Interchangeable Endplate Assemblies for Fiber Optic Splice Enclosures

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing optical fiber termination systems lack flexibility and efficiency in accommodating different fiber drop types, requiring separate enclosures and tooling for field and factory-terminated applications, which increases manufacturing costs and inventory needs.

Innovation Solution

A fiber optic splice enclosure system with interchangeable endplate assemblies that allows for configuration changes to accommodate various fiber drop types, enabling the same enclosure to be used for both field splices and factory-terminated drops, reducing the need for multiple enclosures and tooling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate enclosures are used for field splices and factory-terminated drops, then each enclosure can be optimized for its specific function, but manufacturing costs and inventory needs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional optimizationVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The enclosure is designed with interchangeable endplate assemblies that allow a single enclosure to serve multiple functions - accommodating both field splice configurations and factory-terminated drop configurations. This universal design eliminates the need for separate specialized enclosures, reducing manufacturing complexity and inventory requirements while maintaining functional optimization for each application type

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If separate enclosures are used for field splices and factory-terminated drops, then each enclosure can be optimized for its specific function, but inventory needs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional optimizationVSAvoidinventory quantity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

A single enclosure design with interchangeable endplate assemblies replaces the need for multiple specialized enclosure types, significantly reducing inventory quantity requirements while maintaining the ability to optimize for different functional applications through endplate selection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of manufacture

If a single enclosure is used for multiple drop cable types, then manufacturing and inventory management are simplified, but flexibility to accommodate different configurations may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidconfiguration flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The enclosure is segmented into modular components, particularly the interchangeable endplate assemblies, allowing the main enclosure body to remain simple for manufacturing while the interchangeable endplates provide the necessary configuration flexibility for different drop cable types and termination methods

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The enclosure configuration is made dynamic through interchangeable endplate assemblies that can be swapped to adapt to different drop cable types and termination requirements, allowing the system to change its configuration based on operational needs while maintaining a simple, standardized enclosure body

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS8891928B2Fiber optic splice enclosures having interchangeable endplate assemblies and methods including the same

Publication Date: 2014.11.18 COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC

AI summary

A fiber optic splice enclosure system includes an enclosure and first and second endplate assemblies. The enclosure defines an enclosure chamber. The first and second endplate assemblies are adapted to be interchangeably mounted on the enclosure to provide different respective configurations for connecting fiber optic cables to the enclosure.