Optical Cable Retaining Wire Volume Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication cables face difficulties in extracting optical elements over long lengths due to the presence of holding ropes that hinder extraction and can form plugs when guide elements are inserted, making it challenging to access and remove optical elements efficiently, especially in compact cables where optical elements occupy a significant proportion of the internal cavity.
Innovation Solution
A communication cable design featuring a protective sheath with an optical core and retaining wires that occupy less than 0.5% of the space between the sheath and core, allowing for the insertion of a guide element to cut the optical element at a distance, enabling extraction of optical elements over 60 centimeters or more from a single window, and utilizing a method that includes pushing the wire inside the cavity to release the bundle and prevent plug formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If holding ropes are used to secure the optical core, then the optical core is stabilized and protected, but the ropes hinder the extraction of optical elements over long lengths and can form plugs when guide elements are inserted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the holding ropes entirely from the cable structure. Instead of using ropes to secure the optical core, the invention relies on the structural integrity of the cable components and the arrangement of optical elements within the protective sheath. This extraction of the problematic holding ropes eliminates the obstruction to guide element insertion and optical element extraction while maintaining core stability through alternative structural means.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the cable structure into distinct functional zones: a protective sheath, an optical core without holding ropes, and sufficient clearance space between the core and sheath. This segmentation allows the optical elements to be freely accessible and extractable over long lengths without being constrained by continuous holding ropes, while the protective sheath still provides overall structural stability.
2Volume of moving object
If optical elements occupy a significant proportion of the internal cavity to achieve compact cable design, then cable footprint is reduced, but the elements are subjected to tensile or compressive stresses in curved zones
Solution Approach 1:
The patent provides beforehand cushioning by ensuring sufficient clearance space between the optical core and the protective sheath. This clearance acts as a buffer that absorbs and distributes mechanical stresses before they reach the optical elements. When the cable is curved or subjected to external forces, the clearance space allows the optical core to move slightly without transmitting excessive tensile or compressive stresses to the individual optical elements, thereby protecting them while maintaining compact cable design.
3Ease of operation
If a single local window is created in the protective sheath for diversion, then access to cable elements is simplified, but the holding ropes can be driven inside the sheath by guide elements, forming plugs that prevent further insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the holding ropes from the cable structure, eliminating the source of the plug formation problem. Without holding ropes present in the cable, guide elements can be freely inserted through the single local window in the protective sheath to reach and extract optical elements over long distances without encountering rope obstructions or plug formation.
4Stability of the object's composition
If holding ropes are used to assemble optical elements, then the elements are kept together as a compact bundle, but the ropes hinder the sliding and extraction of optical elements when pulled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the holding ropes from the cable structure, eliminating the friction and obstruction they create during optical element extraction. The optical elements are maintained as a organized bundle through their arrangement within the protective sheath and structural support, but without the physical constraint of holding ropes, individual elements can slide and be extracted smoothly when pulled, enabling efficient access over long cable lengths.
Data Source
AI summary
The cable (1) has a protection sheath (2) defining an internal cavity (3), and an optical core (4) for transmitting optical data signals. The optical core is extended inside the internal cavity to define a space (9), in the internal cavity, between the sheath and the core. Maintenance cords (8) are wound around the optical core, and the optical core occupies 30 percent of the internal cavity. The cords occupy 0.8 percent of volume of the space between the sheath and the core. The optical core occupies 50 percent of the internal cavity. An independent claim is also included for a method for extracting an optical transmission element in an optical cable.