Wire Fixation Comb With Wavelined Flags
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wire fixation combs in low voltage compartments suffer from suboptimal stiffness due to pairwise arrangement of bendable flags, which prevents wires from achieving an optimal fixation position.
Innovation Solution
The flags on both sides of the teeth are slit in an alternating wavelike pattern, allowing complementary fit between neighboring teeth, and the socket strip features an incompletely U-profiled design with varying flank lengths and periodic snap elements for enhanced elasticity and fixation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If flags are arranged pairwise on both flanks of each tooth, then the structure is simple to manufacture, but the wire fixation stiffness is insufficient and optimal fixation position cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The comb is divided into multiple teeth (at least three teeth arranged in parallel), with each tooth having flags on both flanks. This segmentation allows wires to be fixed at multiple positions simultaneously, increasing overall fixation stiffness while maintaining a manageable structural complexity through modular repetition of the tooth-flag unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The flags on adjacent teeth are positioned at different heights (alternating pattern), creating local variations in flag arrangement. This local quality differentiation allows wires to engage with flags at optimal positions along the wire length, maximizing fixation stiffness at critical points while the overall structure remains relatively simple.
2Strength
If alternating wavelike slit pattern is used on flags of neighboring teeth, then wire fixation stiffness is enhanced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flags are designed with a wavelike (curved) slit pattern instead of straight lines. This curvature allows the flags to flex and adapt to wire positions more effectively, enhancing fixation stiffness. The wavelike pattern is integrated into the molding process, making it manufacturable despite the increased geometric complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The alternating wavelike slit patterns on adjacent teeth are designed to complement each other, with the waveform of one tooth fitting into the waveform of its neighbor. This merging of patterns across multiple teeth creates a continuous flexible structure that enhances wire fixation while being manufactured as a single integrated piece.
3Reliability
If snap elements are added to the socket for fixation to support frame, then fixation security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The snap elements are designed to automatically engage with the support frame when the comb is installed. The socket structure with its asymmetric flanks and integrated snap elements performs the fixation function autonomously without requiring additional fasteners or complex assembly steps, enhancing reliability while minimizing added complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The socket serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the comb, enables fixation to the support frame through snap elements, and guides the insertion of the comb during installation. By integrating these multiple functions into a single socket structure, the design improves fixation security without proportionally increasing device complexity.
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
This configuration enhances the stiffness and ease of fixation of the wire arrangement, allowing for secure positioning of wires and easy attachment to a support frame, while maintaining consistent and reproducible manufacturing quality.
Implementation Method 1
the slit flags will be spreaded. After the wires reached the final position between the teeth, the portions of the slit flags above the wire will bend back and secure the final position of the wires
Implementation Method 2
the longer flank of the socket is provided in a periodical distance with snap elements. This causes a different bend behavior between the two flanks of the socket strip
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
Wire arrangement fixation comb (1) to fix the wire arrangement in low voltage compartment, comb consist of a number of parallel teeth (2), between which the wires or cables has to be arranged, wherein each tooth is provided on both flanks with bendable or flexible slitted flags (3), which are able to fix the wires in position, after they can be inserted between the teeth of the fixation comb, according to the preamble of claim 1. In order to enhance the fixation or the stiffness of the wire fixation, the invention is, that the flags on both sides are slitted in alternating wavelike line, in such, that the wavelined flag of one flank of a first tooth is shifted, and complementarily fits into the wavelined flag of a second directly neigboring tooth, and so on.