Trolling Motor Cable Management Device
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Trolling motor cables tend to bunch up and interfere with the translation of the shaft when the trolling motor is stowed or deployed, especially as the shaft length increases, leading to potential damage and operational issues.
Innovation Solution
A cable management device with a mounting base that slides and rotates along the shaft, combined with a cable attachment system providing lateral spacing and pivotal motion, to prevent cable sagging and interference with the shaft's movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the shaft length is increased to improve stowing and deployment convenience, then the depth adjustment range is improved, but the cables become more prone to bunching and interference
Solution Approach 1:
A cable management device is introduced as an intermediary component between the shaft and cables. This device includes a mounting base that slides along the shaft and a cable attachment that secures the cables, preventing them from bunching up during shaft translation. The intermediary device effectively mediates the conflict between long shaft movement and cable management.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable management device incorporates dynamic elements: the mounting base can slide axially along the shaft, and the cable attachment can pivot about a second axis. These dynamic features allow the device to adapt to shaft movement while maintaining cable organization, resolving the contradiction between shaft mobility and cable stability.
2Ease of operation
If the shaft is translated axially for stowing or deploying, then the trolling motor can be positioned, but the cables interfere with the translation movement
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting base is designed to slide axially along the shaft during stowing and deploying operations. This dynamic adjustment allows the cable management device to maintain proper cable routing throughout the full range of shaft motion, preventing interference while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The position of the mounting base along the shaft changes as a parameter during operation. By allowing the mounting base to slide to different positions, the system adapts to various shaft configurations during stowing and deploying, ensuring cables remain organized and do not interfere with movement.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the cables are allowed to move freely during shaft translation, then flexibility is maintained, but excessive sagging occurs when the shaft is fully deployed
Solution Approach 1:
The cable attachment is positioned at a specific lateral offset from the shaft axis. This parameter change in positioning helps support the cables at an optimal location, preventing excessive sagging while maintaining necessary flexibility for shaft movement and deployment configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
A cable management device for managing cables of a trolling motor is provided. The cable management device can slide axially along a shaft of a trolling motor while being affixed to a portion of a cable of the trolling motor. A trolling motor including such a cable management device is provided.