Reusable Cable Seal for Tight Spaces

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sealing solutions for electrical interconnections between cables and apparatuses, such as antennas, face challenges in close quarters with limited access space and require significant attachment space, are not easily reusable, and are often permanent, making them inefficient and costly.

Innovation Solution

A tool-less, reusable weatherproof sealing assembly featuring a deformable cylindrical gasket with compensation spikes and a leak cavity, combined with a semi-flexible outer shell and locking mechanism, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly without tools, providing a reliable and efficient seal in tight spaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a rigid polymeric enclosure with gaskets and compression nuts is used, then environmental sealing is achieved, but significant attachment space is required around the interconnection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental sealingVSAvoidattachment space

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing assembly is divided into separate functional components: a flexible sealing element with integrated gasket portions, a connector body, and a compression mechanism. This segmentation allows the seal to be installed in confined spaces without requiring large attachment areas around the interconnection point.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing assembly uses a flexible polymeric sealing element that can deform to accommodate tight spaces and conform to the connector and cable surfaces. This flexibility eliminates the need for rigid enclosures that require significant installation space, while still providing effective environmental sealing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Reliability

If sealing filler is applied to fill the interconnection space, then environmental sealing is achieved, but the seal becomes permanent and not easily removable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental sealingVSAvoidremovability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing assembly employs a dynamic compression mechanism where a compression member can be adjusted to apply or release sealing force. This allows the seal to be easily removed and reinstalled multiple times without permanent deformation, unlike static sealing fillers that bond permanently to surfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The modular sealing assembly can be completely removed from the interconnection and reused elsewhere. The flexible sealing element and compression mechanism are designed to be disassembled, stored, and reinstalled on different connectors, providing reusability that permanent sealing fillers cannot offer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Ease of repair

If a snap together enclosure configuration is used, then reusability is achieved, but significant attachment space is still required for assembly

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovereusabilityVSAvoidattachment space

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing element and gasket functions are merged into a single integrated flexible component that seals both the connector-cable interface and the external environment simultaneously. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate gaskets and enclosure parts that would require additional attachment space for assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing assembly transitions from a two-dimensional planar seal to a three-dimensional compressible structure that can be installed axially along the cable-connector interface. This dimensional approach allows installation in tight radial spaces where traditional perimeter-based sealing methods would require excessive attachment area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 enables reliable, reusable, and cost-effective sealing of electrical interconnections in close quarters, improving performance and reducing manufacturing and installation costs by allowing for easy assembly and disassembly without tools.

Implementation Method 1

a deformable cylindrical gasket with compensation spikes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

combined with a semi-flexible outer shell and locking mechanism

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical interlocking: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentUS7453042B2Cable and apparatus interconnection close quarters environmental seal

Publication Date: 2008.11.18 OUTDOOR WIRELESS NETWORKS LLC

AI summary

A sealing assembly for a cable to apparatus electrical interconnection. The assembly having a unitary cylindrical gasket, the outer diameter of the cylindrical gasket provided with an insertion opening to an interconnection cavity; the insertion opening having a generally circle sector shape at a cable end and an apparatus end, the insertion opening extending between the cable end and the apparatus end along the outer diameter. A generally C-shaped outer shell is dimensioned to seat along the outer diameter, the outer shell having outward protruding edge lips aligned with the insertion opening along the outer diameter. The edge lips movable towards one another to a closed position wherein the insertion opening is closed around the electrical interconnection; and means for retaining, such as a locking bar that fits over the edge lips.