Optical Fiber Heating Device Tension Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical-fiber-spliced portion reinforcing heating devices face issues with excessive tension application, leading to fiber breakage or long-term reliability degradation, and are often bulky due to complex mechanisms and large size, which hinders efficient heat-shrinking and handleability.
Innovation Solution
The device employs a configuration with movable and fixed heaters, a tensile strength member, and cam mechanisms to apply controlled tension, ensuring a backward movable range and forward movable range for the clamps, allowing for efficient heat-shrinking while preventing excessive tension on the optical fiber, and includes a mechanism to rapidly cool the sleeve after heating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a compression coil spring is used to apply tension to the optical fiber, then the optical fiber can be prevented from going slack, but the device size increases and handleability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the tension application function from a separate mechanism and integrates it into the clamp structure itself. The clamp body includes a tension application portion that directly applies tension to the optical fiber without requiring an external compression coil spring, thereby reducing device size while maintaining fiber reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the clamping function and tension application function into a single integrated clamp structure. The clamp body simultaneously performs both functions, eliminating the need for separate components and reducing overall device complexity
2Reliability
If the clamp movable range is limited in the forward direction, then the optical fiber can be protected from excessive tension, but the clamp cannot absorb tension when a large tension is applied by the heater pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic movable range control where the clamp can move freely in the backward direction to absorb tension during heating, while a position limiting member prevents excessive forward movement. This dynamic range adjustment allows the system to adapt to different operational phases and protect the fiber from excessive tension
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a position limiting member as an intermediary element that mediates between the clamp's need to move backward for tension absorption and the need to limit forward movement to prevent excessive tension. This mediator enables both functions to coexist
3Reliability
If a backward movable range is ensured for the clamp, then excessive tension can be removed, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the clamp structure into distinct functional portions: a clamping portion for gripping the fiber and a tension application portion for applying tension. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each function and simplifies the overall structure by giving each component a specific role
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 configuration effectively prevents excessive tension on optical fibers, enables rapid heat-shrinking, and maintains high reliability, while reducing device size and improving handleability, allowing for efficient operation and reliable optical fiber reinforcement.
Implementation Method 1
two heaters that are arranged to face each other so as to sandwich the optical fiber or the sleeve
Implementation Method 2
a first force-applying member that presses at least one of the clamps so as to apply a tension to the optical fiber by use of one of an elastic member and a magnetic member
Implementation Method 3
a first force-applying member that presses at least one of the clamps so as to apply a tension to the optical fiber by use of one of an elastic member and a magnetic member
Implementation Method 4
the outer side of the sleeve used to reinforce the optical fiber spliced portion is formed of a heat shrinkable tube
Data Source
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AI summary
In an optical-fiber-spliced portion reinforcing heating device of the invention, a pressing force that is applied to a sleeve by a second force-applying member (42) is greater than a tension that is applied to an optical fiber by a first force-applying member (41); in a state in which a tension is applied to the optical fiber by the first force-applying member (41), a backward movable range of one clamp (2A) that applies a tension is ensured in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber and in a direction away from heater (3); and as a result of ensuring a forward movable range in which it can move toward the heater (3), one clamp moves in a direction in which a tension that is applied to the optical fiber as a result of pressing the sleeve by the heaters (3) and by the second force-applying member (42) is diminished.