Submarine cable and submarine cable system

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of submarine cables, and provides a submarine cable and a submarine cable system. The submarine cable adopts a sectional pre-integrated design and comprises a plurality of sections of submarine cable bodies, a pre-integrated connector box and a continuous connecting body. The two ends of each section of submarine cable body are integrally assembled with the connector box in advance in a factory, and the optical unit in the submarine cable body is pre-connected with the connecting socket on the connector box in the factory to form a standardized pre-integrated submarine cable section. Adjacent pre-integrated submarine cable sections are in butt joint through the connecting connectors, the connecting plugs matched with the connecting sockets are arranged at the two ends of each connecting connector, mechanical fixation and optical fiber conduction can be completed through direct plug-in fit, and complex operations such as field welding and sealing are not needed. Through factory pre-integration and plug-in butt joint, the splicing process is greatly simplified, the influence of sea conditions and climate on operation is avoided, the splicing time is remarkably shortened, meanwhile, the assembly precision and the connection reliability are improved, the subsequent fault risk is reduced, and the method is suitable for submarine optical cable fault repair and long-distance laying scenes.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of submarine cable technology, and more particularly to a submarine cable and a submarine cable system. Background Technology

[0002] Submarine optical cables are the core infrastructure for global transoceanic and transsea communications, undertaking more than 95% of international data transmission tasks. Their communication continuity directly affects global information exchange and economic activities. However, existing submarine optical cable systems face key technical shortcomings during fault repair or long-distance laying: traditional submarine optical cables are mostly single-segment structures. When a break occurs or the transmission distance needs to be extended, splicing, mechanical fixing, and sealing of optical fibers must be completed on-site at sea using junction boxes. However, on-site operations are greatly affected by environmental factors such as sea conditions and climate, and the splicing and sealing processes are complex, resulting in long splicing times and seriously affecting communication restoration efficiency. At the same time, the assembly of existing junction boxes and optical cables is mostly temporary on-site, which not only prolongs on-site operation time but also easily leads to insufficient connection reliability due to improper on-site operation, increasing the risk of subsequent failures. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To address the aforementioned technical problems, the present invention provides a submarine cable and a submarine cable system.

[0004] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a submarine cable, comprising: multiple segments of submarine cable body; a junction box, wherein each end of each segment of the submarine cable body is pre-integrated with a junction box, and the junction box is provided with a connection socket; and a connecting body, wherein every two adjacent junction boxes are connected by a connecting body, and each end of the connecting body is provided with a connecting plug, and each connecting plug is inserted into and connected to the corresponding connecting socket.

[0005] According to the present invention, a submarine cable body includes: an optical unit; an inner sheath covering the outside of the optical unit; an armor layer covering the outside of the inner sheath; a wrapping layer wrapping around the outside of the armor layer; and an outer sheath assembly covering the outside of the wrapping layer.

[0006] According to a submarine cable provided by the present invention, the outer sheath assembly includes: a middle sheath covering the outside of the wrapping layer; a sheath reinforcement layer covering the outside of the middle sheath; and an outer sheath covering the outside of the sheath reinforcement layer.

[0007] An adhesive layer is applied between the middle sheath and the sheath reinforcement layer, and between the sheath reinforcement layer and the outer sheath, so that the middle sheath, the sheath reinforcement layer and the outer sheath form an integrated sheath structure.

[0008] According to a submarine cable provided by the present invention, the junction box includes: an armor fixing member for fixedly connecting with the armor layer of the corresponding submarine cable body; and a fiber storage tray for winding the optical unit of the corresponding submarine cable body.

[0009] The optical unit is connected to the corresponding connection socket.

[0010] According to a submarine cable provided by the present invention, the junction box further includes: a protective cylinder, which covers the outside of the armored fastener, the fiber storage tray and the connection socket.

[0011] The submarine cable body is inserted into the protective cylinder and connected in sequence to the armor fixing component, the fiber storage tray and the connection socket.

[0012] According to a submarine cable provided by the present invention, the junction box further includes a sealing element connected to the connection point between the submarine cable body and the protective cylinder.

