Twisting Device Spacer Units for Cable Line Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing twisting devices face challenges in effectively separating and managing multiple individual lines during the twisting process, leading to potential line flashovers and inefficiencies in producing twisted cables with two or more lines.

Innovation Solution

A twisting device equipped with a pitch positioning unit featuring retractable and extendable spacer units that can be angularly offset, allowing for precise spatial separation of individual lines, preventing them from intertwining and facilitating the twisting process by ensuring each line is assigned a specific sector, thus preventing line flashovers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If multiple individual lines are twisted together without proper separation, then the twisting process becomes more complex and lines may intertwine incorrectly, but adding separation mechanisms increases device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveline separation precisionVSAvoidtwisting device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pitch positioning unit is divided into multiple independent spacer units, each responsible for separating individual lines. This segmentation allows precise control over line positions without requiring a monolithic complex structure, resolving the contradiction by achieving high separation precision through modular simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The spacer units extend in a radial direction perpendicular to the twisting axis, creating separation in a dimension orthogonal to the primary twisting motion. This dimensional approach enables effective line separation without interfering with the twisting process, maintaining device simplicity while achieving precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If spacer units are extended to separate lines, then line flashovers are prevented, but the device requires more space and becomes less compact

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of line flashoversVSAvoidpitch positioning unit volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The spacer units are designed to be movable between extended and retracted positions along the radial direction. During twisting operations, they extend to prevent line flashovers and ensure reliability. When not in use, they retract to minimize the device volume, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and compactness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The movable spacer units can be nested within the pitch positioning unit structure when retracted, similar to nested dolls. This allows the device to maintain a compact form factor while still providing extended separation capability when needed, balancing reliability requirements with space constraints

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Manufacturing precision

If the twisting device is designed for high precision line positioning, then manufacturing precision improves, but the ease of operation decreases due to more complex adjustment mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveline positioning accuracyVSAvoiddevice operation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The spacer units are designed to automatically position and maintain the correct radial distance from the twisting axis through their mechanical configuration. This self-positioning capability eliminates the need for complex manual adjustments, achieving high positioning accuracy while maintaining ease of operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The functions of line separation, positioning, and flashover prevention are merged into a single integrated pitch positioning unit with movable spacer elements. This consolidation achieves precise line positioning through a unified mechanism that is simpler to operate than multiple separate adjustment systems would be

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3246463B1Twisting device and method of operation
Publication Date: 2020.09.09 LISA DRAXLMAIER GMBH
  • EP3246463B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3246463B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP3246463B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The invention relates to a twist positioning unit (4, 4a; 4, 4b) for a twisting device (1) for a movable arrangement between a twisting unit (2) and an untwisting unit (3). The twist positioning unit (4, 4a; 4, 4b) has at least one spacer unit (5) that can be extended and retracted perpendicular to a direction of travel (V) and which can be controlled such that the spacer unit (5) retracts to a predetermined distance from the untwisting unit (3) while the twisting unit (2) continues to complete the twisting process. The invention further relates to a twisting device (1) and a method for operating such a device. The invention is particularly advantageous for twisting more than two individual cables.