Deepwater Fiber Splicing Box With Self-Tightening V-Seal Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical fiber splicing boxes with square shell structures have poor pressure bearing and sealing performance under large-water-depth conditions, leading to instability and increased processing and installation challenges.
Innovation Solution
A cylindrical structure with V-shaped sealing units and locking shafts, combined with additional sealing assemblies and armoring fixing mechanisms, enhances pressure bearing and sealing performance by forming a self-sealing structure that tightens under external pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a square shell structure is used for the splicing box, then the manufacturing and installation are simplified, but the pressure bearing performance deteriorates under large-water-depth conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the shell structure from a square shape to a cylindrical shape. The cylindrical structure with curved surfaces distributes external water pressure more evenly throughout the shell, preventing localized stress concentration that occurs in square structures. This curvature provides superior hydrostatic pressure resistance while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standard cylindrical fabrication processes.
2Strength
If the shell thickness is increased to improve pressure bearing performance, then the strength improves, but the processing difficulty and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The cylindrical shell structure inherently distributes pressure loads more efficiently than a square structure, allowing for thinner wall sections to achieve the same pressure resistance. The curved geometry transforms concentrated point loads into distributed line and area loads, reducing the required material thickness while maintaining structural integrity and lowering processing complexity.
3Device complexity
If a single-type cylindrical sealing ring is used for sealing, then the structure is simple, but the sealing performance deteriorates under large-water-depth external pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sealing system into multiple independent sealing rings positioned at different locations along the cable core PE sheath. Each sealing ring handles a specific sealing zone, and the segmented arrangement allows each ring to maintain its sealing effectiveness under external pressure without relying on a single complex sealing mechanism. This modular approach improves reliability while keeping individual sealing components simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs sealing rings with asymmetric cross-sectional geometries that are specifically designed to engage with corresponding asymmetric features on the cable core PE sheath and sealing seat. This asymmetric design creates a mechanical interlock that prevents sealing ring extrusion and maintains sealing contact under external water pressure, overcoming the limitations of simple symmetric cylindrical rings.
4Device complexity
If conventional cylindrical sealing rings are used, then the structure is simple, but the contact area with the cable core is small and deformation susceptibility increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses sealing rings made from composite materials that combine the advantages of different materials - typically a rigid outer layer for structural support and pressure resistance, combined with a softer inner layer for enhanced contact with the cable core PE sheath. This composite construction increases the effective contact area while reducing deformation susceptibility under external pressure, achieving both simplicity and reliability.
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 cylindrical design with V-shaped sealing units and locking shafts effectively prevents seawater ingress and maintains sealing integrity under high external pressures, addressing the poor performance issues of square shell structures.
Implementation Method 1
The V-shaped sealing unit has at least one V-shaped sealing ring; an inner side edge of the V-shaped sealing ring is fitted to a peripheral wall of the optical unit; an outer side edge of the V-shaped sealing ring is fitted to an inner wall of the large-diameter section
Implementation Method 2
the locking shaft abuts against the V-shaped sealing unit, such that a junction between the large-diameter section and the small-diameter section abuts against the V-shaped sealing unit
Implementation Method 3
the laying quantity of large-water-depth submarine cables and optical cables is increasing year by year... under large-water-depth working conditions... external pressure
Data Source
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AI summary
The present application relates to the technical field of optical fiber splicing boxes. Provided is a large-water-depth optical fiber splicing box, including a cylinder and a first sealing assembly, where an optical fiber channel is provided at two ends of the cylinder, and the optical fiber channel includes a large-diameter section and a small-diameter section; and the first sealing assembly includes a V-shaped sealing unit and a locking shaft, the V-shaped sealing unit has a V-shaped sealing ring, the V-shaped sealing ring is fitted to an optical unit and the large-diameter section respectively, a V-shaped opening of the V-shaped sealing ring faces an outer side end of the large-diameter section, the locking shaft is arranged at the outer side end of the large-diameter section, and the locking shaft abuts against the V-shaped sealing unit. In the present application, by providing the cylinder, the pressure bearing performance and the internal space are increased; by the V-shaped sealing unit, the optical fiber channel is sealed, such that the V-shaped sealing ring can be fitted to the optical unit and an inner wall of the large-diameter section more tightly under an external pressure; and the locking shaft can tightly press the V-shaped sealing unit, thereby solving the problem in the prior art of relatively poor pressure bearing performance and sealing performance of an optical fiber splicing box under a large-water-depth working condition.