Floating Tap Fiber Optic Cable Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fiber optic cable assemblies with ribbon stacks face challenges in mid-span access due to translation and twisting, which can damage the ribbon stack, and existing solutions fail to securely handle both uncut and preterminated fibers without rotation.
Innovation Solution
A fiber optic cable assembly with a network access point (NAP) that includes a buffer conduit to loosely confine fibers, a movable member engaged with a strength member, and a bonding structure to prevent rotation while allowing translation, ensuring the ribbon stack remains stable during handling and installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a fixed network access point is created in a ribbon cable, then fiber access is provided, but the ribbon stack translates and twists causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the network access point dynamic by allowing the ribbon stack to translate freely within the buffer conduit while preventing rotation. The bonding structure selectively constrains rotation but permits translation, enabling the NAP to adapt to cable movements without damaging the ribbon stack.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer conduit acts as an intermediary between the ribbon stack and the fixed cable structure. It provides a confined space that allows the ribbon stack to move and translate while the bonding structure prevents rotational movement, mediating between the need for fiber access and ribbon protection.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the ribbon stack is securely fixed to prevent movement, then stability is improved, but translation is restricted causing stress and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The bonding structure applies local quality by differentiating between types of movement: it prevents rotation (providing stability) while allowing translation (avoiding stress). This selective constraint approach addresses different movement characteristics with different levels of restriction.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the cable fiber assembly is allowed to translate freely, then stress is reduced, but rotation occurs causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The bonding structure changes the movement parameters of the ribbon stack by transitioning from complete freedom of movement to selective constraint. It maintains translational freedom (reducing stress) while introducing rotational constraint (preventing damage), effectively changing the degrees of freedom available to the ribbon stack.
Data Source
AI summary
A fiber optic cable assembly with a floating tap is disclosed, wherein the assembly comprises a fiber optic cable having a cable fiber assembly, such as in the form of a ribbon stack. The assembly includes at least one network access point (NAP) for accessing at least one cable fiber in the cable fiber assembly and at least one strength area for example a strength member. At least one cable fiber is extracted from the cable fiber assembly and held by a transition assembly. A buffer conduit loosely contains the at least one cable fiber and guides it to an intermediate buffer conduit, which in turn guides the at least one cable fiber to a splice tube. The intermediate buffer conduit can translate relative to the splice tube. At least one tether fiber is spliced to the at least one cable fiber. Alternatively, the at least one cable fiber has sufficient length to serve as the at least one tether fiber so that splicing to another fiber is not required. Each strength member is covered by a movable member. A bonding structure bonds the cable fiber assembly, buffer conduit and movable member so that the cable fiber assembly can translate but not rotate relative to the cable within the NAP. This allows the tap point to “float” within the NAP when the cable fiber assembly needs to translate within the cable.