Rotatable Cable Coil Former with Braking for High Packing Density

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cable management solutions for installation cabinets fail to achieve high packing densities while allowing easy winding and unwinding of cables, and are not easily mountable or exchangeable.

Innovation Solution

A device comprising a carrier unit with a rotatable coil former and a bobbin featuring delimiting elements, a fastening element, and a braking device, allowing for parallel alignment to maximize packing density and easy mounting on installation cabinet surfaces, with an internal storage space for cable ends and a partitionable design for adjustable capacity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If cable holders are firmly attached to a case or floor using an integrated latch, then the cable can be wound around the winding core, but subsequent winding or unwinding of the cable is difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefirm attachmentVSAvoidwinding and unwinding cable
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into two main segments: a fixed carrier unit attached to the installation cabinet and a rotatable coil former that can be independently rotated. This segmentation allows the cable management function to be separated from the winding operation, enabling firm attachment while maintaining easy cable winding and unwinding through independent rotation of the coil former.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The coil former is designed to be rotatable relative to the carrier unit, transforming the static cable holder into a dynamic system. The rotatable coil former allows the cable to be wound and unwound by rotating the coil former itself, while the carrier unit remains firmly attached to the installation cabinet, resolving the contradiction between firm attachment and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Quantity of substance

If various coil formers are arranged in parallel with magnetic attachment, then the system can accommodate excess cable lengths, but the packing density is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable accommodation capacityVSAvoidinstallation cabinet space
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The coil former is oriented with its axis of rotation parallel or at a small angle (no more than 45°, preferably no more than 20°, particularly preferably no more than 10°) to the stop side of the carrier unit. This dimensional orientation allows multiple coil formers to be arranged in parallel with minimal space requirements, maximizing the packing density in the installation cabinet while maintaining adequate cable accommodation capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of manufacture

If the axis of rotation of the coil body is arranged perpendicular to the stop side, then the coil can be mounted, but the packing density in the installation cabinet is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting capabilityVSAvoidinstallation cabinet space
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the orientation parameter of the coil former's axis of rotation from the conventional perpendicular arrangement to a parallel or near-parallel arrangement relative to the stop side. This parameter change optimizes the space utilization in the installation cabinet, allowing multiple devices to be arranged in parallel with high packing density while maintaining the mounting capability through the carrier unit's attachment to the installation cabinet.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Area of stationary object

If a high packing density is achieved with multiple devices, then the space utilization is maximized, but the ability to wind and unwind individual cables is impaired

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation cabinet space utilizationVSAvoidindividual cable winding access
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The device segments the cable management function into a fixed carrier unit for mounting and a rotatable coil former for cable winding. This segmentation allows each coil former to be independently rotated to access and wind individual cables, maintaining ease of operation even when multiple devices are densely packed in the installation cabinet.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The rotatable coil former provides dynamic access to individual cables within the densely packed arrangement. By rotating the coil former, operators can easily wind and unwind individual cables without disturbing adjacent devices, preserving ease of operation while achieving high packing density in the installation cabinet.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 high packing density of cable coils with easy access and quick installation/exchange, preventing unintentional unwinding through a braking mechanism, while protecting cable ends and connectors.

Implementation Method 1

a braking device (30) arranged between the coil body (10) and the carrier unit (20) for braking the coil body (10) in relation to the carrier unit (20)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3127845B1Device for holding an excess length of a cable, installation box, installation cabinet and rack drawer with such a device
Publication Date: 2019.12.18 DIAMOND
  • EP3127845B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3127845B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3127845B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6b

AI summary

Device (1) for receiving excess length of a cable, in particular a fiber optic cable (2), in an installation cabinet (5) comprising a coil body (10) with a rotation axis (17) and a support unit (20), wherein the support unit (20) has a stop side (23) which serves to attach the support unit (20) to a corresponding stop surface (6) in the installation cabinet (5), wherein the rotation axis (17) of the coil body (10) is arranged approximately parallel to the stop side (23) of the support unit (20).