Dual-Lock Fiber Cable Support for UV-Resistant Secure Attachment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing equipment for securing telecommunications cables, particularly fiber optic cables, fails to provide a solid and durable attachment, leading to cable slack and safety risks due to degradation from environmental conditions, and lacks visual identification of ownership.

Innovation Solution

The equipment features a dual-lock mechanism with an internal and external lock system made from UV-resistant polyamide 6 with 30% glass fiber, allowing adjustable tightening and secure attachment in various configurations, including hanging and fixed forms, and includes a colorable material for visual identification.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If plastic cable ties are used to secure cable coils, then installation is simple and quick, but the ties degrade from environmental conditions and break causing cable coils to open and fall

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation simplicityVSAvoidattachment durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The equipment body is made from polyamide 6 with 30% glass fiber, creating a composite material that combines the ease of plastic manufacturing with enhanced strength, UV resistance, and environmental durability. This composite structure maintains installation simplicity while eliminating the degradation and breaking problems of pure plastic cable ties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The locking mechanism is divided into two independent locks: an internal lock for securing cables within the equipment and an external lock for preventing the equipment itself from moving or falling. This segmentation provides redundant security, ensuring that even if one lock fails, the other maintains the attachment reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If existing single-lock equipment is used, then the structure is simple, but the cable attachment is not solid enough to prevent movement from wind or support cable movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidcable attachment stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The locking system is segmented into two distinct locks with different functions: the internal lock secures the cables to the equipment body, while the external lock secures the equipment to the support structure. This dual-lock segmentation provides solid attachment stability against wind and support cable movement while maintaining reasonable structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The equipment design anticipates external forces such as wind and support cable movement by incorporating two locks that work together to cushion against these forces. The internal lock prevents cable movement within the equipment, while the external lock prevents the entire equipment from displacing, providing beforehand protection against environmental stresses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Ease of manufacture

If standard plastic material is used, then manufacturing is easy and cost-effective, but the material degrades from UV exposure and environmental conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing easeVSAvoidUV and environmental degradation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The equipment is manufactured from polyamide 6 reinforced with 30% glass fiber, creating a composite material that retains the ease of injection molding manufacturing while providing superior resistance to UV radiation, moisture, and temperature variations. The glass fiber reinforcement prevents degradation without significantly complicating the manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The material parameters are changed from standard plastic to UV-resistant polyamide 6 with glass fiber content of 30%. This parameter change maintains the injection molding manufacturing process (ease of manufacture) while fundamentally improving resistance to harmful environmental factors including UV exposure, moisture, and thermal cycling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Device complexity

If existing equipment without color coding is used, then manufacturing is simpler, but visual identification of telecommunications operator ownership is not possible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing complexityVSAvoidownership identification
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The equipment leverages the colorability of polyamide 6 material to incorporate visual identification codes that represent different telecommunications operators. This allows straightforward manufacturing with added color coding capability, enabling clear ownership identification without significant increases in manufacturing complexity. The color serves as information carriers indicating operator ownership.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Data Source

PatentEP3943994B1Support equipment for supporting, holding, accommodating, and loosening telecommunication cables
Publication Date: 2023.09.27 YELCO TECH SA
  • EP3943994B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3943994B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3943994B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention refers to a support equipment for supporting, holding, accommodating, and loosening telecommunication cables, namely fibre optic cables. The equipment comprises a body of the equipment (1), an internal lock (2), and an external lock (3). If it becomes necessary to attach the equipment to a surface, the equipment comprises an attachment plate. The body of the equipment (1) comprises a hole for passage and accommodation of external support structures to keep the body of the equipment properly suspended, when the equipment is used in its suspended form. The internal lock (2) blocks the telecommunication cables from making any movements, while the external lock (3) blocks the telecommunication cables in the equipment.