Fiber Optic Furcation Helical Stranding Immobilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fiber optic cables experience strain and performance issues when optical fibers in loose buffer tubes are directly connected to multifiber connectors due to movement, leading to potential system failures, necessitating immobilization at the furcation point, which is currently a time-consuming and labor-intensive process.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the removal of the outer jacket to expose micromodule end portions, followed by helical stranding with at least three turns to immobilize the optical fibers within their buffer tubes, and the use of a maintaining member to secure the stranded configuration, along with an optional furcation body for added protection and support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If optical fibers in loose buffer tubes are directly connected to multifiber connectors without immobilization, then the connection process is simpler and faster, but the optical fibers experience movement and strain that adversely impacts connector performance and causes system failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-immobilizing the optical fibers through helical stranding before the connection process. The micromodules are stranded in a helical pattern around a central axis, creating a pre-formed structure that locks the fibers in place. This preliminary immobilization prevents fiber movement during connection and eliminates the need for time-consuming epoxy application, thus resolving the contradiction between connection speed and connector performance.
2Reliability
If epoxy is used to immobilize optical fibers at the furcation point, then fiber strain is reduced and connector reliability is improved, but the process becomes time-consuming and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the time-consuming epoxy application step from the furcation process by replacing it with a mechanical helical stranding system. The micromodules are stranded in a helical pattern that inherently immobilizes the fibers through geometric constraint rather than chemical bonding. This extraction of the epoxy step eliminates the waiting time for curing and reduces labor intensity while maintaining fiber strain reduction and connector reliability.
3Ease of operation
If the outer jacket is removed to access buffer tubes for traditional furcation, then fiber access is achieved, but the cable structure loses protection and requires additional maintaining members to hold the fixed vertical position during epoxy curing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of the outer jacket removal, fiber immobilization, and structural support into a single helical stranding operation. The micromodules are stranded in a helical pattern that simultaneously provides fiber accessibility, immobilization, and structural integrity. This merging eliminates the need for separate maintaining members to hold the cable in a fixed vertical position during curing, as the helical structure inherently maintains its form without additional components.
Data Source
AI summary
Fiber optic cable furcation methods and assemblies are disclosed, wherein the method includes removing an end portion of the cable outer jacket from the fiber optic cable to expose end portions of the micromodules contained within. The method also includes helically stranding the exposed micromodule end portions to form a stranded section having a stranded configuration that includes at least three turns and that substantially immobilizes the optical fibers within their respective micromodules. The method also includes arranging a maintaining member on at least a portion of the stranded section to maintain the stranded configuration.