Optical Cable Branching Device with Winding Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aerial optical cables with permanent accessibility suffer from signal attenuation and accelerated aging due to excessive length generation in derived modules, which is detrimental to their operation, especially in overhead installations where weather variations cause contraction and expansion of the cable sheath, leading to module consumption and macro-bending stresses.
Innovation Solution
A branching device for optical cables featuring a casing with an inlet and outlet for the cable, a branch interface, and blocking means including a winding support and a clamp to prevent the extracted module from being pulled back into the sheath, maintaining the initial behavior of the module and preventing excessive length generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the optical module is extracted through the bypass window and left free to move, then the module can be accessed for branching, but the module is gradually consumed by the cable as the sheath expands and contracts, leading to excessive length generation and macro-bending stresses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a blocking device as an intermediary element between the extracted optical module and the cable sheath. This device includes a support structure with blocking means that prevents the module from being pulled back into the sheath while still allowing access through the bypass window. The blocking device mediates the interaction between the module and sheath, eliminating the harmful consumption effect while maintaining accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking means are installed in advance to prevent the harmful action of the module being pulled back into the sheath. By positioning the blocking device before any consumption can occur, the patent preemptively counteracts the expansion-contraction cycle that would otherwise gradually consume the module and create macro-bending stresses.
2Reliability
If the optical module is blocked to prevent displacement, then excessive length generation is prevented, but the device complexity increases due to the need for blocking means
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking device is segmented into distinct functional components: a support structure for positioning and blocking means for preventing displacement. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently, simplifying the overall design while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking means are designed to be simple replicas or copies of standard cable management components, such as clamps or retention mechanisms already familiar in cable systems. This approach reduces design complexity by using proven, simple structures rather than inventing complex new mechanisms.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a branching device (1) for an optical cable (C) comprising a sheath (G), at least one optical module (M1) surrounded by the sheath (G), and an access window (F) for the optical module (M1) formed in the sheath (G). The device (1) comprises: • a housing (2) having: o an inlet port (8) and an outlet port (10) arranged to allow the cable to pass through the housing (2) such that a portion of the cable including the access window (F) is housed inside the housing (2), o a branching interface (12) between the inside and outside of the housing (2), arranged to allow communication between the portion of the module that has been extracted from the cable via the access window (F) and equipment external to the housing (2), and • means for locking the extracted portion of the optical module (M1) relative to the sheath (G) to prevent displacement of the portion of the module extracted towards the inside of the sheath (G),the locking means comprising at least one winding support (14) for the extracted portion of the optical module (M1), and a clamping element (44, 44', 44") arranged to clamp a portion of the optical module that is wound around the winding support (14) or that is downstream of the portion wound around the winding support (14).