Data Cable Sealing and Strain Relief Device
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealing and strain relief solutions for data cables, particularly optical waveguide cables, face challenges in achieving high packing density with minimal mechanical stress and reliable sealing in distribution devices.
Innovation Solution
A sealing and strain relief device featuring plate-like bearing elements and a central elastic sealing element, with barb-like anchoring elements that latch into cutouts on the strain relief elements, providing secure and adjustable positioning of data cables through congruent slots and rail-like guide elements for strain relief.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high packing density is achieved in distribution devices, then the number of optical waveguide distribution devices increases, but mechanical stress on the optical waveguides increases
Solution Approach 1:
The strain relief device is divided into distinct functional components: a plate-like basic body for cable support, a sealing element for environmental protection, and barb-like anchoring elements for secure mounting. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its specific function while working together to reduce overall mechanical stress on the waveguides
Solution Approach 2:
The strain relief device is installed beforehand in the distribution device to provide cushioning and stress distribution. The flexible sealing element and the barb-like anchoring elements work together to absorb and distribute mechanical stresses before they reach the optical waveguides, preventing stress concentration that would occur in high-density configurations
2Reliability
If simple and reliable sealing and strain relief is achieved, then data cable protection improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple functions into a single integrated strain relief device: the plate-like basic body provides structural support, the sealing element ensures environmental protection, and the barb-like anchoring elements provide secure mounting. This consolidation achieves reliable sealing and strain relief without requiring multiple separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The barb-like anchoring elements are designed to automatically engage with the distribution device housing, providing self-service installation. The flexible sealing element automatically conforms to the cable and housing interface, ensuring reliable sealing without requiring additional adjustment or complex installation procedures
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 simple and reliable sealing and strain relief of data cables, ensuring minimal mechanical stress and high packing density, suitable for optical waveguide cables and other data conductors in distribution devices.
Implementation Method 1
a sealing element (13) which is arranged in the form of a sandwich between the outer, plate-like bearing elements (11, 12)... a central, elastic sealing element (13)
Implementation Method 2
latched with the strain relief element, namely preferably via a barb-like anchoring element of the plate-like bearing element, which barb-like anchoring element latches into a cutout in the plate-like basic body
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A sealing and strain relief device having at least one sealing element is disclosed. The device is arranged in the manner of a sandwich between outer, plate-like bearing elements made from a relatively hard or rigid material and which is made from a relatively soft or elastic material. Slots are introduced both into the outer bearing elements and into the or each central sealing element in such a way that the slots run respectively next to one another and respectively one behind the other, in relation to the sandwich-like arrangement thereof, within the respective bearing element and within the respective sealing element. The strain relief elements are associated with at least one plate-like bearing element in such a way that each data cable, which is sealed and is guided in the region of slots arranged one behind the other of the sandwich-like arrangement, can be restrained using a strain relief element.