Segmented Cable Guide Reduces Bending Radius and Fatigue
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable protection and guide apparatuses face challenges such as difficulty in installation within restricted spaces due to large bending radius, instability during bending, inability to be easily cut or connected, high production burden, and complex assembly and disassembly processes, leading to potential damage and resonance issues.
Innovation Solution
An articulated cable protection and guide apparatus composed of synthetic resin block bodies linked together, featuring a flexible belt member with tubular storing portions for secure cable guidance between machine frame and movable ends, with connector units for easy installation and maintenance, allowing for straight and bending postures without contact with supporting members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If stainless steel or leaf spring is used as the flexible material composing the supporting member, then the supporting member can maintain structural integrity, but the apparatus cannot be installed within restricted space due to large bending radius
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting member is divided into multiple rigid blocks connected by flexible elements, allowing the structure to bend in restricted spaces while maintaining overall structural integrity. Each block can rotate relative to adjacent blocks, enabling small bending radii without compromising strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The supporting member combines rigid blocks with flexible connecting elements to create a composite structure that exhibits both strength and flexibility. This composite design allows the apparatus to navigate restricted spaces while maintaining structural integrity during bending operations.
2Duration of action of moving object
If stainless steel is used as the flexible member, then the member can maintain flexibility, but the apparatus may breakdown and rupture as a result of fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the flexible member into discrete rigid blocks connected by flexible elements, the patent eliminates the fatigue issues associated with continuous stainless steel bending. Each block remains rigid and fatigue-resistant, while the connection points provide the necessary flexibility without the stress concentration that causes fatigue failure in continuous materials.
3Stability of the object's composition
If stainless steel or leaf spring is used as the flexible material, then the supporting member can provide continuous support, but the device cannot be easily cut and connected for replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting member is constructed from discrete, separable blocks that can be individually removed, cut, or replaced. This segmentation maintains continuous support during operation while enabling easy modification and replacement by simply disconnecting and reconnecting the modular blocks.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the prior art device uses injection-molding pieces one at a time to stainless steel or leaf spring, then the supporting member can be customized, but the production requires much burden and time
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting member is designed as an assembly of standardized modular blocks that can be pre-manufactured and then quickly assembled. This segmentation enables mass production of individual blocks followed by rapid assembly, significantly reducing production time while maintaining customization capability through different block configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple standardized blocks are combined through simple connections to form the complete supporting member. This merging approach allows for mass production of individual components and rapid assembly, eliminating the time-consuming injection-molding process while preserving adaptability through modular configuration.
5Force
If the supporting members are retained by clamping means, then the conductors and conduits can be held securely, but the supporting members may be dislocated or fall out of the jacket component
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping mechanism is divided into multiple clamping points distributed along the supporting member. This segmentation provides both secure retention through cumulative clamping force and stability through distributed attachment points, preventing dislocation or falling out of the jacket component.
6Reliability
If the conductors, conduits and supporting members are fixed in the machine frame-side stationary end area, then the apparatus can provide stable cable guidance, but the assembly and disassembly becomes difficult during maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The cable guidance system is segmented into modular components that can be independently accessed and removed. This segmentation maintains stable cable guidance during operation while enabling easy maintenance by allowing individual components to be detached without disassembling the entire apparatus.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an articulated cable protection and guide apparatus that can securely and stably guide a large number of cables, can assure durability of articulated supporting members that operate between straight and bending postures for a long period of time, and can be easily disassembled and assembled at a machine frame-side stationary end-side connector unit or at a moving end-side connector unit. The articulated cable protection and guide apparatus comprises: a stationary end-side connector unit for affixing each stationary end of articulated supporting members, cables and a flexible belt member integrally to a machine frame-side stationary end area; a moving end-side connector unit for affixing each moving end of the articulated supporting members, cables and a flexible belt member integrally to a movable-side moving end area.