Armored Optical Fiber Cable Structure for Easy Sheath Peel-Off

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional optical fiber cables face challenges in protecting fibers from water and physical stress, and the separation of the sheath and metallic layer often requires additional steps and materials, leading to increased costs and manufacturing complexity.

Innovation Solution

An armored optical fiber cable design featuring a metallic layer with corrugations and a sheath with orthogonal ribs and grooves, eliminating the need for adhesion controlling films and additional separation layers, allowing easy separation without extra materials or tools.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a separation layer is placed between the sheath and metallic layer to facilitate separation, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of separationVSAvoidcable structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the separation layer from the cable structure, extracting the element that caused complexity while maintaining the desired separation functionality through the inherent properties of the sheath-metallic layer interface

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The sheath and metallic layer are designed to separate automatically through their inherent structural properties without requiring an additional separation layer or extra processing steps, allowing the system to serve itself

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If adhesion controlling films are applied to control bonding between sheath and metallic layer, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing cost and process complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of separationVSAvoidmanufacturing process simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention eliminates adhesion controlling films from the cable structure, removing the source of manufacturing complexity while achieving the desired separation characteristics through the fundamental interface design between the sheath and metallic layer

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention modifies the physical and chemical parameters of the sheath and metallic layer surfaces to achieve appropriate adhesion characteristics without requiring additional films or coatings, simplifying the manufacturing process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If conventional separation methods are used, then ease of separation is improved, but material consumption and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of separationVSAvoidmaterial consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes unnecessary separation materials from the cable structure, eliminating material consumption associated with separation layers and adhesion controlling films while maintaining effective separation capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The sheath and metallic layer interface is designed to perform multiple functions including structural support, adhesion control, and separation facilitation without requiring additional specialized materials, reducing overall material consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4650843A1Armored optical fiber cable
Publication Date: 2025.11.19 STERLITE TECHNOLOGIES LTD
  • EP4650843A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4650843A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4650843A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure provides an optical fiber cable (102) including a plurality of optical transmission elements (104), and a metallic layer (108) surrounding the plurality of optical transmission elements (104). Further, the optical fiber cable (102) includes a sheath (114) surrounding the metallic layer (108), wherein the sheath (114) is at least in partial contact with the metallic layer (108). An inner surface of the sheath (114) has a first set of ribs (110) that are deformed at substantial regular intervals along the length of the sheath (114). The arrangement of the optical fiber cable (102) allows an easy separation/peel off of the sheath (114) from the metallic layer (108) in a cost-effective manner as it does not require any additional material or tool. The structure of the optical fiber cable (102) reduces bonding between the sheath and the metallic layer.