Ribbed Grooved Cable Embedded Strength Member Water Blocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical fiber cables face inefficiencies in blowing due to their structure, which resists pressurized air and mechanical pushing forces, and are prone to water penetration through embedded strength members, leading to degradation of optical properties.
Innovation Solution
A ribbed and grooved optical fiber cable with embedded strength members coated with a water-blocking coating material, featuring a UV curable water swellable resin composition or ethylene acrylic acid (EAA) layer, and a design with alternating ribs and grooves of varying heights to reduce friction and enhance blowing performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional optical fiber cable structure is used, then the cable has sufficient mechanical strength, but the cable resists pressurized air and mechanical pushing forces during blowing installation
Solution Approach 1:
The cable structure is segmented into distinct functional layers: strength members (FRP/arp) embedded in the sheath, optical fibers in central tubes, and a corrugated outer sheath. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the strength members provide mechanical strength while the corrugated sheath reduces friction during blowing installation.
2Quantity of substance
If strength members are embedded inside the sheath to achieve high density, then more space is available in the center, but water penetration occurs through the embedded strength members
Solution Approach 1:
A water-blocking gel is introduced as an intermediary substance that fills the clearance between the embedded strength members and the sheath inner wall. This gel acts as a mediator that prevents water penetration while allowing the strength members to remain embedded for high density cable construction.
3Ease of manufacture
If the sheath has a smooth surface, then manufacturing is easier, but the cable has higher friction with the duct during blowing
Solution Approach 1:
The sheath surface is given a corrugated geometry with alternating ribs and grooves instead of a smooth surface. This curved, irregular surface structure reduces the coefficient of friction between the cable and duct during blowing installation while remaining manufacturable through extrusion processes.
4Ease of manufacture
If ribs of the same height are used on the sheath surface, then manufacturing is simpler, but blowing performance is not optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The ribs on the sheath surface are designed with asymmetric heights - some ribs are taller than others. This asymmetric configuration optimizes the cable's interaction with the duct during blowing installation by creating favorable pressure distribution and reducing friction, while still being manufacturable through standard extrusion tools.
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 improves the blowing performance of optical fiber cables by reducing friction and enhancing mechanical strength, while preventing water ingress and maintaining optical integrity, thus addressing the limitations of conventional cables.
Implementation Method 1
a water penetration preventing coating formed on the strength member, wherein the water penetration preventing coating includes an ultraviolet (UV) curable water swellable resin composition
Implementation Method 2
the water penetration preventing coating includes an ultraviolet (UV) curable water swellable resin composition
Data Source
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AI summary
A ribbed and grooved fiber cable (100) characterized in that a core with a plurality of optical fibers, a sheath (102) enveloping the core and one or more strength members (108) embedded in the sheath (102). The strength members (108) are coated with a water blocking coating material having at least one of an ultraviolet (UV) curable water swellable resin composition and a layer of ethylene acrylic acid (EAA). Particularly, the water blocking coating material applied over the strength members (108) has a thickness of 50±10 microns. The sheath (102) of the cable (100_has at least one of a plurality of ribs (104) and grooves (106) on an external surface of the sheath (102), and a plurality of ribs (104a) and grooves (106a) on an internal surface of the sheath (102). The plurality of ribs (104) have variable height.