cables in filler arm trucks experience wear due to combined bending and torsion stress, as well as longitudinal loads and friction, which existing solutions have not adequately addressed.

Innovation Solution

A cable package unit with a helical structural arrangement is used, where twisting motion is converted into bending within the cable, distributed over a longer length, minimizing wear and utilizing cable retainers to secure the cable, thereby reducing mechanical stress.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a straight cable is used to connect the first truck part and the second truck part, then the cable structure is simple, but the cable experiences combined bending and torsion stress during rotative movement, leading to increased cable wear and reduced cable life

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable lifeVSAvoidcable structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cable is arranged in a helical (curved) configuration within the cable package unit instead of a straight line. This curved arrangement allows the cable to accommodate rotative movement between the first and second truck parts by converting torsional stress into bending stress, which the cable can better withstand, thereby reducing cable wear and extending cable life while maintaining structural simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Reliability

If the cable is arranged to accommodate rotative movement, then cable wear is reduced, but the cable deformation is concentrated over a shorter length, increasing localized stress

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable wear resistanceVSAvoidlocalized cable stress
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The cable is arranged in a helical configuration that extends along the longitudinal axis of the cable package unit, distributing the deformation caused by rotative movement over a longer cable length. This dimensional arrangement transforms concentrated localized stress into distributed stress along the cable's length, reducing peak stress values while maintaining wear resistance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

This design minimizes cable wear and increases cable life by distributing deformation over a longer cable length, reducing torsion stress and enhancing durability.

Implementation Method 1

The structural arrangement of the cable within the cable package unit is helical, which implies that rotative movement of one of the truck parts with respect to the other is transferred into a bending movement of the cable within the cable package unit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHelical structural arrangement: Helix

Data Source

PatentEP2008906B1An industrial truck and a cable module for an industial truck
Publication Date: 2013.03.13 BT PROD
  • EP2008906B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2008906B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2008906B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to an industrial truck and to a cable module for an industrial truck. Said truck comprises a first truck part and a second truck part, which are arranged to be rotatively movable with respect to each other around an axis. A cable for transmitting control signals and/or power is connected between the first truck part and the second truck part. The cable comprises a cable package unit, in which the cable is structurally arranged such that a twisting of the cable package unit, upon rotative movement of the first truck part with respect to the second truck part, causes a bending of the cable within the cable package unit. The cable module comprises a cable package unit and at least one cable retainer for affixing a cable of the cable package unit to a truck part.