Continuous-Fiber Reinforced Cable Tie for Temperature-Stable Strength
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional nylon cable ties fail to simultaneously meet requirements of mechanical strength, impact resistance, and temperature stability across a wide range of temperatures, leading to premature failure and logistical challenges in applications like automotive electrical harnesses.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a continuous fiber reinforcement, such as glass, aramid, or carbon fibers, molded along specific load paths within the cable tie's strap and head to enhance mechanical strength and stability, allowing for the use of various polymer matrices and reducing material costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional nylon cable ties are used, then they are easy to manufacture and low cost, but they show insufficient strength and impact resistance at temperatures down to -35°C
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining continuous glass fibers with polyamide matrix material to create a reinforced cable tie. The glass fiber reinforcement provides enhanced mechanical strength and impact resistance at low temperatures, while the polyamide matrix maintains ease of injection molding and manufacturing. This composite structure resolves the contradiction by achieving superior mechanical properties without significantly complicating the manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by orienting continuous glass fibers along specific load paths within the cable tie structure. The fiber orientation is strategically designed to reinforce areas experiencing highest stress during fastening and loading, while maintaining appropriate material distribution throughout the component. This localized reinforcement approach optimizes strength where needed while managing manufacturing complexity.
2Reliability
If cable ties are molded from plasticized polyamide or elastomer-modified polyamide to meet temperature requirements, then they show improved temperature stability, but they require multiple different cable tie types for different applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves universality by creating a single cable tie design using composite material (continuous glass fiber reinforced polyamide) that can reliably perform across the entire temperature range from -35°C to 125°C. This eliminates the need for multiple specialized cable tie variants for different temperature applications, consolidating into one universal solution that maintains both low-temperature impact resistance and high-temperature stability.
3Ease of manufacture
If nylon cable ties are used, then they are easy to process, but they absorb moisture which reduces tensile strength by 30% or more
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials where continuous glass fibers provide structural reinforcement that compensates for moisture-induced strength loss in the polyamide matrix. The glass fibers maintain dimensional stability and load-bearing capacity even when the polymer absorbs moisture, thereby preserving tensile strength and reliability while maintaining the ease of processing inherent to injection-moldable thermoplastics.
4Strength
If reinforced plastics with continuous fiber are used, then mechanical strength is improved, but the cable tie becomes too stiff to be easily bent to form a loop
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by strategically orienting continuous glass fibers along the load-bearing paths within the cable tie, rather than providing uniform reinforcement throughout. This allows the material to exhibit appropriate flexibility in regions requiring bending for loop formation, while maintaining high strength in regions experiencing tensile and shear loads during fastening operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by carefully controlling the fiber orientation, volume fraction, and distribution of continuous glass fibers within the polyamide matrix. By optimizing these parameters, the material achieves the right balance between mechanical strength and flexibility, allowing the cable tie to be easily bent for installation while maintaining superior load-bearing capacity when fastened.
Data Source
AI summary
A reinforced cable tie generally includes an elongate strap, a head attached to a first end of the strap and a continuous fiber reinforcement disposed in and extending substantially continuously along a path defining at least one of the strap and the head. The head has one or more apertures formed therein and a locking device disposed in the aperture of the head. The locking device is configured to permit a second end of the strap opposite the head to be inserted through the head aperture in a first direction and is further configured to prevent movement of the second end of the strap from the head aperture in a second direction opposite the first direction.