Motorized Power Cable Reel for Dynamic Length Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Power supply cables that are too long create clutter and tripping hazards, while cables that are too short restrict user movement and accessibility, posing challenges in cable management, especially in professional settings.
Innovation Solution
A power supply device with a device cable spool rotatably coupled to a motor, equipped with sensors to determine cable properties such as tension, bending strain, and length, which actuates the motor to adjust the cable length based on these properties, ensuring optimal extension and retraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the device cable is made longer to improve user accessibility and movement, then user mobility is enhanced, but cable clutter and tripping hazards increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cable length is made dynamic rather than fixed. A motorized reel system automatically adjusts the cable extension length based on detected cable properties (tension, bending strain), allowing the cable to be long when needed for accessibility and short when not in use, thereby eliminating clutter and tripping hazards while maintaining user mobility.
Solution Approach 2:
Sensors detect cable properties such as tension and bending strain in real-time and provide feedback to the control system. This feedback enables the motorized reel to automatically adjust the cable length, resolving the contradiction by making the cable long only when the sensors indicate it is needed for user accessibility, and retracting it when not needed to prevent clutter.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the device cable is made shorter to reduce clutter and safety hazards, then cable management is improved, but user movement and accessibility are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The cable length transitions from a static short configuration to a dynamic adjustable configuration. The motorized reel system extends the cable when sensors detect conditions requiring longer reach (such as user movement away from the power supply), ensuring safety is maintained while user mobility is preserved.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system continuously monitors cable tension and bending strain, providing feedback that triggers cable extension when safety hazards are detected but user movement is still required. This allows the system to maintain short cable lengths for safety while automatically extending when user accessibility needs arise.
3Device complexity
If a fixed cable length is used to simplify device design, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different environments is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The cable management system incorporates a motorized reel with sensors and control logic, transforming a simple fixed cable into an adaptive dynamic system. This increased complexity enables the cable to automatically adjust its length based on environmental conditions and user needs, providing versatility across different usage scenarios while maintaining relatively simple operation for the user.
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 device effectively reduces extraneous cable length, preventing tangling and tripping hazards while maintaining user accessibility by dynamically adjusting the cable length based on real-time conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a motor in the power supply device is actuated to change the length of the device cable extending from the power supply device
Data Source
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AI summary
Examples are disclosed that relate to power supply devices (100) and methods (200) for adjusting a length of a device cable (116) extending from the power supply device (100). In one example a method (200) comprises, at a power supply device (100) comprising a device cable (116), determining a cable property of the device cable (116). Based at least in part on the cable property of the device cable (116), actuating a motor (140) in the power supply device (100) to change the length of the device cable (116) extending from the power supply device (100).