Buffer Tube Sealant Apparatus for Gel Migration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fiber optic cables experience issues with the filling compound (gel) migrating out of buffer tubes due to viscosity, fiber density, and extreme temperatures, leading to potential damage and failure of optical systems, especially in harsh environments.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical solution involving two identical blocks with tube grooves and a cavity, where buffer tubes are cut, cleaned, and assembled between the blocks with a sealant inserted between them to prevent gel and fiber migration, using a 10:1 ratio 2-part silicone sealant that cures to secure the fibers in place.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If buffer tubes contain filling compound (gel) to protect fibers and prevent water tracking, then fiber protection and water blocking are improved, but gel migration and fiber ejection occur under extreme temperatures and vertical installations
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer tube is divided into two separate sections with the gel filling compound removed from each section. This segmentation allows the gel to be eliminated from the tube while preserving the protective function through alternative means (sealant between sections), thereby preventing gel migration and fiber ejection while maintaining fiber protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The gel filling compound is extracted (removed) from the buffer tube sections. By taking out the gel that causes migration and ejection problems, the harmful effects are eliminated while the protective function is maintained through the sealant system that prevents water tracking and fiber damage without requiring gel inside the tube.
2Adaptability or versatility
If buffer tubes are used in vertical installations and extreme heat environments, then cable deployment flexibility is improved, but gel viscosity changes cause fiber migration and flow out of tube ends
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer tube is segmented into two sections with gel removed from each. This eliminates the gel that undergoes viscosity changes in extreme temperatures, thereby maintaining fiber position stability while preserving cable deployment flexibility in vertical installations and hot environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical state and composition parameters by removing the gel filling compound entirely and replacing it with a sealant system. This eliminates the viscosity-related instability that causes fiber migration in extreme heat, while the sealant maintains the protective function across different temperature conditions.
3Ease of operation
If buffer tubes are routed through splice enclosures and terminated in trays, then fiber termination and protection are improved, but gel and fiber push into the enclosure causing loss of EFL and potential system failure
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer tube is divided into sections with gel removed from each section. This segmentation prevents gel from accumulating and pushing into the splice enclosure, thereby maintaining ease of fiber termination while preventing system failure caused by gel migration and EFL loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The gel filling compound is extracted from the buffer tube sections, eliminating the substance that pushes into the splice enclosure and causes system failure. The sealant system provides the necessary protection and containment without the harmful migration effects of gel, thereby ensuring system reliability while maintaining ease of operation.
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 fiber migration and maintains the integrity of optical fibers under extreme temperatures, ensuring no significant change in attenuation and preventing kinking or breaking, making it suitable for both new and existing installations.
Implementation Method 1
filling a sealant through a hole in said first block into a cavity formed between the first and second blocks and allowing the sealant to cure
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for connecting buffer tubes including a first block, a second block, and a fastener for assembling said first and second blocks. The blocks contain a pair of tube grooves and a cavity and a and a hole leading into the cavity. A sealant is then inserted into the cavities and allowed to cure.