[0013] According to a submarine cable provided by the present invention, the junction box further includes: a bending protection member, the bending protection member being connected to the input end of the protective cylinder, and the submarine cable body passing through the bending protection member and then being inserted into the protective cylinder.

[0014] According to a submarine cable provided by the present invention, the connection socket is located at the output end of the protective cylinder.

[0015] The junction box also includes a protective cover, which is detachably installed at the output end opening of the protective cylinder.

[0016] According to a submarine cable provided by the present invention, the splicing connector includes: a connecting tube, the two ends of which can be detachably connected to the output end openings of the corresponding protective tube; and a connecting optical fiber, which is disposed in the inner cavity of the connecting tube, and the two ends of the connecting optical fiber are respectively connected to a connecting plug.

[0017] According to a second aspect of the invention, a submarine cable system is provided, comprising the submarine cable as described above.

[0018] The submarine cable provided by this invention adopts a segmented pre-integrated design, which includes multiple submarine cable segments, pre-integrated junction boxes, and dedicated splicing connectors. Each submarine cable segment has its ends pre-assembled with the junction box at the factory. The junction box is fixedly equipped with a connection socket, and the optical unit portion within the submarine cable segment has been pre-connected to this connection socket at the factory, forming a standardized pre-integrated submarine cable segment. Adjacent pre-integrated submarine cable segments are quickly connected via splicing connectors. Each end of the splicing connector is equipped with a connector plug adapted to the connection socket. By directly inserting the connector plug into the corresponding junction box's connection socket, the mechanical fixation and optical fiber conduction of the two submarine cable segments can be achieved without requiring additional complex operations such as on-site splicing and sealing.

[0019] This structural design offers several advantages. First, by pre-integrating and assembling the junction box in the factory and using a plug-in interface design, it replaces the traditional on-site splicing process at sea, significantly simplifying the splicing process. This avoids the impact of sea conditions and weather on complex on-site procedures, significantly shortening splicing time and improving the efficiency of communication fault recovery or long-distance laying. Second, the integrated assembly of the junction box and the submarine cable is completed in the factory, eliminating the need for on-site assembly and debugging, reducing on-site operations, further shortening the offshore construction cycle, and minimizing environmental interference. Third, the factory pre-integration model ensures the connection accuracy and assembly quality between the junction box and the submarine cable, and between the optical fiber and the connector, avoiding random errors from on-site manual operations. The plug-in connection structure also provides stability, improving the reliability of the submarine cable splicing and reducing the risk of failure during subsequent use.

[0020] Furthermore, the submarine cable system provided by this invention, since it includes the submarine cable as described above, also possesses the advantages described above. Attached Figure Description

[0021] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in this invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of this invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the docking structure of the junction box and splice connector in the submarine cable provided by the present invention.

[0023] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the junction box in the submarine cable provided by the present invention.

[0024] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the splicing connector in the submarine cable provided by the present invention.

[0025] Figure 4This is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the submarine cable body provided by the present invention.

[0026] Reference numerals: 100, Submarine cable body; 110, Optical unit; 120, Inner sheath; 130, Armor layer; 140, Wrapping layer; 150, Middle sheath; 160, Sheath reinforcement layer; 170, Outer sheath; 200, Junction box; 210, Armor fixing component; 220, Fiber storage tray; 230, Protective cylinder; 240, Sealing component; 250, Bending protection component; 260, Protective cover; 300, Splice connector; 310, Connecting cylinder; 320, Connecting optical fiber; 400, Connecting socket; 500, Connecting plug. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The embodiments of the present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. The following examples are for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

[0028] In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the embodiments of the present invention. In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0029] In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connected" and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of the present invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0030] In embodiments of the present invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "on top of," and "over" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0031] In the description of this specification, the terms "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., refer to specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with that embodiment or example, which are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Furthermore, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate different embodiments or examples and features of different embodiments or examples described in this specification to make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer. The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0032] The following is combined Figures 1 to 4 This invention describes a submarine cable and submarine cable system provided by an embodiment of the present invention. It should be understood that the following description is merely an illustrative embodiment of the present invention and does not constitute any particular limitation on the present invention.

