Lock-in-place feeding sheave assembly for conduit edge protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing accessories for guiding wires or cables into conduits often damage the cable or conduit edges due to engagement with sharp edges, and they lack versatility in accommodating various conduit diameters and securement methods.
Innovation Solution
A feeding sheave assembly with a rotatable sheave and elongated sleeve that prevents cable engagement with conduit edges, featuring a releasable locking mechanism for secure attachment to conduits with external threads, allowing for use with different diameters and thicknesses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a feeding accessory is used to guide wire or cable into conduit, then the guiding function is improved, but the cable or conduit edges may be damaged due to engagement with sharp edges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a feeding accessory as an intermediary component between the wire/cable and the conduit edge. This accessory includes a guiding surface that redirects the wire or cable away from the sharp edge of the conduit, preventing direct contact and potential damage while maintaining the guiding function
2Stability of the object's composition
If a feeding accessory is designed to be secure to conduit, then the stability is improved, but the threads of the conduit may be damaged during securement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a protective element as an intermediary between the feeding accessory and the conduit threads. This protective element distributes the clamping force over a larger area and prevents concentrated loads that could damage the threads, while still allowing secure attachment of the accessory to the conduit
3Manufacturing precision
If a feeding accessory is designed for specific conduit sizes, then the securement precision is improved, but the adaptability to various conduit diameters and thicknesses deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs adjustable components in the feeding accessory, such as adjustable clamping mechanisms and positioning elements, that can be adapted to different conduit diameters and thicknesses. This dynamic adjustability allows the accessory to maintain secure and precise attachment across various conduit sizes without requiring multiple specialized designs
4Ease of manufacture
If a feeding accessory structure is simplified, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the functionality for guiding and protecting cable deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (guiding, protection, and securement) into a single integrated feeding accessory structure. By merging these functions into one component rather than using separate parts, the design achieves structural simplicity for ease of manufacture while maintaining all necessary functionalities for effective cable guiding and edge protection
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
The assembly effectively guides cables without damaging them or the conduit edges, ensuring secure attachment and reducing the risk of thread damage, while accommodating various conduit sizes and facilitating easy manipulation during cable pulling operations.
Implementation Method 1
a sheave which is rotatably mounted upon the abutment surface-defining means, and the sheave has a peripheral roller surface across which the wire or cable is routed
Data Source
AI summary
A feeding sheave assembly for use at the open end of a conduit into which a wire or cable is to be fed during a wire or cable-pulling operation includes an elongated sleeve portion which is insertable endwise into the open end of the conduit and an abutment plate for abutting the open end of the conduit when the sleeve portion is fully inserted within the conduit. An arrangement is provided for releasably locking the sleeve portion in a stationary relationship with the conduit, and a sheave is rotatably mounted upon the abutment plate so that when the sleeve portion is releasably locked within the open end of the conduit, a wire or cable which is directed into the conduit end during a wire or cable-pulling operation moves across and then off of the peripheral roller surface of the sheave before moving into the conduit end.