Switchgear Cabinet Fiber Entry with Sliding Conduit Clamping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing control cabinets with empty pipe introductions for fiber optic lines require high assembly effort due to manual operation of pipe clamps or safety discs for locking empty pipes, leading to inefficient strain relief.
Innovation Solution
A control cabinet design featuring parallel sliders with a locking mechanism and a drive system, including a thread screw, allows for easy insertion and secure locking of empty pipes, reducing assembly effort and ensuring strain relief through elastic deformation of the pipes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual pipe clamps or locking washers are used for each conduit, then individual conduit strain relief is achieved, but assembly effort increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple individual pipe clamps or locking washers are merged into a single clamping element that can secure multiple conduits simultaneously. The clamping element is designed with a structure that engages with multiple conduits at once, allowing one operation to replace many individual operations, thus dramatically reducing assembly effort while maintaining reliable strain relief for each conduit
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping element is designed as a universal component that can secure multiple conduits of different sizes and types. It features a multi-functional design with multiple engagement points or a flexible structure that adapts to different conduit configurations, allowing a single component to perform the function of multiple individual clamps across various conduit positions
2Reliability
If multiple individual conduits are sealed and strain-relieved manually, then each conduit is securely fixed, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing and strain relief functions for multiple conduits are merged into a single integrated clamping element. This element simultaneously performs sealing and fixation for multiple conduits in one installation operation, eliminating the need for separate manual operations for each conduit and thus significantly reducing assembly time
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping element is pre-configured with multiple engagement points and sealing surfaces positioned to match standard conduit arrangements. This preliminary preparation allows installers to simply insert the conduits into predetermined positions and secure them with a single clamping action, rather than performing multiple individual adjustment and securing operations
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 design significantly reduces assembly effort and ensures secure locking of empty pipes with strain relief, maintaining the integrity of fiber optic lines during installation and operation.
Implementation Method 1
a sealing element (7), in particular a foam rubber seal, is arranged adjacent to and/or attached to the lower slide (4), so that the openings (5) are sealed fluidically to the environment outside the control cabinet (100)
Implementation Method 2
The drive mechanism can consist of a threaded screw with a non-circular head, for example, a spiral clamping screw
Implementation Method 3
If the conduits are made of an elastic material, their inherent tension ensures that they are securely locked within the aligned pairs of openings in the two slides
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a control cabinet (100) with a conduit entry (1) for introducing a plurality of optical fibers (2) through a wall (3) of the control cabinet (100) into an interior of the control cabinet, wherein the conduit entry (1) has two slides (4) that are slidable relative to each other in at least one direction, each slide having a plurality of openings (5) that are at least partially aligned in pairs, wherein the conduit entry (1) has a locking means (6) with which the slides (4) can be locked relative to each other. An alternative conduit entry (1) is further described.