Molded Furcation Tube Array for Fiber Optic Cable Assembly
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for furcating fiber optic cables, such as using heat-shrink tubing and epoxy, often damage the fragile optic fibers during installation due to direct transmission of pulling forces, and existing solutions can be bulky and labor-intensive.
Innovation Solution
A molded array of furcation tubes is created by compressing and heating furcation tubes with reinforcing filaments, allowing optic fibers to be slidably positioned without being rigidly bound, reducing tensile forces and improving handling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If heat-shrink tubing and epoxy are used to furcate the trunkline, then the optic fibers are rigidly bound and protected, but pulling forces are transmitted directly to the optic fibers causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
A gel substance is introduced as an intermediary between the optic fibers and the heat-shrink tubing. The gel fills the space around the fibers, allowing them to move independently while maintaining protection. This mediator absorbs and distributes pulling forces, preventing direct transmission to the fragile optic fibers during installation and handling.
2Reliability
If conventional furcation methods with heat-shrink tubing and epoxy are used, then the optic fibers are securely bound, but the installation process becomes labor-intensive and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The epoxy binding step is extracted and removed from the furcation process. Instead of using epoxy to rigidly bind the optic fibers to the heat-shrink tubing, the invention uses a gel substance that allows the fibers to remain free-moving. This eliminates the complex epoxy application and curing process, significantly reducing installation time and labor requirements while maintaining fiber protection.
3Stability of the object's composition
If epoxy is used to rigidly bind optic fibers to cable jacket, then structural stability is improved, but the optic fibers become vulnerable to damage during handling and installation
Solution Approach 1:
The physical state and properties of the binding material are changed from rigid epoxy to a flexible gel substance. This parameter change allows the material to provide structural stability and protection while simultaneously allowing the optic fibers to move freely within the gel matrix. The gel's viscoelastic properties enable it to absorb handling forces without transmitting them to the fibers.
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 solution reduces the risk of damaging optic fibers during installation by allowing them to move freely within the furcation tubes, while being more compact and less labor-intensive than prior art methods.
Implementation Method 1
A molded array of furcation tubes is created by compressing and heating furcation tubes
Implementation Method 2
The reinforcing filaments can be bonded into the deformed material of the tube jackets and inner tubes
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems and apparatus for manufacturing a fiber optic cable breakout assembly comprising a molded array of furcation tubes are provided. In some embodiments, a pin retainer is connected to a plurality of pins for use in facilitating heat transfer to furcation tubes and influencing a structural arrangement of a molded array of the furcation tubes. The pin retainer can be removably connected to a pull arm on a heating system for heating molding the furcation tubes, and the pull arm can be automatically retracted after a molding process is complete, to withdraw the pins from the molded array.