Preassembled Multiduct Assembly for Underground Fiber Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing underground conduit systems for fiber optic and electrical cables require multiple steps and can damage components during installation due to melting or fusion of innerducts with the outer conduit, leading to inefficiencies and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A preassembled multi-duct assembly with a continuous outer conduit and freely positioned innerducts, which are cooled and secured using heat-resistant adhesive tape, allowing for a single-step installation by positioning the preassembled assembly in a trench and running lines through the innerducts without the need for separate pulling, and a manufacturing method that extrudes the outer conduit with innerducts and uses cooling to prevent sticking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If innerducts are installed separately after outer conduit installation, then installation flexibility is maintained, but installation time and labor costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The innerducts are pre-installed within the outer conduit during the extrusion manufacturing process, before the conduit is laid in the field. This preliminary action eliminates the need for separate innerduct installation steps, reducing both installation time and labor costs while maintaining a manageable installation process through integrated manufacturing
2Reliability
If innerducts are pulled through the outer conduit during installation, then innerducts can be positioned, but the innerducts may get damaged or stuck
Solution Approach 1:
The innerducts are pre-positioned within the outer conduit during manufacturing before field installation. This eliminates the need to pull innerducts through the conduit later, preventing damage and sticking issues while ensuring reliable innerduct integrity throughout the installation process
3Reliability
If cooling is applied during extrusion, then innerducts prevent sticking, but additional manufacturing steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling process is integrated into the continuous extrusion operation, with cooling air being applied continuously as the outer conduit material is extruded over the innerducts. This continuous cooling prevents sticking throughout the extrusion process without requiring separate discrete manufacturing steps, maintaining manufacturing efficiency while ensuring reliable prevention of adhesion
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
This solution enables a more efficient and effective single-step underground conduit installation, maintaining the integrity of the conduit components and allowing for easier repositioning and expansion of the conduit system, while preventing sticking and damage during the manufacturing and installation processes.
Implementation Method 1
providing cooling to the innerducts during positioning in the lumen so as to prevent sticking of the innerducts to each other and to the continuous outer conduit during the manufacturing process
Implementation Method 2
secured using heat-resistant adhesive tape
Data Source
AI summary
A boreable multiduct assembly packaged for sale includes a receiver, a continuous outer conduit having a central lumen and multiple innerducts held freely in that lumen.