Optical Fiber Insert Form Fit Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical fiber assembly inserts fail to reliably retain and guide optical cables with cut-out portions, allowing for axial and rotational movement, which complicates splicing and storage of optical fiber elements.
Innovation Solution
The insert employs form fit means with abutment faces that interact with the cut-out portion's parallel and radial surfaces of the optical cable jacket, preventing axial and rotational movement by using semicircular shells, longitudinal rims, cross links, and wall sections to securely position and guide the optical cable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cable jacket is partially removed to provide access to optical fiber elements, then accessibility for splicing is improved, but the optical cable becomes susceptible to axial and rotational movement
Solution Approach 1:
The insert is divided into multiple functional segments: form fit means for preventing movement, cable guidance means for directing the cable, recess for splice storage, and retention means for securing the splice. Each segment addresses a specific aspect of the problem, allowing the cable to be accessible while preventing unwanted movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The insert acts as an intermediary component between the cable and the housing. It provides form fit means that abut against the cable jacket surfaces, serving as a mediator that prevents axial and rotational movement while allowing the cable to be positioned and accessed for splicing operations.
2Reliability
If the optical cable is retained by cable strip or similar means, then the cable is held in place, but the retention reliability is insufficient to prevent shifting during splicing
Solution Approach 1:
The form fit means are pre-configured on the insert to abut against the cable jacket surfaces before splicing operations begin. This preliminary positioning prevents axial and rotational movement from the outset, providing reliable retention without requiring additional cable strips or similar means during the splicing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The form fit means are designed with curved or rounded surfaces that match the cylindrical shape of the cable jacket. This curvature allows the form fit means to abut effectively against the cable surfaces, preventing movement while maintaining ease of cable insertion and positioning.
3Device complexity
If the insert provides only basic cable guidance, then the structure remains simple, but the cable can move axially and rotationally compromising splicing precision
Solution Approach 1:
The insert is designed as a multi-functional component that combines cable guidance, movement prevention through form fit means, splice retention, and positioning features. This universal design achieves precise cable positioning and splicing accuracy without requiring multiple separate components, thereby maintaining relative structural simplicity while improving precision.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an insert for an optical fiber assembly reliably retaining an optical cable by preventing an axial and rotational movement thereof and further to an optical fiber assembly using such an insert. The insert is provided for guiding a part of the optical cable (12) which comprises at least one optical fiber element (14) and being accommodated in a housing of the optical fiber assembly, wherein said part of the optical cable (12) has a cut-out portion (16) in which a jacket (10) of said optical cable (12) is partially removed, thereby exposing said at least one optical fiber element (14). The insert (2) comprises an optical cable guidance means (8) for guiding said optical cable (12) across the insert (2); a recess (26) surrounding the exposed optical fiber element (12) and form fit means (32, 34) for suppressing an axial and rotational movement of the optical cable (12), wherein said form fit means (32, 34) are adapted to abut against surfaces of said jacket in the cut-out portion (16).