Linked Push-Cable Drum Control for Synchronized Retraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable-handling and cable-storage drum systems face issues with synchronized movement of push-cables, leading to potential user injury due to mismatched dispensing and retracting rates, causing jerking or entanglement.
Innovation Solution
A motorized cable-handling and cable-storage drum system with communicative linkage for collaborative force generation, using measurement and control elements to ensure synchronized dispensing and retracting movements of the push-cable, including input elements for user commands and sensors for real-time adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a cable-handling device and cable-storage drum operate independently, then each device can function autonomously, but the push-cable dispensing and retracting rates become unsynchronized causing jerking or entanglement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cable-handling device and cable-storage drum into a coordinated system where both devices are controlled by a central controller. The controller receives signals from sensors on both devices and adjusts their operation to maintain synchronized dispensing and retracting rates, eliminating the jerking and entanglement problems that occur when devices operate independently.
2Productivity
If the push-cable is dispensed or retracted at mismatched rates, then the operation continues without interruption, but user injury risk increases due to jerking or entanglement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system where sensors on both the cable-handling device and cable-storage drum continuously monitor their respective operations. This feedback is sent to a central controller that adjusts the dispensing and retracting rates in real-time to maintain synchronization, ensuring continuous safe operation without user injury risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The system proactively prevents harmful situations by using the feedback control mechanism to anticipate and correct potential synchronization issues before they cause jerking or entanglement. The controller continuously adjusts operation parameters to maintain safe synchronized movement, preventing injury risks rather than reacting after problems occur.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure includes systems and devices for collaborative moving of a push-cable. Such systems and devices include cable-storage drum devices used to store and dispense/retract a push-cable, generally via motors or like machine-driven force, and cable-storage drum devices used to direct and impart machine-driven force in moving the push-cable as well as push-cable moving systems employing a cable-storage drum device and a cable-storage drum device. The cable-storage drum devices and cable-handling devices as well as systems of the present invention may be communicatively linked in generating corresponding movements of the push-cable. The disclosure further includes methods associated with such push-cable moving systems and a cleaning element apparatus that may be used in a cable-storage drum device, push-cable handling device, or both in cleaning a push-cable prior to retraction.