Abstract:
The present invention provides an assembly for routing and retaining wires or cables in an electronic assembly or the like, including: an elongate member; and a plurality of annular structures disposed in a spaced apart relationship about the elongate member, wherein each of the plurality of annular structures defines a plurality of channels about its circumference, wherein each of the plurality of channels is configured to receive and retain a wire or cable.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a routing assembly for wires in electronic assemblies and the like. More specifically, the present invention relates to a rotary wire loom assembly for routing and retaining high power wires in electronic assemblies and the like. This rotary wire loom assembly serves to organize, separate, protect, and isolate the high power wires, allowing them to be packaged very densely. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Conventionally, in electronic assemblies and the like, high power wires are simply routed from point A to point B and “zip-tied” to one another and to anchor points along their path. Disadvantageously, this leads to disorganized wires that are not adequately and/or effectively separated from one another (e.g. power supply wires from return wires). This also leads to wires that chaff against one another, as well as against sharp objects. This further leads to high current wires that are inadequately isolated from one another—resulting in interference and heat build up that impacts the efficiency of power delivery, for example. One considerable challenge in dealing with high power and high current wiring is that such wiring is typically heavy and stiff, and, therefore, difficult to manipulate. 
         [0003]    Thus, what is needed in the art is an improved routing assembly for wires in electronic assemblies and the like. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In various exemplary embodiments, the present invention provides a rotary wire loom assembly for routing and retaining high power wires in electronic assemblies and the like. This rotary wire loom assembly serves to organize, separate, protect, and isolate the high power wires, allowing them to be packaged very densely. 
         [0005]    In one exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides an assembly for routing and retaining wires or cables in an electronic assembly or the like, including: an elongate member; and a plurality of annular structures disposed in a spaced apart relationship about the elongate member, wherein each of the plurality of annular structures defines a plurality of channels about its circumference, wherein each of the plurality of channels is configured to receive and retain a wire or cable. Preferably, the elongate member is disposed within an electronic assembly. Essentially, each of the plurality of annular structures is a rotary wire loom. Optionally, each of the plurality of annular structures defines an interior surface that is sized and shaped to anti-rotationally engage a corresponding exterior surface of the elongate member. Optionally, each of the plurality of channels has a substantially circular cross-sectional shape with an opening at the circumference of the corresponding annular structure. Preferably, each of the plurality of channels has a diameter that is slightly smaller than the corresponding diameter of the wire or cable. 
         [0006]    In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a method for providing an assembly for routing and retaining wires or cables in an electronic assembly or the like, including: providing an elongate member; and providing a plurality of annular structures disposed in a spaced apart relationship about the elongate member, wherein each of the plurality of annular structures defines a plurality of channels about its circumference, wherein each of the plurality of channels is configured to receive and retain a wire or cable. Preferably, the elongate member is disposed within an electronic assembly. Essentially, each of the plurality of annular structures is a rotary wire loom. Optionally, each of the plurality of annular structures defines an interior surface that is sized and shaped to anti-rotationally engage a corresponding exterior surface of the elongate member. Optionally, each of the plurality of channels has a substantially circular cross-sectional shape with an opening at the circumference of the corresponding annular structure. Preferably, each of the plurality of channels has a diameter that is slightly smaller than the corresponding diameter of the wire or cable. 
         [0007]    In a further exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides an electronic assembly, including: an assembly for routing and retaining wires or cables, including: an elongate member; and a plurality of annular structures disposed in a spaced apart relationship about the elongate member, wherein each of the plurality of annular structures defines a plurality of channels about its circumference, wherein each of the plurality of channels is configured to receive and retain a wire or cable. Preferably, the elongate member is disposed within a housing of the electronic assembly. Essentially, each of the plurality of annular structures is a rotary wire loom. Optionally, each of the plurality of annular structures defines an interior surface that is sized and shaped to anti-rotationally engage a corresponding exterior surface of the elongate member. Optionally, each of the plurality of channels has a substantially circular cross-sectional shape with an opening at the circumference of the corresponding annular structure. Preferably, each of the plurality of channels has a diameter that is slightly smaller than the corresponding diameter of the wire or cable. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The present invention is illustrated and described herein with reference to the various drawings, in which like reference numbers are used to denote like assembly components, as appropriate, and in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective diagram illustrating one exemplary embodiment of a densely packaged power distribution unit (PDU) that is configured to handle eight individual power feeds that must be logically organized as they are routed from the front panel to their respective filter boards; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective diagram of one exemplary embodiment of the rotary wire loom assembly of the present invention, highlighting the rotary wire looms and the elongate member that make up the rotary wire loom assembly; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective diagram illustrating one exemplary embodiment of the rotary wire loom assembly of  FIG. 2  packaged in the PDU of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective diagram illustrating one exemplary embodiment of the load side power feeds of  FIG. 1  routed from the breakers of  FIG. 1  through the rotary wire loom assembly of  FIG. 2 , with the elongate member of  FIG. 2  supporting the weight of the wiring; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a perspective diagram illustrating one exemplary embodiment of the return side power feeds of  FIG. 1  routed from the terminal blocks of  FIG. 1  through a second rotary wire loom assembly of  FIG. 2 , with the elongate member of  FIG. 2  again supporting the weight of the wiring. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    Again, in various exemplary embodiments, the present invention provides a rotary wire loom assembly for routing and retaining high power wires in electronic assemblies and the like. This rotary wire loom assembly serves to organize, separate, protect, and isolate the high power wires, allowing them to be packaged very densely. 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective diagram illustrating one exemplary embodiment of a densely packaged power distribution unit (PDU)  10  that is configured to handle eight individual power feeds  12  (the relative positions of which are illustrated in  FIG. 1 ) that must be logically organized as they are routed from the front panel  14  to their respective filter boards  16  (the relative positions of which are illustrated in  FIG. 1 ). It will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the contributions of the present invention may be utilized in conjunction with an electronic assembly other than the PDU  10 , with wires or cables other than the power feeds  12 , and between components other than the front panel  14  and the filter boards  16 , these contributions being flexible and robust. 
