Continuable Waterproof Cable Modular Repair Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional submarine cables are prone to damage from anchors, fish trawls, and aquatic life, requiring complex and costly repair procedures that involve dragging damaged sections out of the water for repair.
Innovation Solution
A continuable waterproof cable system with a cable body, transmitting members, and waterproof elastic members that allow sequential connection and disconnection, providing a watertight seal for the transmission of electrical, optical, and network signals, reducing the need for extensive repair operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional submarine cables are used, then telecommunication transmission between countries can be established, but the cables are prone to damage from anchors, fish trawls, and aquatic life requiring complex and costly repair procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The submarine cable is divided into multiple modular sections with standardized connectors. Each section can be independently replaced without retrieving the entire cable from the ocean floor. The cable consists of repeating units including cable bodies, transmitting members, and waterproof elastic members that can be assembled and disconnected sequentially.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable incorporates self-aligning and self-sealing features through the waterproof elastic members that automatically seal around transmitting members when connectors are joined. The elastic members deform to create watertight seals without requiring additional sealing operations, enabling the cable to seal itself upon connection.
2Ease of repair
If conventional submarine cables are damaged, then the damaged parts must be dragged out of the water for repair, but this increases repair time and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The cable is segmented into replaceable modules that can be exchanged in-situ on the ocean floor. When damage occurs, only the affected module needs to be replaced rather than retrieving the entire cable. The modular design with standardized interfaces enables quick connection and disconnection of cable sections directly at the damage location.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable is pre-assembled into modular sections with integrated waterproof sealing mechanisms before deployment. The waterproof elastic members are pre-positioned to automatically seal around transmitting members, so that repair operations only require connecting pre-prepared modules rather than performing complex sealing operations during repair.
3Ease of operation
If the cable allows sequential connection and disconnection, then repair workload is reduced, but maintaining a watertight seal becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The waterproof elastic members automatically seal around the transmitting members when connectors are joined through elastic deformation. The sealing action occurs automatically as part of the connection process, eliminating the need for separate sealing operations while maintaining reliable watertight seals. The elastic members return to their original shape to maintain continuous sealing pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The waterproof elastic members change their physical parameters (shape, volume, density) in response to temperature and pressure variations in the ocean environment. This allows the sealing force to adapt to different operating conditions, maintaining effective seals across varying depths and temperatures without requiring manual adjustment.
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 system enables efficient and cost-effective assembly and repair of submarine cables by allowing sequential connection and maintaining a watertight seal, reducing the workload, cost, and time required for repairs while enabling the transmission of various signals.
Implementation Method 1
a first waterproof elastic member... disposed at the connecting end... a second waterproof elastic member... disposed at the continuing end
Data Source
AI summary
A continuable waterproof cable includes a cable body, first, second and third transmitting members, and first and second waterproof elastic members. The cable body has a connecting end and a continuing end opposite to the connecting end. The first transmitting member and the first waterproof elastic member are disposed at the connecting end. The second transmitting member is disposed at the continuing end, coupled to the first transmitting member, and adapted to a first end of the first transmitting member. The second waterproof elastic member is disposed at the continuing end. The third transmitting member is in the cable body and has a fixed end and a free end. The fixed end is at the continuing end, the free end is detachably coupled to the first transmitting member and capable to be apart from the transmitting member by a force.