Underground Link Box Flexible Sealing for Ground Movement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Underground link boxes are prone to failure due to ground movement or excessive loads, leading to potential explosions and hazards, as they lack flexibility to absorb mechanical stress and prevent water ingress.
Innovation Solution
The underground link box features a flexible bellows-like joint portion and a sealing agent that remains flexible after hardening, providing a flexible seal to absorb mechanical changes and prevent cracking, allowing the link box to adapt to shifting ground conditions while maintaining moisture-proof integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hardening resin is used to seal the underground link box, then the sealing integrity is improved, but the flexibility to absorb ground movement and mechanical stress is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by selecting a sealing agent with specific material properties: it must remain flexible after hardening. This changes the physical state parameters of the sealing material from rigid to flexible, allowing it to simultaneously provide sealing integrity and adaptability to ground movement. The sealing agent's chemical composition is chosen to maintain elasticity while providing waterproof sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining the flexible sealing agent with the rigid bellows-like joint portion structure. The sealing agent fills and seals the joint portion, creating a composite system where the flexible material compensates for the rigidity of the structural components, enabling both structural support and flexibility to ground movement.
2Strength
If a rigid structure is used for the underground link box, then the structural strength is improved, but the ability to adapt to ground movement and excessive loads is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by introducing the bellows-like joint portion with flexure capability. This dynamic structure allows the rigid link box to adapt to ground movement through controlled flexing at the joint portion. The bellows-like structure can expand and contract, bend, and deform elastically to accommodate ground settlement, thermal expansion, and external loads while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses flexible shells and thin films by implementing the bellows-like joint portion structure that acts as a flexible element. This joint portion can deform and flex to accommodate ground movement, providing the necessary adaptability while the main body of the link box remains rigid for structural strength.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the sealing agent is poured into the link box, then the water ingress prevention is improved, but the risk of cracking due to rigidity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by selecting a sealing agent that maintains flexibility after hardening. This changes the material properties parameter from rigid to flexible, allowing the sealing agent to prevent water ingress while simultaneously resisting cracking under mechanical stress and ground movement.
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
The flexible seal reduces the risk of link box failure, minimizes the need for large foundation pads, and prevents water ingress, ensuring the link box remains functional and safe even under adverse conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the sealing agent remains flexible after being hardened
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an underground link box (1) for connecting and/or switching adjacent sections (83) of at least two low-voltage cables (65), the underground link box (1) comprising at least two end portions (7), each end portion (7) is adapted to accommodate a cable (65) and a center portion (6) providing connection terminals (5) for connecting and/or switching the sections (83) of the cables (65) accomodated in the end portions (7), wherein the center portion (6) is located between the end portions (7). The invention further relates to a method for sealing an underground link box (1) against water ingress. Underground link boxes (1) of the art have the disadvantage that relative movement (flexure) of the end portions (7) with respect to the center portion (6) may result in cracks (63) in the underground link box (1) through which water may enter, resulting in failure of the underground link box (1). The inventive underground link box (1) solves this problem by further comprising a sealing member (71) of a sealing agent (73), which remains flexible after being hardened. Accordingly, in the inventive method, a sealing agent (73) is poured into the underground link box (1) for forming a sealing member (71), whereby the sealing agent (73) remains flexible after being hardened.