Mid-span fiber breakout device with clamshell segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for separating elongate fibers, such as optical fibers, within a fiber cable often require splicing, which is costly and can damage the fibers, and do not efficiently protect the fibers when separating them at a mid-span location.
Innovation Solution
A breakout device with a clamshell configuration that allows in-situ placement at a mid-span location, featuring a primary and secondary interior pathway, enabling the separation of fibers without cutting or splicing, and includes anti-pinch configurations to prevent damage during deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If splicing is used to separate fibers, then fiber separation can be achieved, but fiber damage occurs and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into a first portion and a second portion that can be separately placed on opposite sides of the fiber cable. This segmentation allows the device to be installed without splicing the fibers, maintaining fiber integrity while achieving separation. The two portions work together to create the breakout function.
Solution Approach 2:
The breakout device acts as an intermediary structure that separates fibers without direct contact or splicing. It provides a protective envelope that guides and separates fiber groups through defined pathways, eliminating the need for harmful splicing operations while achieving the desired fiber separation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If fibers are separated at mid-span location, then routing flexibility is improved, but fiber protection becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses a protective envelope structure that surrounds and protects the separated fiber groups. This shell-like structure provides mechanical protection to the fibers at the separation point, maintaining fiber integrity while enabling flexible routing of different fiber groups through the device.
Solution Approach 2:
The device creates three-dimensional pathways within the protective envelope, allowing fibers to be separated and routed in different spatial directions. The primary and secondary interior pathways provide multi-dimensional routing options while maintaining fiber protection through the enclosing structure.
3Loss of time
If in-situ placement is used, then installation time is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into two portions that can be independently handled and installed. This segmentation enables simpler in-situ placement where each portion can be positioned on opposite sides of the cable, reducing installation complexity and time compared to a single complex unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates movable portions that can transition between open and closed configurations. This dynamic design allows the device to be opened for easy in-situ placement and then closed to provide fiber protection, simplifying installation while maintaining protective function.
Data Source
AI summary
A breakout device for mid-span fiber separation. First and second portions that each have a hollow interior space that defines a first part of a primary interior pathway and that defines a first part of a secondary interior pathway that branches away from the primary pathway. The first and second portions together bound the primary and secondary pathways. The first and second portions together define: a first entrance orifice, a second exit orifice and a third exit orifice. The first and second portions are configured to permit in-situ placement of the device upon elongated fibers. All the fibers extend through the first entrance orifice at the entrance to the primary pathway, a first group of the fibers extend through the second exit orifice at an exit from the primary pathway, and a second group of the fibers extend through the third exit orifice at an exit from the secondary pathway.