Pivoting Cable Duct Cover for Rail Vehicle Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cable duct solutions for rail vehicles fail to provide simple and cost-effective assembly while ensuring protection against dirt, dust, and water ingress, particularly in harsh environments like winter conditions and areas prone to falling rocks.

Innovation Solution

A cable duct device with a clamping area and fastening area, featuring a pivoting cable duct cover that can be easily attached to the cable duct body using a receptacle and fixing means, allowing for secure sealing and easy installation from the side, reducing installation effort and enhancing protection against moisture and dirt.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional cable ducts are screwed in place all around or fitted with clips on both sides, then the cable duct is securely fixed, but the installation becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixing securityVSAvoidinstallation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cable duct is divided into two distinct functional areas: a clamping area with a receptacle for one-sided attachment, and a fastening area for additional securing. This segmentation allows the duct to be installed using a simple one-sided clamping mechanism while maintaining reliable fixation through the combination of both areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A receptacle structure acts as an intermediary element between the cable duct and the mounting surface. The receptacle receives and secures the cable duct body, enabling simple one-sided clamping installation while maintaining secure fixation without requiring complex multi-sided attachment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If cable ducts are installed in concealed areas, then protection against environmental hazards is improved, but the installation space requirement increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against dirt and waterVSAvoidinstallation space
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The cable duct design transitions from requiring concealed three-dimensional installation space to enabling surface-level installation on the vehicle exterior. The clamping area with its receptacle allows the duct to be mounted on the outer surface, utilizing the vehicle's external dimension rather than requiring internal concealed space, while still providing environmental protection through the duct cover and sealing elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If cable ducts use conventional fastening methods, then secure fixation is achieved, but installation time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixation securityVSAvoidinstallation speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The receptacle structure is pre-formed as an integral part of the cable duct body during manufacturing. This preliminary action eliminates the need for complex assembly operations during installation, as the duct simply needs to be clamped into the pre-formed receptacle, significantly reducing installation time and cost while maintaining secure fixation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If cable routing is fixed according to standards with fixed points spaced 300-400 mm apart, then safety requirements are met, but routing flexibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety complianceVSAvoidrouting flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The cable duct design with its clamping area and receptacle provides a universal mounting solution that can accommodate standard fixed-point spacing requirements while maintaining routing flexibility. The duct's structural design allows it to be securely installed at various locations along the vehicle, adapting to different routing requirements while meeting safety compliance through secure fixation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3230146B1Cable duct for a rail vehicle and rail vehicle with a cable duct
Publication Date: 2020.09.30 BOMBARDIER TRANSPORTATION GMBH
  • EP3230146B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP3230146B1 patent drawingFigure 1c~2
  • EP3230146B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3c

AI summary

A cable duct device (1) is described for a rail vehicle. The cable duct device has a cable duct body (7) comprising a cable duct opening (76) and a cable duct cover (2) for sealing the cable duct opening (76). The cable duct body (7) has a clamping region (22; 72) with a receptacle (75) for an edge region (23) of the cable duct cover, into which receptacle the edge region of the cable duct cover can be inserted and the receptacle is designed as a pivot bearing for pivoting the cable duct cover (2) relative to the cable duct body (7). The cable duct body (7) additionally has a fixing region (21; 71) with a fixing means (8) for detachable fixing of the cable duct cover (2) on the cable duct body (7), wherein the cable duct opening (76) is arranged between the fixing region (21) and the clamping region (22; 72). The edge region (23) of the cable duct cover inserted in the receptacle of the cable duct body is clampable in the receptacle of the cable duct body to close the cable duct opening by pivoting the cable duct cover relative to the cable duct body. The fixing means (8) hold the cable duct cover (2) in the closed position thereof.