Rotatable Routing Guide for Fiber Optic Cables
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fiber optic equipment faces increased connection density, requiring more efficient routing solutions to manage and direct optical fibers, as existing routing guides struggle to accommodate multiple turns, locations, and volumes of optical fibers effectively.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable routing guide with a keyed receiver system that allows for 360-degree angular displacement and selective positioning, featuring a tab-and-notch mechanism for secure attachment to a mounting surface without the need for fasteners or adhesives, enabling easy installation and adjustment to accommodate various fiber sizes and configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional routing guides are used, then installation is simple, but they cannot accommodate multiple turns, locations and volumes of optical fiber
Solution Approach 1:
The routing guide is made rotatable about a vertical axis, allowing it to dynamically change orientation to accommodate different fiber routing configurations. This dynamic positioning capability enables the same routing guide structure to adapt to multiple turns, locations and volumes of optical fiber without requiring multiple different guide designs.
2Reliability
If secure attachment is implemented, then accidental fiber removal is prevented, but installation requires fasteners or adhesives
Solution Approach 1:
The routing guide incorporates a self-securing attachment mechanism with tabs that engage with slots in the mounting surface. When the routing guide is rotated into position, the tabs automatically engage with the slots and friction-fit to secure the device without requiring external fasteners or adhesives. This self-service approach provides reliable attachment while simplifying installation.
3Ease of operation
If rotatable positioning is added, then flexibility for fiber routing is improved, but attachment mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment mechanism uses asymmetric tabs with specific geometries that engage with corresponding asymmetric slots in the mounting surface. This asymmetric design allows the routing guide to be securely attached in specific rotational positions while preventing attachment in incorrect orientations, providing selective positioning flexibility without requiring complex locking mechanisms.
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 rotatable routing guide provides flexible and secure fiber management, allowing for multiple turns and volumes of optical fibers while maintaining a suitable bend radius, eliminating the risk of accidental fiber removal and simplifying installation with a tool-free, one-way attachment mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
The lip being the portion of the mounting surface received in the notch and friction fit between the tab and the guide portion
Data Source
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AI summary
A rotatable routing guide assembly for fiber optic cables routed in a fiber optic equipment shelf is disclosed. The assembly comprises a guide portion, an attachment feature and a keyed receiver. The guide portion has a bottom, a top, a deformable first wall, a deformable second wall and a third wall forming a plurality of segments, and is configured to receive fiber optic cables of different sizes by different ones of the plurality of segments. The attachment feature removably attaches the guide portion to the shelf. The attachment feature has a first tab (60) forming a first notch with the guide portion, and a second tab (62) forming a second notch with the guide portion. The keyed receiver is located in the shelf and has a lip extending partially around an interior edge. The lip is received in at least one of the first notch and the second notch and friction fit between at least one of the first tab and the second tab and the guide portion.