Reusable Wire Grabber With Flexible Fingers for Damage-Free Pulling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Installers face significant waste and cost due to the inefficiencies of existing wire pulling methods, where wires are often damaged or excessively cut during the pulling process, leading to substantial losses in wire length and material.
Innovation Solution
A reusable and removable wire grabber device with a base, gripper, and collar system that securely attaches to the wire using a threaded attachment, allowing for efficient pulling through various spaces without damaging the wire, featuring flexible fingers and a contoured design for retaining pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wire is secured to rod using tape for pulling, then wire can be pulled through inaccessible spaces, but wire is damaged and excessively cut after pulling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a wire grabber device as an intermediary tool between the wire and the pulling rod. The grabber securely grips the wire without damage and attaches to the rod, eliminating the need for tape that damages wire. This mediator resolves the contradiction by enabling effective pulling while preserving wire integrity for reuse.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the disposable tape method with a reusable wire grabber device. Instead of discarding damaged wire and tape after each pull, the grabber can be reused multiple times, transforming a disposable approach into a sustainable one that reduces material loss.
2Productivity
If wire is cut free from rod after pulling, then pulling operation is completed quickly, but several inches of wire are wasted on each pull
Solution Approach 1:
The wire grabber serves as a mediator that remains on the rod after wire release, eliminating the need to cut wire to remove attachment materials. The grabber can be easily detached from the rod and reused, maintaining high productivity while preventing wire waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables recovery of the wire after pulling by using a grabber that can be removed without damaging the wire. The wire is released intact and can be reused, while the grabber itself is the component that is discarded or reused, not the wire.
3Productivity
If existing wire attachment products are used, then wire pulling is aided, but wire is damaged and requires cutting
Solution Approach 1:
The wire grabber is designed as a sophisticated intermediary that grips the wire without damage through its jaw mechanism. Unlike simple attachment products that may cut or damage wire, the grabber provides secure yet non-damaging attachment, maintaining wire integrity while enabling efficient pulling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the attachment mechanism from direct wire-to-rod attachment (which damages wire) to wire-to-grabber-to-rod attachment. The grabber's adjustable jaw pressure and gripping surface parameters are optimized to hold wire securely without exceeding damage thresholds.
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 wire grabber significantly reduces wire waste by allowing for multiple pulls without cutting the wire free, minimizing material loss and installation time, while maintaining wire integrity throughout the pulling process.
Implementation Method 1
a threaded attachment (112) configured to attach to a threaded rod (204)
Implementation Method 2
by applying pulling tension to the threaded attachment (112) the wire is pulled from a starting location to a destination location
Implementation Method 3
the contoured interior wall to engage the exterior contoured edge of the flexible finger causing the flexible finger to apply retaining pressure to the wire
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a wire gripper to aid in wire pulling and method of use, A gripper is inserted into an interior cavity. A base comprises an interior cavity and a threaded attachment. The gripper comprises more than one flexible finger. A wire receptacle is formed between the flexible fingers. The gripper slides into the interior cavity of the base. A collar is open at both the top and bottom end. A wire passes through the top end of the collar and slides into the wire receptacle. The wire is retained within the wire receptacle by fastening the base to the collar causing the flexible finger to apply retaining pressure to the wire preventing the wire from being removed from the wire grabber. A pulling tension is applied by an installer person to the wire grabber to pull the wire from a starting location to a destination location.