Compact Armored Intermittently Bonded Ribbon Cable Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current armored high fiber count intermittently bonded ribbon (IBR) cables are large and difficult to manufacture, making them unsuitable for compact and cost-effective solutions, especially in applications vulnerable to rodent attacks and dig-ups in traditional outside plant telecom installations.
Innovation Solution
A compact optical fiber cable design featuring a thin polymer sheath with notches for easy tearing, a second layer for mechanical isolation and water resistance, and an armor layer with a corrugated steel tape, along with an outer cable jacket, which includes strength members for added durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional armored cables are used to protect against rodent attacks and dig-ups, then cable protection is improved, but cable size and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nested protection by placing the optical fiber bundle inside a polymeric sheath, which is then surrounded by a metallic armor layer, and finally enclosed in an outer jacket. This concentric nesting structure provides multiple layers of protection against rodent attacks and dig-ups while maintaining a compact overall cable diameter, resolving the contradiction between protection and complexity.
2Reliability
If traditional armored cables are used to protect against rodent attacks and dig-ups, then cable protection is improved, but manufacturing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cable into distinct functional segments: an inner polymeric sheath containing the optical fibers, a separate metallic armor layer for mechanical protection, and an outer jacket. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured and processed independently using standard techniques, then assembled together, thereby improving ease of manufacture while maintaining robust protection against rodents and dig-ups.
3Productivity
If cable size is reduced for compact installation, then installation efficiency is improved, but protection against rodent attacks and dig-ups deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material construction by combining a polymeric sheath with a metallic armor layer (such as steel or aluminum). This composite structure achieves high mechanical strength and rodent resistance in a compact form factor, enabling small cable diameter for efficient installation while maintaining reliable protection against rodent attacks and accidental dig-ups.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides an armored cable (100, 200) including a plurality of optical fibers (106) arranged in a plurality of IBRs, which can be bundled or unbundled. The IBRs are enclosed by a first layer of thin polymer sheath (102, 202). The first layer (102, 202) is further enclosed in a second layer (108, 208), which is placed within an armor layer (110, 210). An outer cable jacket (112, 212) surrounds the armor layer (110, 210), which optionally comprises at least a reinforcing member (114, 214).