Fiber Optic Cable Wall Sealing Device with Deformable Inner Clamping Body

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for passing fiber optic cables through building walls require larger wall bore diameters and are inefficient for varying bore angles, especially when the cable is pre-installed with a sleeve and plug, which complicates sealing and routing.

Innovation Solution

A device with a deformable inner clamping body made of thermoplastic material and a pivotably connected perforated tube allows for sealing and routing of fiber optic cables through walls with diameters as small as 25-26 mm, accommodating horizontal and inclined bore angles, and can be used for both incoming and outgoing cable installations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a fiber optic cable is routed through a small diameter wall bore (25-26 mm) made with a hand drill, then the manual effort and work required are reduced, but the bore course varies (horizontal and inclined angles) making sealing and fastening difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of bore creationVSAvoidadaptability to varying bore angles
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The inner clamping body is made dynamically adaptable through its deformable web connecting the tubular section and frame-like section. This web can bend to accommodate different bore angles, allowing the same device structure to adapt to both horizontal and inclined bores created by hand drilling, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of bore creation and adaptability to varying angles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The device changes its geometric parameters by allowing the angle between the tubular section and frame-like section to vary. The deformable web enables this angular parameter to adjust according to the bore angle, maintaining effective sealing and cable routing capability across different installation scenarios while using a standardized small-diameter bore.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If pre-installed fiber optic cables with sleeves and plugs are routed through the wall, then cable installation is simplified, but the larger attachments cannot pass through small diameter clamping bodies

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of cable installationVSAvoidcomplexity of accommodating cable attachments
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device is segmented into two functional parts: the outer clamping body with a larger through-opening for accommodating cable sleeves and plugs, and the inner clamping body for sealing and securing. This segmentation allows the outer body to handle the larger cable attachments while the inner body maintains the sealing function, resolving the contradiction between ease of cable installation and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inner clamping body is nested within the outer clamping body, with the tubular section of the inner body extending through the wall bore and the frame-like section positioned within the outer body's recess. This nesting arrangement allows the smaller inner body to handle the cable sealing while the larger outer body accommodates the cable attachments, effectively resolving the space constraint issue.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Strength

If the inner clamping body is made rigid with greater wall thickness, then structural strength is improved, but it cannot be deformed to accommodate varying bore angles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoiddeformability for angle adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The inner clamping body applies local quality differentiation by making only the web connecting the tubular and frame-like sections deformable with reduced wall thickness, while keeping the main body sections rigid with greater wall thickness. This localized flexibility allows angle adjustment for adaptability while maintaining overall structural strength, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The inner clamping body is segmented into rigid sections (tubular section and frame-like section) and a flexible connection (deformable web). This segmentation allows the rigid parts to provide structural strength while the flexible connection provides the necessary deformability for accommodating different bore angles, effectively resolving the contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Object-affected harmful factors

If sealing substance is filled into the wall bore, then water and gas infiltration is prevented, but the substance may escape through the wall hole during filling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against water and gas infiltrationVSAvoidescape of sealing substance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The tubular section of the inner clamping body acts as an intermediary container for the sealing substance. The substance is first filled into this tube from the inside of the building, preventing escape through the wall hole. The tube then distributes the substance into the wall bore through its perforations, effectively preventing both infiltration and escape issues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The filling process is inverted by filling the sealing substance from the inside of the building into the tubular section, rather than from the outside. This reversal of the filling direction, combined with the tubular container, prevents the substance from escaping through the wall hole during filling while still achieving effective sealing of the bore.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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

Enables efficient sealing and routing of fiber optic cables with reduced manual effort, accommodating varying bore angles and pre-installed cables with larger attachments, while minimizing water and gas infiltration.

Implementation Method 1

the inner clamping body is preferably made of a thermoplastic material which can be deformed or bent at defined points, preferably with a smaller wall thickness

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermoplastic deformation:

Implementation Method 2

an initially flowable, then foaming and hardening filling substance is poured into this perforated tube

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFoaming: Foam

Implementation Method 3

an initially flowable, then foaming and hardening filling substance is poured into this perforated tube

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase change: Phase Change

Implementation Method 4

the peripheral edge section is pressed tightly and firmly against the wall surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3835840B1Device for guiding at least one fibre optic cable through a wall opening
Publication Date: 2022.09.28 LIC LANGMATZ
  • EP3835840B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3835840B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3835840B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The device for passing at least one fiber optic cable (4) through a wall bore leading through a building wall, comprising an outer clamping body (3) covering the wall bore on the outside of the building and resting against the building wall, which has a recess for passing the fiber optic cable (4), and an inner clamping body (8) covering the bore on the inside of the building and resting against the building wall for passing the fiber optic cable (3), is characterized in that the inner clamping body (8) has a tubular section (9) that can be inserted into the bore, and a frame-like section (14) extending at a right angle thereto in the unloaded state, which can be pressed against the building wall, wherein the two sections are flexibly connected to each other, and that a perforated tube (6) can be pivotably inserted into the recess of the outer clamping body (3).that the fiber optic cable (4) passing through the bore surrounds at least part of its length with radial clearance, wherein the clamping elements (3, 8) can be pressed tightly against the building wall both when the bore is horizontal and when it passes through the building wall at an angle thereto, and that the tubular section (9) of the inner clamping element (8) has an outwardly open indentation (26) for receiving and guiding the fiber optic cable (4), while the remaining inner cross-section of the tubular section (9) is closed, and that the perforated tube (6) can be opened about its longitudinal axis so that the inner clamping element (8), the perforated tube (6) and the outer clamping element (3) can be placed onto a fiber optic cable (4) previously passed through the wall bore.