Subsea Fiber Optic Cable Stiffness via Polygon Wire Armor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current subsea fiber optic cables are prone to physical damage, such as cutting and breakage due to storms or collisions, leading to frequent repairs and high maintenance costs, and they have limited capacity for internet data transmission.
Innovation Solution
A subsea fiber optic cable design featuring multiple layers, including a hollow copper or aluminum tube, a polycarbonate tube, an aluminum water barrier, and a layer of polygon-shaped steel wires covered in polyester film, which significantly increases stiffness and allows for exponential data transmission by bundling multiple fibers together.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional round wire structures are used in subsea cables, then the cable structure is simpler and easier to manufacture, but the cable becomes more prone to breakage and cutting due to storms and collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional round wire structures with polygon-shaped wires (triangular, square, pentagonal, hexagonal, or other n-sided polygons). This asymmetric geometric change increases the cable's stiffness and resistance to breakage and cutting while maintaining structural integrity in the harsh subsea environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite structure combining multiple materials including polymer sheathing, metal reinforcement layers (such as steel wire armor), and polygon-shaped wire elements. This composite approach enhances overall cable strength and durability while providing protection against mechanical damage from storms and collisions.
2Productivity
If multiple fiber optic cables are bundled together to increase data transmission capacity, then internet data transmission capacity increases exponentially, but the cable becomes more prone to physical damage and hacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested or concentric layering structure where multiple fiber optic cables are bundled together and protected by successive protective layers including polygon-shaped wire armor and polymer sheathing. This nested arrangement allows high data transmission capacity while providing multiple barriers against physical damage and hacking attempts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite material structures combining multiple fiber optic cables with reinforcing materials such as steel wire armor and polymer sheathing. This composite construction protects the bundled fibers from physical damage while maintaining exponential data transmission capacity through the multiple fiber bundles.
3Strength
If cable stiffness is increased to reduce breakage from storms and collisions, then maintenance costs decrease, but the cable becomes more difficult to deploy and position on the ocean floor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different structural characteristics to different parts of the cable system. The polygon-shaped wire armor and reinforcement layers are strategically positioned at critical sections where stiffness is needed for breakage resistance, while other sections maintain flexibility for easy deployment and positioning on the ocean floor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a dynamic cable structure that can adapt its mechanical properties during deployment. The cable maintains high stiffness when needed for protection against storms and collisions, while allowing controlled flexibility during deployment and positioning operations on the ocean floor.
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-fiber-optic oceanic cable apparatus (100) with about seven times greater stiffness than normal subsea fiber-optic apparatuses, making it significantly less prone to breakage underwater. The apparatus comprises layers (from a center and outward) of: a) a hollow copper or aluminum tube (2) encircling a plurality of fiber optic cables (1) able to transmit internet data, and encased in a lubricant (3); b) a hollow polycarbonate tube (6); c) an aluminum water barrier (7); d) a plurality of polygon shaped wires (5) (e.g. hexagons) touching on all sides, and covered in a polyester film/tape (4); and e) a hollow polyethylene tube (8). The apparatus with significantly increased stiffness carries multiple internet optical fibers in parallel through the center, and additionally, within hollow polygon shaped tubes with lubricant. This increase in stiffness and/or hollow polygon tubes allows for more fiber optic cables to be bundled together, thus exponentially increasing internet flow.