Magnetic Cable Carrier Guide for Vibration Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cable routing devices face challenges in securely supporting cable carriers without causing sliding friction, especially during vertical movements and high-speed operations, where vibrations can lead to strands colliding.

Innovation Solution

A guide device with ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic contact areas interacting with magnets on the cable carrier, allowing for secure adhesion without additional means, and optionally using electromagnets that can be controlled to manage magnetic attraction forces for efficient movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If guide devices are used to support cable strands during vertical movement, then stability is improved, but sliding friction increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestabilityVSAvoidsliding friction
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical contact-based guide device with a magnetic field-based guide device. Magnets arranged in the guide device interact with ferromagnetic material in the cable carrier to provide guidance and support without mechanical sliding contact, thereby eliminating sliding friction while maintaining stability during vertical movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If guide devices are used to prevent vibrations and strand collisions, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovereliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical guide devices with a simpler magnetic field-based system. By arranging magnets in the guide device to interact with ferromagnetic material in the cable carrier, the system achieves vibration prevention and collision avoidance through magnetic field interaction rather than complex mechanical structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Stability of the object's composition

If magnets are used to adhere cable strands to the guide device, then stability is improved, but ease of operation worsens due to difficulty in detachment

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestabilityVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs electromagnets instead of permanent magnets, allowing dynamic control of the magnetic field. The electromagnets can be switched on to provide stable adhesion during operation and switched off to enable easy detachment when needed, thus resolving the contradiction between stability and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 solution ensures secure attachment of cable strands to the guide device, reducing vibrations and preventing collisions, while allowing for easy detachment during movement, thus enhancing the stability and efficiency of cable routing.

Implementation Method 1

the at least one magnet being located in a predetermined position area of the wire carrier with respect to the guide device with the contact area interacts in such a way that the strand having the magnet adheres to the contact area with a predetermined magnetic attraction force

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic attraction: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentEP3189568B1Cable routing device
Publication Date: 2020.07.08 IGUS GMBH
  • EP3189568B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3189568B1 patent drawingFigure 2~6
  • EP3189568B1 patent drawingFigure 7~9

AI summary

In a cable routing device having a cable carrier (2) and a guiding device (20) for the cable carrier (2), wherein the cable carrier (2) has a first strand (23) connected to a first connector (21) and a second strand (24) connected to a second connector (22), which are connected to one another via a rerouting area (25), and the guiding device (20) having a contact area (26) for the stationary contact of at least one part of one of the strand (23, 24) is provided for a secure contact of the corresponding part of the strand with the contact area and for preventing sliding friction, the cable carrier (2) having at least one magnet (9), and the contact area (26) having a ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic material, wherein the magnet (9) interacts with the contact area (26) in a predetermined positioning area of the cable carrier (2) relative to the guiding device (20) such that the strand (23, 24) having the magnet (9) adheres to the contact area (26) with a predetermined magnetic attractive force.