Mountable Connector Box for Fiber Optic Cable Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connector boxes for fiber optic cables face challenges in managing large capacities while maintaining organization, weather-proofing, security, and flexibility, particularly in 'fiber to the premises' and 'fiber to the home' systems, where increased demand requires efficient interconnection and cable management solutions.
Innovation Solution
A mountable connector box design featuring a housing with a removable plate and grommet for drop cable access, a cable clamp mechanism, and internal routing managers to guide cables, along with adapters for selective connections, providing a high-capacity, weatherproof, and flexible solution for fiber optic cable management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If large-capacity connector boxes are used to minimize installation costs and improve efficiency, then the connection capacity increases, but the organization (cable management and routing) deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connector box is divided into multiple compartments and sections, with dedicated cable management areas for different cable types and connection zones. This segmentation allows high connection capacity while maintaining organized cable routing through structured spatial division.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes three-dimensional space efficiently by creating vertical and horizontal cable routing paths, stacking connectors in multiple layers, and employing depth-wise cable management channels. This dimensional approach increases connection capacity without proportionally increasing surface footprint or routing complexity.
2Quantity of substance
If large-capacity connector boxes are used to minimize installation costs and improve efficiency, then the connection capacity increases, but the weather-proofing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connector box employs weather-sealing gaskets, flexible sealing films at cable entry points, and protective coatings on the housing. These flexible sealing elements maintain weather-proofing integrity while accommodating the larger internal volume required for high connection capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
Cable entry assemblies are nested within the housing structure with integrated sealing mechanisms. The cable clamps and grommets are nested within the housing wall thickness, creating layered protection that maintains weather-proofing while providing access for multiple cables.
3Quantity of substance
If large-capacity connector boxes are used to minimize installation costs and improve efficiency, then the connection capacity increases, but the ease of security and access deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connector box features removable panels, detachable cable management sections, and accessible connector modules that can be individually removed or adjusted. This extraction principle allows maintenance personnel to access specific connection areas without opening the entire box, maintaining security while improving ease of access for high-capacity units.
Solution Approach 2:
The box incorporates movable components such as sliding cable management trays, adjustable connectors, and hinged access panels. These dynamic elements allow flexible reconfiguration and easy access to different connection zones, making high-capacity boxes as easy to maintain as smaller units.
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 connector box enables efficient cable routing and interconnection with up to 48 connections, enhancing cable management, security, and adaptability for various environments and mounting conditions, while maintaining a compact and organized structure.
Implementation Method 1
The drop cable entrance assembly includes a housing opening portion providing access to the space from an exterior of the housing and including a removable plate and a grommet
Implementation Method 2
a cable clamp portion configured to hold the one or more drop cables in place via contact pressure
Data Source
AI summary
A connector box has a housing forming a space and a cover configured to provide access to the space, a plurality of connectors configured to enable selective connection of fiber optic cables within the enclosed space, and a drop cable entrance assembly configured to provide an opening for one or more drop cables to enter the space in the housing. The drop cable entrance assembly has a housing opening portion providing access to the space from an exterior of the housing and having a removable plate and a grommet, and a cable clamp portion configured to hold the one or more drop cables in place via contact pressure.