Inverted Cable Distribution Enclosure for Antenna Tower Wind Load Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing outdoor enclosures for antenna towers lack design flexibility and ease of installation, particularly when dealing with hybrid trunk cables that combine power conductors and optical fibers, leading to difficulties in routing and connecting these cables efficiently.
Innovation Solution
The design reverses the traditional mounting approach by using a shell with mounted connectors as the base and a flat surface as the lid, allowing for angled side walls and various shapes that reduce wind load and facilitate easier installation, while incorporating robust connectors for secure connections within the enclosure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional mounting approach is used with flat base and vertical walls, then structural simplicity is maintained, but installation ease and wind load reduction are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional enclosure structure by making the shell with mounted connectors the base and the flat surface the lid. This reversal allows the enclosure to be mounted directly on antenna towers with connectors already positioned for easy cable routing, significantly improving installation ease while the streamlined shape reduces wind load
2Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional rectangular enclosure shape is used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but wind load and aesthetic appeal are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs curved and streamlined enclosure shapes instead of traditional rectangular forms. The shell features curved surfaces that aerodynamically reduce wind load and improve aesthetic appeal, while still being manufacturable using standard molding or fabrication techniques for outdoor enclosures
3Ease of operation
If connectors are mounted on the front surface, then connection accessibility is improved, but routing efficiency for hybrid cables is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves connectors from the traditional front surface to the shell structure, distributing them across multiple surfaces and angles. This spatial redistribution allows optimized cable routing paths for hybrid cables containing both power conductors and optical fibers, improving routing efficiency while maintaining accessibility through the shell's geometric design
Data Source
AI summary
An enclosure for breaking out a trunk cable includes: a base having a generally flat surface adapted for mounting to a mounting surface; a shell having a front and two side walls extending from opposite sides of the front and two opposed end walls, the side walls of the shell mounted to the base to form a cavity; a plurality of connectors mounted to each of the side walls; and a trunk cable routed into the cavity through one of the end walls, the trunk cable comprising a plurality of power conductors and/or a plurality of optical fibers. The power conductors and the optical fibers are connected with respective ones of the plurality of connectors.