Hinged Strain Relief Element for Cable and Corrugated Tube Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing strain relief elements for cables fail to effectively secure corrugated tubes and ensure easy handling during assembly, often leading to misalignment and exposure of cable sheathing, and struggle to apply sufficient clamping force without damaging the corrugated tube or conductors.
Innovation Solution
A strain relief element featuring a partially closing ring with hinged half-ring elements and a connection web, allowing for easy attachment to both the cable sheathing and corrugated tube, with adjustable clamping and fixing forces to secure the cable and corrugated tube, and a separate clamping element for enhanced protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the strain relief element is integrated into the plug housing as an integral part, then the strain relief element can be fixed in the plug, but the handling is quite complicated as the strain relief element must be fixed or attached at the cable when the housing of the plug is assembled
Solution Approach 1:
The strain relief element is divided into separate components: a clamping collar means with first and second half-ring clamping elements, and a fixing collar means with first and second half-ring fixing elements. These segments can be assembled independently and then connected, simplifying the overall assembly process while maintaining reliable fixation.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping collar means and fixing collar means are designed to be pre-assembled on the cable before final integration into the plug housing. This preliminary assembly allows the strain relief element to be prepared in advance, making the final plug assembly process simpler and more efficient.
2Force
If a clamping element is used to reinforce the clamping force, then the clamping force is sufficient to secure the cable, but the handling becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping element is integrated with the clamping collar means to form a unified structure. The first and second half-ring clamping elements are hinged together and can be closed around the cable, with the clamping element providing reinforcement without requiring separate assembly steps. This merging reduces overall structural complexity while maintaining sufficient clamping force.
3Reliability
If the ring is completely closed, then the cable is securely held, but the cable cannot be inserted or removed
Solution Approach 1:
The ring is designed with hinged half-ring elements that can open and close dynamically. During assembly, the hinges allow the ring to open for cable insertion, and once closed, the clamping element secures the ring in a closed position to provide reliable holding. This dynamic design combines ease of assembly with secure retention.
4Device complexity
If the corrugated tube is not protected, then the assembly is simpler, but the cable sheathing is exposed to possible damage
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing collar means serves multiple functions: it secures the corrugated tube to the plug housing and simultaneously protects the cable sheathing from damage. By integrating these functions into a single component, the structure remains relatively simple while providing comprehensive protection against harmful factors.
Data Source
AI summary
A strain relief element for a cable. The strain relief element has a clamping collar in form of an at least partially closing ring for clamping the cable sheathing arranged in a clamping opening of the ring. The clamping collar having first and second half-ring clamping elements with a partial clamping opening each and hinged together through a first hinge. The clamping opening being defined by the two half-ring clamping elements folded towards each other and fixed with a clamping force executed by a clamping element. The strain relief element has a fixing collar means in form of an at least partially closing ring for fixing a corrugated tube surrounding the cable arranged in a fixing opening of the ring, the fixing collar having first and second half-ring fixing elements with a partial fixing opening each and hinged together through a second hinge.