Sealed Cable Housing with Guide Projections for Meter Installation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing secure closure mechanisms for boxes, such as electric meters, face difficulties in easy installation of sealing cables due to flexibility and visibility issues, leading to potential fraud detection complications.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a casing with projections on the first casing part that guide the sealing cable into place by filling the space between the screw head and the cable orifices, preventing cable abutment against obstacles and enhancing visibility with grooves for easier installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the sealing cable is made flexible to ease installation, then the cable can bend and adapt to positioning variations, but the cable may abut against obstacles and become misaligned
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary structure (the housing with guide channels and positioning features) that mediates between the flexible cable and the rigid mounting points. This intermediary guides the cable through defined paths, ensuring precise alignment while allowing the cable to remain flexible for easy installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structure provides self-aligning features such as guide channels and positioning ribs that automatically guide the cable into the correct position during installation, eliminating the need for complex external alignment tools or procedures.
2Reliability
If the cable routing path is made complex to secure the cable, then fraud detection is improved, but the installation process becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cable routing path into distinct sections (entry channel, guide channels, bridge portion, exit channel) with specific functions. Each segment contributes to either security (preventing tampering) or ease of installation (guiding the cable), allowing the system to achieve both goals simultaneously through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the housing have different structural qualities optimized for their specific functions: some areas provide rigid constraint for security, while other areas provide smooth guide surfaces for easy cable routing. This local optimization allows the overall system to achieve both security and ease of installation.
3Reliability
If the cable is routed through multiple components to ensure security, then tamper detection is improved, but the installation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is pre-configured with all necessary guide channels, bridges, and positioning features during manufacturing. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for installers to create complex routing paths during installation, reducing installation time while maintaining the secure multi-component cable route for tamper detection.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
A housing (10) comprising a first housing portion (11) onto which a second housing portion (12) is engaged such that the housing portions have corresponding recesses (13, 14) for receiving a screw (20) to fasten the second housing portion to the first housing portion. The recess in the second housing portion receives a screw head and has two diametrically opposed lateral openings (15) for receiving a sealing cable (30) passing through the screw head. The recess in the second housing portion includes a cable retaining clip (19) in the opening adjacent to each opening, extending over a space (18) filled by a projection of the first housing portion. An electrical meter comprising such a housing.