Rotatable Cable Puller for Confined Space Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable pullers lack sufficient flexibility to navigate through small spaces and align with conduits effectively, limiting their ability to access and pull cables in various orientations.
Innovation Solution
A cable puller design featuring a rotatable pulling assembly relative to the frame about vertical and horizontal axes, along with a shaft assembly and locking mechanism, allows for flexible alignment and self-alignment with conduits, enhancing the device's ability to operate in confined spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the cable puller uses a fixed pulling assembly relative to the frame, then the structural simplicity is maintained, but the flexibility to navigate small spaces and align with conduits is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The pulling assembly is made rotatable relative to the frame about a vertical axis through a shaft assembly with locking mechanism. This dynamic feature allows the pulling assembly to rotate to different orientations (e.g., 90 degrees) to align with conduits at various angles, providing adaptability without requiring multiple separate devices. The locking mechanism enables the system to transition between fixed and rotated positions, maintaining structural simplicity when rotation is not needed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the pulling assembly is made rotatable about vertical and horizontal axes, then the alignment flexibility with conduits is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft assembly enables rotational movement about a vertical axis with a locking mechanism that allows the pulling assembly to be rotated to different orientations and locked in position. This dynamic capability provides alignment flexibility for conduits at various angles while maintaining a relatively simple mechanical structure compared to multi-axis rotation systems.
3Volume of moving object
If the cable puller is designed to fit within small spaces, then the ability to access confined areas is improved, but the force multiplication capability may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cable puller is divided into distinct functional modules: a compact frame, a pulling assembly with capstan and motor, and a shaft assembly for rotation. This segmentation allows the main pulling mechanism to be positioned optimally for force multiplication while the rotation mechanism enables access to confined areas. The modular design maintains force multiplication capability despite the compact overall size.
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
The design enables the cable puller to efficiently navigate and align with conduits in tight spaces, improving its ability to pull cables by allowing 360-degree rotation and secure locking, thereby facilitating easier cable installation and maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
a motor which powers and rotates the capstan
Implementation Method 2
The cable or a rope tied to the cable is wound around and tails off the capstan during operation. The capstan thus generally acts as a force multiplier during operation. This relatively small force is translated into a large force of several thousand pounds which is exerted on the cable
Data Source
AI summary
Cable pullers are provided. A cable puller includes a frame, the frame including a plurality of frame members, and a pulling assembly supported by the frame, the pulling assembly including a motor and a capstan. The cable puller further includes a boom assembly extending from the pulling assembly. The pulling assembly is rotatable relative to the frame about a vertical axis.