[0033] An embodiment of the present invention provides a submarine cable, such as Figure 1 As shown, it includes: multiple submarine cable body segments 100; junction boxes 200, each of the two ends of each submarine cable body segment 100 is pre-integrated with a junction box 200, and the junction box 200 is provided with a connection socket 400; and a connecting body 300, each of two adjacent junction boxes 200 is connected by a connecting body 300, and each of the two ends of the connecting body 300 is provided with a connecting plug 500, and each connecting plug 500 is inserted and connected to the corresponding connecting socket 400.

[0034] In other words, the submarine cable provided by this invention adopts a segmented pre-integrated design, which includes multiple submarine cable bodies 100, pre-integrated junction boxes 200, and dedicated splicing connectors 300. Each submarine cable body 100 has its two ends pre-assembled with the junction box 200 in the factory. A connection socket 400 is fixedly installed on the junction box 200, and the optical unit 110 within the submarine cable body 100 has been pre-connected to the connection socket 400 in the factory, forming a standardized pre-integrated submarine cable segment. Adjacent pre-integrated submarine cable segments are quickly connected via the splicing connector 300. Both ends of the splicing connector 300 are respectively equipped with a connector plug 500 adapted to the connection socket 400. By directly inserting the connector plug 500 into the corresponding connection socket 400 of the junction box 200, the mechanical fixing and optical fiber conduction of the two submarine cable bodies 100 can be completed without the need for complex on-site operations such as splicing and sealing.

[0035] This structural design offers several advantages. First, by pre-integrating and assembling the junction box in the factory and using a plug-in interface design, it replaces the traditional on-site splicing process at sea, significantly simplifying the splicing process and avoiding the impact of sea conditions and weather on complex on-site procedures. This significantly shortens splicing time and improves the efficiency of communication fault recovery or long-distance laying. Second, the integrated assembly of the junction box 200 and the submarine cable body 100 is completed in the factory, eliminating the need for on-site assembly and debugging. This reduces on-site operations, further shortens the offshore construction cycle, and minimizes environmental interference. Furthermore, the factory pre-integration model ensures the connection accuracy and assembly quality between the junction box 200 and the submarine cable, fiber optic cable, and connector 400, avoiding random errors from on-site manual operations. The plug-in connection structure also provides stability, improving the reliability of the submarine cable splicing and reducing the risk of failure during subsequent use.

[0036] In one embodiment of the present invention, the submarine cable body 100 includes: an optical unit 110; an inner sheath 120 covering the outside of the optical unit 110; an armor layer 130 covering the outside of the inner sheath 120; a wrapping layer 140 wrapping around the outside of the armor layer 130; and an outer sheath assembly covering the outside of the wrapping layer 140.

[0037] Furthermore, in one embodiment of the present invention, the outer protective component includes: a middle protective layer 150, which covers the outer side of the wrapping layer 140; a sheath reinforcement layer 160, which covers the outer side of the middle protective layer 150; and an outer protective layer 170, which covers the outer side of the sheath reinforcement layer 160.

[0038] An adhesive layer is applied between the middle sheath 150 and the sheath reinforcement layer 160, and between the sheath reinforcement layer 160 and the outer sheath 170, so that the middle sheath 150, the sheath reinforcement layer 160 and the outer sheath 170 form an integrated sheath structure.

[0039] In other words, such as Figure 4 As shown, the submarine cable body 100 adopts a multi-layer composite structure design, which includes, from the inside out, an optical unit 110, an inner sheath 120, an armor layer 130, a wrapping layer 140, and an outer sheath assembly. Each layer works together to ensure that the submarine cable has the mechanical properties of being repeatedly retractable and stable transmission performance.

[0040] Specifically, the optical unit 110 is the core component for signal transmission in the submarine cable, consisting of optical fibers, fiber grease, and a stainless steel tube. To prevent fiber breakage due to tension during repeated deployment and retraction of the submarine cable, the optical fibers within the optical unit 110 have a 1.5-6‰ excess length. This excess length effectively offsets the tensile stress generated during deployment and retraction, ensuring the continuity and reliability of fiber transmission. The fiber grease, filling the space between the optical fiber and the stainless steel tube, acts as a waterproofing, buffer, and lubricant, reducing frictional damage between the optical fiber and the tube wall. The stainless steel tube provides rigid protection for the optical fiber, resisting external mechanical impacts and seawater erosion.

