Hybrid Conductor Splice Connector for Continuous Optical Path
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing conductor splice connectors fail to provide a continuous electrical and optical path for hybrid conductors under high tension, particularly in transmission or distribution tower structures, necessitating improved splicing solutions that maintain both electrical and optical continuity.
Innovation Solution
A conductor splice connector design featuring an outer body with a core grip, collet assemblies, and a transition connector that houses and secures both electrical and optical components, ensuring a continuous path through routing clamps and channels, while maintaining robust mechanical integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing conductor splice connectors are used to connect hybrid conductors under high tension, then the mechanical strength requirement (95% of rated breaking strength) can be met, but the continuous optical path cannot be maintained due to discontinuation of sensing units at splice points
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the electrical conductor splicing function and optical fiber splicing function into a single integrated connector body. The connector simultaneously houses collet assemblies for electrical conductors and optical fiber splicing components, eliminating the need for separate mechanical and optical splicing operations and maintaining continuous sensing unit paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector is designed as a multi-functional device that performs both electrical connection (through collet assemblies gripping conductor strands) and optical connection (through optical fiber splicing and protection) within a single structure, allowing one component to serve multiple critical functions in hybrid conductor applications.
2Ease of manufacture
If the optical fibers are spliced separately from the conductors using known methods, then the electrical connection can be established, but the spliced optical path requires additional protection within the connector that increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the electrical conductor splicing and optical fiber splicing processes into a single integrated operation within the connector body. Both types of splicing occur simultaneously during one assembly process, eliminating the need for separate manufacturing steps and reducing overall complexity despite the multi-functional requirements.
3Strength
If a robust splice connection is used to prevent relative movement under high tension, then mechanical strength is improved, but the ability to maintain continuous sensing unit paths through the splice point becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated connector design ensures that mechanical strength and optical continuity are achieved together through a single robust connection structure. The collet assemblies and optical splicing components are housed together, ensuring that the same mechanical forces that secure electrical conductors also protect optical fiber paths, maintaining both strength and continuity simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
A conductor splice connector includes an outer body defining an outer body interior. The conductor splice connector further includes a core grip, the core grip defining a core grip interior and further defining a window in communication with the core grip interior. The core grip is housed within the outer body interior. An alternative conductor splice connector includes an outer body defining an outer body interior. The conductor splice connector further includes a first collet assembly, a second collet assembly, and a transition connector, wherein the transition connector connects the first collet assembly and second collet assembly.