How does a cord retractor work

The only CO2 producing component of use associated with this product is the electrical energy consumed by the power indicator LED and lost due to resistance in the cord. This electrical energy is calculated using the below procedure. First, the energy lost due to the LED is calculated. It is assumed that the LED consumes 1 W 0.

This LED is always on when the extension cord reel is plugged into an outlet. Also, the assumption is made that the cord reel is always plugged in so the LED will be on for the 10 year lifetime of the cord reel. Next, the energy lost due to the resistance of the cord is calculated. The extension cord is made from 16 gauge wire, which has a resistance of 4. Assume that the two devices are used equally so the average power, P average , used is:.

Next, find average resistance produced by the devices being powered. Assume that the household outlet the reel is plugged into provides a voltage, V, of V:. Assume that tools are powered from the extension cord on an average of 1 hour each day over the 10 year lifetime of the cord reel. Find total amount of energy, E cord , consumed by the cord due to lost power:.

Thus, the total electrical energy, E total , consumed by the device is calculated below:. These values are presented in the below table and pie charts. As can be observed in the above table, the greatest sources of CO2 production during this product's life cycle are due to electricity use and copper wire production. So, the elimination of the power indicator light and a reduction in the length of the cord represent two ways CO2 production could be reduced during this product's life.

However, both of these options would potentially result in a product that is less attractive to the consumer.

The table below summarizes aspects of the product that are already environmentally friendly and identifies ways the product could be changed to render it more environmentally friendly. In general, some goals for designing for manufacturing and assembly are: ease of manufacturing and assembly, lower production cost with maintenance of high quality products. These goals can be attained among other ways by making informed decisions in design of part features and in choosing particular classes of manufacturing process, i.

The Bayco Cord Reel that we are analyzing made use of the following processes in manufacturing:. The table below lists some specific guidelines that should be followed in manufacturing and assembly as well as how we saw them implemented in the competitor's product and areas that we felt could use improvement. Having analyzed the information in the table we concluded that from a manufacturing and assembly standpoint the competitor's product is already fairly simple, but it could be further improved in the following ways:.

Our team met on a weekly basis to discuss our progress on each of our assignments. In these meetings we collaborated with one another to complete these sections. Cooperation and communication played key roles in our group's success. US Industry Benchmark model. Jiang, Jess. Lucius, Jeff. Jump to: navigation , search. Views Page Discussion View source History. Personal tools Log in. Ratcheting Mechanism. Torsional Spring. Stops the coil reel from rotating using its notches and allows the cord to retract using its concave edge.

Slides into one of the ratchet gear notches to stop coil reel rotation and slides off to let the cord retract. Fastens the spring electrical contact and the outer end of the spring coil onto the spring reinforcement plate. Encloses the extension cord, spring coil, coil reel, and most components of the retractable cord. Prevents the inner end of the spring coil from turning while the coil is applying force to retract the cord. Power strip acts as handle to pull cord out Mount allows base to pivot, increasing functional use area.

Make the instruction manual online instead of printing it Two outlets or split cord. Cardboard packaging could be improved to make recycling easier no glossy colors Paint and decals make recycling of materials more difficult Dielectric grease may not be recyclable.

Change rubber coating on cord to woven mesh to reduce weight Change spring material and amount to reduce diameter of product Change casing material from metal Add more holes to metal parts inside case. Use water based paint Anodize instead of paint if made from aluminum Recycle leftovers from steel stamping Use only one type of plastic Simpler features in molded parts. Packaging not destroyed upon opening: Ability to reuse box for something else.

You might think that retractable cords are a contemporary convenience, but actually, the term shows up in U. Patent Office documents going back to the early s. For example, here's a patent awarded in for a vacuum cleaner handle, which is equipped with a grip that allows the user to control how much of the sweeper's electrical cord is wound back by the spring-operated drum inside it. This patent awarded in covers an electrical cord retracting mechanism.

Retractable cords have other uses besides electronics. The International Space Station attaches an foot-long steel retractable cable to any astronaut who ventures outside on a spacewalk. Retractable cords aren't to be confused with retractile cords. The latter are covered with a specially-treated insulation or jacket that causes them to curl up, like an old-fashioned phone cord, according to the book " Cabling: The Complete Guide to Network Wiring ," by David Barnett, David Groth, and Jim McBee.

Sign up for our Newsletter! Retractable cords are safe, easy to use and install, and result in far less clutter than regular extension cords. If you're considering using a retractable cord, it's best to know how this type of cord works.

Cords are inarguably one of the most important tools for your home because electrical outlets are often placed far away from certain appliances.

Put several long cords in the same space, though, and you end up with a nest of tangled cords. Retractable cords help eliminate this problem by allowing you to wind slack cord back into a receptacle, keeping clutter off your floor.

However, it's best to know how these work to keep the cords in good condition. A retractable cord is a cord or cable that retracts back to a device when it is pulled a certain distance from that device. In short, this type of cord allows the user to neatly store the cord when it's not in use, and to keep excess cord out of the way.