Fibre Optic Cable Holder for Safe Power Cable Jointing
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Solution Overview
Problem
When working on power cables, the fragile fibre optic cables are at risk of breaking due to overbending, as they need to be handled alongside the power cable during jointing, terminating, or repair processes.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a fibre optic cable holder is used, where the power cable's outer layers are removed to expose the outer semiconducting layer, the fibre optic cable is detached and wound around the fibre optic cable holder's storing section, which has a radius equal to or greater than the fibre optic cable's minimum bending radius, allowing safe handling and protection during work on the power cable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the fibre optic cable is handled during jointing, terminating or repair work on the power cable, then the power cable maintenance can be performed, but the fibre optic cable is at risk of breaking due to overbending
Solution Approach 1:
A storage section with a defined bending radius is introduced as an intermediary element between the fibre optic cable and the work area. This storage section acts as a mediator that accepts the fibre optic cable at a safe bending radius and allows it to be accessed without risking overbending during jointing, terminating or repair operations on the power cable.
Solution Approach 2:
The fibre optic cable is pre-positioned in the storage section with an appropriate bending radius before any maintenance work begins. This preliminary arrangement ensures that the cable is already in a safe configuration, preventing overbending during subsequent operations on the power cable.
2Ease of manufacture
If outer layers of the power cable are removed to expose the conductor for jointing and terminating, then the power cable can be properly maintained, but the fibre optic cable becomes more vulnerable to damage
Solution Approach 1:
The storage section serves as a protective intermediary that maintains the fibre optic cable in a safe bending configuration even when outer protective layers of the power cable are removed. This allows workers to access the conductor for jointing and terminating while the fibre optic cable remains protected in the storage section.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable assembly is segmented into the power cable components and the fibre optic cable with its dedicated storage section. This segmentation allows the power cable to be stripped and worked on independently while the fibre optic cable remains in its protected storage section, isolated from the harmful effects of removal and handling of outer layers.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of jointing, terminating, or repairing a power cable, the method comprising: a) providing a power cable comprising: a conductor, an insulation system which includes an inner semiconducting layer arranged around the conductor, an insulation layer arranged around the inner semiconducting layer, and an outer semiconducting layer arranged around the insulation layer, and a fibre optic cable, b) removing outer layers of the power cable along an axial section of the power cable until reaching the outer semiconducting layer, and removing the fibre optic cable from the axial section to thereby obtain a loose fibre optic cable section, c) arranging a fibre optic cable holder around the outer semiconducting layer of the axial section, the fibre optic cable holder having a fibre optic cable storing section that has an outer radius which is equal to or larger than a minimum bending radius of the fibre optic cable, d) winding the loose fibre optic cable section around the fibre optic cable storing section, and e) performing jointing, terminating, or repair work on the power cable, step e) including unwinding the loose fibre optic cable section from the fibre optic cable holder, removing the fibre optic cable holder from the power cable, and terminating or jointing the loose fibre optic cable section.