Multi-Port Optical Closure Gland for Fast Cable Sealing and Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical closures face challenges in efficiently and quickly inserting or extracting optical cables due to complex coupling mechanisms and prolonged operation times associated with seals and reducers, leading to inefficient cable management.
Innovation Solution
A multi-port gland system with gland and adapter channels, locking arrangements, and anti-rotation/axial locking mechanisms to simplify and expedite the insertion and extraction of optical cables, ensuring secure and sealed connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex compression mechanisms and cable box reducers are used to retain optical cables, then the cables are securely held, but the device complexity increases and operation time extends
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex compression mechanism from the cable retention system and replaces it with a simple adapter inserted into a gland channel. The adapter body with cable receiving opening and gland body with locking arrangement provide secure retention without requiring complex internal compression mechanisms, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into separate functional components: the gland body attached to the optical closure, the adapter inserted into the gland channel, and the cable receiving opening. This segmentation allows each component to perform its function independently, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining secure cable retention through the locking arrangement between gland and adapter
2Reliability
If seals and reducers are used to retain optical cables, then cable security is improved, but the operation time for adding/removal increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter is pre-configured with the cable receiving opening and is designed to be simply inserted into the gland channel. The locking arrangement is pre-positioned to automatically engage when the adapter is inserted, eliminating the need for time-consuming assembly operations during cable installation or removal
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables dynamic and rapid cable insertion and removal operations. The adapter can be quickly inserted into the gland channel and locked into position, and just as quickly removed when needed. This dynamic design significantly reduces operation time compared to fixed seal and reducer systems that require disassembly for cable access
3Reliability
If complex compression mechanisms are used in reducers, then cable retention is secure, but the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex compression mechanism is extracted and replaced with a simple insertion and locking operation. The adapter body is inserted into the gland channel where the locking arrangement automatically secures it, eliminating the need for complex compression operations and significantly improving ease of operation while maintaining secure cable retention
Solution Approach 2:
The locking arrangement is designed to automatically engage and secure the adapter to the gland body upon insertion. The system performs the securing function automatically without requiring complex manual compression operations, making the cable insertion process simple and intuitive while ensuring secure retention
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-port gland for an optical closure, the multi-port gland comprising a gland body configured to be attached to an optical closure, the gland body having gland channels extending along an insertion direction, each gland channel being configured for passage of an optical cable; one or more adapters, each adapter being configured to retain an optical cable and being configured to be inserted at least partially into a gland channel, each adapter comprising a seal body configured to seal the respective gland channel and to retain the optical cable passing through the gland channel, a seal closing element configured to cooperate with the seal body for sealing the gland channel and for retaining the optical cable passing through the gland channel.