Hermetic Optical Termination Box with Tubular Bushing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-output optical termination boxes are laborious and prone to human errors during assembly, as they require manual operations to connect and split optical fibers, and lack a permanently sealed construction to protect the splice and fusions.
Innovation Solution
A hermetic optical termination box with a tubular housing, a cover with output adapters, and an optical fiber accommodating tray, featuring a tubular bushing that hermetically retains the optical distribution cable, ensuring a sealed and permanent construction that prevents movement due to vibrations or impacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual operations are used to connect and split optical fibers in known termination boxes, then the assembly process can be performed in the field, but the assembly becomes extremely laborious, time-consuming, and prone to human errors
Solution Approach 1:
The optical distribution cable is pre-connected to the output adapters inside the termination box before final assembly. The cable entry and positioning mechanisms are pre-configured, allowing the cable to be automatically guided and connected without manual fiber splitting or complex field operations. This preliminary preparation eliminates laborious manual fiber handling while maintaining field assembly capability.
2Reliability
If the box cover is closed before connecting optical fibers to output adapters, then a sealed construction is achieved, but the connection operations cannot be performed in the field
Solution Approach 1:
The termination box is divided into functional segments: an openable cover portion for field operations and a sealed housing portion for protection. The cable entry mechanism is segmented to allow cable insertion before sealing, while the output adapter connections are designed to be made through the open cover. This segmentation enables field connections to be made before final sealing without compromising the hermetic seal integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
All optical fiber connections to output adapters are performed preliminarily inside the box with the cover open, before the final sealing operation. The cable is pre-positioned and pre-connected, allowing the cover to be sealed afterward without disrupting the connections. This reverses the conventional sequence to achieve both field operability and hermetic sealing.
3Adaptability or versatility
If optical fibers are connected in the field before box closure, then assembly flexibility is improved, but the splice and fusions lack permanent protection
Solution Approach 1:
The box structure is segmented into a protective housing and an openable cover, allowing connections to be made in the flexible field environment with the cover open, followed by permanent sealing for protection. The cable entry mechanism is designed with a sealed pathway that protects the cable and connections from vibrations and impacts while maintaining assembly flexibility.
4Ease of operation
If known termination boxes allow cable and component movement during assembly, then ease of operation is improved, but the optical components are susceptible to movement due to vibrations or impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The cable entry mechanism and output adapter positions are pre-configured with guiding structures and retention features that automatically stabilize components during assembly. The cable is pre-guided into its final position through a sealed pathway, and the output adapters are pre-positioned with locking mechanisms, eliminating component movement during both assembly and operation while maintaining ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
An optical termination box comprising: a tubular housing (10) with an open end (10b) and a closed end (10a) provided with an input opening (11) for an optical distribution cable (100); a cover (20) securable against the open end (10b) of the housing (10) and pierced by output adapters (30); and an optical fiber accommodating tray (40), internal to the tubular housing (10) and having a first end (41) carrying a tubular bushing (50) with a base portion (51) seated against the closed end (10a) of the tubular housing (10), and a projecting body portion (52) out of the input opening (11), to cooperate with a puller (60) that holds the tubular bushing (50) hermetically pressed against the closed end (10a) of the tubular housing (10). The tubular bushing (50) hermetically receives and retains an end portion (100a) of an optical distribution cable (100) containing at least one optical fiber (FO).