Fibre Optic Tube End Stop With Annular Wall Impact Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing end stops for fibre optic cable tubes are vulnerable to impact damage, prone to dirt accumulation, and have complex locking mechanisms that are difficult to operate and maintain, compromising the integrity of the seal and visibility of the tube's final position.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates an annular wall spaced from the housing to protect the tube from impact, eliminates discrete webs for a more stable support, integrates a cam-based locking mechanism within the end stop, and features a smooth outer surface without ribs to prevent dirt accumulation and enhance visibility, with a collet ring and flexible arms for secure tube retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the tube end is retained directly against the outer wall of the housing for visibility, then the end of the tube is visible for verification, but the tube becomes vulnerable to impact damage that can deflect the tube inwardly and compromise the seal integrity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediate annular wall structure between the tube end and the outer housing wall. This intermediary element absorbs impact forces before they can reach the tube, while still allowing the tube end to remain visible through the housing. The annular wall acts as a buffer that protects the seal interface from direct impact transmission.
2Strength
If ribs are added to the housing to enhance rigidity, then the structural strength is improved, but dirt accumulates on the ribs making it difficult to see whether the tube is correctly in place
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the problematic ribs from the housing outer surface that caused dirt accumulation and visibility issues. Instead, rigidity is achieved through the internal annular wall structure and the overall housing geometry, allowing the outer surface to remain smooth and clean while maintaining structural strength.
3Reliability
If a C shaped clip is fitted at the lip of the collet to prevent axial movement, then the locking mechanism is secured, but dirt accumulates on the clip compromising the locking mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the locking function directly into the collet structure itself, eliminating the separate C-shaped clip component. The collet is designed with inherent locking features that prevent axial movement without requiring an external clip, thereby removing the dirt accumulation problem while maintaining locking reliability.
4Device complexity
If discrete webs are used to support the inner sleeve against the outer housing, then the structure is simpler, but the support stability is reduced and impact effects are not minimized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an annular wall structure that provides pre-positioned, stable support for the tube end against the housing. This structure is designed beforehand to absorb and distribute impact forces evenly, providing superior stability compared to discrete webs while maintaining reasonable structural simplicity.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C~1D
Figure 2~2A
AI summary
An end stop (5) for a fibre optic cable tube, the end stop (5) comprising: a hollow cylindrical housing (1) open at one end (5) and closed at the opposite end (6); a connector (1, 3) at one end (5) for connection to a respective tube: an annular seal (4) within the housing (1) to seal (4), in use, against the outer wall (8) of the tube inserted into the housing (1); and an annular wall (10) spaced radially inwardly from the outer wall (8) of the housing (1) thereby defining an air gap (11) between the outer wall (8) of the housing (1) and the annular wall (10), being upstanding from the closed end (6) and extending towards the open end (5), an inner face of the annular wall (10) being dimensioned to receive the tube.