Pivoting Cable Guard Absorbs Shear Forces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for protecting cables, hoses, or pipes exiting from covered openings are inadequate in preventing damage from pressure or shearing forces, often resulting in personal injury or system unavailability due to the inability to securely cover the outlet openings.
Innovation Solution
A hood-shaped protective cap that rests on the upper edge of the outlet opening, forming a two-armed lever with a cover area, which can be pivoted downward to securely cover the lateral outlet, absorbing pressure and shearing forces, and is designed to be integrated with the facility for complete invisibility when closed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a protective cap is used to cover the outlet opening, then cable protection against pressure and shearing forces is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the articulated mechanism and lever system
Solution Approach 1:
The protective cap is designed as an articulated, movable component that can pivot between a closed position (covering the outlet opening for protection) and an open position (allowing cable access). This dynamic mechanism resolves the contradiction by providing reliable protection only when needed, while allowing easy access when cables need to be routed.
Solution Approach 2:
The two-armed lever system automatically balances the protective cap, allowing it to be held in either the closed or open position without requiring additional locking mechanisms or external force. The system serves itself by using its own weight and mechanical advantage to maintain positions, reducing complexity while ensuring reliable protection.
2Reliability
If the protective cap is made large to cover the outlet opening effectively, then protection against shearing forces is improved, but the space required for storage increases when the cap is not in use
Solution Approach 1:
The protective cap transitions from a large, space-consuming structure when deployed to a compact, space-efficient configuration when stored in the downwardly pivoted position. This dynamic transformation resolves the contradiction by providing extensive protection coverage only when needed, while minimizing storage space requirements when the protection function is not active.
3Ease of operation
If the protective cap is articulated on the box or cover, then ease of operation is improved by allowing simple pivoting motion, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase to ensure proper alignment and sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The downwardly pivoted position of the protective cap provides a built-in alignment and sealing mechanism before the cap is fully deployed. This pre-positioning ensures that when the cap is articulated to the open position, the cable can pass through smoothly without requiring high manufacturing precision for alignment, while still maintaining proper sealing when closed.
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 solution effectively prevents damage to cables and hoses by covering the critical edge area, ensuring system availability and safety from pressure and shearing forces, while allowing flexible cable routing and maintaining a safe traversable condition.
Implementation Method 1
the protective cap (8) and the cover area (11) form a two-armed lever
Data Source
Figure 1~5
AI summary
The device has a dome-like protective cap (8) for covering a lateral outlet opening (7) and comprising a lateral vertical opening (10) for a cable, tube, pipe, rope or wire. The cap is supported on an upper edge of the outlet opening and/or a floor-, wall-, vehicle- or column opening. The cap is hinged at the opening, at a shaft or caisson (2) or at a cover (5) that closes the opening, where the shaft or box forms the opening. The cap lies in a space (3) below the cover or in a lateral extension of the space below the cover in a downwardly pivoting position.