Removable Splice Manager With Integral Spools For Fiber Storage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable management systems for spliced media cables, such as optical fiber cables, lack user-friendly access and efficient management and storage solutions, often requiring external spools and increasing the risk of damage to fibers during the splicing process.
Innovation Solution
The design of a splice manager with two integral spools that can be removably mounted to a housing, allowing for fusion splicing in an open area and independent spooling of fiber excess, with integrated splice holders and protection sleeves for secure storage within the housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If external spools are used for fiber management, then fiber storage capacity is increased, but device complexity and risk of fiber damage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates spool members directly into the housing structure, merging the spooling function with the housing itself. This eliminates the need for separate external spools while maintaining fiber storage capacity, thereby reducing system complexity and potential points of failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, contains the splice managers, and incorporates spool members for fiber management. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of components needed while maintaining all necessary capabilities.
2Reliability
If splicing is performed in a confined housing space, then fiber protection is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The splice manager is designed to be removable from the housing, allowing the system to dynamically switch between two states: during splicing operations, the splice manager is removed to provide open access and working space; after splicing, it is reinstalled to provide protection and organization. This dynamic configuration resolves the contradiction between protection and accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is divided into separate functional modules: the housing, the removable splice manager, and the spool members. This segmentation allows the splice manager to be easily removed during splicing operations to improve accessibility, while still providing fiber protection when installed.
3Device complexity
If integrated spool members are used in the housing, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The splice manager is designed as a separate, removable module that can be manufactured and tested independently before final assembly with the housing. This segmentation allows for precise manufacturing of the spool members within the splice manager without requiring extremely tight tolerances in the overall housing assembly, thus balancing component reduction with manufacturing feasibility.
Data Source
AI summary
Improved cable management assemblies and related methods of use are provided. The present disclosure provides advantageous systems for the design and use of splice managers configured to provide for user-friendly access for the splicing of media cables (e.g., optical fiber cables), while also providing for the management and storage of the spliced cables. An exemplary splice manager includes two integral spools, the splice manager being removable from the assembly housing (e.g., from the splice cassette/tray) to allow for the splicing of the fibers to be performed out in the open, and then enable the fiber excess from both the input cable and the fiber harness of the assembly housing to be spooled independently of one another on a respective spool, and then allow the splice manager to be re-mounted to the assembly housing (e.g., within the enclosure space of the splice cassette).