Telecommunications Enclosure Insert Assembly Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing telecommunications enclosures face challenges in providing a reliable and re-enterable sealing solution that allows access to internal components without compromising the seal, especially when mounting and servicing are required.

Innovation Solution

A telecommunications enclosure design featuring a housing with a dome and base, an insert assembly with a sealing unit that includes pressurizable sealant material and an actuation arrangement, and a mounting bracket with dual securement interfaces, enabling the enclosure to be re-entered and serviced without detaching the insert assembly from the mounting bracket, while maintaining a sealed environment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the enclosure is sealed to inhibit moisture intrusion, then reliability is improved, but access to internal components requires destruction or removal of the enclosure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidaccessibility of internal components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The enclosure is divided into a removable insert assembly containing telecommunications components and a stationary housing with sealing structures. The insert assembly can be extracted from the housing without compromising the seal, allowing access to components while maintaining sealing integrity when the insert is removed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The insert assembly is extracted from the housing as a complete unit. The mounting bracket remains attached to the housing while the insert assembly with components is removed for servicing, then reinserted to restore the sealed environment without requiring destruction of the enclosure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of repair

If the enclosure is made re-enterable with removable components, then ease of repair is improved, but the sealing integrity may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility of internal componentsVSAvoidsealing effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing unit is pre-configured with sealant material positioned to contact the housing when the insert assembly is inserted. The actuation arrangement is pre-positioned to pressurize the sealant material, ensuring the seal is established before the insert assembly is fully inserted into the housing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The sealant material transitions from an unpressurized state to a pressurized state through the actuation arrangement. This parameter change in pressure causes the sealant material to expand and form an effective seal between the insert assembly and housing, maintaining sealing integrity during re-entry operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If traditional mounting methods are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but servicing requires complete enclosure removal or destruction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting structure simplicityVSAvoidcomponent accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting system is segmented into a stationary mounting bracket attached to the housing and a removable insert assembly. This allows the insert assembly to be serviced by removing only the insert from the bracket without affecting the mounted housing structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting bracket serves multiple functions: providing structural support for the housing, enabling removable insertion of the insert assembly, and facilitating easy servicing. The bracket remains attached to the housing while allowing the insert to be independently removed and reinstalled.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 design allows for easy access and maintenance of internal components while maintaining a sealed and pressurized environment, enhancing the usability and reliability of telecommunications enclosures by allowing re-entry without compromising the seal, thus improving serviceability and reducing maintenance complexities.

Implementation Method 1

pressurizable sealant material and an actuation arrangement

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressurisation: Pressurisation

Data Source

PatentEP2959557B1Re-enterable enclosure and configuration for mounting

Publication Date: 2022.04.06 COMMSCOPE CONNECTIVITY BELGIUM BVBA

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AI summary

A telecommunications enclosure (20) including a housing (22) with a dome (24) that connects to a base (26). The enclosure (20) includes an insert assembly (28) that fits within the housing (22) and the insert assembly (28) includes a sealing unit (30) that fits within the base (26) and defines a plurality of cable ports (32). The insert assembly (28) also includes a frame (34) attached to the sealing unit (30) and a telecommunications component (36) mounted to the frame (34). The enclosure (20) further includes a mounting bracket (38) for mounting the housing (22) at a desired mounting location. The mounting bracket (38) has a first securement interface (114) for attaching the mounting bracket (38) to the base (26) of the housing (22) and a second securement interface (122) for attaching the mounting bracket (38) to the insert assembly (28).