Splice Sleeve Holder Layout for Mixed Sizes and Higher Density
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional splice sleeve holders are unsuitable for retaining different sizes of splice sleeves, leading to poor resistance to movement and reduced capacity for spliced connections, and often have complex manufacturing issues.
Innovation Solution
A splice sleeve holder with a base substrate and retaining walls featuring channels, protrusions, and staggered arrangements to securely hold splice sleeves of varying sizes, allowing for increased density without sacrificing retention strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional splice sleeve holders are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but the holder cannot retain different sizes of splice sleeves effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining wall is segmented into multiple sections with different retention feature configurations. Each section can accommodate different splice sleeve sizes through independently designed retention features, allowing the same holder structure to handle various sleeve diameters and lengths without requiring a completely different design for each size.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder is designed with universal retention features that can accommodate multiple splice sleeve sizes and types within a single structure. The retaining walls incorporate adjustable or multi-configurable retention elements that serve multiple functions - retaining small sleeves, large sleeves, and even layered arrangements of different sized sleeves using the same basic holder design.
2Reliability
If retention features such as independent molded fingers are added to prevent movement, then splice sleeve retention improves, but the device becomes bulkier and manufacturing becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The retention features are merged directly into the retaining wall structure itself rather than being separate independent components. The retention features are formed as integral parts of the molded retaining walls, combining the structural support function with the retention function in a single unified element, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining retention strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining walls are designed with flexible or compliant retention features that can deform slightly to accommodate splice sleeves of different sizes while still providing effective retention. This flexibility allows the same retention feature structure to adapt to various sleeve dimensions without requiring multiple rigid retention mechanisms.
3Reliability
If retention features with small features and mold shutoffs are added, then splice sleeve retention improves, but manufacturing becomes more difficult due to complex injection molds
Solution Approach 1:
The most complex retention features are extracted or removed from the design, replacing them with simpler geometric forms that can be manufactured using standard injection molding techniques. The design focuses on using basic molded shapes and conventional retention mechanisms that avoid the need for complex mold shutoffs and difficult-to-manufacture small features, thereby simplifying manufacturing while maintaining adequate retention capability.
4Reliability
If bulky retention features are added to each channel, then splice sleeve retention improves, but the density of spliced connections that can be housed is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple retention functions are merged into shared retaining wall structures that serve multiple channels simultaneously. Instead of providing bulky retention features in each individual channel, the design uses common retaining walls with retention features that protect splice sleeves across multiple adjacent channels, thereby reducing the total amount of retention material needed while maintaining retention strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention features are designed to extend in multiple dimensions, particularly utilizing the vertical dimension with layered retention capabilities. Retention features can protect splice sleeves at different heights and depths within the same horizontal footprint, effectively increasing the number of retained connections per unit area by utilizing three-dimensional space more efficiently rather than requiring more horizontal space per connection.
Data Source
AI summary
A splice sleeve holder configured to retain splice sleeves includes a base substrate and a plurality of retaining walls extending from the base substrate. The plurality of retaining walls include a first retaining wall, a second retaining wall and a third retaining wall, wherein each of the plurality of retaining walls extend from a first end to a second end in a longitudinal direction, a first channel is defined between the first retaining wall and the second retaining wall, and a second channel is defined between the second retaining wall and the third retaining wall. Each of the plurality of retaining walls includes one or more retaining protrusions, wherein the one or more retaining protrusions are arranged to retain a splice sleeve of the first channel in a vertically staggered configuration relative to a splice sleeve of the second channel.