Optical Fiber Enclosure Sealing for Flood-Resistant Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fiber optic enclosures are unsuitable for distribution points near end-user premises due to time-consuming access and exposure to contaminants like weather, water, debris, rodents, and animals, especially in flood-prone areas, and lack flexibility for regular maintenance.
Innovation Solution
An optical fiber enclosure with a base unit and top casing designed for easy access and flood resistance, featuring a burying level indicator, extruded non-permeable thermoplastic top casing, and a pressure relief valve to maintain integrity against water ingress, with a peripheral sealing element for easy opening and closing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vault-type enclosures are used to protect optical fibers and splices, then protection against contaminants is improved, but access time and servicing complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure is divided into a base unit that remains buried and a top casing that can be removed. This segmentation allows the protective function to be maintained while enabling quick access by removing only the top portion rather than excavating the entire vault.
Solution Approach 2:
The top casing is extracted as a separate removable component from the base unit. This extracted portion contains the splice trays and optical components, allowing technicians to access these elements by removing just the top casing rather than the entire enclosure structure.
2Reliability
If vault-type enclosures are used to protect optical fibers and splices, then protection against contaminants is improved, but device complexity and fastening requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure is divided into a base unit that remains buried and a top casing that can be removed. This segmentation allows the protective function to be maintained while enabling quick access by removing only the top portion rather than excavating the entire vault.
Solution Approach 2:
The top casing is extracted as a separate removable component from the base unit. This extracted portion contains the splice trays and optical components, allowing technicians to access these elements by removing just the top casing rather than the entire enclosure structure.
3Ease of operation
If enclosures are positioned above ground for easy access, then servicing ease is improved, but exposure to floodwaters and contaminants increases
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure is divided into a base unit that remains buried and a top casing that can be removed. This segmentation allows the protective function to be maintained while enabling quick access by removing only the top portion rather than excavating the entire vault.
Solution Approach 2:
The base unit is pre-buried in the ground at an appropriate depth before the top casing is attached. This preliminary burial action ensures that the critical protective function is established in advance, allowing the top casing to be quickly attached or removed for servicing without requiring excavation.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure provides an optical fiber enclosure (102) with a base unit (106) defined by one or more walls (1110, 1112) having a burying end (1204) and a connection end (1202), a top casing (402) defined by one or more top walls (202-208) forming an open end (606) and a closed end (602). The open end of the top casing is removably engaged to the connection end (1202) of the base unit. The burying end is an open end and is configured for subterranean placement beneath a land surface.. Further, the top casing has an optical storage compartment (404) that is devoid of any apertures through the closed end (602) so as to preserve the optical storage compartment integrity against water ingress until submerged, while maintaining the open end of the top casing.