[0041] The inner sheath 120 tightly covers the outside of the optical unit 110 and can be made of vulcanizable equivalent materials such as thermoplastic elastomers, vulcanized rubber, or polyurethane. These materials possess both good flexibility and elasticity, acting as a buffer during the repeated bending and twisting of the submarine cable, absorbing external stress, and preventing the optical unit 110 from directly suffering mechanical damage. Simultaneously, its vulcanizability lays the foundation for a subsequent sealing fit with the junction box 200, ensuring the overall sealing performance of the submarine cable.

[0042] The armor layer 130 covers the outer side of the inner sheath 120 and is made of high-strength steel wire, non-metallic fiber rods, or other equivalent materials. Its core function is to improve the tensile strength and torsional resistance of the submarine cable, adapting to repeated deployment and retrieval requirements. To achieve a lightweight design, reduce the weight per unit length of the submarine cable, and reduce the stress load during deployment and retrieval, when high-strength steel wire is used as the armor material, the diameter of the metal armor wire is no greater than 2.0 mm.

[0043] Furthermore, such as Figure 4 As shown, the armor layer 130 consists of at least two armor layers 130. For example, the armor layer 130 structure includes a first armor layer 130 and a second armor layer 130, and the first armor layer 130 and the second armor layer 130 are twisted in opposite directions to form a torsional balance structure. This design can effectively counteract the torsional moment generated during the cable's deployment and retrieval, preventing the cable from twisting or deforming, and ensuring the smoothness of deployment and retrieval operations. At the same time, the multi-layer reverse twisted structure can disperse external tension, improve the overall tensile strength of the armor layer 130, and extend the service life of the cable after repeated deployment and retrieval.

[0044] The wrapping layer 140, made of non-metallic material, is wrapped around the outside of the armor layer 130. Its main function is to bind and fix the steel wires of the armor layer 130, preventing the multiple layers of armor wires from loosening, shifting, or crossing during winding and unwinding, thus ensuring the structural stability of the armor layer 130. Simultaneously, the wrapping layer 140 also acts as an insulator, preventing direct friction between the armor layer 130 and the outer structure, reducing wear on the armor wires, and indirectly improving the mechanical reliability of the submarine cable.

[0045] The outer sheath assembly, covering the outer side of the wrapping layer 140, is a key structure for the submarine cable to resist external environmental corrosion and withstand tension during deployment and retraction. It includes a middle sheath 150, a reinforcing sheath layer 160, and an outer sheath 170, with each layer tightly connected by an adhesive layer to form an integrated sheath structure. Specifically, the middle sheath 150 is made of vulcanizable equivalent materials such as thermoplastic elastomers, vulcanized rubber, or polyurethane, and its material properties are compatible with those of the inner sheath 120. This not only further buffers external stress but also enhances the overall sealing of the submarine cable through vulcanization, preventing seawater from seeping into the internal structure. The reinforcing sheath 160 is made of equivalent materials such as steel strip, stainless steel strip, steel-plastic composite strip, or stainless steel-plastic composite strip. Both its inner and outer sides are coated with hot melt adhesive or other bonding materials, firmly bonding it to the middle sheath 150 and the outer sheath 170, respectively. The core function of this layer is to enhance the overall tensile strength and structural rigidity of the outer sheath assembly, preventing the sheath from being pulled off, piled up, or damaged due to excessive tension during deep-sea cable deployment and retrieval, thus solving the problem of insufficient strength in traditional submarine cable outer sheath 170. Outer sheath 170 is made of polyethylene, polypropylene, or other equivalent materials, possessing excellent abrasion resistance, corrosion resistance, and aging resistance. It protects the submarine cable from mechanical wear, seawater corrosion, and UV aging during transportation, laying, and use, extending the cable's service life. The bonding layer is composed of high-performance bonding materials such as hot melt adhesive, ensuring that the middle sheath 150, the sheath reinforcement layer 160, and the outer sheath 170 form a seamless, integrated structure, preventing relative sliding between layers. This allows the outer sheath assembly to collaboratively withstand the tension during deployment and retrieval, improving the overall load-bearing capacity.

