Fiber Optic Pedestal Bracket for Slack Storage and Remote Splicing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fiber optic pedestals lack adequate space and provisions to store cable slack, leading to potential damage during handling and splicing difficulties, especially in hard-to-reach locations or inclement weather, and require splicing to be performed at the pedestal location.
Innovation Solution
A mounting bracket with a top and bottom flange, and slide flanges to retain a looped cable with a non-detrimental bend radius, allowing for secure storage of excess cable and enabling splicing away from the pedestal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If cable slack is stored within the pedestal by removing outer jacket and armor, then space is saved within the pedestal, but cable protection and performance are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the cable slack storage function from the pedestal interior by providing an external mounting bracket attached to the pedestal exterior. The bracket stores the complete jacketed cable slack outside the pedestal, eliminating the need to remove protective layers while still achieving compact space utilization through the external mounting structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting bracket serves as an intermediary component between the pedestal and the cable slack. It provides a dedicated storage location that maintains the cable's protective layers intact while securing the slack in a controlled manner with proper bend radius, thus mediating between space constraints and cable protection requirements.
2Reliability
If splicing is performed at the pedestal location, then cable connections are secured, but technician safety and ease of operation are reduced in hard-to-reach locations or inclement weather
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the splicing operation from the pedestal location by enabling the splice enclosure to be mounted remotely on external surfaces. The mounting bracket system allows the splice work to be performed at a separate, accessible location while maintaining connection to the pedestal, thus dividing the overall system into distinct functional zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions the splicing location from the horizontal plane at pedestal height to vertical surfaces at various heights. The mounting bracket enables attachment to walls, fences, or other vertical structures, allowing technicians to perform splicing at ergonomic heights and accessible locations rather than being constrained to the pedestal's fixed position.
3Quantity of substance
If a larger loop of communications cabling is stored in the pedestal, then cable slack is accommodated, but the pedestal requires additional features to secure the loop against excessive force
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the cable slack storage function from the pedestal interior and relocates it to an external mounting bracket. This extraction eliminates the need for the pedestal to provide complex securing features for large cable loops, as the external bracket is specifically designed to accommodate and secure the slack in a controlled manner.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting bracket is designed to self-accommodate the cable slack loop through its structural configuration, which naturally maintains the proper bend radius and secures the cable without requiring additional active securing mechanisms. The bracket's design inherently provides the necessary retention through its geometry and attachment method.
Data Source
AI summary
A mounting bracket for use in a fiber optic access pedestal has a top flange, a bottom flange, and a pair of slide flanges configured to retain a looped cable within the with a bend radius that is not detrimental to cable performance.