Cable Splice Box Waterproofing via Pillar Grooves and Elastic Sleeve

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cable splice boxes face difficulties in operation, high costs, and inconsistent construction quality, particularly in mid-span branch connections, where the elastic contracting sleeve fails to maintain a waterproof structure due to gaps between cables with different cross-sections, leading to water leakage and compromised signal transmission.

Innovation Solution

A cable splice box design featuring a pillar with longitudinal grooves and slits, combined with an elastic contracting sleeve, forms a first waterproof structure with a cylindrical shape and cross-section, ensuring no gaps or dents, and the radial contracting force maintains tightness, overcoming the limitations of prior art.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the elastic contracting sleeve is used for waterproofing treatment, then construction convenience and cost are improved, but the waterproof structure cannot be maintained due to gaps between cables with different cross-sections

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconstruction convenienceVSAvoidwaterproof effect
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a filler material as an intermediary substance between cables of different cross-sections. This filler material fills the gaps and voids created by the elastic contracting sleeve, ensuring complete waterproof sealing while maintaining the simplicity and low cost of the elastic sleeve method. The filler acts as a mediator that resolves the geometric incompatibility between cables of varying sizes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs parameter changes by using a filler material with specific properties (viscosity, elasticity, waterproof characteristics) that can adapt to the varying gaps between cables. The filler material's parameters are selected to ensure it can flow into and seal all irregular spaces, then maintain its sealing properties under various environmental conditions, thus achieving reliable waterproofing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If the heat-shrinkable type is used for waterproofing treatment, then cost is reduced, but construction quality becomes inconsistent and toxic gases are generated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial costVSAvoidconstruction quality consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the thermal field method (heat-shrinkable) with a mechanical field method (elastic contracting sleeve). The elastic sleeve uses mechanical elastic deformation instead of thermal contraction, eliminating the need for torching equipment and toxic gases. This substitution maintains low material cost while significantly improving construction quality consistency and safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses an elastic contracting sleeve that is simple, inexpensive, and single-use. The sleeve is a disposable component that provides consistent performance without requiring complex equipment or skilled operation, thereby maintaining low cost while ensuring construction quality consistency through its inherent elastic properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If the bolt mechanical type is used for waterproofing treatment, then waterproof reliability is improved, but device complexity and construction requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewaterproof effectVSAvoidcomponent complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a flexible elastic contracting sleeve instead of rigid bolt mechanical components. The elastic sleeve is a thin, flexible shell that can conform to the cable geometry and provide waterproof sealing through its elastic contraction. This approach achieves reliable waterproofing with minimal component complexity, eliminating the need for multiple bolts, washers, and complex assembly procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 simplifies operation, reduces costs, and ensures consistent construction quality, enhancing the waterproofing effect and durability of fiber-optic cable networks by utilizing the radial contracting force of the elastic sleeve to maintain tightness and prevent water ingress.

Implementation Method 1

a second waterproof structure including an elastic contracting sleeve disposed on the outer surface and enveloping the first waterproof structure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic contraction: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the radial contracting force maintains tightness

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRadial contracting force: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2950411B1Cable connection casing
Publication Date: 2018.06.06 KOREA AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES
  • EP2950411B1 patent drawingFigure 1(A)~1(C)
  • EP2950411B1 patent drawingFigure 2(A)~2(C)
  • EP2950411B1 patent drawingFigure 3(A)~3(C)

AI summary

A cable connection casing (1) comprises a pillar (5), wherein a waterproof structure is formed between the pillar (5) and a cable. When the cable connection casing is carrying out halfway guiding branch connection, the pillar coordinates with an elastic contracting sleeve (13) to perform waterproof processing, so as to solve the technical problems in the prior art that when the cable connection casing which uses the elastic contracting sleeve to perform waterproof processing is carrying out the halfway guiding branch connection, the operation is difficult to handle, the cost is high, and the construction quality is inconsistent.