[0046] To ensure that the strength of the outer protective component meets the requirements of repeated deployment and retraction, this invention also provides a method for calculating the strength of the outer protective component.

[0047] Specifically, submarine cables are laid and retrieved using linear cable laying machines, such as tracked cable laying machines or tire-mounted cable laying machines.

[0048] When the cable laying machine clamps the submarine cable, the tension on its outer sheath components is: .

[0049] Where F is the tension of the cable laying machine on the outer sheath, μ is the coefficient of friction between the cable laying machine and the outer sheath assembly, P is the clamping pressure of the cable laying machine, and L is the effective clamping length of the cable laying machine.

[0050] During the deployment and retrieval of submarine cables, the tensile force borne by the outer sheath components is: .

[0051] Where T is the tensile force borne by the outer sheath component, σ is the adhesion coefficient between the outer sheath component and the armor layer, and C D denoted as the water resistance coefficient, h as the water depth in which the submarine cable is used, m1 as the weight per unit length of the submarine cable in water, n as the number of junction boxes, m2 as the weight of the junction box in water, E as the tensile stiffness of the submarine cable, and V as the deployment and retrieval speed of the submarine cable.

[0052] The overall tensile strength of the outer sheath is: .

[0053] Where t is the overall tensile strength of the outer protective component, k is the safety factor, and S 中 R is the cross-sectional area of ​​the intermediate retaining layer. m中 S represents the tensile strength of the intermediate protective layer material. 加 R is the cross-sectional area of ​​the sheath reinforcement layer. m加 For the tensile strength of the sheath reinforcement layer material, S 外 R is the cross-sectional area of ​​the outer sheath. m外 This refers to the tensile strength of the outer protective layer material.

[0054] To ensure that the overall strength of the submarine cable outer sheath assembly meets the requirements for repeated deployment and retraction, it is necessary to ensure that t > F and t > T.

[0055] Therefore, by employing a lightweight, torsional-balanced armor layer 130 design, combined with an integrated outer sheath assembly and strength verification methods, the tensile, torsional, and abrasion resistance of the submarine cable is significantly improved. This solves the problems of traditional submarine cables being unsuitable for repeated deployment and retrieval, and being easily damaged during these processes. The cable can be recycled, stored, and reused after maintenance, reducing operating costs. Furthermore, the middle sheath 150, the reinforcing sheath 160, and the outer sheath 170 form an integrated structure through an adhesive layer, significantly enhancing the overall strength of the outer sheath assembly and effectively preventing the risk of sheath pull-out, accumulation, or damage during deep-sea deployment and retrieval. Simultaneously, the application of vulcanizable materials enhances the sheath's sealing performance, preventing seawater penetration and corrosion of the armor layer 130, ensuring the long-term stability of the submarine cable. Moreover, by using a quantitative sheath strength calculation method to replace the traditional experience-based design approach, the actual stress requirements during cable deployment and retrieval are precisely matched. This avoids performance risks caused by insufficient sheath strength and material waste caused by excessively thick sheaths, improving the scientific and economical aspects of submarine cable design.

[0056] In one embodiment of the present invention, the junction box 200 includes: an armor fastener 210 for fixed connection with the armor layer 130 of the corresponding submarine cable body 100; a fiber storage tray 220 for winding the optical unit 110 of the corresponding submarine cable body 100; and the optical unit 110 is connected to the corresponding connector 400.

[0057] In one embodiment of the present invention, the junction box 200 further includes a protective cylinder 230, which covers the outside of the armored fastener 210, the fiber storage tray 220 and the connection socket 400.

[0058] The submarine cable body 100 is inserted into the protective cylinder 230 and connected in sequence to the armor fastener 210, the fiber storage tray 220 and the connecting socket 400.

[0059] In one embodiment of the present invention, the junction box 200 further includes a sealing element 240, which is connected to the connection point where the submarine cable body 100 and the protective cylinder 230 pass through.

[0060] In one embodiment of the present invention, the junction box 200 further includes a bending protection member 250, which is connected to the input end of the protective cylinder 230, and the submarine cable body 100 passes through the bending protection member 250 and is inserted into the protective cylinder 230.

