Optical Cable Splice Enclosure with Selective Waterproof Entry Board

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current optical fiber cable splice enclosures for mid-span splicing of backbone cables face challenges with restricted selectivity, construction inconvenience, and increased operation costs due to limitations in waterproof treatment options, particularly between mechanical and heat-shrink methods, which affect construction quality and safety.

Innovation Solution

An optical fiber cable splice enclosure with a single structure cable entry board that can utilize either mechanical waterproof components or flexible heat-shrink tubes, featuring a hollow cylindrical tube design and integrated fixtures for versatile waterproofing, allowing for seamless entry and exit of optical fiber core wires without cutting, and incorporating elastic pads and adhesive materials for enhanced sealing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If mechanical waterproof treatment is used for cable entry board, then waterproof ability and construction safety are improved, but device complexity and material cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewaterproof abilityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cable entry board is divided into a first cable entry opening for backbone cables requiring waterproof treatment and a second cable entry opening for other cables. This segmentation allows selective application of waterproof measures only where needed, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining waterproof ability for critical connections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Waterproof treatment is applied locally only to the first cable entry opening where backbone cables enter, rather than uniformly across the entire cable entry board. This local quality approach ensures waterproof ability is improved at critical points while avoiding unnecessary complexity and cost in non-critical areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If mechanical dual-piece or multiple-piece waterproof treatment is used, then waterproof quality is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewaterproof qualityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The cable entry board structure is segmented into distinct openings with different waterproof requirements. The first opening uses a simplified single-piece waterproof structure instead of complex dual-piece or multiple-piece designs, reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining adequate waterproof quality through selective application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If single-piece type waterproof treatment is used, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but waterproof quality and reliability decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure complexityVSAvoidwaterproof quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Different waterproof quality levels are applied to different locations: the first cable entry opening for backbone cables uses adequate waterproof treatment to ensure reliability, while the second opening uses simpler treatment. This local quality differentiation maintains waterproof quality where needed without unnecessarily increasing device complexity overall.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Quantity of substance

If heat-shrink waterproof treatment is used, then material cost is reduced, but construction quality and waterproof reliability decrease when optical fiber is bent

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial costVSAvoidwaterproof ability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Mechanical waterproof treatment is applied specifically to the first cable entry opening where backbone cables with bent optical fibers enter, ensuring reliable waterproof ability in this critical location. Heat-shrink or other simpler treatments can be used for the second opening where such constraints do not exist, optimizing the balance between material cost and waterproof reliability for each location.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

This design enhances waterproof treatment selectivity, reduces construction costs, and improves flexibility and safety by integrating mechanical and heat-shrink methods, ensuring effective sealing and reduced material usage while maintaining high construction quality and safety standards.

Implementation Method 1

the heat-shrink tube wraps an exterior of the hollow cylindrical tube and a portion of the first and second segments to form a waterproof structure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal contraction: Thermal Contraction

Implementation Method 2

incorporating elastic pads and adhesive materials for enhanced sealing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP2589999B1Optical cable connection casing adapted for operation of guiding and connecting optical cable to branching halfway
Publication Date: 2021.06.02 KOREA AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES
  • EP2589999B1 patent drawingFigure 1(A)~1(B)
  • EP2589999B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3(A)
  • EP2589999B1 patent drawingFigure 3(B)~3(C)

AI summary

An optical cable connection casing (1) includes at least one cable in-out end surface (2) on which at least one connection part (3) and at least one first hollow tubular column (4) are located. The connection part (3) and the first hollow tubular column (4) allow the optical cable (5) to pass in and out the connection casing (1) through the connection part (3) and the first hollow tubular column (4) in the form of double optical cables after the optical cable (5) being oppositely bent without cutting off the optical fiber core of the optical cable (5), respectively; wherein the optical cable (5) will be guided and connected to a branching halfway.