Movable Optical Fiber Spool With Hinged Cable Restraint

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fiber optical storage equipment faces challenges in managing optical cables efficiently, leading to space consumption, complex installation, and risks of fiber damage during operations.

Innovation Solution

A fiber optical storage equipment design featuring a base module, a support shaft, and a movable optical fiber spool with hinged restraining elements that optimize cable management and reduce space requirements, allowing for improved installation and maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If traditional fiber optical storage equipment uses separate adapter housing and connector housing arranged in a fixed mutual arrangement, then the equipment provides structured cable management, but it consumes more space and complicates the installation process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveequipment volumeVSAvoidcable management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The adapter housing and connector housing are merged into a single integrated housing structure. The adapter is positioned within the housing and the connector extends from the housing, eliminating the need for separate adapter housing and connector housing components. This integration reduces the overall equipment volume while maintaining organized cable management through the unified structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Volume of moving object

If traditional fiber optical storage equipment uses complex solutions for optical cable, adapter and connector housing to save space, then the equipment volume is reduced, but it causes undesired bending of the fiber and difficulties in managing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveequipment volumeVSAvoidfiber integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The spool is designed to rotate freely within the housing to dynamically adjust to cable length changes. The connector can pivot relative to the housing to accommodate installation angles. This dynamic design allows the equipment to maintain compact dimensions while preventing fiber bending through flexible, adaptive components that move with the cable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If traditional fiber optical storage equipment uses fixed housing arrangements, then the equipment structure is simplified, but it creates significant risks of fiber damage during installation, inspection and maintenance operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehousing structure complexityVSAvoidfiber safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The connector is designed with pivot capability, allowing it to rotate and adjust its position during installation and maintenance operations. This dynamic movement enables operators to safely manipulate the connector without putting stress on the fiber, reducing the risk of fiber damage while maintaining a relatively simple housing structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of operation

If traditional fiber optical storage equipment uses complex arrangements for adapter and connector housing, then cable management is improved, but it limits user access and increases space consumption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable management qualityVSAvoidequipment volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The adapter and connector are integrated into a single housing structure, providing organized cable management through their coordinated arrangement within the unified housing. The adapter is positioned to guide cables while the connector extends for access, achieving effective cable management in a compact integrated form that reduces overall equipment volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4650841A1A fiber optical storage equipment
Publication Date: 2025.11.19 PRYSMIAN SPA
  • EP4650841A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4650841A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4650841A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A fiber optical storage equipment (1) comprising a base member (10) comprising a base (11); a support shaft (30) extending along a longitudinal direction (X-X) perpendicular to the base (11); an optical fiber spool (40) for winding and unwinding an optical cable (2), the optical fiber spool (40) being configured to longitudinally move along the support shaft (30) and to rotate around the support shaft (30), the optical fiber spool (40) being movable along the longitudinal direction (X-X) between a first position, where the optical fiber spool (40) is proximate to the base (11) and a second position, where the optical fiber spool (40) is longitudinally spaced apart from the base (11), the optical fiber spool (40) being free to rotate for winding and unwinding in the second position, the optical fiber spool (40) comprising: a hub (41); - first retaining wings (42) and second retaining wings (43) outwardly projecting from the hub (41) to free wing ends (42a, 43a), the first retaining wings (42) and the second retaining wings (43) being configured to accommodate therebetween an optical cable (2) wound around the hub (41); the fiber optical storage equipment (1) comprises: at least one restraining element (70) hinged to a free wing end (42a, 43a) of at least one of the first and second retaining wings (42, 43) and configured to engage the base member (10) for restraining the wound optical cable (2).