[0061] In one embodiment of the present invention, the connection socket 400 is located at the output end of the protective cylinder 230.

[0062] The junction box 200 also includes a protective cover 260, which is detachably installed at the output end opening of the protective cylinder 230.

[0063] Furthermore, in one embodiment of the present invention, the connecting body 300 includes: a connecting cylinder 310, the two ends of which can be detachably connected to the output end openings of the corresponding protective cylinder 230; and a connecting optical fiber 320, which is disposed in the inner cavity of the connecting cylinder 310, and the two ends of the connecting optical fiber 320 are respectively connected to a connecting plug 500.

[0064] Specifically, such as Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the junction box 200 and the splice connector 300 are the core components for rapid splicing of submarine cables. Through pre-integrated design and precise assembly, they can be prefabricated in the factory and quickly plugged in and disconnected at sea, while ensuring the sealing reliability and structural stability in the seabed environment.

[0065] The junction box 200 adopts a modular pre-integrated design and mainly includes armored fasteners 210, fiber storage trays 220, protective cylinders 230, seals 240, bending protection components 250, and protective covers 260. The components work together to achieve the functions of fixing the submarine cable body 100, storing and protecting the optical unit 110, and sealing and protecting the connection socket 400.

[0066] Specifically, the armor fastener 210 is used to form a firm connection with the armor layer 130 of the submarine cable body 100, to distribute the tension generated during the cable laying and unloading process, and to prevent damage caused by stress concentration at the connection between the submarine cable and the junction box 200. The assembly process strictly follows these steps: First, the armor fastener 210 base is fitted onto the submarine cable body 100. After the cable head is treated, the steel wires of the armor layer 130 are bent outwards to separate them. The bending angle of the first armor layer 130 steel wires does not exceed 45°, and the bending angle of the second armor layer 130 steel wires does not exceed 60°. Simultaneously, the steel wires are prevented from crossing or tangling, and impurities on the steel wire surface are cleaned. The armor fastener 210 base is moved to the separated position of the armor layer 130. After cleaning the surface of the middle sheath 150, vulcanized sealant is injected into the middle sheath sealing area and allowed to stand for curing to form a primary seal. Armor fixing sealant is injected into the armor fastener 210 base. After the sealant has completely cured, the top cover of the armor fastener 210 is installed. Through the dual action of mechanical pressing and adhesive bonding, the reliability of the fixing between the armor layer 130 and the junction box 200 is ensured.

[0067] The fiber storage tray 220 is located inside the protective cylinder 230 and is used to coil the optical unit 110 of the submarine cable body 100, providing storage space for the connection between the optical unit 110 and the connector 400. After stripping, the optical fiber of the optical unit 110 is exposed and fused with the optical fiber reserved in the connector 400. The fused optical fiber is coiled in an orderly manner in the fiber storage tray 220. The fiber storage tray 220 is adapted to the bending radius requirements of the optical fiber to avoid transmission loss or breakage due to excessive bending of the optical fiber. At the same time, fiber storage tray 220 can be filled with fiber grease to further improve the waterproof and buffer protection effect of the optical fiber.

[0068] For example, the protective cylinder 230 can adopt a three-stage segmented structure, consisting of a primary protective cylinder, a secondary protective cylinder, and a tertiary protective cylinder from the input end to the output end. Each protective cylinder is connected by threads and then reinforced with screws. The inner cavity of the protective cylinder 230 forms a sealed chamber, providing targeted protection for different components. The primary protective cylinder covers the outside of the armor fixing component 210, primarily protecting the armor fixing structure from external mechanical impacts. Its input end connects to the bending protection component 250, and the submarine cable body 100 passes through the bending protection component 250 before entering the primary protective cylinder. The secondary protective cylinder connects to the output end of the primary protective cylinder and covers the outside of the fiber storage tray 220, providing a sealed protective space for the optical unit 110 and the splice area, preventing seawater erosion that could damage the optical fiber. The third-stage protective sleeve is connected to the output end of the second-stage protective sleeve and covers the outside of the connecting socket 400. Its output end has an opening for connecting the connecting sleeve 310 of the connecting body 300. The connecting socket 400 is fixedly installed inside the third-stage protective sleeve, corresponding to the position of the opening, to ensure that the connecting plug 500 can be accurately inserted.

