APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR CONSTRUCTING A CABLE HARNESS

• US 20170331267A1
• Filed: 04/21/2017
• Published: 11/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2016
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Bentek Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bentek Corporation
• Inventors: DELAP, Wesley, TRAN, Vu, VO, Sau
• Application Number:
  US15/493,728
• Publication Number:
  US 20170331267A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/28 for wire processing before connecting to contact members, not provided for in groups H01R43/02 - H01R43/26
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 1/06 for laying cables, e.g. laying apparatus on vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/006 using extensible carrier for the cable, e.g. self-coiling spring extensible conductors or cables H01B7/06
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 2200/20 Identification of installed cables
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/34 comprising specially adapted electrical connection means to be structurally associated with the PV module, e.g. junction boxes
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/36 characterised by special electrical interconnection means between two or more PV modules, e.g. electrical module-to-module connection
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/44 Means to utilise heat energy, e.g. hybrid systems producing warm water and electricity at the same time directly associated with the PV cell or integrated with the PV cell H01L31/0525
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/60 Thermal-PV hybrids

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein enable assembly of a solar power cable harness to be completed in a more consistent and efficient manner than known methods of assembly.

Claims

1. A method for assembling a cable harness, comprising:

pulling one or more cables from a cable source by a turning spool;

cutting each of the pulled cables at a desired length;

labeling each of the cables;

coiling the cables; and

applying a respective connector to at least one end of at least one cable in the coil.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein the pulling and coiling of the cables include at least turning the spool to pull the cables and coil the cables around the spool.

3. The method of claim 2,

wherein the turning of the spool includes rotatably motor-driving the spool.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein pulling the cables from the cable source includes pulling one or more of the cables via a respective one or more counters which indicate a length of cable pulled.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the cables are pulled to a labeling station;

and

wherein the labeling of the cables is performed at the labeling station.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising binding the coiled cables before the coiling.

7. A method for facilitating a solar electricity installation, comprising:

producing a cable harness, including;

pulling one or more solar power cables from a cable source by a turning spool;

cutting each of the pulled solar power cables at a desired length;

labeling each of the solar power cables;

coiling the solar power cables suitably for the cable harness; and

applying a respective connector to at least one end of at least one of the solar power cables in the coil.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

transporting the cable harness to a solar electricity installation site; and

installing the solar power cables at the solar electricity installation site.

9. The method of claim 7,

wherein the pulling and coiling of the solar power cables include at least turning the spool to pull the solar power cables and coil the solar power cables around the spool.

10. The method of claim 9,

wherein the turning of the spool includes rotatably motor-driving the spool.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein pulling the solar power cables from the cable source includes pulling one or more of the solar power cables via a respective one or more counters which indicate a length of solar power cable pulled.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the solar power cables are pulled to a labeling station;

and

wherein the labeling of the solar power cables is performed at the labeling station.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising binding the coiled solar power cables before the coiling.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein pulling the solar power cables from the cable source includes pulling one or more of the solar power cables via a respective one or more counters which indicate a length of solar power cable pulled.

15. A solar power cable harness assembler, comprising:

a solar power cable supply station;

one or more counters;

a coiling station positioned to pull the solar power cables via the one or more counters and coil the solar power cables downstream from the first and second guides in a single coil suitable for a solar power cable harness;

a cutting station positioned for cutting each of the pulled solar power cables at a desired length indicated by the one or more counters; and

a binding station before the coiling station, at which the solar power cables are bound before coiling such that the coiling station creates the single coil of the bound solar power cables.

16. The solar power cable harness assembler of claim 15, wherein the coiling station includes a spool and a motor operably connected to rotate the spool and thereby pull and coil the solar power cables around the turning spool to produce the single coil.

17. The solar power cable harness assembler of claim 16, further comprising a labeling station positioned before the coiling station at which to label the solar power cables before coiling.

18. The solar power cable harness assembler of claim 16, further comprising a terminating station at which to apply a respective connector to at least one end of at least one solar power cable in the single coil of bound solar power cables.

19. The solar power cable harness assembler of claim 15, further comprising a labeling station positioned before the coiling station at which to label the solar power cables before coiling.

20. The solar power cable harness assembler of claim 15, further comprising a terminating station at which to apply a respective connector to at least one end of at least one solar power cable in the single coil of bound solar power cables.