Waterfall Cable Router With Flexible Tabs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing waterfall- or spillover-type cable routers are prone to being moved out of place or sagging under the weight of cables, compromising their stability and effectiveness in routing cables in and out of cable trays.
Innovation Solution
A waterfall-type cable router design featuring a curved ramp with flexible tabs and secure tabs that can bend to secure the router to the cable tray, along with an extender plate for additional support, allowing for secure attachment without modifying the tray and maintaining structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If prior art cable router devices are used, then cable routing function is provided, but the devices are easily moved out of place or sag under cable weight
Solution Approach 1:
The cable router is divided into multiple functional segments: a body portion for routing cables, a curved ramp for guiding cables over the tray wall, and a mounting portion with flexible tabs for attachment. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently - the body provides routing function while the mounting portion provides secure attachment through flexible tabs that can bend during installation and then lock into place on the cable tray.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting portion incorporates flexible tabs that exhibit dynamic behavior during installation - they can bend flexibly to allow the router to be positioned and attached to the cable tray, then maintain a fixed rigid position once mounted to prevent movement or sagging under cable weight. This dynamic-to-static transition resolves the contradiction between ease of installation and operational stability.
2Reliability
If secure attachment features are added to prevent movement, then stability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting portion combines multiple functions into a single integrated structure: it provides both the attachment mechanism (flexible tabs with fastener holes) and the support function (curved ramp extending over the tray wall). The flexible tabs are integrally formed with the body portion, eliminating the need for separate mounting brackets or fastening mechanisms, thus improving stability without significantly increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible tabs are designed to bend and lock into place on the cable tray structure itself, using the tray's own geometry to provide the mounting surface. The tabs can be inserted and will naturally bend to conform to the tray's shape, then maintain their position without requiring additional fasteners or complex adjustment mechanisms. This self-securing feature improves reliability while keeping the device simple.
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
The design ensures stable and secure routing of cables, preventing sagging and movement of the router, while allowing for easy installation and maintaining the structural integrity of the cable tray.
Implementation Method 1
The rear portion of the curved ramp preferably includes a plurality of flexible tabs in a first position extending downward from the rear portion of the curved ramp, wherein the flexible tabs are configured to allow bending to a second position to secure the cable router to the cable tray.
Data Source
AI summary
A waterfall-type cable router for routing cables out of cable trays includes a curved ramp having a front portion and a rear portion, a vertical left curved wall transitioning into the curved ramp and extending the length of the left side of the curved ramp, and a vertical right curved wall transitioning into the curved ramp and extending the length of the right side of the curved ramp. The rear portion of the curved ramp has a population of tabs configured to attach to an extender. The extender allows a waterfall-type cable router assembly to rest on a wire cable tray with a sidewall of a higher length than the length of the cable router.