[0069] The seal 240 can be made of vulcanized sealing material and is installed at two key sealing locations to form a double-sealed protection, ensuring the deep-sea tightness of the junction box 200. Specifically, the first seal 240 is located at the input end of the armor fixing component 210, i.e., the connection between the primary sheath and the submarine cable body 100. It forms a sealed structure by curing vulcanized sealant, isolating seawater from the armor layer 130 and preventing corrosion of the armor layer 130. The second seal 240 is located at the output end of the armor fixing component 210, i.e., the connection between the primary and secondary sheaths. It ensures a complete seal of the internal cavity formed by the secondary and tertiary sheaths through a combination of a sealing gasket and vulcanized sealing, protecting the fiber storage tray 220 and the connection socket 400 from seawater.

[0070] The bending protection component 250 is connected to the input end of the primary casing and is made of seawater-resistant rubber material. Internal metal inserts can be added to enhance structural strength. Its main function is to limit the bending angle at the connection between the submarine cable body 100 and the junction box 200, preventing damage to the optical unit 110 or sheath breakage due to excessive bending during cable deployment or use, thus ensuring the structural integrity of the connection between the submarine cable and the junction box 200.

[0071] The protective cover 260 is detachably installed at the output end opening of the tertiary casing and is secured using a threaded or snap-fit ​​connection. During transportation and storage, the protective cover 260 remains closed, sealing the output end opening of the tertiary casing and protecting the connecting socket 400 from dust, impurities, and mechanical impact damage. During deployment and connection at sea, the protective cover 260 is removed to expose the connecting socket 400, facilitating insertion and docking with the connecting plug 500 of the connecting body 300. After docking, the connecting cylinder 310 is fixed to the tertiary casing, forming a new sealed protective structure.

[0072] The connector 300 is used to quickly connect two adjacent submarine cable junction boxes 200. It mainly includes a connector cylinder 310 and a connecting optical fiber 320. The connector cylinder 310 is made of high-strength, corrosion-resistant material and has connection interfaces at both ends adapted to the output ends of the tertiary protective casing. It is detachably connected by bolts. During connection, both ends of the connector cylinder 310 are fixed to the output ends of the tertiary protective casings of the two adjacent junction boxes 200, forming a closed connection cavity that provides mechanical and sealing protection for the internal connection structure. The connecting optical fiber 320 is located inside the cavity of the connector cylinder 310, with a connector plug 500 fixedly connected to each end. The connector plug 500 is a deep-sea watertight connector, adapted to the connector socket 400 of the junction box 200. Because the prefabricated double-ended connector plug itself has deep-sea watertight performance, watertight conduction of the optical fiber can be directly achieved after connection. Therefore, the connector cylinder 310 only needs to be mechanically fixed with bolts, without the need for additional internal sealing treatment. This significantly reduces the installation difficulty and connection time of the connector cylinder 310, further improving the efficiency of offshore connection.

[0073] Based on the above technical solution, firstly, through factory pre-integration and assembly, the complex processes such as welding and sealing of the optical unit 110 and the connector 400 are completed in the factory. At sea, splicing only requires plugging and unplugging the connector 500 and fixing the connector 310, replacing traditional offshore welding operations, significantly shortening splicing time and meeting emergency repair needs. Secondly, by adopting a dual-position sealing element 240 and a multi-stage protective sleeve structure, combined with the application of vulcanized sealing materials, all-round sealing of the armor layer 130, fiber storage tray 220, and connector 400 is achieved, effectively isolating seawater, preventing corrosion of the armor layer 130 and damage to the optical fiber, and ensuring long-term stable use of the submarine cable in deep-sea environments. Furthermore, the multi-stage protective sleeve provides targeted protection for the armor fixing element 210, fiber storage tray 220, and connector 400 respectively. The bending protection element 250 limits the bending angle of the submarine cable, and the armor fixing element 210 disperses tensile force. The synergistic effect of these components improves the impact and tensile strength of the junction box 200, adapting to the repeated deployment and retraction requirements of the submarine cable. Meanwhile, the pre-integrated design reduces the number of steps involved in offshore operations, avoiding the impact of sea conditions and weather on on-site operations. The detachable design of the protective cover 260 facilitates docking operations, and the standardized interface of the connecting cylinder 310 ensures docking accuracy, reducing the risk of construction errors and improving operational efficiency. Furthermore, the fiber storage tray 220's storage design, combined with the reserved fiber optic length, prevents excessive bending of the fiber during docking and deployment. The sealed structure prevents seawater corrosion, ensuring stable transmission of the optical unit 110 and meeting the high reliability requirements of submarine communication.

