Pivotable Wire Guide Cover Inversion for Detachment Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrical wire guiding apparatuses face issues where the cover detaches from the link body due to reactive forces from bent cables, leading to disengagement and potential deformation.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus features pivotably connected link members with a cover positioned on the inner side of bends, allowing the cover to block the opening surface and maintain engagement, while adjacent link bodies come into contact to limit bending angles and distribute forces, and inclined portions on the cover prevent interference with pivoting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the cover is attached to the outer side of the bend, then the cable accommodation is protected, but the cable's reactive force causes the cover to detach from the link body

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecover engagement reliabilityVSAvoidcable reactive force

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional design by positioning the cover on the inner side of the bend instead of the outer side. This inversion changes the force direction from tensile (pulling the cover away) to compressive (pushing the cover against the link body), thereby eliminating the detachment problem while maintaining protective function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful cable reactive force into a beneficial compressive force. By positioning the cover on the inner bend side, the cable's natural reaction force during bending pushes the cover firmly against the link body, enhancing engagement reliability rather than causing detachment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Reliability

If the cover is positioned to block the opening surface, then the link body and cover remain engaged, but the accommodation space for cables is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelink body and cover engagementVSAvoidcable accommodation space

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the cover positioning from the conventional outer side to the inner side of the bend. This inversion allows the cover to block the opening surface effectively while the compressive force from cable bending enhances rather than compromises the engagement between cover and link body

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the geometric parameter of cover positioning from outer-bend-side to inner-bend-side, which fundamentally alters the force interaction between cable, cover, and link body, enabling both secure engagement and adequate accommodation space

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If adjacent link bodies are made to contact each other, then bending angles are limited and forces are distributed, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforce distribution and bending controlVSAvoidlink body configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges adjacent link bodies by making them contact each other, which simultaneously achieves force distribution, bending angle limitation, and structural stability. This merging approach consolidates multiple functions into a simpler configuration rather than adding separate control mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11482845B2Electrical wire guiding apparatus

Publication Date: 2022.10.25 SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS LTD

AI summary

An electrical wire guiding apparatus 10 includes a plurality of link members 20 that are pivotably connected in series, and each have an accommodation space 25 for an electric wire W provided therein. Each of the plurality of link members 20 includes a link body 20A in which a surface positioned on an inner side of a bend in a pivoted state is open as an opening surface 20C, and a cover 20B that is engaged with the link body 20A, and blocks the opening surface 20C.