Cable Seal Structure for Submersible Pass-Through Waterproofing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seal designs for pass-through ports in submersible fiber optic enclosures are labor-intensive and inadequate for providing reliable waterproof sealing, often requiring multiple components and lubricating grease.
Innovation Solution
A cable sealing device with a housing portion that deforms a sealing portion to form a waterproof seal outside the housing, using a pivoting mechanism or actuating portion to ensure a secure seal against the enclosure wall.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If standard seal designs are used on pass-through ports, then installation is simpler, but sealing effectiveness is inadequate for submersible environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sealing functions into a single integrated cable seal device that includes a housing portion, sealing portion, and actuating portion. This unified structure replaces traditional multi-component seal designs (screws, grommets, lubricating grease) while maintaining or improving both sealing effectiveness and installation simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable seal device features self-adjusting sealing capability where the actuating portion automatically deforms the sealing portion against the cable and enclosure wall when the housing is assembled. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for manual adjustment, lubricating grease, or complex fastening operations, thereby improving both reliability and ease of installation.
2Reliability
If existing seal designs adapted for submersible enclosures are used, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but installation becomes time and labor intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The cable seal device is pre-configured with the sealing portion and actuating portion positioned within the housing portion. The sealing portion is pre-loaded in a compressed state that automatically activates upon assembly, eliminating the need for time-consuming on-site adjustments, grommet slitting, or grease application during installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary components from traditional submersible seal designs, such as multiple screws, separate grommets, and lubricating grease. The remaining essential sealing functions are integrated into a single device that achieves reliable sealing with minimal installation steps, thereby reducing installation time while maintaining sealing effectiveness.
3Ease of operation
If a simple seal design is used, then installation is easier, but the seal is inadequate for underground/submersed environments
Solution Approach 1:
The cable seal device applies local quality enhancement by concentrating sealing force at the critical interface between the cable, sealing portion, and enclosure wall. The actuating portion is specifically designed to deform the sealing portion precisely where water ingress would occur, providing enhanced sealing effectiveness at the most vulnerable location while keeping the overall design simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable seal device utilizes composite construction combining a rigid housing portion (for structural support and cable protection) with a flexible sealing portion (for conformal sealing). This composite structure achieves both installation simplicity and high sealing reliability suitable for submersible environments by leveraging the complementary properties of different materials.
4Reliability
If multiple components (screws, grommets, lubricating grease) are used, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple discrete sealing components (screws, grommets, lubricating grease) into a single integrated cable seal device consisting of a housing portion, sealing portion, and actuating portion. This consolidation maintains sealing effectiveness through the coordinated action of integrated components while dramatically reducing the total number of parts and simplifying the overall device structure.
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
Enhances installation simplicity and sealing effectiveness by creating a reliable underwater seal with reduced components and effort, suitable for submersible environments.
Implementation Method 1
the housing portion is structurally configured to deform the sealing portion such that a portion of the sealing portion is urged from an interior space of the housing portion so as to form a waterproof sealing portion exterior to the housing portion
Data Source
AI summary
A cable sealing device structurally configured to form a watertight seal where a communication cable is received through a pass-through port. The cable sealing device may include a housing portion structurally configured to mount onto the cable and a sealing member at least partially housed in an interior space of the housing portion. The sealing member being structurally configured to create a seal between the housing portion and the cable and/or between a first end portion of the housing portion and a surface surrounding the pass-through port to enhance simplicity of installation and sealing effectiveness of the sealing device.