Optical Fiber Unit Tube Composition for Easy Fiber Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical fiber cables face challenges in efficiently and safely removing the tube covering optical fibers due to time-consuming manual tearing and potential damage to the fibers during the process.
Innovation Solution
The optical fiber unit and cable design incorporates a tube with a tensile elongation rate of 100% to 500% and a tensile strength of 5 MPa to 30 MPa, using materials like a block copolymer of polybutylene terephthalate and polyether with silica, enhancing tearability and workability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the tube is made with conventional materials and construction, then it has sufficient tensile strength to prevent breakage during laying, but it becomes difficult to tear by hand and requires excessive time and effort for fiber extraction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the molecular weight distribution of the polyethylene resin, specifically setting the weight average molecular weight between 200,000-500,000 and the polydispersity index between 4-8. This parameter optimization enables the tube to achieve both high tearability and adequate tensile strength, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining polyethylene resin with specific additives including antioxidants, UV absorbers, and nucleating agents. This composite formulation enhances both the tearability and tensile strength properties, allowing the tube to simultaneously achieve easy hand-tearing and sufficient mechanical strength for laying operations.
2Productivity
If the tube is made easier to tear for efficient fiber extraction, then workability improves, but the tube may become too weak and break during cable laying
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction through parameter changes in the polyethylene resin characteristics. By optimizing the weight average molecular weight (200,000-500,000) and polydispersity index (4-8), the tube achieves optimal balance between tearability for efficient fiber extraction and tensile strength for reliable cable laying without breakage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating tear-initiation structures or pre-weakened zones in the tube design, allowing controlled tearing to start easily while the rest of the tube maintains full strength. This enables efficient fiber extraction without compromising the overall structural integrity during laying operations.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional polyethylene resin is used in the tube, then manufacturing is simple, but the tube exhibits poor tearability and difficult workability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains ease of manufacture by continuing to use polyethylene resin as the base material, but improves tearability through precise parameter control of the resin's molecular weight (200,000-500,000) and polydispersity index (4-8). This approach keeps the manufacturing process simple while achieving superior tearability through material parameter optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by modifying specific regions or aspects of the tube material properties. By controlling the molecular weight distribution in specific ranges, the tube achieves enhanced tearability in the regions where tearing is initiated, while maintaining overall structural integrity and manufacturing simplicity.
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
The design improves the efficiency and safety of removing optical fibers by ensuring good tearability and workability, preventing damage and ensuring ease of extraction.
Implementation Method 1
a tensile elongation rate of the tube is 100% or more and 500% or less
Data Source
AI summary
An optical fiber unit includes: a plurality of optical fibers; and a tube covering the plurality of optical fibers. In the optical fiber unit, a tensile elongation rate of the tube is 100% or more and 500% or less. An optical cable includes: a plurality of optical fiber units; and a cable sheath covering the plurality of optical fiber units. In the optical cable, each of the plurality of optical fiber units includes: a plurality of optical fibers; and a tube covering the plurality of optical fibers, and a tensile elongation rate of the tube is 100% or more and 500% or less.