Twisted Spiral Cable Handling for Stress Distribution
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for handling and coiling cables with parallel composite rods, metal wires, or plastic fibers face challenges such as uneven stress distribution and difficulty in winding due to natural twisting tendencies, leading to potential weakening and inefficiencies in storage and handling.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that twist and spiral the cables along their longitudinal axis when coiled, allowing for even tension distribution and easier handling by maintaining a parallel, untwisted arrangement when extended, and transitioning to a twisted spiral configuration during coiling to mitigate stress and facilitate storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If cables with parallel composite rods are coiled in a traditional manner, then storage and handling become simpler, but uneven stress distribution and potential cable weakening occur
Solution Approach 1:
The cable is pre-twisted along its longitudinal axis before coiling, creating a controlled spiral configuration. This preliminary action ensures that when the cable is subsequently coiled on a spool, the stress is evenly distributed across all composite rods, preventing the uneven stress and potential weakening that would occur with traditional coiling methods.
2Stability of the object's composition
If metal wires are straightened before cable formation, then natural cast issues are resolved, but extra manufacturing steps and time are required
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of straightening metal wires to eliminate natural cast, the invention changes the approach by using composite rods that inherently lack natural cast characteristics. This parameter change in material selection eliminates the need for straightening operations and extra manufacturing steps, thereby maintaining wire alignment stability while improving manufacturing efficiency.
3Reliability
If cables are coiled with twisted spiral configuration, then stress distribution improves, but cable diameter increases
Solution Approach 1:
The twist is applied locally along the longitudinal axis of the cable rather than uniformly throughout. This creates a controlled spiral configuration where the twist angle varies along the length, allowing stress distribution to be improved in critical coiled sections while maintaining a smaller overall cable diameter compared to uniform twisting approaches.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and device for handling an elongate strength member. In the method, an elongate strength member with a plurality of elongate composite rods, or metal wires or plastic fibers are bundled together with the composite rods, or metal wires, or plastic fibers in a generally parallel and untwisted and un-spiraled arrangement when the elongate strength member is extended along a generally straight path, wherein the composite rods are longitudinally and rotatably moveable relative to each other. It is then twisted relative to a longitudinal dimension of the elongate strength member and the path of the elongate strength member is curved, such as by coiling.