Hinged Optical Fiber Enclosure for Clean, Watertight Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fiber optic enclosures are unsuitable for frequent access and maintenance at distribution points near end-user premises, requiring cumbersome opening and resealing procedures that can lead to water leakage and signal degradation, and lack protection against contaminants.
Innovation Solution
A non-circular optical fiber enclosure with a hinged base unit and auto-lock mechanism, featuring a removable top unit and compressed polymer sealing, allowing easy access and secure closure, and accommodating modular components for enhanced protection and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If vault-type enclosures with sealed splice cases are used to protect optical fibers and splices, then protection from contaminants is improved, but access and servicing becomes time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure is divided into separate modular components including a vault portion, access portion, and removable splice case. This segmentation allows the splice case to be independently removed for servicing while the vault remains sealed and protected, resolving the contradiction between protection and accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The enclosure transitions from a static sealed vault to a dynamic system with removable splice cases and flexible walls that can be opened. This allows the enclosure to adapt between protected closed state and accessible open state, enabling both contamination protection and easy servicing.
2Reliability
If multiple fasteners and cable sealing provisions are used to secure the splice case, then protection and sealing are improved, but the number of steps to access and service increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system is segmented into integrated gaskets and seals that are pre-installed on the splice case itself rather than requiring multiple separate fasteners. This reduces the number of assembly steps while maintaining sealing integrity through the integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The splice case is designed with self-aligning features and integrated sealing provisions that automatically engage when the case is installed, eliminating the need for technicians to manually install multiple fasteners and sealing components. The system serves itself through its design.
3Ease of operation
If the splice case is removed from the vault for splicing operations, then access to clean area is improved, but water leakage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure is segmented into a permanent sealed vault portion and a removable splice case. When splicing is needed, only the splice case is removed while the vault remains sealed and protected. This allows access to a clean splicing area without compromising the water-tight integrity of the main vault structure.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If rigid sealed structures are used to protect the enclosure, then protection from contaminants is improved, but ease of access and flexibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure employs flexible walls and removable components that allow the structure to transition between rigid protected state and flexible accessible state. The flexible walls can be opened for access while the overall vault structure maintains its protective sealing, providing both rigidity for protection and flexibility for access.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an optical fiber enclosure (102) comprising a non-circular base unit (106) defined by one or more walls (1110, 1112) having a burying end (1204) and a connection end (1202), and a non-circular top unit (402) defined by an open end (606) and a closed end (602). In particular, the burying end (1204) is an open end configured for subterranean placement beneath a land surface. And the open end (606) of the non-circular top unit (402) is removably engageable with the connection end (1202) of the non-circular base unit (106). Further, the one or more walls (1110, 1112) of the non-circular base unit (106) are removably hinged along adjacent vertical edges (1114) and partially openable to enable access to optical fiber components inside the non-circular base unit (106).