Optical Fiber Locking via Adhesive Injection Ports
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Fiber optic cables experience tension issues due to uncoiling or temperature variations, causing optical fibers to pull back on ferrules, leading to disconnection from connectors, necessitating an effective anchoring mechanism within the cable.
Innovation Solution
A fiber optic cable design featuring a conduit with an adhesive injection port and a fiber lock system, where an adhesive volume is bonded to the optical fibers within the conduit, and reinforced by an anchor member or deformations in the conduit wall to resist longitudinal movement, preventing pull-back on ferrules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If optical fibers are positioned loosely within the cable to allow movement and reduce stress, then fiber flexibility and installation ease are improved, but the fibers become susceptible to tension-induced pull-back on ferrules leading to disconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning adhesive volumes at specific locations within the cable conduit before the fiber is fully installed. The adhesive is applied in advance to create anchor points that will secure the fiber during subsequent installation steps, preventing pull-back on ferrules while maintaining installation ease
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive volume acts as an intermediary element between the optical fiber and the cable conduit. This mediator creates a bonding interface that transfers tension loads from the fiber to the conduit structure, preventing direct pull-back on ferrules while allowing the fiber to remain positioned within the conduit
2Strength
If adhesive is injected into the conduit passage to bond the optical fiber, then the fiber is anchored and tension resistance is improved, but the cable structure is compromised and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the adhesive application into discrete volumes positioned at specific locations within the conduit passage rather than filling the entire conduit. This segmentation allows targeted bonding at critical anchor points while leaving other portions of the conduit open, reducing manufacturing complexity and avoiding compromise to the overall cable structure
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive volumes are applied with local quality by positioning them at specific locations within the conduit passage where fiber anchoring is most critical. This localized application provides maximum tension resistance at key points without requiring complex cable-wide structural modifications, maintaining simplicity in the overall cable design
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
The solution effectively anchors optical fibers within the cable, preventing disconnection from connectors by resisting tension and movement, thereby ensuring stable connectivity and reducing the risk of fiber damage from bending.
Implementation Method 1
an adhesive volume in communication with the adhesive injection port. The adhesive volume includes a main adhesive volume positioned within the conduit passage and bonded to the optical fiber
Implementation Method 2
The plug portion is contiguous with the main adhesive volume and forms a mechanical interlock with respect to the conduit wall. The mechanical interlock resists longitudinal movement of the optical fiber and the main adhesive volume relative to the conduit wall
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure incudes a fiber optic cable having a conduit including a conduit wall defining a conduit passage that extends longitudinally through the conduit. The conduit also includes an adhesive injection port defined through the conduit wall and at least one optical fiber within the conduit passage. The cable further includes a fiber lock including an adhesive volume in communication with the adhesive injection port. The adhesive volume includes a main adhesive volume positioned within the conduit passage and bonded to the optical fiber. The main adhesive volume is fixed to prevent longitudinal movement relative to the conduit.