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a perspective diagram of one exemplary embodiment of the rotary wire loom assembly  20  of the present invention, highlighting the rotary wire looms  22  and the elongate member  24  that make up the rotary wire loom assembly  20 . Each of the rotary wires looms  22  includes an annular structure  26  defining and having a primary inside surface and diameter  28  and a primary outside surface and diameter  30 . The primary inside surface and diameter  28  may have any suitable dimension and shape for mating with a corresponding primary outside surface and diameter  32  of the elongate member  24  (substantially octagonal surfaces and diameters are illustrated in  FIG. 2 ). Preferably, the primary outside surface and diameter  30  of the annular structure  26  defines and includes a plurality of channels  34  configured to receive and retain the power feeds  12  or any other wires or cables of interest. Although substantially circular channels  34  are illustrated in  FIG. 2 , it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other cross-sectional shapes may be utilized. Preferably, the primary diameter of each of the channels  34  is slightly smaller than the primary diameter of the insulation of each of the power feeds  12  or other wires or cables of interest so that each of the power feeds  12  or other wires or cables of interest is securely retained in the corresponding channel  34  of the annular structure  26 . The annular structures  26  may be made of a metal, an impact resistant plastic, a ceramic, or any other suitable material. The elongate member  24  is slid through the primary inside surface and diameter  28  of each of the annular structures  26 , and the relative position of each of the annular structures is selected and fixed using a screw  36 , bushing (not illustrated in  FIG. 2 ), and/or the like. Preferably, the retention member utilized does not interfere with the desired routing of any wire or cable. The elongate member  24  may also be made of a metal, an impact resistant plastic, a ceramic, or any other suitable material. 
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a perspective diagram illustrating one exemplary embodiment of the rotary wire loom assembly  20  of  FIG. 2  packaged in the PDU  10  of  FIG. 1 . In general, the rotary wire loom assembly  20  is disposed within the PDU  10  or other electronic assembly or the like and oriented in a direction that is conducive to routing wires or cables as desired. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the rotary wire loom assembly  20  spans the PDU  10  from side to side, and is anchored at each side via a raised receiving platform  40  and one or more retention screws  42  that are disposed through the housing  44  of the PDU  10  and into the elongate member  24  of the rotary wire loom assembly  20 . It will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other retention mechanisms may also be used to hold the rotary wire loom assembly  20  in a given electronic assembly or the like, provided again that the desired routing of the wires or cables is not interfered with. 
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a perspective diagram illustrating one exemplary embodiment of the load side power feeds  12 ,  50  routed from the breakers  52  through the rotary wire loom assembly  20  of  FIG. 2 , with the elongate member  24  of  FIG. 2  supporting the weight of the wiring. Preferably, each wire  12 ,  50  is routed from the corresponding breaker  52  and into/through a channel  34  ( FIG. 2 ) of the adjacent annular structure  26  ( FIG. 2 ) of the rotary wire loom assembly  20 . The wire  12 ,  50  is then routed into/through the corresponding channel  34  of each of the annular structures  26  adjacent to the first annular structure  26  to one side or the other, thereby being threaded through and retained by the rotary wire loom assembly  20  until it exits to a termination point of interest directly or indirectly adjacent one end of the rotary wire loom assembly  20 . The same is true for each of the wires  12 ,  50 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is a perspective diagram illustrating one exemplary embodiment of the return side power feeds  12 ,  60  routed from the terminal blocks  62  through a second rotary wire loom assembly  20  of  FIG. 2 , with the elongate member  24  of  FIG. 2  again supporting the weight of the wiring. Preferably, each wire  12 ,  60  is routed from the corresponding terminal block  62  and into/through a channel  34  ( FIG. 2 ) of the adjacent annular structure  26  ( FIG. 2 ) of the rotary wire loom assembly  20 . The wire  12 ,  60  is then routed into/through the corresponding channel  34  of each of the annular structures  26  adjacent to the first annular structure  26  to one side or the other, thereby being threaded through and retained by the rotary wire loom assembly  20  until it exits to a termination point of interest directly or indirectly adjacent one end of the rotary wire loom assembly  20 . The same is true for each of the wires  12 ,  60 . Again, in the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the rotary wire loom assembly  20  spans the PDU  10  from side to side, and is anchored at each side via a raised receiving platform  40  and one or more retention screws  42  that are disposed through the housing  44  of the PDU  10  and into the elongate member  24  of the rotary wire loom assembly  20 . Again, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other retention mechanisms may also be used to hold the rotary wire loom assembly  20  in a given electronic assembly or the like, provided again that the desired routing of the wires or cables is not interfered with. 
         [0020]    Although the present invention has been illustrated and described herein with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments and examples may perform similar functions and/or achieve like results. For example, the rotary wire loom assembly for routing and retaining high power wires in electronic assemblies and the like of the present invention may take the form of a variety of assemblies for organizing, separating, protecting, and isolating wires, may be utilized in conjunction with a variety of wires or cables, and may be utilized in a variety of applications, not necessarily limited to high power wires in electronic assemblies as illustrated and described. Power antenna applications are one good example of the latter alternative. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of the present invention, are contemplated thereby, and are intended to be covered by the following claims.