Pressure Actuated Sealant Assembly for Cable Ports

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cable sealing technologies in telecommunications systems face challenges in accommodating cables of different sizes and shapes, often requiring additional actuators and increased sealant usage, which can lead to inefficiencies and inconsistencies due to cable scratches or handling damage.

Innovation Solution

A cable port size reducer with a composite construction and pressurized sealant assembly that can be inserted into existing main sealant units, utilizing the same actuator to provide a reduced port size and longer axial sealing length, ensuring effective sealing with reduced sealant usage and accommodating various cable sizes and shapes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If additional actuators are used to accommodate different cable sizes, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to different cable sizesVSAvoidnumber of actuators

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A single actuator is designed to perform multiple functions by controlling different volumes of sealant through a common pressurization chamber. The actuator can accommodate cables of various sizes by adjusting the amount of sealant displaced, eliminating the need for multiple actuators while maintaining adaptability across different cable configurations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The sealant assembly is nested within the actuator housing, with the sealant contained in a chamber that can be pressurized by the actuator. This nested configuration allows the sealant to be compressed and displaced through existing cable ports, enabling size reduction and adaptability without adding external components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If larger volumes of sealant are used to ensure adequate sealing, then sealing reliability is improved, but loss of substance increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidsealant consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The sealant is applied locally at the cable-port interface rather than uniformly throughout the enclosure. The actuator pressurizes the sealant to concentrate it precisely where needed around the cable, ensuring adequate sealing reliability while minimizing overall sealant consumption by avoiding unnecessary application in non-critical areas

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The physical state and distribution of the sealant are changed through pressurization. By controlling the pressure parameter, the sealant can be dynamically adjusted to fill only the necessary volume around cables of varying sizes, optimizing both sealing reliability and sealant efficiency without waste

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If sealant is applied uniformly to all cable ports, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of sealant applicationVSAvoidsealing accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The sealant application transitions from a static uniform distribution to a dynamic controlled distribution. The actuator enables on-demand pressurization of the sealant to specific cable ports based on actual cable insertion, allowing precise sealant placement that adapts to different cable configurations while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through automated pressure control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 allows for adaptable and cost-effective sealing of cables with different sizes and shapes, ensuring a reliable seal even with scratched or inconsistent cable surfaces, while conserving sealant and maintaining a compact design.

Implementation Method 1

the volume of sealant of the cable port size reducer is pressurized by the same actuator arrangement used to pressurize the main sealant assembly

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressurisation: Pressurisation

Data Source

PatentUS9632268B2Pressure actuated sealant assembly

Publication Date: 2017.04.25 COMMSCOPE CONNECTIVITY BELGIUM BVBA

AI summary

An enclosure includes a housing and a sealing unit that fits within a sealing unit opening of the housing. The sealing unit provides a seal around cable ports and provides a peripheral seal between the housing and the sealing unit. The sealing unit can include a sealant arrangement and an actuation arrangement for pressurizing the sealant arrangement within the sealing unit opening. The actuation arrangement can include inner and outer pressurization structures between which the sealant arrangement is positioned. The actuation arrangement includes first and second actuators each movable between a non-actuated position and an actuated position. When the first and second actuators are moved towards the actuated positions, the first and second actuators generate first and second seal pressurization forces that press the sealant arrangement between the first and second pressurization structures, and the first and second seal pressurization forces are transferred through respective first and second springs.