[0074] Another embodiment of the present invention provides a submarine cable system, including the submarine cable as described above.

[0075] Furthermore, the submarine cable system provided by this invention, since it includes the submarine cable as described above, also possesses the advantages described above.

[0076] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A submarine cable, characterized in that, include: Multiple sections of submarine cable body (100); Junction box (200): Each end of the submarine cable body (100) is pre-integrated with a junction box (200), and the junction box (200) is provided with a connection socket (400). A connecting body (300) is provided at each of the two adjacent junction boxes (200) to be connected by a connecting body (300). A connecting plug (500) is provided at each end of the connecting body (300), and each connecting plug (500) is inserted into the corresponding connecting socket (400).

2. The submarine cable according to claim 1, characterized in that, The submarine cable body (100) includes: Optical unit (110); Inner protective layer (120), the inner protective layer (120) covering the outside of the optical unit (110); An armor layer (130) covers the outside of the inner protective layer (120); A wrapping layer (140) wraps around the outside of the armor layer (130); An outer protective assembly that covers the outside of the wrapping layer (140).

3. The submarine cable according to claim 2, characterized in that, The outer protective assembly includes: A middle protective layer (150) covers the outside of the wrapping layer (140); A sheath reinforcement layer (160) covers the outer side of the middle sheath layer (150); An outer sheath (170) covers the outside of the sheath reinforcement layer (160); An adhesive layer is applied between the middle protective layer (150) and the sheath reinforcement layer (160), and between the sheath reinforcement layer (160) and the outer protective layer (170), so that the middle protective layer (150), the sheath reinforcement layer (160) and the outer protective layer (170) form an integrated sheath structure.

4. The submarine cable according to claim 2, characterized in that, The junction box (200) includes: Armor fastener (210), the armor fastener (210) is used to be fixedly connected to the armor layer (130) of the corresponding submarine cable body (100); Fiber storage tray (220), the fiber storage tray (220) is used to wind the optical unit (110) of the corresponding submarine cable body (100). The optical unit (110) is connected to the corresponding connection socket (400).

5. The submarine cable according to claim 4, characterized in that, The junction box (200) also includes: A protective cylinder (230) is provided to cover the outside of the armor fastener (210), the fiber storage tray (220), and the connecting socket (400); The submarine cable body (100) is inserted into the protective cylinder (230) and connected in sequence to the armor fixing member (210), the fiber storage tray (220) and the connecting socket (400).

6. The submarine cable according to claim 5, characterized in that, The junction box (200) also includes: A sealing element (240) is connected to the connection point between the submarine cable body (100) and the protective cylinder (230).

7. The submarine cable according to claim 5, characterized in that, The junction box (200) also includes: A bending protection element (250) is connected to the input end of the protective cylinder (230), and the submarine cable body (100) passes through the bending protection element (250) and is inserted into the protective cylinder (230).

8. The submarine cable according to claim 7, characterized in that, The connection socket (400) is located at the output end of the protective cylinder (230); The junction box (200) also includes: A protective cover (260) is detachably installed at the output end opening of the protective cylinder (230).

9. The submarine cable according to claim 8, characterized in that, The connecting body (300) includes: The connecting cylinder (310) has two ends that can be detachably connected to the output end openings of the corresponding protective cylinder (230); A connecting optical fiber (320) is disposed in the inner cavity of the connecting cylinder (310), and each end of the connecting optical fiber (320) is connected to a connecting plug (500).

10. A submarine cable system, characterized in that, include: The submarine cable as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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