Serpentine Cable Guide Structure for Multi-Pivot Cable Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cable guides are complex, inflexible, and inefficient in managing tensile and compressive forces when cables are routed over multiple pivot points, leading to cable damage and entanglement, especially in scenarios with limited structural space.
Innovation Solution
A cable guide system comprising a fastening structure and multiple guide ducts with serpentine curve-shaped segments that can compress and expand to accommodate tensile and compressive forces, allowing cables to be routed in a wave shape between pivot points, distributing forces uniformly and preventing entanglement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional cable guides are used to compensate cable length, then tensile and compressive forces are reduced, but the device complexity increases and flexibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The cable guide is divided into multiple guide ducts arranged next to one another, with each duct handling individual cables. This segmentation allows independent movement of each duct, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining cable protection through distributed force compensation
Solution Approach 2:
The guide ducts are designed to be movable relative to one another, allowing dynamic adjustment of cable paths. This dynamic configuration enables the cable guide to adapt to varying tensile and compressive forces without requiring complex fixed structures, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple cables are routed over multiple pivot points, then connectivity is improved, but cable entanglement and obstruction increase
Solution Approach 1:
Each cable is assigned to its own guide duct, physically separating cable paths. This prevents cables from entangling with one another while still allowing each cable to be routed over multiple pivot points, maintaining connectivity flexibility without the harmful effect of entanglement
Solution Approach 2:
The guide ducts act as intermediary structures between cables and pivot points. These ducts guide cables along controlled paths, preventing direct cable-to-cable contact that would cause entanglement, while still enabling versatile routing configurations
3Reliability
If cables are laid in wave shape for length compensation, then tensile and compressive forces are reduced, but space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The guide ducts are arranged in a linear sequence next to one another, utilizing a one-dimensional arrangement along the cable path. This linear configuration achieves force management through guided movement rather than requiring the three-dimensional wave shape, thereby reducing the volume occupied by the cable guide while maintaining reliable force management
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 cable guide system effectively minimizes cable damage by dynamically adjusting to tensile and compressive forces, maintaining cable separation and preventing entanglement, while optimizing space usage in applications with multiple pivot points.
Implementation Method 1
the two serpentine curve-shaped duct segments are configured so that they are resilient in such a way that they can be compressed toward the fastening structure and expanded away from the fastening structure, counter to a spring force
Implementation Method 2
the two serpentine curve-shaped duct segments are configured so that they are resilient in such a way that they can be compressed toward the fastening structure and expanded away from the fastening structure, counter to a spring force
Data Source
AI summary
A cable guide having a fastening structure, a plurality of guide ducts, arranged next to one another, which are coupled to one another by the fastening structure and each guide duct of which comprises two serpentine curve-shaped duct segments between which the fastening structure is arranged, wherein the two serpentine curve-shaped duct segments are configured resiliently in such a way that they can be compressed toward the fastening structure and expanded away from the fastening structure counter to a spring force.