Reflective Sheath Cable for Early Wear Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cables installed in wear-prone areas are difficult to detect sheath wear visually, especially when installed in hard-to-reach locations, which can lead to wear that may cause further damage.
Innovation Solution
A wear detectable cable with a sheath having regions of different reflective properties and a detection device using light reflection to identify wear, comprising an irradiation unit, light receiving unit, and detection processing unit to measure and detect sheath wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cable is installed in wear-prone areas, then the cable can supply power to moving objects, but the sheath wear becomes difficult to detect visually
Solution Approach 1:
The sheath incorporates a first region with a first color and a second region with a second color different from the first color. When wear occurs and the first region is removed, the second region becomes exposed, creating a visible color change that indicates wear without requiring complex detection equipment or visual inspection in hard-to-reach locations.
2Reliability
If the sheath wear is not detected early, then the cable continues to function, but wear progresses causing further damage
Solution Approach 1:
The color-coded wear indication system enables preliminary detection of wear before it progresses to critical levels. The visible color change occurs when the first region is worn away, providing early warning that allows timely intervention and replacement before the wear causes cable failure or damage to surrounding components.
3Device complexity
If visual inspection is required for wear detection, then simple detection method is used, but inspection of extended cable lengths becomes impractical
Solution Approach 1:
The color-coded sheath regions provide clear visual indicators along the entire cable length, enabling inspection of extended cable runs by simply observing color changes at various locations. The contrasting colors create easily distinguishable wear indicators that can be spotted from a distance, making inspection of long cables in hard-to-reach areas practical and efficient.
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
Facilitates early detection of sheath wear, allowing timely maintenance without disrupting the cable's functionality, and provides precise wear detection over extended lengths.
Implementation Method 1
wear of the sheath can be detected by reflection of light irradiated toward the sheath
Data Source
AI summary
A wear detectable cable includes a conductor section comprising a linear conductor, and a sheath covering the conductor section, and wear of the sheath can be detected by reflection of light irradiated toward the sheath. The sheath includes a first region having a first reflective property for the light and a second region having a second reflective property different from the first reflective property for the light, and the second region is formed continuously with the first region inside the first region. A wear detection device for detecting wear of the sheath of the wear detectable cable includes an irradiation unit for irradiating the light toward the sheath, a light receiving unit for receiving reflected light of the light, and a detection processing unit that detects that the first region is worn away and the second region is exposed, based on a measurement result of an intensity of the reflected light received by the light receiving unit.