Cable Sealing Module for Angled Re-Enterable Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current telecommunications enclosures face challenges in effectively sealing and routing cables while allowing for re-entry without damaging the enclosures, particularly in transitioning cable directions and maintaining a sealed environment.
Innovation Solution
A transition structure that includes a gel block or sealant to seal cables, which can be attached to a closure to route cables at various angles, featuring a main body external to the sealing arrangement with a stem extending through it, allowing for flexible cable routing and sealing within the structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pressurized gel-type seals are used to seal cable locations, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases due to threaded actuators or cam levers required for pressurization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex threaded actuator or cam lever mechanisms from the sealing system. Instead, it uses a simple compression member that can be directly compressed to pressurize the gel seal, extracting the unnecessary mechanical complexity while retaining the effective sealing capability
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than using a threaded actuator that requires rotation and threading to achieve compression, or a cam lever that uses leveraged mechanical advantage, the invention inverts the approach by using direct linear compression that is simpler and more straightforward to implement
2Ease of operation
If telecommunications enclosures are made re-enterable with separate access panels, then ease of operation is improved, but sealing reliability may deteriorate due to additional sealing interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure is divided into separable sections with access panels that can be opened for maintenance while maintaining sealing integrity through the gel seal system that remains effective even with repeated opening and closing cycles
Solution Approach 2:
The gel seal acts as an intermediary sealing medium that maintains the seal between the access panel and the enclosure body, allowing for repeated opening and closing while preserving sealing integrity without requiring complex gasket systems
3Adaptability or versatility
If cable routing requires direction transitions, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional sealing arrangements
Solution Approach 1:
The gel seal system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it seals the cable entry points, accommodates cable direction transitions, and provides a flexible sealing solution that adapts to various cable routing configurations without requiring separate sealing mechanisms for each function
Solution Approach 2:
The gel seal's viscoelastic properties allow it to change its shape and pressure distribution parameters to accommodate different cable routing angles and transitions, providing adaptability through material property changes rather than mechanical structure changes
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
Enables efficient cable routing and sealing across different angles, maintaining a sealed environment and allowing for re-entry of telecommunications enclosures without damage, enhancing the sealing capabilities beyond existing pressurized gel-type seals.
Implementation Method 1
the transition structure includes sealant to seal one or more cables within the structure. For example, the transition structure includes a gel block or other seal member
Data Source
AI summary
A sealed structure (e.g., sealing module, sealing projection, etc.) transitions the direction of one or more cables passing through the structure. Sealant (e.g., a gel block) is disposed within the structure to seal one or more cables extending along a transition path within the sealed structure. Ducts and/or cables may be anchored to the sealed structure. The sealed structure may be mechanically secured to a closure at a selected rotational orientation.