Cable Strain Relief Crimping Sleeve Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable strain relief technologies for fiber optic cables are labor-intensive, require multiple components and tools for each cable diameter, and often inadequately address strain relief and kinking issues, leading to increased costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A crimping system using a cylindrical metal crimp sleeve combined with a softer plastic sleeve, where the plastic sleeve is crimped onto the cable sheath and provides both strain relief and kink protection, allowing the same crimping tool and sleeve to be used across different cable diameters by replacing only the plastic sleeve.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a crimp sleeve adapted to each cable diameter is used, then the strain relief is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a single crimp sleeve structure that can accommodate multiple cable diameters through the use of an adjustable intermediate sleeve with varying inner diameters. The crimp sleeve itself remains standardized while the intermediate sleeve provides the adaptation capability, allowing one crimp sleeve design to serve multiple cable sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the strain relief system into two functional parts: a standardized crimp sleeve and an adjustable intermediate sleeve. This segmentation allows the crimp sleeve to remain simple and universal while the intermediate sleeve handles the cable diameter adaptation, reducing overall system complexity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a separate anti-kink device is added, then the cable protection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the anti-kink function with the intermediate sleeve by designing the intermediate sleeve to extend beyond the crimp sleeve on the cable side. This extended portion naturally prevents kinking without requiring a separate anti-kink device, combining two functions into one component.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple crimping processes or graded special tools are used, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a single crimping tool that can crimp all cable sizes through the standardized crimp sleeve interface. The intermediate sleeve with its varying inner diameters handles the cable diameter adaptation, allowing one tool to perform what would otherwise require multiple specialized tools.
4Manufacturing precision
If different components and tools for each cable size are used, then the strain relief quality is improved, but the loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the intermediate sleeve with different inner diameters to match various cable sizes. This allows the intermediate sleeve to be selected and inserted before crimping, enabling quick adaptation without requiring different crimping tools or complex adjustment procedures during the assembly process.
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
This solution simplifies the manufacturing process, reduces costs by using a single crimping tool and sleeve for various cable diameters, and effectively addresses strain relief and kinking through the dual functionality of the plastic sleeve.
Implementation Method 1
a cylindrical crimp sleeve (3) made of a plastically deformable material, such as metal
Implementation Method 2
the plastic sleeve is pressed onto the cable sheath via the crimp sleeve
Data Source
Figure 1~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a means of cable strain relief (1) comprising a crimping sleeve (3) for the mechanical operative connection of a cable (5) to a crimping neck (2), wherein the crimping sleeve (3) is used in the crimped state for clamping a textile braid (7) of the cable (5) intended for stain relief between the crimping sleeve (3) and the crimping neck (2). At its cable-side end, the crimping sleeve (3) comprises a deformable plastic sleeve (4) that produces a mechanical operative connection in the crimped state between an exterior jacket (6) of the cable (5) and the crimping sleeve (3).