Inward-Sloped Drum Face for Pipe Camera Cable Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cable storage drum-reels inefficiently store and deploy cables due to the cables winding randomly and causing wear and tear, leading to increased space usage and user effort, with cables having a tendency to jump out of the enclosure.
Innovation Solution
A cable drum-reel with an inward sloped drum face and optional cable guide-points to control and guide the push-cable entry and exit, reducing forces on the cable and enhancing storage efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a flat or outward sloped drum face is used, then the cable can be manually pushed into the drum, but the cable winds randomly and causes wear and tear
Solution Approach 1:
The drum face is designed with an inward slope rather than being flat or outward sloped. This curved surface geometry guides the cable along a controlled path as it enters the drum, preventing random winding and reducing friction-induced wear on the cable insulation and conductors.
2Device complexity
If a flat drum face is used, then the cable entry is simple, but the cable takes up more space and requires additional user effort
Solution Approach 1:
The inward sloped drum face creates a natural guiding surface that directs the cable toward the center hub. This curvature enables more compact and uniform cable winding, increasing storage efficiency without adding complex mechanical guidance systems.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a protruding lip is used to stop the cable, then the cable is contained, but the cable rubs against the lip causing wear and tear
Solution Approach 1:
The inward sloped face eliminates the need for a protruding lip by using the slope itself to guide and contain the cable. The cable follows the sloped surface naturally, preventing contact with sharp edges or lips that would cause friction wear.
4Ease of operation
If the cable is forced into the drum along a flat face, then deployment is straightforward, but forces on the cable increase causing wear and tear
Solution Approach 1:
The inward slope distributes the cable entry forces along the sloped surface rather than concentrating them at a single point or edge. This gradual guidance reduces peak forces and friction on the cable, extending its service life while maintaining ease of deployment.
Data Source
AI summary
Cable storage drum-reels, methods and systems are provided for deploying and retracting at least one push-cable with a distally mounted camera into and out of a pipe or cavity for applications such as plumbing and underground utility location. In an exemplary embodiment, a cable storage drum may include a centrally mounted axially projecting hub, and a housing to removably receive and rotatably support the cable storage drum. The housing may include an inside portion, and an outside portion with a front face and a rear face. The front face has an opening and is sloped inward toward the inside portion of the drum allowing a push-cable to be directed as desired into the cable storage drum and around the drum-reel. One or more cable guide points may be included for providing additional directional guidance of the push-cable into the drum and onto the hub.