Adjustable Sealing Block for Cable Port Diameter

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cable entry seals often allow undesirable substances like dirt, debris, and moisture into enclosures while exposing the interior to inclement weather, as they fail to provide effective environmental sealing around cable ports.

Innovation Solution

A sealing unit with adjustable containment walls and spring elements that define a cable port, allowing the inner diameter to be configured without adding or removing material, using volumes of sealant and spring-loaded containment walls to create a secure seal around cables of varying sizes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed cable entry seal is used, then the sealing structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate cables of varying diameters effectively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecable diameter accommodationVSAvoidsealing structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The containment wall is made dynamically adjustable through spring elements that allow it to flex and adapt to different cable diameters. The spring-loaded mechanism enables the rigid containment wall to deform elastically, creating a dynamic sealing solution that maintains effectiveness across varying cable sizes without requiring multiple fixed seals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The inner diameter of the cable port is adjusted by changing the position of the containment wall through spring compression. By varying the spring compression, the containment wall moves to different positions, thereby changing the effective inner diameter of the cable port to match different cable sizes while maintaining a single sealing structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If material is added or removed from the sealing unit to adjust the cable port diameter, then the cable port size can be changed, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecable port inner diameter precisionVSAvoidsealing unit manufacturing

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of manufacturing different sealing units with different fixed diameters, the invention uses a single sealing unit with a dynamically adjustable containment wall. The spring mechanism allows the same manufactured component to achieve different inner diameters through operation, eliminating the need for complex multi-size manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The spring elements automatically adjust the containment wall position based on the cable diameter being sealed. The system self-regulates the inner diameter without requiring manual intervention or complex manufacturing adjustments, achieving precise cable port sizing through the mechanical properties of the spring and containment wall interaction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If a cable entry seal is installed, then the opening is sealed, but undesirable substances may still enter through imperfections

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental sealing effectivenessVSAvoidcontaminant intrusion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sealant is applied as a flexible material between the containment wall and the cable surface. This flexible sealant layer can conform to irregularities in both the containment wall and cable surfaces, creating a reliable seal that prevents contaminant intrusion even when exact dimensional matching is difficult to achieve.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The spring elements provide beforehand cushioning by maintaining constant contact pressure between the containment wall and the cable. This pre-compression ensures that the sealant remains under pressure to maintain sealing effectiveness, compensating for any dimensional variations or settlements that may occur during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively prevents contaminants from entering the enclosure while allowing cables to pass through, maintaining environmental sealing and accommodating different cable diameters, thus enhancing the protection of the enclosure's interior.

Implementation Method 1

one or more spring elements configured to apply a spring load to the first and second volumes of sealant

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS10230230B2Sealing block arrangements for enclosures

Publication Date: 2019.03.12 COMMSCOPE CONNECTIVITY BELGIUM BVBA

AI summary

A sealing unit (120) includes opposing sealing blocks (122) that are biased together. Each sealing block (122) includes a volume of sealant (124) contained between two containment wall sections (125). Each containment wall section (125) defines a plurality of notches (127) of various sizes. The notches (127) of the containment wall sections (125) of each sealing block (122) align with each other to define cable passages across the sealant (124). The sealing blocks (122) can be rotated to mate similarly sized notches (127) to define a cable port (126) leading to a sealing interface between the volumes of sealant (124). An inner diameter of the cable port (126) can be selected based on selecting which notches (127) to mate.