Cable Housing Bundling for Agricultural Tractor Wiring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Agricultural machines face challenges in managing a large number of cables due to limited capacity in standardized protective hoses, leading to increased assembly complexity, space requirements, and vulnerability to vibrations and contamination, which results in errors and premature wear.

Innovation Solution

A dimensionally stable, tube-like housing arrangement that bundles and secures multiple cables in a space-saving design, reducing the need for individual fastening and protecting against mechanical and environmental influences, with a geometry adapted to the machine's structure and allowing for easy assembly and installation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If standardized protective hoses are used to bundle cables, then individual cables are protected, but the capacity is limited and multiple hoses are required increasing assembly complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable protectionVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple individual protective hoses into a single common housing arrangement that accommodates multiple cables simultaneously. This consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate protective tubes into one integrated structure, reducing the number of components and simplifying assembly while maintaining protection for all cables.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The common housing arrangement serves multiple functions: it protects multiple cables from mechanical damage, provides structural support for the cable bundle, and simplifies installation by treating all cables as a single unit. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for multiple specialized protective hoses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Quantity of substance

If multiple protective hoses are arranged next to each other or crossing, then all cables are accommodated, but assembly effort increases and errors occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable capacityVSAvoidassembly ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of arranging multiple protective hoses separately (next to each other or crossing), the patent combines them into a single common housing that accommodates all cables in one structure. This eliminates the confusion and assembly errors that arise from handling multiple separate hoses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cables are pre-bundled together in a cable harness before installation, and the common housing is designed to receive this pre-assembled bundle. This preliminary arrangement of cables simplifies the final installation step, as the entire bundle is installed as one unit rather than individual cables or multiple separate hose assemblies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Quantity of substance

If several protective hoses are used, then cable capacity is sufficient, but space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable capacityVSAvoidinstallation space
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent consolidates multiple protective hoses into a single common housing arrangement, which significantly reduces the space required for cable installation. Instead of having multiple separate hoses occupying different spaces, all cables are bundled within one compact structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The common housing arrangement acts as an outer container that nests multiple cables within its structure. This nested arrangement allows multiple cables to occupy the same spatial envelope, maximizing cable capacity while minimizing the overall space required for installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

4Reliability

If protective hoses are used under strong engine vibration, then cables are protected, but hoses may hit each other causing noise and wear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable protectionVSAvoidvibration damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By consolidating multiple cables into a single common housing arrangement, the patent eliminates the problem of separate hoses hitting each other under vibration. The unified structure prevents internal collisions between multiple protective tubes, reducing noise and premature wear while maintaining cable protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

5Reliability

If individual fastening of lines is performed, then cables are secured, but assembly time and error rate increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable fixationVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple individual fastening operations into a single fastening process. The common housing arrangement is secured as one unit, eliminating the need to individually fasten multiple separate protective hoses or cables, thereby significantly reducing assembly time and the potential for errors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cables are pre-bundled into a cable harness with fastening points arranged in a defined pattern before installation. This preliminary organization allows for rapid installation by simply securing the pre-prepared bundle at a few key locations, rather than performing multiple individual fastening operations during assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2703227B1Agricultural work machine
Publication Date: 2017.05.24 CLAAS TRACTOR
  • EP2703227B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2703227B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2703227B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The machine e.g. tractor, has a set of mutually spaced-apart functional elements (10) that serves for the provision of technical features of the agricultural working machine. A set of lines (11) is arranged for connecting each of the set of functional elements with each other. A dimensionally stable tubular housing assembly (20) is arranged for partially accommodating the set of lines for bundling purposes. The housing assembly with line sections takes an essentially outwardly closed structure.