Hinged Cable Holder with Curved Channel for Abrasion Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current rubber grommets used to protect cables from damage at holes in metal or hard material structures do not provide a defined direction for the cable nor offer any clamping force to secure the cable in place, leading to potential abrasion and insulation breakdown due to repeated flexing.
Innovation Solution
A cable holder device comprising a first and second body portion with a hinge and flange portions, allowing the cable to be guided through an opening at a predetermined angle, with couplers to secure the device to the machine deck, ensuring the cable is positioned and protected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If rubber grommets are used to protect cables from sharp edges, then cable protection from abrasion is improved, but cable positioning and direction control are not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cable protection function of rubber grommets with cable positioning and direction control into a single integrated device. The housing contains both the grommet for protection and the channel structure for positioning, eliminating the need for separate components and achieving multiple functions simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs multiple functions: it protects the cable from sharp edges through the grommet, positions the cable at a predetermined angle through the channel structure, and secures the cable with clamping force. This multi-functional design resolves the contradiction by providing both protection and positioning control in one component.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If rubber grommets are used to protect cables, then protection from damage is provided, but no clamping force is offered to secure the cable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the protective grommet function with the clamping function into a single integrated structure. The housing contains both the protective grommet and the clamping mechanism, allowing the device to simultaneously protect the cable from damage and secure it with adequate clamping force.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed to perform multiple functions including cable protection through the grommet and cable securing through the clamping mechanism. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by providing both damage protection and securing force in one component.
3Ease of manufacture
If cables pass through holes in machine decks, then cable installation is simple, but cable insulation breaks due to repeated flexing at the exit point
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a curved channel structure instead of a sharp hole to guide the cable. The curved path reduces stress concentration and distributes the flexing forces along a longer path, preventing insulation breakdown while maintaining installation simplicity. The rounded geometry of the channel protects the cable from sharp edges that would cause abrasion.
4Adaptability or versatility
If cables are allowed to flex freely at the exit point, then cable movement flexibility is maintained, but repeated flexing causes insulation breakdown
Solution Approach 1:
The curved channel structure guides the cable through a controlled flexing path, maintaining necessary flexibility while distributing stress to prevent insulation failure. The curved geometry allows the cable to bend smoothly rather than sharply, reducing stress concentration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the cable path from a sharp hole to a curved channel with optimized radius and angle. This parameter change allows the cable to maintain flexibility while reducing the stress that causes insulation breakdown during repeated flexing.
Data Source
AI summary
Devices, systems, and methods for protecting a cable from damage and holding the cable in position with respect to an opening in a machine deck can include a first body portion with a first channel portion configured to receive a cable, a second body portion with a second channel portion configured to receive the cable, a hinge connecting the first and second body portions, and one or more flange portions connected to the first and/or second body portions and configured to support the body portions on a surface of a machine deck such that the cable is positioned at a predetermined angle. The first and second body portions can be pivotable with respect to one another about the hinge between a closed position in which the first and second channel portions can be substantially aligned and an open position in which the channel portions can be separated from each other.