Optical Cable Sealing via Adhesive Injection and Reinforcement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optical cables face moisture penetration and air circulation issues in humid and vacuum environments, which affect the integrity of the optical fibers, necessitating effective sealing solutions.
Innovation Solution
The method involves peeling back the outer jacket of the optical cable to expose the optical fiber assembly and reinforcing filaments, introducing an adhesive to seal the opening and fix the filaments' positions, and using a reinforcing unit with fiber filaments and a heat shrinkable tube to enhance structural strength and protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the outer jacket is left intact, then the cable structure remains complete and simple, but moisture and air can penetrate through openings affecting the optical fibers
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing structure employs nested components where the adhesive is introduced into the interior space through the opening, the reinforcing filaments are positioned within the interior space, and the outer jacket encloses all these elements. This nested arrangement provides effective sealing while maintaining a compact and relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive serves as an intermediary substance that is introduced through the opening to seal the interior space. The adhesive acts as a mediator between the external environment and the internal components, preventing moisture and air penetration without requiring complex mechanical sealing mechanisms.
2Reliability
If adhesive is introduced through the opening to seal the interior space, then moisture and air penetration is prevented, but the opening remains exposed and structurally weakened
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcing filaments are strategically positioned within the interior space to provide localized reinforcement at the opening region. This local reinforcement strengthens the cable structure specifically where the opening exists, without requiring to strengthen the entire cable uniformly, thus maintaining overall structural integrity while enabling the sealing function.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable structure combines multiple materials with different properties: the outer jacket provides mechanical protection, the adhesive provides sealing functionality, and the reinforcing filaments provide structural strength. This composite material approach allows each component to perform its specific function optimally, with the combination providing both sealing effectiveness and structural strength at the opening.
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 effectively seals the optical cable, preventing moisture and air ingress, while reinforcing the structure to withstand mechanical stress and environmental factors, thus protecting the optical fibers and connected electronic devices.
Implementation Method 1
introducing an adhesive into the interior space through an opening formed in the outer jacket when the one end of the outer jacket is peeled off so as to seal the opening and to fix the positions of the reinforcing filaments and the optical fiber assembly
Implementation Method 2
a heat shrinkable tube to enhance structural strength and protection
Data Source
AI summary
A method of sealing an optical cable is disclosed. The optical cable includes an outer jacket defining an interior space, an optical fiber assembly disposed in the interior space, and a plurality of reinforcing filaments disposed in the interior space between the outer jacket and the optical fiber assembly. The method includes the steps of peeling off one end of the outer jacket to expose one end of the optical fiber assembly and one ends of the reinforcing filaments, and introducing an adhesive into the interior space through an opening formed in the outer jacket when the one end of the outer jacket is peeled off so as to seal the opening and to fix the positions of the reinforcing filaments and the optical fiber assembly.