Modular Bend Restrictor Assembly for Lighter Cable Protection

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bend restrictors for cables are heavy, complex, and time-consuming to assemble, with high weight and structural inefficiency due to their design, which complicates cable handling and installation, especially in offshore environments.

Innovation Solution

A bend restrictor design featuring pipe sections with additional outward facing flanges and clamp sections with a pipe-shaped middle section, allowing for adjustable inclination and reduced weight through strategic flange placement and material optimization, enabling faster assembly and improved structural efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional bend restrictor designs are used, then cable protection is achieved, but weight and structural complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecable protectionVSAvoidbend restrictor weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The bend restrictor is divided into multiple pipe sections and clamp sections that can be assembled together. Each pipe section has outward facing flanges at ends and additional outward facing flanges, while clamp sections have inward facing flanges. This segmentation allows for weight optimization while maintaining protective function through modular assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bend restrictor employs composite construction combining pipe sections and clamp sections with flange connections. This composite approach enables optimized material distribution, reducing overall weight while maintaining structural integrity and cable protection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If traditional bend restrictor designs are used, then cable protection is achieved, but assembly time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecable protectionVSAvoidassembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bend restrictor is divided into multiple pipe sections and clamp sections that can be assembled together. Each pipe section has outward facing flanges at ends and additional outward facing flanges, while clamp sections have inward facing flanges. This segmentation allows for weight optimization while maintaining protective function through modular assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pipe sections and clamp sections are designed to work together as integrated units with flange connections. The outward facing flanges of pipe sections receive the inward facing flanges of clamp sections, creating a unified structure that simplifies assembly while maintaining protective function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Strength

If traditional bend restrictor designs are used, then structural strength is maintained, but self-weight increases reducing structural efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidstructural efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The bend restrictor is divided into multiple pipe sections and clamp sections that can be assembled together. Each pipe section has outward facing flanges at ends and additional outward facing flanges, while clamp sections have inward facing flanges. This segmentation allows for weight optimization while maintaining protective function through modular assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The design modifies structural parameters by introducing additional outward facing flanges on pipe sections at optimized positions. This changes the structural configuration to reduce material requirements while maintaining strength, thereby improving structural efficiency by reducing self-weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20240426411A1Bend restrictor

Publication Date: 2024.12.26 NEXANS SA

AI summary

A bend restrictor for restricting the bending of a cable has at least two pipe section (48) and at least one clamp section (46), where the pipe section (48) has an outward facing flange at each end and at least an additional outward facing flange arranged between the end flanges. The clamp section (46) has an inward facing flange at each end, and a pipe shaped middle section therebetween. The distance between the outward facing end flange and the additional outward facing flange of the pipe section (48) is adapted to receive the inward facing flange of the clamp section (46).