How can a device prevent twisting of USB cables when rotating?

[James Kent]

This is a thought experiment: My PC is mounted on my ceiling. I want to run a USB peripheral through a cylindrical retraction device (like a dog leash). The device is going to mount to the ceiling also and rotate about it's vertical axis. This will allow me to pull down the mouse from the ceiling and use it at any point in the 10x10ft room below. NOW, let's say I want to be able to rotate around that retraction device with impunity, as many times (in one direction or the other) as I want. The problem is this: as the USB cable is pulled around and around it will begin to twist and eventually fail. I thought that a possible solution might be to let the USB rotate (to prevent the twisting) at it's connection point on the PC, but this device doesn't seem to exist. Also, what about proprietary (non-USB) cables?

I have a real use case, but it's too hard to explain.

 

[billy_joule]

The search term you need is 'usb slip ring'.

 

[pistolpete]

are you thinking something like this?

 

[Nidum]

Wireless mouse .

 

[James Kent]

are you thinking something like this?

These devices have limits, namely a SINGLE rotation function.

 

[berkeman]

This is a thought experiment: My PC is mounted on my ceiling. I want to run a USB peripheral through a cylindrical retraction device (like a dog leash). The device is going to mount to the ceiling also and rotate about it's vertical axis. This will allow me to pull down the mouse from the ceiling and use it at any point in the 10x10ft room below. NOW, let's say I want to be able to rotate around that retraction device with impunity, as many times (in one direction or the other) as I want. The problem is this: as the USB cable is pulled around and around it will begin to twist and eventually fail. I thought that a possible solution might be to let the USB rotate (to prevent the twisting) at it's connection point on the PC, but this device doesn't seem to exist. Also, what about proprietary (non-USB) cables?

I have a real use case, but it's too hard to explain.

Welcome to the PF.

Wireless mouse

I agree with Nidum. Why in the world are you not using a wireless mouse? Cables seem like such a pain for your ceiling-mounted PC...

 

[James Kent]

Welcome to the PF.

I agree with Nidum. Why in the world are you not using a wireless mouse? Cables seem like such a pain for your ceiling-mounted PC...

Because this is a thought experiment. I'm trying to extract a possible solution by describing a simulacrum. Do you think I got this far without being aware of wireless mice? I apologize if that seems rude, but I was directed to these forums with the assumption that I would be respected even though my knowledge is limited. Nidum's response is dismissive and callous.

Thank you for the welcome.

 

[berkeman]

Nidum's response is dismissive and callous.

I disagree. If I'd seen your post before him, I would have made the same suggestion.

What about the USB slip ring suggestions? Those would seem to fit your uber-strange requirements pretty well...

 

[James Kent]

I disagree. If I'd seen your post before him, I would have made the same suggestion.

What about the USB slip ring suggestions? Those would seem to fit your uber-strange requirements pretty well...

In fact, I am reading about this USB slip ring right now.

http://www.moflon.com/musb.html

Truly fascinating, but it's a lot to absorb. I will report back when I have a firmer grasp.

 

[NascentOxygen]

Why in the world are you not using a wireless mouse?

Security considerations, perhaps? Wireless devices are easily sniffed. Someone could reconstruct what you're drawing, or the order of your voting preferences, or ...

 

[Philip Phelan]

I have designed many such slip-rings and indeed combined them with cable retractors so as to offer full xyz manouvrability in a room without being entangled. These devices can be very compact and can be bespoke designed, but maintaining signal quality on a slip-ring requires high quality materials.

 

[Baluncore]

Take a look at the anti-twister mechanism.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-twister_mechanism
http://shashanksharmaportfolio.weebly.com/uploads/2/3/0/0/23007620/1.7.pdf

If you can wind a cable or tube as a figure of eight, the twist will cancel.

 

[Baluncore]

There is a good simulation that demonstrates how belts can make a figure of eight, once over and once under, to cancel twist; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plate_trick