Cable Enclosure Sealing Arrangement with Compression Tie Rod
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable enclosure sealing methods are sensitive to technician skill, require additional materials and tools, increase health and safety risks, and are costly, with potential damage to optical fibers during installation and difficulty in reusing enclosures.
Innovation Solution
A sealing arrangement with two elongate cavities and a longitudinal slit, compressed by end plates and a sole tie element, allowing easy insertion and secure sealing of looped cables, made from flexible material with serrated teeth for enhanced grip and resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If heat shrink or resin is applied to seal the grommet, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but health and safety risks increase and additional tools are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful sealing materials (heat shrink, resin) and replaces them with a mechanical compression system using a tie element and compression members that apply direct mechanical force to compress the grommet material against the enclosure opening, eliminating the need for hazardous materials while maintaining sealing effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces chemical/thermal sealing methods with a purely mechanical compression system where a tie element threaded through the grommet engages with compression members at each end, creating a mechanical force system that compresses the grommet material to form the seal, substituting hazardous chemical/thermal processes with safe mechanical action
2Reliability
If heat shrink or resin is applied to seal the grommet, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but additional materials and tools are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sealing function and the cable securing function into a single integrated system where the tie element serves both to compress the grommet for sealing and to secure the cable, eliminating the need for separate sealing materials and tools while achieving both functions simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The tie element is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously provides mechanical compression for sealing the grommet and secures the cable in position, while the compression members serve both as sealing surfaces and as anchors for the tie element, reducing the total number of components required
3Ease of operation
If a slit is made in the grommet wall for cable insertion, then cable passage is enabled, but the seal becomes vulnerable to degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates the slit in the grommet wall as a preliminary feature during manufacturing, allowing cable insertion while maintaining the integrity of the grommet structure, and the subsequent compression action seals around the cable rather than requiring sealing of the slit itself
Solution Approach 2:
The compression members act as intermediaries that transmit the compressive force from the tie element to the grommet material, distributing the force evenly around the cable and ensuring uniform compression that maintains seal integrity without compromising the cable passage function
4Productivity
If grommet installation is made simple, then installation speed is improved, but sealing reliability may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the grommet into two functional parts: the tubular body that receives the cable and provides the seal, and the compression zone at each end that engages with the compression members. This segmentation allows the main body to remain simple for easy cable insertion while the compression zones provide reliable sealing when compressed by the tie element system
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
Reduces installation errors, minimizes health and safety risks, eliminates the need for additional tools, and simplifies the installation process while providing a secure and reusable seal for cables.
Implementation Method 1
a compress arrangement for compressing the sealing member to effect sealing along the longitudinal slit
Implementation Method 2
The sealing member may be made from any flexible material
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
Figure 7
AI summary
A cable enclosure sealing arrangement has a seal body with one or more cavities extending the full length of the sealing member and a slit extending from each cavity to the exterior of the sealing body such that the edges of each slit may be pulled apart to expose the cavity and permit insertion of a cable. The cavity may include a profiled interior surface having inclined or curved surface portions projecting into the cavity the inclination or curvature of the profiled surface portions being in opposite senses at opposite end zone sections of the cavity. The arrangement has a compress system for compressing the sealing member to effect sealing along the longitudinal slit. Typically a tie rod extending through a central portion of the body and connecting two end plate is used for this purpose.