Tether Cable Spooling Apparatus Without Slip Rings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tether cable spooling mechanisms for unmanned, remotely controlled vehicles rely on expensive and complex slip ring mechanisms to transfer power and signals, increasing the overall cost and complexity of the system.
Innovation Solution
A tether cable spooling apparatus that dispenses and retracts the cable without using a slip ring mechanism, utilizing a rotating armature with a pinion gear that engages an annular ring gear to drive a friction wheel, allowing continuous and smooth cable deployment and storage without kinking, and providing direct connectivity to power and signal sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a slip ring mechanism is used to transfer power and signals to the tether cable, then power and signal transmission is enabled, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the slip ring mechanism from the system entirely. Instead of using a slip ring to transfer power and signals to the rotating spool, the invention directly connects the power source and signal generator to the tether cable, eliminating the intermediate slip ring component that causes complexity and reliability issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The tether cable itself serves multiple functions: it provides mechanical support for the vehicle, transmits power, and carries control signals. By making the cable multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for separate slip ring mechanisms that would otherwise be required to transfer these different types of energy and information.
2Ease of operation
If a slip ring mechanism is used for cable spooling, then cable deployment is enabled, but the overall system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the expensive, complex slip ring mechanism with simpler, more economical components. The friction wheel and pinch wheel assembly uses basic mechanical elements that are much cheaper to manufacture and maintain, while still achieving the required cable deployment function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the electrical-mechanical slip ring system with a purely mechanical friction-based drive system. The friction wheel uses friction to transfer rotational motion from the motor to the spool, eliminating the need for electrical contacts and complex sliding mechanisms.
3Ease of operation
If a friction wheel is used to drive the cable spooling, then smooth cable deployment is achieved, but the mechanism requires precise friction control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a dynamic friction control system where the pinch wheel applies variable pressure to the cable based on the operational requirements. The friction wheel's contact pressure with the spool can be adjusted during operation to maintain smooth deployment at different speeds and cable tensions, adapting to changing conditions in real-time.
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 solution reduces costs and complexity while enabling efficient and reliable operation of unmanned vehicles by eliminating the need for slip rings, allowing for smooth cable management and uninterrupted power and signal transmission.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing a rotating armature with a pinion gear that engages an annular ring gear to drive a friction wheel, allowing continuous and smooth cable deployment and storage without kinking
Data Source
AI summary
A remotely controlled, tethered vehicle system is comprised of a communication network interface, a system command and control module, a power source, a tether cable spooling apparatus and a remotely controlled vehicle that is tethered to the communication, control and power source by a cable that is controlled to be dispensed from or retracted into the spooling apparatus. The spooling apparatus has a spooling mechanism that is controlled to move the cable into and out of the spooling apparatus without using a slip ring device.