Adjustable Shrink-Fit Heating for Complex Cable Geometries
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shrinking devices are not versatile enough to handle complex geometries and varying product sizes, requiring multiple devices with different heaters for different products, which increases costs and reduces manufacturing flexibility.
Innovation Solution
The shrinking device features an adjustable heating system with upper and lower partial heating systems that can move along multiple axes, allowing precise positioning and optimal heat input, along with a modular design that enables combination of workpiece holders and independent operation of heating and cooling systems, facilitating flexible use across various products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple shrink devices with different heaters are used for different products, then product-specific heating requirements are met, but device complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heating device is designed with a movable heating element carrier that can be positioned at different locations along the longitudinal axis to accommodate different product sizes and geometries. The workpiece holder is also movable along the longitudinal axis, allowing the same device to handle various cable lengths and configurations. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for multiple dedicated heating devices for different products.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating element carrier and workpiece holder are both designed to be movable along the longitudinal axis, enabling dynamic adjustment of the heating zone position and distance to the workpiece. This dynamic capability allows the single device to adapt to different product geometries and sizes, providing the flexibility previously requiring multiple fixed devices.
2Productivity
If the heater is moved closer for smaller products, then heating efficiency improves, but risk of damage to pipes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element carrier is movable along the longitudinal axis, allowing the distance between the heater and workpiece to be dynamically adjusted. For smaller products, the heater can be positioned closer to improve heating efficiency, while for larger products or delicate pipes, the heater can be moved farther away to prevent damage. This dynamic positioning capability enables optimization of heating parameters for each specific product.
Solution Approach 2:
The distance between the heating element and workpiece can be varied as a controllable parameter. By changing this parameter, the heating intensity and thermal impact on the workpiece can be adjusted to match the specific requirements of different products, preventing both insufficient heating and excessive heat damage.
3Device complexity
If fixed heating positions are used for different products, then device structure is simplified, but adaptability to complex geometries is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
While maintaining a relatively simple overall structure, the heating element carrier and workpiece holder are equipped with movement capabilities along the longitudinal axis. This adds minimal structural complexity but significantly enhances adaptability to different product geometries and positions, allowing the device to handle complex geometries that would require multiple fixed-position devices.
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
This design allows for precise heat application and efficient processing of diverse products, reducing the need for multiple devices and enhancing manufacturing flexibility by enabling optimal power input and minimizing the shrinking process while optimizing thermal management and production throughput.
Implementation Method 1
a heater with a heating element carrier on which several heating elements are arranged, which can be energized differently and which thus arranged above the respective shrink tube of the workpiece holder and heat the shrink tube
Implementation Method 2
a cooling system for cooling the at least one workpiece arranged in the workpiece holder
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a shrink-fit device for carrying out a shrink-fit process on a shrink-fit tube which is pulled onto at least one cable, having: a heating space, which is formed and enclosed by said shrink-fit tube; a workpiece holder which can be introduced into the heating space and defines a workpiece plane in which at least one workpiece is arranged; a heating system with a heating element support (28); a cooling system for cooling the at least one workpiece arranged in the workpiece holder (20, 22, 24); and a controller. According to the invention, to increase the manufacturing flexibility, the heating system comprises an upper and a lower part-heating system, which each have an upper and a lower heating element support, which are adjustable along three axes and are each rotatable along a rotation axis.