Reinforced Micro-Bunched Cable Bump Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Micro-bunched optical cables face compressional deformation under external forces due to their soft material, affecting transmission performance, and existing solutions with multi-layer structures increase cable diameter and complicate stripping.
Innovation Solution
The reinforced protection micro-bunched cable features micro-bunched tubes with bumps on the outer surface and a gap between them, made from softer material than the tube body, which buffers external forces and enhances longitudinal tensile properties, along with a specific manufacturing process using double-layer co-extrusion and a structured outer sheath for improved stripping and strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the micro-bunched tube material is made soft to improve ease of stripping and flexibility, then the ease of operation is improved, but the tube undergoes compressional deformation under external force, worsening the strength and transmission performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating bumps with different material properties (softer material) at specific locations on the tube surface, while the rest of the tube maintains its original material properties. This allows the bumps to provide compression resistance locally without compromising the overall ease of stripping and flexibility of the tube.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining the base tube material with a softer material for the bumps. This composite structure allows the tube to exhibit both the softness needed for easy stripping and the enhanced compression resistance provided by the bump structure under external forces.
2Strength
If a multi-layer composite structure is added to improve compression resistance, then the strength is improved, but the cable diameter increases and stripping performance deteriorates, worsening the ease of operation
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding multi-layer composite structures throughout the entire tube, the patent applies local quality by adding bumps only at specific locations on the tube surface. This localized approach provides the necessary compression resistance without increasing the overall cable diameter or complicating the stripping process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the protection function by separating the compression resistance function (handled by the bumps) from the overall tube structure. This allows the tube to maintain its original simple structure for easy stripping while the segmented bumps provide localized compression protection.
3Strength
If the tube wall thickness is increased to improve strength and compression resistance, then the strength is improved, but the cable diameter increases, worsening the compactness and ease of operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating the compression resistance function in localized bumps rather than uniformly increasing the tube wall thickness throughout. This allows the tube to maintain thin walls for compactness while the localized bumps provide the necessary compression protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the strength enhancement function into discrete bumps rather than using a continuous thickened wall structure. This segmented approach provides compression resistance while maintaining the overall compact diameter of the cable.
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 cable size, enhances optical fiber filling rate, improves strength and compression resistance, and simplifies stripping, ensuring efficient construction and maintaining transmission performance under external forces.
Implementation Method 1
the bumps deform after being stressed until they are depressed into the micro-bunched tube wall with increase of stress
Implementation Method 2
the bump material is softer than the tube body material, and setting of bumps can effectively buffer the external force
Implementation Method 3
an inner wall of the micro-bunched tube wall is extruded to form small convex arcs
Data Source
AI summary
This application belongs to the field of optical cables and provides a reinforced protection micro-bunched cable and a manufacturing process thereof. The reinforced protection micro-bunched cable includes reinforced protection micro-bunched tubes; the outer surface of the reinforced protection micro-bunched tube is arranged with bumps and there is a gap between bumps. The thickness of the micro-bunched tube wall at the gap between the bumps is still small, and the bump material is softer than the tube body material. The thickness of the micro-bunched tube wall at the gap between the bumps is still small, which can meet the construction requirements of easiness for stripping; the bump can effectively buffer the external force; further, the added bumps can increase the longitudinal tensile properties of the whole tube, and the tube was not easy to be broken under tension.