Portable Cable Conveyor With Open-Load Mechanism for High Compartments
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manual handling of electrical cables in refrigerated containers is unsafe and difficult due to their storage in high compartments, requiring operators to climb and manually place cables, which is cumbersome and risky.
Innovation Solution
A portable cable conveyer with movable conveying elements, a motor, and an actuator to transition between conveying and open configurations, allowing safe and efficient cable handling, including remote operation and lightweight design for ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual handling of cable is used, then simplicity of device is maintained, but operator safety and ease of operation deteriorate due to climbing and manual placement in high compartments
Solution Approach 1:
The cable conveyer is designed to automatically convey the cable into the storage compartment using motor-driven conveying elements, eliminating the need for operator intervention in manually placing the cable at height. The system serves itself by autonomously performing the cable handling task.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical action of climbing and pulling the cable is replaced by an automated mechanical system with motors and conveyors. The mechanical system substitutes human physical effort and dangerous climbing operations with automated conveying mechanisms.
2Productivity
If cable storage compartment is placed at high position, then space utilization is improved, but operator safety deteriorates due to climbing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The cable conveyer acts as an intermediary device between the cable and the high storage compartment. Instead of the operator directly interacting with the high compartment, the automated conveyer mediates the cable transfer, eliminating the need for operators to climb.
Solution Approach 2:
The dangerous operation of climbing and manual cable handling is extracted from the system by introducing an automated conveyer. The harmful manual intervention is removed and replaced by automated machinery that performs the cable placement function.
3Reliability
If automated cable conveyer is implemented, then operator safety and ease of operation are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cable conveyer is divided into separate functional modules: motors, conveying elements, actuators, and housing. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies maintenance and repair while achieving reliable automated operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveying elements are designed to be movable and adjustable, allowing the system to adapt to different cable sizes and storage compartment positions. The actuators enable dynamic reconfiguration of the conveying mechanism to maintain reliable operation under varying conditions.
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
Enables safe and efficient cable handling in high compartments, reducing operator risk and improving handling efficiency through a portable and lightweight design.
Implementation Method 1
a motor, such as an electrical motor, coupled to at least one of said conveying elements for moving the cable conveying surface in the perimeter direction
Implementation Method 2
an actuator connected to at least one of said conveying elements to move the conveying element relatively to each other to provide: a conveying configuration... an open configuration
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C
Figure 2
AI summary
Preferred embodiments of the invention relates to a cable conveyer (1). Preferably, the cable conveyer comprises an actuator (10) connected to at least one of two conveying elements (3, 4) to move the conveying element (3,4) relatively to each other to provide a conveying configuration in which the conveying elements (3, 4) are mutually positioned to provide a conveying to the cable, when in use, an open configuration in which the conveying elements (3, 4) are mutually positioned so as to provide an opening for loading or unloading a cable into the cable conveyer (1).