Elastic Mesh Duct Bundle for Flexible Underground Cable Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optical communication cables and duct bundles become stiff and inflexible, prone to breaking when installed below ground due to strain from sharp rocks and ground pressure, and are difficult to store and transport efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A duct bundle comprising a plurality of elongated ducts with a smooth bore, surrounded by an elastic mesh jacket, allowing the bundle to deform and adapt to various shapes, facilitating easier installation and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a solid jacket or cross-wound threads are used to hold ducts together, then the duct bundle forms a stiff single unit that protects cables, but the bundle becomes inflexible and prone to breaking under ground pressure and sharp rocks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid cross-wound thread bindings with a flexible mesh jacket made of polymeric material. This mesh jacket maintains the duct bundle structure while allowing flexibility and deformation, preventing breakage under ground pressure and around sharp objects while still providing protective strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite structure combining multiple ducts within a mesh jacket. The mesh jacket itself is a composite material structure that provides both protection and flexibility, resolving the contradiction between strength and adaptability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If ducts are bundled tightly with cross-wound threads, then the bundle forms a stiff single unit, but the cables become difficult to store and transport efficiently due to stiffness
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible mesh jacket allows the duct bundle to be deformed and compacted for efficient storage and transport while maintaining bundle integrity. The bundle can be compressed into smaller volumes without damage, yet remains structurally sound when deployed.
3Reliability
If optical communication cables are installed directly or routed through stiff duct bundles, then the cables are protected, but they become prone to breaking due to strain from sharp rocks and ground pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible mesh jacket allows the duct bundle to deform and adapt to the surrounding environment, distributing ground pressure evenly and preventing concentrated strain on individual ducts and cables. This flexibility protects cables from breaking around sharp rocks while maintaining reliable installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The mesh jacket acts as a cushioning layer between the rigid ducts and the external environment (ground pressure, sharp rocks), absorbing and distributing mechanical stresses before they reach the ducts and cables, thereby preventing damage beforehand.
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 duct bundle becomes flexible, reducing the risk of breakage, enabling efficient storage and transport, and allows easy access to individual ducts for rerouting and splicing, while using less material and being more sustainable.
Implementation Method 1
the jacket is a mesh material comprising a plurality of mesh openings, and wherein the mesh material preferably is elastic
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a duct bundle for aggregating optical communication cables and method for manufacturing said duct bundle. The duct bundle comprises a plurality of elongated ducts extending along a longitudinal direction. Each duct has a bore extending through the duct and a smooth outer surface. At least one optical communication cable is loose in the bore and extends through the bore. The duct bundle further comprises a jacket surrounding the plurality of ducts so as to form a bundle of ducts. The jacket is a mesh material comprising a plurality of mesh openings. The mesh material is elastic.