Bendable Cable Restraint with Notched Arms for Fire Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable restraint systems, such as plastic trunking and clips, fail to securely retain cables during fires, as they can melt or cause cable damage, leading to hazards and obstruction of exit paths.
Innovation Solution
A cable containment system using a bendable strip with notches to form a U-shape, allowing easy cable insertion and secure retention within a conduit, with screw fixation to ensure cables remain in place even during fires.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If plastic trunking/conduit is used to route cables, then cable routing is simplified and cables are protected, but the trunking can melt during fires causing cables to fall and creating safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the cable support function into two independent components: plastic trunking for cable routing and metal cable restraints for secure retention. The trunking can be easily installed for cable protection while separate metal restraints provide fire-resistant support, so if the trunking melts, the cables remain secured by the metal restraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines plastic trunking material with metal restraint material to achieve both ease of installation and fire resistance. The plastic trunking provides smooth cable routing while the metal restraints provide high-temperature structural integrity, creating a composite cable support system that leverages the advantages of both materials.
2Reliability
If clips are used to retain cables against a surface, then cables are held in position, but threading long cables through multiple clips is difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The cable restraint is designed to fit inside the plastic trunking/conduit, with the metal restraint nested within the larger plastic structure. This nested arrangement allows the restraint to be installed within the already-positioned trunking, simplifying the overall installation process compared to attaching multiple separate clips along the cable length.
3Reliability
If clips are closed about a cable to retain it, then cables are secured to the surface, but the closed clips can damage the cable sheathing
Solution Approach 1:
The cable restraint uses an intermediary approach where the metal arms provide the securing function but are designed to contact the cable only at the edges where notches are formed. The notches create defined contact points that prevent the metal from crushing or damaging the cable sheathing, while still providing effective retention through the restrained geometry.
4Reliability
If a bendable strip is bent into a U-shape to form a restraint, then cable retention is achieved, but the strip needs to be folded precisely to ensure proper function
Solution Approach 1:
The notches are pre-formed on the metal strip during manufacturing at the exact positions where folds are needed. This preliminary action of creating the notches guides the folding process, ensuring that when installation occurs, the folds naturally occur at the correct positions between the notches, eliminating the need for precise measurement and folding during installation.
Data Source
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AI summary
Cable restraints for retaining cables when in folded configuration are disclosed. A cable restraint including a bendable strip, wherein the strip is bent at two positions along its length to form a U-shape, the strip thereby having a base, a first arm, and a second arm. The first and second arms each extend from opposite ends of the base. Each of the arms have at least two notches formed on their edges to allow the arms to be folded to retain a cable.