Pre-terminated Optical Fibre Cable Assembly with Protective Sleeve
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pre-terminated optical fibre cable installations face challenges with protecting the protruding ends of lightweight fibre units blown through micro-ducts, as conventional protective methods are either not suited for blowing installations or result in bulkier cables with excess length issues, and require time-consuming trimming and securing processes.
Innovation Solution
A pre-terminated optical fibre cable assembly with a protective sleeve having low-friction properties, extending over a major part of the fibre length, is designed to prevent movement and damage, with the sleeve being fixed at one or both ends to prevent sliding and include a method of applying and securing the sleeve during installation, ensuring protection and efficient installation through ducts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a protective sleeve is added to protect protruding fibre ends, then protection against damage is improved, but friction during installation increases causing jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The protective sleeve material parameters are specifically selected to achieve low friction coefficient, allowing the sleeve to protect the fibre ends while maintaining smooth passage through ducts during blowing installation. The material composition and surface properties are optimized to minimize frictional resistance.
2Reliability
If conventional protective methods are used, then protection is provided, but cable bulk increases causing excess length issues
Solution Approach 1:
A thin-walled protective sleeve is applied over the protruding fibre ends, providing necessary mechanical protection while maintaining a compact cable profile. The sleeve's thin construction prevents excessive bulk that would cause length management issues during installation and storage.
3Reliability
If protective sleeves are applied after installation, then protection is provided, but installation time increases due to trimming and securing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The protective sleeve is pre-applied to the fibre ends during cable manufacturing before installation. This preliminary protection eliminates the need for post-installation trimming and securing operations, significantly reducing installation time and complexity while ensuring proper protection is in place from the start.
4Reliability
If the protective sleeve extends over major part of fibre length, then protection and anti-slip is improved, but cable diameter increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective sleeve is strategically positioned to extend over the major part of the fibre length where protection and friction reduction are most needed, while maintaining a diameter that allows passage through standard ducts. The sleeve's length and diameter are optimized to provide maximum benefit without exceeding duct size constraints.
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
The solution reduces jamming and restarting during installation, provides effective protection against damage, and allows for efficient handling and storage of excess cable length, enhancing the installation process by minimizing post-installation steps and costs.
Implementation Method 1
a protective sleeve having low-friction properties, extending over a major part of the fibre length
Implementation Method 2
Using the blowing process to install optical fibre transmission lines into an optical fibre duct typically uses viscous drag generated by a high-speed flow of a fluid, for example air
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3(a)~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The present invention relates to a pre-terminated (pre-terminated) optical fibre cable assembly (10,90), which is configured to be installed through a duct (20). The pre-terminated optical fibre construction (10,90) includes at least one optical fibre (46). A protective sleeve (26) is added to the optical fibre (46) before adding a terminal connector (24) to the leading end of at least one optical fibre (46). The protective sleeve (26) extends from behind the terminal connector (24) along part of the length of the optical fibre (46). When the cable is installed through a duct, the protective sleeve protects the portion of the fibre that protrudes from the end of the duct, for example in a communications cabinet (16). A residual length (28) of the protective sleeve remains within the duct. Terminal connectors and protective sleeves can be applied at both ends of the cable assembly, or only one end.