Optical Fiber Cable Assembly Yarn Fixation Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional optical fiber cables experience slippage and damage during installation due to the lack of fixed connection between the reinforcement yarn assembly and protective tubings, leading to exposure and potential damage when extending through long and winding installation tubes.

Innovation Solution

The assembly includes a leading unit with a yarn positioner to fix the front part of the reinforcement yarn assembly and a trailing unit with threaded components to securely engage the rear part, preventing slippage by using a middle tube, rear tube, front cap, and boot to maintain the fiber core assembly uncovered by the reinforcement yarn assembly, allowing for smooth installation by pulling a string through the installation tube.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the reinforcement yarn assembly is not fixedly connected to the protective tubings, then the cable structure remains simple and flexible, but slippage occurs during installation causing exposure and damage to protective tubings and optical fibers

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveInstallation flexibilityVSAvoidProtection against slippage and damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The assembly is divided into a leading unit with a yarn positioner that fixes the front part of the reinforcement yarn assembly, and a trailing unit with threaded components (middle tube, rear tube, front cap) that secure the rear part. This segmentation allows independent fixation of different cable portions without compromising overall installation flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The yarn positioner and threaded components act as intermediary elements between the reinforcement yarn assembly and the protective tubings/optical fibers. These intermediaries provide secure fixation while allowing the cable to be pulled through long and winding installation tubes without direct connection between the reinforcement yarn and protective tubings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the cable is pushed or pulled multiple times through long and winding installation tubes, then the cable can be successfully installed, but the reinforcement yarn assembly slips relative to the optical fibers causing exposure and potential damage

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveInstallation success rateVSAvoidSlippage and exposure damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The yarn positioner and threaded components are pre-assembled on the cable before installation. This preliminary action ensures that the reinforcement yarn assembly is securely fixed in position beforehand, preventing slippage during the multiple push-pull operations required for installing through long and winding installation tubes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The fixed connection structure preemptively counteracts the slippage force that would occur during cable installation. By establishing secure fixation before the harmful slippage can occur, the system prevents exposure and damage to protective tubings and optical fibers during the installation process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Reliability

If the reinforcement yarn assembly is securely fixed to prevent slippage, then protection against damage is improved, but the device complexity increases with multiple threaded components and positioners

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovePrevention of slippage and damageVSAvoidNumber of fixation components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fixation system is segmented into modular components (yarn positioner, middle tube, rear tube, front cap) that can be independently manufactured and assembled. This segmentation manages complexity by breaking down the secure fixation requirement into discrete, manageable parts rather than a single complex mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The threaded components serve multiple functions: the middle tube provides structural support and threading, the rear tube engages with the middle tube for secure connection, and the front cap with threaded sleeve portion clamps the reinforcement yarn assembly. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components, managing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9835813B1Assembly for installing optical fiber cable

Publication Date: 2017.12.05 AMPHENOL FIBER OPTIC TECH SHENZHEN

AI summary

An assembly for installing an optical fiber cable which includes a fiber core assembly and a reinforcement yarn assembly surrounding the fiber core assembly. The assembly includes a leading unit having a yarn positioner for fixing a front part of the reinforcement yarn assembly, and a trailing unit including a front cap, a rear tube, and a middle tube that has front and rear threaded portions threadedly engage the front cap and the rear tube, respectively. The front cap has a threaded sleeve portion sleeving around the front threaded portion of the middle tube for clamping a rear part of the reinforcement yarn assembly against the middle tube, thereby fixing the rear part of the reinforcement yarn assembly.