Hybrid Cable Sealing Modules for Wide Diameter Range-Taking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current telecommunications enclosure sealing arrangements face challenges in accommodating a wide range of cable diameters and efficiently recovering from deformation, leading to suboptimal sealing performance and increased recovery time.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a cable sealing arrangement with first and second cable sealing modules that include a hybrid construction, featuring a softer sealing portion and a harder containment portion, which allows for effective deformation to accommodate various cable sizes and rapid recovery, utilizing elastomeric materials and structural inserts to enhance conformability and reduce recovery time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single-material sealing arrangement is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate a wide range of cable diameters effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing module employs a composite construction with a softer sealing portion (first material) and a harder containment portion (second material). The softer sealing material deforms more easily to accommodate cables of varying diameters, while the harder containment material provides structural support. This composite approach enables the sealing arrangement to adapt to a wide range of cable sizes without requiring complex adjustable mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the sealing module are assigned different material properties: the sealing portion uses a softer material for conformability, while the containment portion uses a harder material for structural integrity. This local differentiation of material quality allows each region to perform its specific function optimally, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural complexity.
2Ease of operation
If a softer sealing material is used, then conformability to cables is improved, but recovery time from deformation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dual-material construction addresses the recovery time issue by combining a softer sealing material for conformability with a harder containment material that provides structural support and faster elastic recovery. The harder containment portion acts as a scaffold that returns more quickly to its original shape, dragging the softer sealing material along with it, thus reducing overall recovery time while maintaining conformability during the sealing process.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the sealing arrangement is made more compliant, then cable accommodation is improved, but sealing force is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The composite structure resolves this contradiction by having the softer sealing material conform to the cable shape while the harder containment material maintains the necessary sealing force. The containment portion's rigidity ensures that adequate pressure is applied to maintain the seal, while the sealing portion's softness allows it to mold around cables of different sizes, achieving both compliance and sealing force.
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
This solution enhances the sealing arrangement's ability to accommodate a wide range of cable diameters while ensuring effective sealing and rapid recovery from deformation, improving the overall sealing performance and reducing the time required for the sealing arrangement to return to its non-deformed state.
Implementation Method 1
both having elastomeric properties
Implementation Method 2
enhance sealant conformability, and/or sealant recovery from deformation
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to sealing arrangements for sealing locations where cables enter/exit enclosures. The sealing arrangements can include first and second cable sealing modules each including a cable sealing surface. The cable sealing surfaces of the first and second cable sealing modules oppose and contact one another at a cable pass-through sealing interface. The sealing arrangements can be adapted to enhance cable diameter range-taking, sealant conformability, and/or sealant recovery from deformation.