Insulating Bushing With Flexible Annuli for Rodent-Proof Wire Ports
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rodents frequently invade roadway electrical poles and electrical device bodies, causing damage to electrical wiring through chewing, which can lead to catastrophic failures in signaling, lighting, and surveillance systems, resulting in traffic accidents and disruptions.
Innovation Solution
A rodent barrier electrically insulating bushing is designed to prevent rodent intrusion into electrical device bodies by using a hollow cylindrical body with flexible radially extending annuli that secure the bushing within a wiring port, while also protecting wiring from abrasion and providing additional electrical insulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rodents are prevented from intruding into electrical device bodies, then reliability of electrical systems is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for barrier structures
Solution Approach 1:
The bushing is divided into multiple functional segments: a cylindrical body for rodent barrier function, flexible radially extending annuli for wiring port engagement, and a head with collar for wiring retention. Each segment performs a specific function, allowing the overall system to prevent rodent intrusion while maintaining electrical insulation and wiring security without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The bushing structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a rodent barrier, provides electrical insulation, secures wiring in place, and protects against abrasion. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by achieving reliability improvement through a single integrated component rather than multiple separate devices, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
2Reliability
If wiring is secured in place to prevent gravity-induced return, then electrical insulation is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional retention mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The wiring retention function is merged with the rodent barrier and insulation functions in a single bushing structure. The head with collar integrates wiring retention with the cylindrical body that provides rodent barrier and insulation, eliminating the need for separate retention devices and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining insulation integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible radially extending annuli act as a flexible shell that engages with the wiring port to secure the bushing and wiring in place. This flexible mechanism provides effective wiring retention without requiring complex rigid retention structures, thereby improving electrical insulation while limiting device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If flexible radially extending annuli are used to secure bushing, then ease of installation is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The annuli are designed to be flexible and radially extendable, allowing them to dynamically adapt during installation. They can be compressed radially to pass through the wiring port and then spring back to their extended position to engage with the port, providing ease of installation. The dynamic flexibility compensates for variations in wiring port dimensions, reducing the impact on manufacturing precision requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The annuli can change their radial dimension parameter during installation - compressed to a smaller radius for insertion and then expanding to a larger radius for engagement. This parameter change capability allows the bushing to accommodate a range of wiring port sizes without requiring extremely precise manufacturing, as the annuli adapt to the specific dimensions encountered during installation.
Data Source
AI summary
A rodent barrier electrically insulating bushing that includes a hollow cylindrical plastic body, a plurality of axially spaced flexible annuli extending radially outward from the hollow cylindrical body, a rigid head attached to the first axial end of the hollow cylindrical body extending radially beyond the hollow cylindrical body to form a collar, and an axial orifice having a second diameter through the rigid head axially aligned with the bore extending through the hollow cylindrical body.