T-Shaped Connecting Web for Cable Guide Side Wall Segments

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cable routing devices are complex in structure, manufacture, and assembly, making them costly and difficult to produce and assemble.

Innovation Solution

A side wall segment for cable routing devices is designed with pivotally connected links featuring a connecting web in the form of a T-shaped bar with a foot bar and a cross bar, where the cross bar's ends form stops to limit pivoting angles, allowing for a simple, cost-effective, and easy-to-assemble design that can be produced as a one-piece injection molded part.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If traditional cable routing devices are used, then cable guidance function is achieved, but structure complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructure complexityVSAvoidcable guidance function

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The side wall is divided into multiple side parts (first side part, second side part, third side part, fourth side part) that are pivotally connected through connecting webs. This segmentation allows the structure to achieve cable guidance functionality through relative movement while reducing overall structural complexity and manufacturing difficulty compared to a monolithic design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple functional elements are merged into single components. The connecting web serves both as a structural connector and as a pivot axis for adjacent side parts. The T-shaped bar integrates the foot bar (connecting element) and cross bar (limiting element) into one piece, reducing the number of separate components while maintaining guidance and limiting functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of manufacture

If traditional cable routing devices are used, then cable guidance function is achieved, but manufacturing and assembly difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing easeVSAvoidcable guidance function

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The side wall is divided into multiple side parts (first side part, second side part, third side part, fourth side part) that are pivotally connected through connecting webs. This segmentation allows the structure to achieve cable guidance functionality through relative movement while reducing overall structural complexity and manufacturing difficulty compared to a monolithic design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple functional elements are merged into single components. The connecting web serves both as a structural connector and as a pivot axis for adjacent side parts. The T-shaped bar integrates the foot bar (connecting element) and cross bar (limiting element) into one piece, reducing the number of separate components while maintaining guidance and limiting functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Strength

If more material is used for side wall segment, then mechanical stability improves, but weight and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical stabilityVSAvoidside wall segment weight

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The side parts have different dimensional characteristics optimized for their specific functions. The connecting web has a smaller width dimension (b) compared to its length (a), creating a plate-like structure with aspect ratio between 1:2 to 1:20. This local optimization provides sufficient mechanical stability for cable guidance while minimizing material usage and weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The side wall segment is preferably produced as a one-piece injection molded part, utilizing the properties of molded plastic material to achieve the required mechanical stability with minimal weight. The injection molding process allows for complex geometries to be formed without additional material or assembly complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP2142823B1Side wall segment for a cable guide device, cable guide device having a side wall segment, and method for producing the side wall segment

Publication Date: 2012.06.20 IGUS GMBH

Figure 1~1a
Figure 2
Figure 3~3a

AI summary

The invention relates to a side wall segment for a cable guide device (2) comprising links (3) pivotally connected to each other, each link having two opposite side parts (4) connected pivotally in a pivot plane to the immediately adjacent side parts and having stops (10) for limiting the pivot angle, wherein a plurality of side parts connected to each other form the side wall segment (1). The invention proposes that the side parts of the side wall segments be connected to each other integrally by a connecting web (5) extending in the longitudinal direction thereof and flexible in the pivot plane and have a web (6, 7) extending substantially perpendicular to said connecting web in the pivot plane and having a T-shaped longitudinal section and comprising a foot web (8) and a transverse web (9), wherein the foot web is connected to the connecting web and the transverse web is located at the end of the foot web opposite the connecting web, the faces of the transverse webs facing in the longitudinal direction of the web forming the stops for limiting the pivot angle.