Rotatable GPS Compass Cable Routing and Detent Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing foldable GPS compass systems face challenges in maintaining cable accuracy due to bending, which affects antenna alignment precision, and are often bulky, making them difficult to deploy and transport.

Innovation Solution

A rotatable device with arms connected about a hub, featuring cables that extend through passageways to minimize torsional movement and bending, along with a detent system for precise positioning, allowing for a compact and accurate foldable GPS compass that reduces cable exposure and degradation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the GPS compass is made foldable to reduce size for easier deployment, then the device becomes more portable and easier to transport, but the cables undergo excessive bending which degrades accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidcable accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into two separable arms that can be folded independently. Each arm contains its own cable routing through dedicated passageways, allowing the arms to be segmented for compact storage while maintaining cable integrity during deployment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Passageways are introduced as intermediary structures within each arm to guide and protect the cables. These passageways act as mediators that allow the arms to fold and extend while preventing excessive cable bending, thus preserving cable accuracy throughout the movement cycle

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If the arms are extended for accurate alignment measurement, then the measurement precision improves, but the device becomes bulkier and harder to transport

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveazimuth alignment accuracyVSAvoiddeployability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The arms are designed to be dynamically configurable between folded and extended states. This dynamic structure allows the device to transition from a compact form for easy transport to an extended form for precise azimuth alignment measurements, optimizing both deployability and measurement precision at different operational stages

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If the cables are exposed during arm movement, then the structure remains simple, but the cables are subjected to excessive bending and degradation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidcable durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cables are nested within passageways that are themselves nested within the arm structures. This nested configuration protects the cables from external damage and excessive bending during arm movement, while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure without requiring external cable protection mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS10527418B2Rotatable GPS compass and method

Publication Date: 2020.01.07 HUBBELL POWER SYSTEMS INC

AI summary

This invention relates to a rotatable device having two arms rotatably connected about a hollow hub wherein the arms include a cable extending through a passageway and the hub so as to minimize bending of the cables about each other when the arms are in a compact position. In particular this invention relates to a foldable GPS compass and a method relating thereto to present a compact folded device that is easier to install with minimal bending of the cables. The invention also discloses a detent disposed within the hub for accurate selective placement of the arms and method relating thereto.