Steerable PDU Cable Routing Harness
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing power drive units in aircraft cargo compartments face challenges in managing electrical cabling routing, particularly in steerable units, which can lead to entanglement and grounding issues due to the confined vertical space and need for efficient cable management to facilitate directional movement of Unit Load Devices (ULDs).
Innovation Solution
A managed routing and access harness system for power drive units, featuring a flexible harness with cover members and a spring member to securely route electrical cables, and a bracket system that allows for easy attachment and rotation with the power drive unit, preventing cable entanglement and grounding while enabling flexible directional movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If electrical cabling is routed in confined vertical space of steerable PDU, then space is saved and rotation is enabled, but cable entanglement and grounding issues occur
Solution Approach 1:
The harness system is divided into multiple segments including a first portion and a second portion, with the first portion routed through a first opening and the second portion routed through a second opening. This segmentation allows each cable portion to be independently managed and routed through separate paths, preventing entanglement while maintaining compact space utilization in the steerable PDU.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary structural elements including a bracket assembly with openings, cover members, and routing channels that mediate between the cable and the rotating mechanism. These intermediaries guide and protect the cables during rotation, preventing direct contact with moving parts that could cause entanglement or grounding issues while maintaining the compact vertical space configuration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If steerable PDU rotates to change direction, then directional movement of ULD is enabled, but cable entanglement and grounding occur
Solution Approach 1:
The harness system is designed with dynamic routing capabilities where the first and second portions of the harness can move independently relative to each other and to the bracket assembly during rotation. The cover members and routing channels are configured to accommodate rotational movement while maintaining cable organization, allowing the steerable PDU to change direction without causing cable entanglement or grounding.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent routes cables through multiple dimensions and planes by utilizing vertical openings, horizontal routing channels, and three-dimensional bracket structures. This multi-dimensional routing approach separates cable paths in space, preventing entanglement during rotation while enabling full directional movement capability of the steerable PDU.
3Ease of manufacture
If fixed PDU is used with simple cable routing, then manufacturing is simplified, but directional movement capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket assembly and harness system are designed as universal components that can be integrated with both fixed and steerable PDU configurations. The same bracket structure with multiple openings and routing channels can accommodate simple cable routing in fixed PDUs while also supporting the complex rotational cable management requirements of steerable PDUs, enabling directional movement capability when needed without requiring completely different manufacturing approaches.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A harness system for a power drive unit is disclosed. In various embodiments, the harness system includes an electrical cable (580) having a first end and a second end, a plurality of cover members (581) positioned along a length of the cable and a spring member (582) positioned adjacent the plurality of cover members along the length of the cable.