Movable Coil Arms for Aircraft Cable Overlength Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing method for tensioning and maintaining electrical harnesses in aircraft requires a large number of clamp collars and significant operator force, making it difficult and time-consuming, especially during cable repairs, and inefficiently uses space due to alternating troughs and crests.
Innovation Solution
A coil with movable arms that adjust the position of electrical cables to absorb or create overlength, allowing cables to extend in the same plane, facilitating easy adjustment and repair without the need for multiple clamp collars, and featuring pivotally mounted arms with elastically deformable means for precise control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If clamp collars are used to fix the harness on the crossbeam, then the harness can be tensioned and positioned, but a large number of clamp collars and significant operator force are required
Solution Approach 1:
The coil device is divided into multiple independent arms (at least three arms) that can be adjusted separately. Each arm can be independently positioned to absorb or create overlength for individual cables, replacing the need for multiple clamp collars while maintaining harness stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The arms of the coil are made movable relative to the body, allowing dynamic adjustment of cable length and position. This dynamic capability enables the same device to both tension and accommodate cable overlength without requiring fixed clamp collars at multiple positions.
2Stability of the object's composition
If clamp collars are used to fix the harness, then the harness can be maintained in position, but significant operator force is required due to the heavy weight of the electrical harness
Solution Approach 1:
The movable arms allow the harness to be dynamically adjusted and secured without requiring excessive operator force. The arms can be positioned to naturally accommodate the harness weight and tension, reducing the manual force needed compared to rigid clamp collars.
Solution Approach 2:
The coil device changes the physical parameters of cable fixation by using movable arms that can absorb overlength and create tension through geometric arrangement rather than through high clamping force, thereby reducing operator effort.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the harness is fixed with alternating troughs and crests to absorb overlength, then cable length variation is accommodated, but a large space is required which cannot be used for other purposes
Solution Approach 1:
The coil device uses radial arms extending from a central body to absorb overlength in a compact circular footprint, rather than requiring linear troughs and crests along the cable path. This dimensional change from linear to radial arrangement significantly reduces the space required while maintaining overlength absorption capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The arms of the coil can be positioned within a compact area around the central body, allowing the overlength absorption mechanism to be nested in a small footprint that does not interfere with other aircraft components or purposes.
4Ease of repair
If a cable is repaired and its length is reduced, then the cable can be fixed, but the cable must be removed from the harness and fixed separately, increasing the number of clamp collars and maintenance time
Solution Approach 1:
The movable arms allow the harness configuration to be dynamically adjusted after cable repair. When a cable is shortened, the corresponding arm can be repositioned to accommodate the new length, and other arms can be adjusted to maintain proper tension and alignment, all without removing cables from the harness structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The coil device serves multiple functions: it tensions the harness, absorbs overlength, and accommodates repaired cables of varying lengths, all through the same movable arm mechanism. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate fixation methods for repaired cables.
5Adaptability or versatility
If cables are held in alternating troughs and crests, then overlength is absorbed, but the cables do not extend in the same plane, making connector positioning difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The coil device provides localized adjustment at each arm-cable connection point, allowing each cable to be independently positioned. This local control enables all cables to be aligned in the same plane at the connector end while still accommodating overlength through the movable arms.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable arms allow dynamic adjustment of cable positions to achieve proper alignment. By adjusting the angle and position of each arm, cables can be guided to extend in the same plane at the connector end while the arms absorb any overlength variations.
Data Source
AI summary
An assembly includes a harness. The harness includes a plurality of electrical cables and a coil. The coil has a body on which said cables are fixed. The coil includes arms mounted on said body, at a first end, each arm having a second end on which one of said cables is fixed. The second end is movable with respect to the body, independently of the second ends of the other arms, between a position for maximum absorption of overlength of cable, in which the second end is remote from the body, and a position for maximum creation of overlength of cable, in which the second end is closer to the body.