Rodent Resistant Ground Level Ice Bridge for Cable Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice bridge solutions for protecting cables between transceiver towers and equipment shelters either require significant infrastructure or result in animal nesting, leading to cable damage, and fail to adequately address issues like ice buildup and falling objects.
Innovation Solution
A ladder frame ice bridge system supported by a preformed base, which is easily installed and adaptable to various terrains, featuring a cover that prevents animal nesting and supports weight, while maintaining an open bottom for ventilation and reducing moisture, and includes grounding capabilities to protect against lightning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cables are elevated above ground on poles or pipes, then animal damage is reduced, but significant infrastructure is required
Solution Approach 1:
The ice bridge is divided into modular sections that can be assembled in segments. Each section contains cable channels and can be connected to form a complete protective structure, reducing the need for continuous complex infrastructure while maintaining protection effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from vertical elevation (poles raising cables high above ground) to a horizontal planar structure (ice bridge laid flat on or near ground). This dimensional change maintains cable protection from animals while eliminating the need for vertical support infrastructure.
2Device complexity
If ground-level conduit or ducting is used, then infrastructure requirements are reduced, but animals nest within the conduit causing cable damage
Solution Approach 1:
The ice bridge incorporates open channels with specific geometric characteristics that are locally optimized to prevent animal nesting. The channel design includes features such as smooth transitions and lack of crevices that animals can exploit, providing localized protection against nesting while maintaining overall structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of animals seeking shelter into a benefit by designing the ice bridge structure to be unattractive for nesting. The smooth, continuous channels without hidden corners or crevices transform the ground-level structure from a nesting site into an animal-resistant pathway.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If enclosed conduit is used to protect cables, then protection from falling objects is provided, but animals nest within causing cable damage
Solution Approach 1:
The ice bridge uses open channels with specific geometric properties that provide falling object protection through their structural design while preventing animal nesting. The channel shape and surface characteristics are locally optimized to achieve both protection functions simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The ice bridge utilizes a thin frozen water shell that provides protective coverage over cable channels. This thin film structure offers protection from falling objects while maintaining an open, non-enclosed configuration that prevents animal nesting, combining the benefits of both enclosed and open structures.
Data Source
AI summary
An ice bridge system for a cellular transmissions site assembled with a ladder frame section to support cabling laid on top of the and a ladder support with a preformed base for resting on a ground surface, a preformed set of mounting points for securing one or more sections of the ladder frame, such that the ladder frames mate end to end with each other and a structural support section between the base and mounting points to support the weight of the ladder frame and supported cables.