Pre-ferrulized Cable Assembly for Sharp Bend Installation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for installing optical fiber communication cables through narrow cable guides with sharp bends are inefficient, requiring complex and costly operations at the end user's location and often impossible due to size constraints.

Innovation Solution

A pre-ferrulized cable assembly with a semi-finished connector and a suction plug that can be flexibly affixed to the cable assembly, allowing it to pass through narrow cable guides with sharp bends by deforming the guide during installation, and then easily completing the connector at the end position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a complete communication connector is mounted to the free end of the communication cable before passage, then the connector is ready for immediate use, but the cable assembly cannot pass through narrow cable guides with sharp bends due to the connector's considerable diameter

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnector readinessVSAvoidpassage capability through narrow cable guides
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The connector is divided into two parts: a semi-finished connector mounted on the cable that can pass through narrow guides, and a complementary connector that is assembled at the destination. This segmentation allows the cable assembly to pass through narrow cable guides while still achieving complete connector functionality at the end position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The semi-finished connector is prepared in advance and mounted on the cable before passage through the cable guide. This preliminary preparation allows the cable to be pushed through narrow guides, and the complete connector is finalized at the destination by assembling the complementary connector.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If the communication cable is passed through to the end user's location and the connector is fitted in situ, then the cable guide can be narrow, but complex operations (exposing optical fiber, mounting, polishing) must be performed at the end user's location

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable guide sizeVSAvoidinstallation operations at end position
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The optical fiber is exposed and the semi-finished connector is mounted on the cable at the manufacturing stage before passage through the cable guide. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for complex fiber exposure, mounting, and polishing operations at the end user's location, requiring only simple assembly of the complementary connector at the destination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If a semi-finished cable assembly is used to reduce labor costs, then installation efficiency improves, but passage through sharp bends in narrow cable guides remains difficult or impossible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation efficiencyVSAvoidpassage capability through sharp bends
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The connector is segmented into a semi-finished portion mounted on the cable and a complementary portion assembled at the destination. This allows the cable assembly to pass through sharp bends in narrow cable guides while maintaining installation efficiency, as the semi-finished connector has a reduced diameter suitable for narrow guides.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The semi-finished connector is prepared in advance with the optical fiber already exposed and mounted, allowing the assembly to be pushed through narrow cable guides with sharp bends. The complete connector is then finalized at the destination by assembling the complementary connector, maintaining high installation efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Enables efficient installation of optical fiber communication cables through tight bends with reduced labor costs and minimal finishing operations at the end user's location, achieving low insertion loss and high return loss performance.

Implementation Method 1

a plug assembly that is secured to the communication cable and/or the semi-finished connector, said plug assembly comprising a suction plug

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP2031719B1Modified pre-ferrulized communication cable assembly and installation method
Publication Date: 2013.01.23 DRAKA COMTEQ BV
  • EP2031719B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2031719B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP2031719B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

AI summary

Disclosed is a modified pre-ferrulized cable assembly that facilitates installation of an optical fiber communication cable through narrow cable guides having sharp bends. The pre-ferrulized cable assembly includes a communication cable having a free, front end, a semi-finished communication connector, and a suction plug. The invention further relates to efficient methods for installing the modified pre-ferrulized cable assembly through a cable guide.